Editing Pontiac Tempest (section)

{{Short description|Automobile manufactured by Pontiac (1960-1991)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox automobile
| name = Pontiac Tempest
| image = 1967 Pontiac Tempest (17481430724).jpg
| caption = 1967 Pontiac Tempest
| manufacturer = [[Pontiac (automobile)|Pontiac]] ([[General Motors]])
| assembly = [[Pontiac Assembly]], [[Pontiac, Michigan]]
| production = 1960–1970<br/>1987–1991
| successor = [[Pontiac LeMans|LeMans]] and [[Pontiac Grand Am|Grand Am]]
}}

The '''Tempest''' is an [[automobile]] that was produced by [[Pontiac (automobile)|Pontiac]] from 1960 to 1970, and again from 1987 to 1991.

The Tempest was introduced as an entry-level [[compact car|compact]] in October 1960 at the [[Paris Auto Show]] for the 1961 model year.<ref>''Road Research Report: Pontiac Tempest'' Sports Car Illustrated, vol. 6, March 1961, p. 9</ref> Built on GM's first [[unibody]] chassis, its new [[GM Y platform|Y-platform]] was shared with the [[Buick Special]]/[[Buick Skylark|Skylark]] and [[Oldsmobile F-85]]/[[Oldsmobile Cutlass|Cutlass]].

While the Buick and Olds versions used a conventional drivetrain, the Pontiac had a unique, innovative design. The Tempest featured a [[Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout|front-engine/rear]]-[[transaxle]] layout that very nearly resulted in an ideal 50/50 weight distribution, together with [[independent rear suspension]] for nimble [[automobile handling|handling]] (a [[swing axle]] design similar to the [[Chevy Corvair]]). A [[Slant-4 engine]] connected to the 2-speed [[Automatic transmission|automatic]] [[transaxle]] via a [[Torque tube|flexible "rope" drive shaft]]. This configuration eliminated the driveshaft hump, yielding a flat floor with increased interior space. The Pontiac "[[Pontiac Trophy 4 engine|Trophy-4]]" was also unique, created by basically halving a standard [[Pontiac V8 engine|Pontiac V8]] block. 

Buick's aluminum 215 V8 was also optional in 1961 and 1962, but very few Tempests were so equipped. The Tempest line offered an optional [[Pontiac LeMans|LeMans]] trim upgrade. 

In 1964 the Tempest was redesigned as a [[mid-size]] car on the updated [[GM A platform|GM A-body]] platform, which used a conventional drivetrain. The base Tempest, Tempest Custom, and Lemans became separate trim packages, with an optional [[Pontiac GTO|GTO]] performance option available on the LeMans for 1964 and 1965. The GTO was offered as a separate model line beginning in 1966. The Tempest name was retired after 1970, replaced by the T-37 as the base model, which in turn gave way to the LeMans name in 1972.

In Canada from 1987 to 1991, Pontiac marketed a [[badge engineering|rebadged]] version of the compact [[GM L platform|L-body]] [[Chevrolet Corsica]] under the revived ''Tempest'' name. 
{{-}}