1964 Pontiac Tempest

1964 Pontiac Tempest Custom

The Story Behind the Build

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.

Restoration 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.

Quick Specs

Year
1964
Make
Pontiac
Model
Tempest Custom
Era
Muscle Era
Status
In Progress
Style
Muscle Car
Displacement
326ci
Horsepower
250 hp
Drivetrain
rwd
Exhaust
Pypes Street Pro
Paint
Aquamarine

Owner

Kevin Nord

Kevin Nord

@kevnord · 1 vehicle

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Photos (2)

1964 Pontiac Tempest
1964 Pontiac Tempest

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