The Pontiac that made GTO fans jealous in the ’70s

The greatest mystery in automotive history is GM’s decision to ban its divisions from equipping engines larger than 400 cubic inches in mid-size vehicles on the eve of the Golden Age of American Muscle. In fact, a case can be made that GM’s arbitrary edict resulted in the creation of muscle cars because Pontiac’s then chief engineer, John DeLorean, was annoyed by the corporate rule and packed as much power as possible, according to the rules, into the GTO, which launched the craze in 1964. The OG GOAT was great and spawned dozens of imitators, but it could have been so much better.

The 1964 GTO was actually a high-performance version of the Pontiac Tempest and the first muscle car of the classic era, but it was limited by GM’s iron fist to a 348-hp, 389-cubic-inch V-8. That’s actually not terrible, but a year earlier Pontiac developed a monster version of the Tempest, equipped with a 421 cubic inch V-8, a drag strip superstar, with ETs in the 12s and even 11s. This was the car John DeLorean wanted to build, but was handcuffed by GM’s senseless ban. You could say the 1963 Tempest Super Duty attracted more attention than the GTO, but it was so rare that most people had never seen one; however, it certainly broke more necks with its explosive acceleration.

1963 Pontiac Tempest Super Duty Perfect Storm

Mecum

GM actually sent a cease and desist order to Chevrolet for their 427-equipped drag car Impala Z11, as well as to Pontiac for the also track-ready Catalina Super Duty. Pontiac, which was developing the 421 cubic inch V-8 for NHRA and possibly NASCAR applications, was excited about GM banning racing participation and high-performance engines, so they looked for a solution to use up their existing inventory. The Catalina was a full-size ride that they stripped down and lightened, including drilling holes in the frame of the infamous 1963 “Swiss Cheese” Pontiac. Some genius at Pontiac had the idea to put the 421 in their compact model, which was already lightweight, and so the Tempest Super Duty was born.

’63 Pontiac Tempest Super Duty specs

The second-generation Tempest, which served as the basis for the 1964 GTO, was a medium-duty car, but in 1963 it was a compact car with a shorter wheelbase and less bulk than the car that would usher in the Golden Age of American power. On the other hand, as a compact car with a powerful engine, the ’63 Tempest SD was launched with great fury off the line. This car was actually scrapped to get around GM’s impending major engine ban, so it wasn’t something to meet homologation requirements and was therefore produced in extremely limited numbers. Only twelve were ever built, six of which were two-door coupes and six two-door wagons. They were also never sold at dealerships, as many factory drag cars were, and were instead distributed directly to drivers or racing teams, although apparently one of the cars found its way to a non-pro for the ultimate grocery store.

The Dual-Quad 421 SD V8 remains a marvel to this day

Mecum

Normally converting a large engine into a compact engine requires extensive modifications, but the 421 had similar dimensions to the 389 it replaced under the hood of the Tempest SD, so there weren’t many problems. The battery was moved to the trunk, but that was more for weight redistribution. The engine was equipped with two four-barrel Carter carburetors, and the “bathtub” manifold is considered one of the best intakes ever made. Adding to the weight was the Tempest SD’s rear-mounted Powershift transmission, which essentially consisted of two automatics mated to a single four-speed gearbox that allowed clutchless shifting. The 421 SD V-8 was underrated at 405 horsepower, but was certainly closer to 500 ponies, and even more when tuned for the track.

Super performance that is the real story of legends

Mecum

The reason the 421 cubic inch SD V-8 couldn’t possibly have been a 405-horsepower engine is that drivers in the twelfth century were getting quarter-mile ETs, and that number of ponies, even in a compact like the Tempest SD, usually equates to a 14-second run. There are no motoring press test drives of this car, so no official acceleration figures exist, but word of mouth suggests that Tempest SD could run in the 12.0-12.5 second range. There is an unverified report of the car covering a quarter mile in 11.87 seconds, albeit with a race-tuned engine and other performance enhancements. There is no reason to doubt that burning time; it’s just not officially recorded anywhere. The bottom line is that this sucker can fly straight from the factory and unleash all hell when properly tuned.

