10k: Show Winner: 1961 Pontiac Tempest Sedan
Cars that take first prize in things like the Pontiac Oakland Club International car show are not typically in the DT price range. However, a Trophy 4 powered Tempest 4-door isn’t exactly a highly desired collector car, so it isn’t surprising that the nicest one around is offered for about the same price as a burnt out hulk of a 911 chassis. Find this 1961 Pontiac Tempest Sedan offered for $11,000 in Minneapolis, MN via hemmings.
The first thing that jumps right out is the strange aftermarket rear fender skirt (which could be easily removed by a new owner if those sort of things offend you), but that second thing is that is a really nice looking unrestored car from the 60s. The seller claims only 18k miles on the odometer and one two owners since new.
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“O, wonder!
How many goodly Pontiacs are there here!
How beauteous this Tempest is! O brave new world,
That has such a car in't!”
I suppose somebody should say something about this car. It is rather cool. Fine, now I have. Or, just put it back into the bottle that is Hemmings.
Nice, K2MC! Way to class up da joint…
The best I could do is "The past is prologue", but I could not think of a clever segue, so I let it go.
Oh yeah, I am supposed to say something relevant about this car: actually I like it. If it truly is a survivor, my hat is off to both of its guardians over the last 54 years.
Thanks, Bobinott. Here's to ya!
Who would take this to a car show in the early 1970's?
The trophy four is shaking, litter ally, and may have something to do with total disinterest, but I love this car and the colors nd interior make it what it is. Not many know of all of the groundbreaking for US car technology that is in it.
I have to wonder why someone would go to all the trouble and expense of preserving such a pedestrian car. I mean, groundbreaking technology or not, this car is the early sixties version of a Cavalier. Makes me think that somewhere out there, someone is sitting on a low mileage Cav and thinking: "my time is coming, just a few more years."
As far as I'm concerned, there are very few pre-bumper and especially pre-smog cars that should NOT be preserved.
I'm not really into the baby-kustom thing, but I'm happy to see this one around.
Now, 'preservation' has different meanings for different people, and I'd ask 'has anyone figured out how to put a Corvette transaxle into one of these?'
Do you get a discount in Hemmings if you display one of their stickers in the side window of the car you are listing?
It is a freakishly unblemished example, even underneath.
The fender skirts are easily removable but tell you all you need to know about the owner.