1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

vin63 · 05-17-2017, 03:15 PM

I finally got my Custom Convertible Tempest back up and running, and made the 60 mile freeway round trip to the SoCal Chapter Pontiac Oakland Int'l Club annual show this past weekend.

I acquired the car from the original owner's family after talking with them in 2011. It was ordered by the father (a local physician) for his mom in 1963 through Ebersole Pontiac in Lebanon, PA. It was oddly optioned - ordered with power brakes and power steering, 4 bbl 195 ci 4 cylinder (half of a 389), with the Custom option (Triton upholstery, custom steering wheel, and wheel covers - typically found on the Lemans model).

After paint, new top, re-chrome and hunting down parts, the original exhaust crossover/manifold heater finally fell apart from corrosion. This exhaust leak started the proverbial ball rolling that led to a complete engine, front suspension rebuild, one-year-only gas tank restoration.

**GR8-68** · 05-17-2017, 03:20 PM

Thank you for sharing, and that is one beautiful and unique ride

vin63 · 05-17-2017, 03:20 PM

Thanks! I had to weld up a couple of sizable holes in the gas tank, and went through a restoration process that included coating the tank inside and out.

vin63 · 05-17-2017, 03:30 PM

Half a V8 installed and running...

Pontiac Trophy 4 start up - YouTube

vin63 · 05-17-2017, 03:34 PM

During the engine and front end rebuild, I had Ron Mangus repair the front seat that was starting to show its wear from being in a convertible...The seat back side caps were replaced, as well as the three middle panels of the seat bottom.

Keith Seymore · 05-17-2017, 07:01 PM

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

I love the color and I have always loved those wheelcovers.

Mine looks pretty plain in comparison.

K

vin63 · 05-17-2017, 08:52 PM

Very cool Lemans!

We had a great turnout of the Western Region Little Indians Chapter - 16 1961-63 Tempest Lemans showed up (17 registered), with one unable to make it due to a family emergency the day before - for our first show/get-together within the POCI show.

**Clyde65** · 05-17-2017, 10:01 PM

Nice car! Love the oldies!

67ChevyRedneck · 05-18-2017, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

K

There were so many beautiful cars built by Buick/Olds/Pontiac that just never got the love they deserved. Heck, it's getting rare to even see a GTO or Firebird at a large show anymore.

Great job on not only bringing it back to life, but to such a high original standard.

vin63 · 05-18-2017, 12:12 PM

Thanks! I agree, the BOP models of that era were great examples of a departure from traditional designs at that time. My favorite was the 1963 Catalina Ventura with the stacked headlights, but the 1963 Buick Riviera is probably the best of that model year.

While the front seat upholstery was getting resurrected, I addressed the non-functioning radio, and went with an AM/FM stereo conversion w/MP3, and upgraded the dash speakers and went with some under seat speakers from Custom Autosound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQPKOJzkPyk

Keith Seymore · 05-18-2017, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin63

My favorite was the 1963 Catalina Ventura with the stacked headlights,

(lol - had one of those, too).

K

vin63 · 05-18-2017, 12:55 PM

That's incredibly cool. I'm planning on heading to Dallas/Ft. Worth for the POCI Convention in July, and hoping to find a '63 Cat.

Keith Seymore · 05-18-2017, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin63

... and hoping to find a '63 Cat.

That's what I was after as well, but ended up with a '63 GP instead.

K

RustyBucket · 05-18-2017, 04:30 PM

Very pretty little convt.!! Innovative car also, 4 cyl, I.R.S., flexible driveshaft, transaxle. I remember them with a 326 V8 also. I'm OLD, I remember Mickey Thompson did some crazy stuff with that 4cyl. .. so I think the M/T valve cover is a fitting tribute.
My second car in high school was a well used '64 GTO post car... still like 'em & '61 full size cars

vin63 · 05-18-2017, 07:44 PM

Thanks! I went with new stands and roller rockers, so the original valve cover was not going to work without a spacer, and those Pontiac valve cover spacers are $100...ugh! I had a few M/T valve covers laying about, so I painted one to match. The other thing I had to go with was a spare Ram Air III exhaust manifold to replace the OE manifold that was not salvageable...almost no one noticed it at the show.

**Clyde65** · 05-19-2017, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin63

That's incredibly cool. I'm planning on heading to Dallas/Ft. Worth for the POCI Convention in July, and hoping to find a '63 Cat.

Hey Vin63,

Like this one?

https://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/cto/6099697385.html

vin63 · 05-19-2017, 10:11 PM

More like this Ventura optioned Cat that I foolishly passed on a few years back.

vin63 · 06-06-2017, 05:51 PM

Over the weekend, I made it to the Friends of Steve McQueen fundraiser car and motorcycle show that benefits the Boys Republic - https://stevemcqueencarshow.com/
It's one of the cooler events as it has a great mix of vehicle types and manufacturers.

**68SWB4x4** · 06-23-2017, 05:48 PM

Cool car such an interesting looking engine!

vin63 · 10-12-2017, 02:35 PM

Since PB changed their format...

vin63 · 10-12-2017, 02:40 PM

From the SoCal Pontiac Oakland Club annual show (top) and the Friends of Steve McQueen annual fundraiser for the Boys Republic in Chino Hills (bottom).

KShortell · 11-07-2017, 10:35 AM

Outstanding!