A super duty barn find

Mecum

In 2008, someone listed a 1963 Pontiac Tempest LeMans on eBay with an opening bid of $500, which at first glance seemed like a pipe dream. The car was in rough condition with lots of rust and no engine, but some enticing aspects of the car piqued the interest of enthusiasts. In the listing, the seller mentioned that the car had plexiglass side windows, which was certainly not a factory option, but certainly the hallmark of a factory tow car. Next, the Tempest had an aluminum front end, which is also a trademark of a track car, and then some internet sleuths decoded the serial number to find out that it was one of six Tempest Super Duty coupe drag cars. This wasn’t just any random ride, but actually the car that driver Stan Antlocer campaigned in the 1963 NHRA AF/X class and was sponsored by Stan Long Pontiac in Detroit.

Antlocer tuned the engine and modified the transmission, as well as the rear end, transforming it into an 11.87-second car, prompting him to paint “World’s Fastest Tempest” on the side panels. Antlocer sold the car and lost track of it, after which it somehow ended up engineless in a random shed, where it was neglected for decades. Once eBayers identified it, the sad $500 Tempest grew into a unicorn car that sold for $226,521. The winning bidder ultimately returned the car to Antlocer condition, including the side lettering. The craziest part about this story is that the seller tried to send it to the car crusher, but there wasn’t enough room on the truck, so he thought he would try to get a few dollars for it on eBay, which worked out pretty well for him.

Super Duty cars are super collectibles

Mecum

With twelve copies (six coupes and six wagons), the 1963 Pontiac Tempest Super Duty is already one of the rarest muscle cars of all time. However, there is reason to believe that only three of them still exist, making the unicorn almost a Holy Grail car. There have been five known auction sales, but that only represents three cars, and one of those auctions is in dispute. Hagerty claims a ’63 Tempest SD sold for $588,000 in 2007, but there is no corroborating evidence that this ever happened. 10 Most Expensive Pontiacs Ever Sold at Auction list, the vehicle is not listed.

1963 Tempest Super Duty Auction Sale

• 2007: Tempest Super Duty Coupe – $588,000 (mecum)

• 2008: Tempest Super Duty Coupe – $226,521 (Ebay)

• 2010: Tempest Super Duty Wagon – $450,000 (mecum)

• 2010: Tempest Super Duty Coupe – $482,000 (mecum)

• 2014: Tempest Super Duty Coupe – $335,500 (Russo & Steele)

That car photo above was definitely sold by Mecum in 2010, as was a coupe in the same year. The Stan Antlocer car was sold as a project in 2008 and the restored version was listed on I Kissimmee 2013 but failed to reach reserve and was eventually sold at a Russo & Steele auction the following year. It is possible that the second surviving coupe was once owned by John DeLorean’s brother, George, and there are rumors that “Wild Bill” Shrewsberry still has his Tempest SD, but there is no evidence of this. Five of the six carriages are missing and presumed missing, while two or possibly three compartments still exist, making for one of the greatest collectibles of all time.

The ’63 Pontiac Tempest Super Duty legacy

Mecum

While it seems unusual for a car that most people have never heard of to be important, the 1963 Pontiac Tempest Super Duty may be the most consequential American performance car ever. This is what John DeLorean envisioned as a cool and fast car that would appeal to younger buyers. Unfortunately, GM banned cool bikes in 1963, so DeLorean had to get creative with his idea for an affordable, youth-oriented speed machine in 1964. Featuring the largest sub-400 engine available to Pontiac, Delorean crafted a 348-horsepower 389 cubic-inch V-8 with three two-barrel carburetors and placed it under the hood of a second-generation Tempest, which he dubbed the GTO.

The GTO was such a resounding success that all other car manufacturers scrambled to copy it. This was the launch of the Golden Era of American Muscle, where Chevelles, Chargers and Road Runners all tried to capture the public’s attention the way the GTO did. There wouldn’t have been any of the great rides of the classic era if the GTO had never existed, and that first Pontiac muscle car owes its existence to the ’63 Tempest Super Duty. The obscure and decidedly awesome factory drag car was the seed that grew into the classic muscle cars of the Golden Age, which is why it can be considered the most important set of wheels in American performance history.