This advertisement for the 1964 Pontiac GTO pretty much says it all and rates as the first ever mid-size muscle car from the folks at General Motors. (Ad complements GM)
Q: Greg, I just read today’s column and take issue with one reader who called the 1960s GM cars “tubs.”
I had a beautiful maroon ’63 Tempest, three- speed (non-syncromesh manual transmission) with the 326-V8 engine. I added Spalding flame throwers for the high beams and I also was able to make a fantastic deal with the parts manager for a set of Pontiac wire wheel hubcaps. These plus white walls made it a real stand out.
I bought it new for $2,500 and surely wish I had it today. I have had 24 new cars in my life so far and truly think my little Tempest, that “ran like a scalded cat” was the best and my favorite. I enjoy your writings and look forward to each week’s newspaper. Jim Schnell, Strasburg, Ohio
A: Much obliged Jim for the kind words. You’ll notice in that column I pointed out that those early models grew into today’s top dollar muscle cars, especially the Pontiac GTOs, Olds 442s and Buick GS models. Matter of fact, there was a report released today that the average appreciation for Muscle Cars from the 1960s through 1974 have increased in value up to 30 percent! That’s one big move for a class of car that, back then, were sent to junkyards on a regular basis after racers removed engines, rear ends and transmissions.
By 1966, Pontiac was promoting more horsepower, great handling and the tiger that would become a GTO legend in newspaper, magazine and television ads. (Ad complements GM)
As for your 326-V8 Tempest, a friend of mine in high school had a baby blue Tempest convertible with the 326 V8 and it indeed was one sweet vehicle and I believe it was also a 1963 model. And thanks to Jim Wangers, a Pontiac advertising specialist and drag racer, and the late John DeLorean who ran Pontiac, that Tempest grew into the coveted 1964 GTO, which was a Tempest with the GTO option that featured a 389-V8 and HD suspension and brakes. When Car & Driver came to do a road test for its magazine, Wangers dropped a 421 Super Duty under the hood as it looked identical to the 389. The result was Wangers and his GTO “ringer” running zero to 60 in five seconds and the muscle car era was in full speed ahead mode.
In my lifetime, my uncle had a four-cylinder 1961 Pontiac Tempest with the transmission in the rear and I had a 1965 GTO convertible tri-power 389 that I only owned for about two months before I was drafted in 1969. So, talking about ones that got away, that GTO Tri-Power ragtop is another I’ve failed to mention.
The 1963 Tempest came in either four cylinder of 326-V8 dress, both very popular cars for the day. (Ad complements of GM)
In summary, when it comes to important cars from General Motors, the Pontiac Tempest will always hold a special place in my heart as the “lead car” of the Muscle Car era. Thanks much for your email Jim and keep reading your newspaper!
(Greg Zyla is a syndicated auto columnist and welcomes reader questions and comments on collector cars, old-time racing and auto nostalgia at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, Pa. 18840 or email at greg@gregzyla.com).