05-17-2017, 03:15 PM	#1
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible I finally got my Custom Convertible Tempest back up and running, and made the 60 mile freeway round trip to the SoCal Chapter Pontiac Oakland Int'l Club annual show this past weekend. I acquired the car from the original owner's family after talking with them in 2011. It was ordered by the father (a local physician) for his mom in 1963 through Ebersole Pontiac in Lebanon, PA. It was oddly optioned - ordered with power brakes and power steering, 4 bbl 195 ci 4 cylinder (half of a 389), with the Custom option (Triton upholstery, custom steering wheel, and wheel covers - typically found on the Lemans model). After paint, new top, re-chrome and hunting down parts, the original exhaust crossover/manifold heater finally fell apart from corrosion. This exhaust leak started the proverbial ball rolling that led to a complete engine, front suspension rebuild, one-year-only gas tank restoration. __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes Last edited by vin63; 05-17-2017 at 08:46 PM.

05-17-2017, 03:20 PM	#2
GR8-68 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Belews Creek , NC Posts: 4,220	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible Thank you for sharing, and that is one beautiful and unique ride __________________ Larry It is easily overlooked that what is now called vintage was once brand new. "Project 68" paypal.me/ldgrant

05-17-2017, 03:20 PM	#3
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible Thanks! I had to weld up a couple of sizable holes in the gas tank, and went through a restoration process that included coating the tank inside and out. __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

05-17-2017, 03:34 PM	#5
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible During the engine and front end rebuild, I had Ron Mangus repair the front seat that was starting to show its wear from being in a convertible...The seat back side caps were replaced, as well as the three middle panels of the seat bottom. __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

05-17-2017, 07:01 PM	#6
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,226	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! I love the color and I have always loved those wheelcovers. Mine looks pretty plain in comparison. K Attached Images __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/

05-17-2017, 08:52 PM	#7
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible Very cool Lemans! We had a great turnout of the Western Region Little Indians Chapter - 16 1961-63 Tempest Lemans showed up (17 registered), with one unable to make it due to a family emergency the day before - for our first show/get-together within the POCI show. __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

05-17-2017, 10:01 PM	#8
Clyde65 1965 Chevy C10, 2005 4.8L/4l60 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 8,546	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible Nice car! Love the oldies! __________________ Clyde65 Rebuild of Clyde http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post8338184 69 Aristocrat Lo Liner build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post7561684 *support our troops!*

05-18-2017, 12:55 PM	#12
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible That's incredibly cool. I'm planning on heading to Dallas/Ft. Worth for the POCI Convention in July, and hoping to find a '63 Cat. __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

05-18-2017, 04:30 PM	#14
RustyBucket Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Space Coast, Fl. Posts: 1,055	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible Very pretty little convt.!! Innovative car also, 4 cyl, I.R.S., flexible driveshaft, transaxle. I remember them with a 326 V8 also. I'm OLD, I remember Mickey Thompson did some crazy stuff with that 4cyl. .. so I think the M/T valve cover is a fitting tribute. My second car in high school was a well used '64 GTO post car... still like 'em & '61 full size cars __________________ Dad always said, "Son, WISH IN ONE HAND, and ......." -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Current toy trucks: '71 GMC 1500 SUPER CUSTOM short/step, orig. dk. blue, 350/700r, ps,pb, A/C '72 Blazer 2wd, ochre & white, 454, tremecTKO 500 5spd. ps, pb, A/C, tilt Last 10yrs of hobby vehicles, had a FEW more in the 50yrs. before these: '66 Plymouth Belvedere City of Miami cop car clone. '70 Nova 406"sb, 13.5-1, solid roller, Brodix, p.glide/t.brake, back halved, 9" Ford, spool 4.88, cage,ladder bar/coilover, 10.5 tire....... SOLD!! '67 C10 short/step side mount spare -- SOLD!! '72 Jimmy 2wd, 350/350, ps, pb, fun driver, lots of bondo & a shiny red paint job..... SOLD!! '69 Nova 350, 4spd, A/C, ps, p.b, ...SOLD!!

05-18-2017, 07:44 PM	#15
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible Thanks! I went with new stands and roller rockers, so the original valve cover was not going to work without a spacer, and those Pontiac valve cover spacers are $100...ugh! I had a few M/T valve covers laying about, so I painted one to match. The other thing I had to go with was a spare Ram Air III exhaust manifold to replace the OE manifold that was not salvageable...almost no one noticed it at the show. __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

05-19-2017, 10:11 PM	#17
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible More like this Ventura optioned Cat that I foolishly passed on a few years back. __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

06-06-2017, 05:51 PM	#18
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible Over the weekend, I made it to the Friends of Steve McQueen fundraiser car and motorcycle show that benefits the Boys Republic - https://stevemcqueencarshow.com/ It's one of the cooler events as it has a great mix of vehicle types and manufacturers. __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

06-23-2017, 05:48 PM	#19
68SWB4x4 Strongman Garage Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Salinas, CA Posts: 10,241	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible Cool car such an interesting looking engine! __________________ Kalle 68 GMC Suburban 1500 4x4 SOLD 69 Pontiac Lemans 99 Silverado 4.8 5 speed ECSB [ Facebook Instagram Subscribe on YOUTUBE

10-12-2017, 02:35 PM	#20
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible Since PB changed their format... Attached Images __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

10-12-2017, 02:40 PM	#21
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible From the SoCal Pontiac Oakland Club annual show (top) and the Friends of Steve McQueen annual fundraiser for the Boys Republic in Chino Hills (bottom). Attached Images __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes



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11-07-2017, 10:35 AM	#22
KShortell Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 734	Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible Outstanding! __________________ Semper Paratus

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