1962 Pontiac Tempest

1962 Pontiac Tempest

A minor exception to that was the compact 1962 Pontiac Tempest, significant for having GM’s first postwar 4 cylinder engine, a flexible driveshaft, and a rear transaxle (transmission in unit with the differential ) associated to independent link-type suspension. One enthusiast magazine called Tempest “a prototype of the Yank vehicle for the ’60s,” but no other U.S. make would have a rear transaxle and independent rear suspension till the Chevrolet Corvette and Plymouth Prowler of ’97.
Like a speedometer cable, the 1962 Pontiac Tempest ‘s “rope” driveshaft carried rotary motion thru a long, delicately curved bar underneath the floor. Thin, but lightly stressed inside a steel case, it was mounted on bearings and permanently lubed. The driveshaft’s slight sag allowed a lower transmission tunnel in front, though not in back; it also eliminated the need for U-joints and authorized softer engine mounts for better interior isolation.
The rear transaxle, a first for Detroit (but not the world ), made Tempest less nose-heavy than typical cousins Olds F-85 and Buick Special. But though its independent rear suspension was ostensibly superior, it was susceptible to unexpected oversteer that might be alarming, especially on wet roads. Still, the 1962 Pontiac Tempest handled well — more so than Chevy’s rear-engine Corvair, even though both used easy but difficult swing axles in back.
The 1st 112-inch-wheelbase 1962 Pontiac Tempest used a unitized Y-body structure changed from the 1st Corvairs, as did the F-85 and Special. The standard slant-four teamed with manual and automated transaxles, and was offered in tunes to suit regular or premium gas. By 1963, horsepower Was 115-166 ( vs 110/130 in ’61).
Optionally available for 1962 Pontiac Tempest was the Special’s 215-cid aluminum V-8 with 155/185 bhp. This gave way for ’63 to a debored 326-cid version of the Pontiac 389 packing 260 bhp. So supplied, a Tempest could scale 0-60 miles per hour in 9.5 seconds and reach 115 mph.
1962 Pontiac Tempest bowed with a single series listing standard- and Custom-trim four-door notchback sedans and four-door Safari lorries with one-piece rear “liftgate.” Coupes appeared at midseason with bench- or bucket-seat interiors, the latter christened LeMans. Custom and LeMans convertibles were added for 1962 Pontiac Tempest and proved quite popular, prompting a separate LeMans series for ’63.
Styling did not change much. A twin-oval grille was used for ’61, a full-width three-section affair for 1962 Pontiac Tempest, a different split grille and squared-up body lines for ’63. Prices also failed to change much, with many models in the $2200-$2500 region.

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