1964 Pontiac Tempest Custom
My name is Kevin, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to own a 1964 Pontiac Tempest Custom—a car with deep family roots. My grandmother bought it brand new in ’64, and years later, it became my first project car. I fixed it up as a teenager, just in time to hit the road when I got my driver’s license. Life took me in a different direction after high school—I moved away for college, and the Tempest sat untouched at my parents’ house in dry, warm Central California for nearly 30 years. At one point, I nearly sold it, but my high school friends convinced me to hang onto it. Looking back, that was absolutely the right call. 🙂 In 2023, I finally had it shipped to Washington, bringing it home after decades apart. When it arrived, I stood there staring at it—maybe it was the fog in the air, but the moment felt surreal, almost like a dream.
Specs
Displacement
326ci
Engine Type
V8
Fuel
Gasoline
Horsepower
250 hp
Trans. Type
Automatic
Speeds
2
Drivetrain
rwd
Exhaust
Pypes Street Pro
Paint Color
Aquamarine
Owners
2
Photos
Build Timeline
Harness Replacement
June 2024
Just when I thought I was done working on the car until the “off-season” (aka: Winter), I discovered a major safety issue that couldn’t be ignored. Multiple live power wires coming through the firewall had melted their insulation and were bare. Not. Good. I ended up replacing the engine, forward lamp, and dash harnesses. I was already planning to replace the engine and lamp ones as they were very rigid and brittle.