![]() Dimensionally identical to the venerable 389, rumor has it the engine’s displacement actually measured 336 cubes, but with General Motor’s edict at the time that no production engine in GM’s stable would be larger than the 327 found in the Corvette, it was labeled as a 326.īy this time in the early 1960s, Super Stock racing had already become a legitimate motorsports juggernaut, producing interest from competitors, teams, and most importantly, car-buying fans. Along with the promotion, the Tempest also got an optional 326ci V8. But more importantly, it could now house the biggest motors in the brand’s lineup.īy 1963 the Tempest had grown in size and stepped up the totem pole in terms of its place on Pontiac’s roster. The ’63 model grew both in stature and prominence within Pontiac’s lineup. But DeLorean wanted bigger things out of the Tempest – he saw more than just a bread and butter commuter car in Pontiac’s new entry. Initially powered by the Trophy 4 inline four-cylinder motor – which was essentially the right half of the 389 V8 – the power plant was marketed as an option for those seeking good fuel economy. It would go on to earn the Motor Trend “Car of the Year” award for 1961, while Road & Track proclaimed it to be “one of the very best utility cars since the Ford Model A.” Riding on a platform it shared with the Buick Skylark and Oldsmobile Cutlass, the Tempest was intended to serve as the brand’s entry level compact coupe and sedan – a job it performed quite well with an innovative rear-mounted transaxle that allowed for four-wheel independent suspension, 50/50 weight distribution and more interior space. Image: Wiki Commonsīut even before the GTO brought hot rodding to the masses, Pontiac was already turning the Tempest into a jack of all trades – including an NHRA terror that struck fear into the hearts of Factory Experimental (FX) class competitors across the country in the early 1960s.ĭesigned by DeLorean, the Tempest first hit showrooms in 1960. It might have started out life as a basic means of transportation, but the Tempest’s simple layout, diminutive proportions and rear-mounted transaxle would prove to make it a formidable opponent at the track.
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