1964 pontiac tempest manual#
For US$ 296, it included the 389 in³ V8 (rated at 325 hp (242 kW) at 4800 rpm) with a single Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust, chromed valve covers and air cleaner, 7 blade clutch fan, a floor-shifted three-speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter, stiffer springs, larger diameter front sway bar, wider wheels with 7.50 x 14 redline tires, hood scoops, and GTO badges. The first Pontiac GTO was an option package for the Pontiac LeMans, available with the two-door sedan, hardtop coupe, and convertible body styles. As it turned out, it was a great success. Had the model been a failure, Estes likely would have been reprimanded. Pontiac General Manager Elliot "Pete" Estes approved the new model, although sales manager Frank Bridge, who did not believe it would find a market, insisted on limiting initial production to no more than 5,000 cars. Since the GTO was an option package and not standard equipment, it could be considered to fall into a loophole in the policy. The GTO was technically a violation of GM policy limiting the A-body intermediate line to a maximum engine displacement of 330 in³ (5.4 L). The name drew protest from purists, who considered it close to sacrilege. It is an acronym for Gran Turismo Omologato, Italian for homologated for racing in the GT class.
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The name, which was DeLorean's idea, was inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO, the highly successful race car.
![1964 pontiac tempest 1964 pontiac tempest](http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/612/2669/39028834003_original.jpg)
By promoting the big-engine Tempest as a special high-performance model, they could appeal to the speed-minded youth market (which had also been recognized by Ford Motor Company's Lee Iacocca, who was at that time preparing the Ford Mustang). It involved transforming the upcoming redesigned Tempest (which was set to revert to a conventional front-engine, front transmission, rear-wheel drive configuration) into a "Super Tempest" with the larger 389 in³ (6.5 L) Pontiac V8 engine from the full-sized Pontiac Catalina and Bonneville in place of the standard 326 in³ (5.3 L) Tempest V8. Jim Wangers proposed a way to retain the performance image that the division had cultivated with a new focus on street performance. At the time, Pontiac's advertising and marketing approach was heavily based on performance, and racing was an important component of that strategy. In early 1963, General Motors management issued an edict banning divisions from involvement in auto racing.
![1964 pontiac tempest 1964 pontiac tempest](https://www.nsclassics.com/galleria_images/3360/3360_p2_l.jpg)
Shane Wiser was the first to think of the idea of the GTO. The GTO was the brainchild of Pontiac engineer Russell Gee, an engine specialist, and Pontiac chief engineer John De Lorean. The 21st century GTO is essentially a left hand drive Holden Monaro, itself a coupe variant of the Holden Commodore. From 1964 until 1973.5, it was closely related to the Pontiac Tempest, but for its final year it was based on the Pontiac Ventura. It is often considered the first true muscle car. Whatever power it has, everything goes to the rear wheels via a 4L65E four-speed automatic gearbox.The Pontiac GTO was an automobile built by Pontiac from 1964 to 1974, and by General Motors Holden in Australia from 2003 to 2006. We then spot a three-spoke custom steering wheel, carbon fiber accents on the dash, center console and door panels, but also convenience features such as air conditioning, a custom stereo system and power windows.Īs for the engine, it’s a 5.7-liter LS1 V8 unit, sourced from a 2004 GTO, and it comes with a cold air intake, custom headers and a dual exhaust system with Magnaflow mufflers. Inside, you’ll find power-adjustable front bucket seats and individual rear seats borrowed from a fifth-generation GTO.
1964 pontiac tempest mods#
We should also note the staggered-width 18-inch wheels, disc brakes at all corners (from a C5 Vette), and quite a few suspension mods such as coilovers, two-inch drop spindles, and upper and lower control arms. Highlights include the metallic green exterior, replacement panels, GTO hood and doors, quad headlights, chrome bumpers, a third brake light and door handles from a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix.
![1964 pontiac tempest 1964 pontiac tempest](https://dealeraccelerate-all.s3.amazonaws.com/mce/images/7/2/0/720/47075b169d933_hd_1964-pontiac-tempest-custom.jpg)
Once a four-door station wagon, this Tempest is now a bespoke two-door model, courtesy of a two-door Chevelle donor car. Such a car is currently getting auctioned off through Bring a Trailer, except someone decided to make a lot of visual and mechanical upgrades to it. The Tempest then went on to win an award or two, but never to critical acclaim.Īmong its many available body styles was that of a station wagon, which of course was the more practical choice, although maybe not the best looking. It all started with Pontiac looking for a way to break through in the compact segment, and while the first suggestion was to simply produce a Chevy Corvair clone, GM eventually let Pontiac come up with a completely new design, one that allowed for a surprisingly roomy interior.