1964 Pontiac Tempest Station Wagon

Debuting in 1961, the Pontiac Tempest experienced unprecedented sales during 1964 with the introduction of a new version. After GM’s official departure from racing, Pontiac executives were freed from using their most powerful motors in the large stock sedans that ran NASCAR. The Tempest ofcered a perfect mid-size platform for larger engines, and the resulting Tempest Le Mans GTO became one of history’s most famous American muscle cars.

This Tempest Station Wagon is one of just over 2,200 examples optioned with the V-8 in 1964, making it by far the most exclusive and versatile of the available body styles. The car was retained by its original owners (a California couple) for many years, accruing approximately 88,000 miles. After a decade in storage with the subsequent owner, the Tempest was cosmetically and mechanically restored in 1998 with its only known repaint and a re-chroming of much of the brightwork.

Tasteful mechanical upgrades included the addition of front disc brakes, a larger front sway bar, a Desert Cooler four-core radiator, a Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 transmission, and an aluminum intake manifold with a Carter four-barrel carburetor. Documented with the original registration card and photos of the repaint, this charming stateside cruiser is ideally specified for enjoyable weekend outings and would be the toast of any American car show.