Pontiac Tempest

The Pontiac Tempest began in 1961 as an innovative compact on the Y-body platform, featuring a rear-mounted transaxle and a flexible 'rope drive' driveshaft. It offered a standard 195 cubic inch inline-4, with an optional aluminum Buick 215 V8. For 1964, the Tempest moved to the new, conventional A-body platform it shared with the GTO, Chevelle, and Cutlass, setting the stage for the muscle car era.

Collectors appreciate the Tempest for its dual identity. The early 1961-1963 models are sought for their unique engineering, while the 1964-1970 A-body cars are valued as a more accessible alternative to the GTO. Many Tempests were well-optioned from the factory and some featured Pontiac's advanced OHC inline-6 engine starting in 1966. Because they share a platform with the GTO, many have been cloned, so originality is a key value driver.

The current market reflects this wide variety, with an average sale price around $23,500. The broad range, from a few hundred dollars to $45,000, separates rough project cars from restored V8-powered convertibles and well-built GTO tributes. Base sedans and coupes remain affordable classics, while top-trim LeMans models command higher prices.

Prices range from $428 for project cars to $45,000 for restored or high-performance examples.