Classic Cars

1962 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

The Pontiac Tempest is an automobile that was produced by Pontiac from 1960 to 1970, and again from 1987 to 1991.

The Tempest was introduced as an entry-level compact in October 1960 at the Paris Auto Show for the 1961 model year.
A highly innovative design, it shared the new unibody Y platform, GM’s first, with the Buick Special/Skylark and Oldsmobile F-85/Cutlass, came with a standard four-cylinder engine, and offered a two-speed rear-mounted transaxle automatic transmission.

The line offered the optional LeMans trim upgrade, beginning with a few 1961 LeMans coupes and adding a performance aspect in 1962. By 1964 the Tempest, Tempest Custom and Lemans are separate models in the new GM A-body platform. GTO was an option on the LeMans in 1964 and 1965. The GTO was subsequently split off as its own model line in 1966.