61-63 Tempests sucking wind on the PontiacRegistry.com

[super]

Really enjoy the nostalgic photos. Cool looking '63 drag car.

Jeff

[super]

Nothing like "old school" hot rods of the 60's. Even though I though I did not have the privelege to be raised in this era, I still appreciate these cars.

I think my jaw would drop to the ground if a guy opened his garage door and had something like this behind the door. Ya never know what is out there, that is for sure. I have seen some cool stuff, but nothing like that.

Never drove a straight axle rod. I am sure they would be a handful, especially with a fire breathin poncho. You'll have to post some more nostalgic photos if you have any. I am sure a lot of members would enjoy them too.

Thanks,
Jeff

[Larry]

Had a high school buddy whose older brother had a black and white '57 Chevy 2-door hardtop with straight axle in front and reversed spring/differential arrangement in back (diff mounted under the springs instead of cradled above the springs). Damn near needed a step ladder to get inside.

Never rode in it, but imagine it handled like it had rubber tie rids!

I can see the flashing sign at the base of the Skyway Bridge going to St. Petersburg and Tampa now.... "High wind warning. No motor homes or straight axle hot rods".

Another fellow in High School had a red '55 Thunderbird that the last time I saw, had a straight axle added also. Saw it once and then never heard of the guy again. Perhaps moved out of town.

Those were some exciting days!

[61TempCust]

I enjoyed reading this thread on the original little Pontiacs. The "Little Indians" website (Google It) has great info on these cars. I have a '61 Tempest Custom Coupe (made for only 3 months in 1961). My car has the 194 c.i.d. "Trophy Four" with a 1 bbl carb, and the "TempesTorque" powerglide rear transaxle, derived from the Chevy Corvair unit. I have had my Tempest five years, and hope to get around to restoring it. These very neat, and VERY Technologically advanced cars (For the day) They are inexpensive to come by, and very hard to get parts for. Mine needs floors, and all I can do is either have sheet metal from another car, or just plain galvanized sheet stock welded in. No replacement panels available like the those from '61 - '65 Chevy IIs, or 64 & up Tempest/LeMans/Malibu. These cars are quirky, too, with wheel lugs having opposite threading, depending which side of the car you are on, and the transmission dip stick and fill tube accessed though trunk floor. -TET, Hollywood, MD

[Larry]

Your Tempest coupe is a great looking little Pontiac, and today with the 4-cylinder you have a very economical cruiser. As for rarity, they are few and far between... also (unfortuantely) making parts hunting a bit of a chore.

Unless you find a floor pan from a doner car, cutting, pounding, and welding will be pretty much the only option.

My first encounter with a transaxle Tempest was a cousin's '61 4-door back in 1963. He lived in Albany, Georgia and we were visiting from Wisconsin. I was a freshman in high school. I have no idea why this 16 year old Georgia boy who came from a rather high performance car family had a 4-door sedan with a 4-cylinder, automatic. But, it was a beautiful light green with white top car.

What was the strangest of all, was that Sammy would get flying down one of the sand/dirt back roads and say "Watch this!" Then he would whip the steering wheel very quickly to one side and let go. The car would shoot to the side of the road-- surely heading right for the ditch and trees-- then ALL BY ITSELF the wheel would turn the other dirtection, shoot to the other side of the road and repeat as long as he left his hands off of the wheel.

When we got back to the house, I immediately told my dad of the magic Tempest. Naturally he did not believe it. Sooooo, Sammy took us both out and repeated the trick.

To this day we wonder what was going on, but presume it had something to do with the banks on each side of the dirt roads that would send the car back and forth. But, even more bewildering is.... how the hell did Sammy ever figure out he could do that in the first place?!?

Good luck with your Tempest restoration.... and please don't try the above trick.