To broaden the appeal of its compact Tempest, introduced for the 1961 model year, Pontiac added a convertible model to the lineup for 1962. Even in its debut year, the drop-top Tempest was a hit, selling 20,675 units, enough to make it the third-most popular variant in the model’s lineup. How many survive today is anyone's guess, but this 1962 Pontiac Tempest convertible, for sale on Hemmings.com, appears to be a particularly nice example. Said to be rust-free, the Tempest benefits from a laundry list of recent work, including a new timing chain and fresh gaskets for the 194.5-cu.in. four-cylinder engine. The dealer-installed air conditioning is currently inoperable, but with a new convertible top already in place, will the car's next owner even care? From the seller’s description:
VERY RARE 1962 PONTIAC TEMPEST W/LE MANS PACKAGE, CONVERTIBLE! ORIGINALLY FROM NEW MEXICO (RUST FREE!!). HERE'S ALL I'VE DONE SINCE I ACQUIRED THE CAR FROM A FRIEND OF MINE:
- Pulled engine and completely cleaned and painted correct Pontiac robin's egg blue
- Completely sanded and painted engine compartment arctic white
- Completely sanded and painted trunk compartment arctic white
- Resealed engine (new gaskets)
- Installed new water pump
- Installed new rear main seal
- Installed new timing chain
- Installed new points and condenser
- Installed newly refurbished Rochester carburetor specifically for 1962 Tempest
- Installed new heater core
- Installed new radiator
- Installed dual master cylinder (for '69 to '73 Javelin) on brakes
- Completely serviced engine, transmission, rear end
- As far as I can tell, the mileage is original because of the great condition of the interior (see below) and the brake pedal and emergency brake pedal (used as parking brake since there is no "park") are not overly worn.
- Installed new wheel cylinders
- Installed "era-correct" power steering box and pump, making the car super-easy to steer - '55 to '63 GM components
Exterior
- Original color was cameo white; the top was cameo white. I like the bright white better. I hope you do too.
- New arctic white paint, base coat-clear coat
- Polished the grille (see pictures)
- All chrome is original (some of the pieces could be rechromed)
- Brand new "skinny white wall" tires
- Wheels are 5 on 4-1/2, 15x4.5 and have been painted white rather than black. Also to be noted, contrary to later model cars, the studs on the driver side are left hand thread, passenger side right hand thread. You classic car buys will remember this I'm sure
- Completely cleaned, scraped, and repainted underside of car
- New "Chevy white" (white-white) convertible top installed
- New black boot (see picture)
- New brake adjusters; brakes have a little over 50% left
INTERIOR:
- Original factory clock (on dash) has been rebuilt and works like "clockwork"
- New door jamb switches and headlight switch
- Brand new door panels
- All new window rubber, except for windshield
- Installed new top switch. Can't buy a '62 top switch any more, but I used a '68 GTO top switch and converted it; it looks almost original. Top goes down and up smoothly
- The seat upholstery front and back is original, and is in great condition - no rips, tears or blemishes. All it needed was a good cleaning and conditioning with Meguiar's leather cleaning/conditioning cream
- The carpet is also original and is in decent condition (looks very nice, see pictures), but could stand to be replaced eventually
- The Tempest also has dealer-installed air conditioning which works, but does need to be recharged. We didn't recharge the A/C, because while driving to car shows/cruise-ins in the summer, the top was always down!
1962 Pontiac Tempest
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Photo: David LaChance
An Annual Event
This unrestored 1931 Bugatti Type 37 is no stranger to the world of vintage racing, nor is its owner, Sandy Leith. Known as "The Scrambling Egg" from its prewar racing days as part of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), it's a mainstay of Veteran Sports Car Club of America events. The original Bugatti engine was replaced by a Ford Model B four-cylinder in 1935.
Photo: David LaChance
The Wilbraham Hill Climb was revived in 2013, as part of the town's 250th anniversary, by local automotive collector George Holman and the Vintage Sports Car Club of America (VSCCA). The success of the event led Holman to continue it on a semi-annual basis. The Covid pandemic and other complications left the hill climb in limbo until 2022, when Holman approached Jeff DeMarey, who had helped in the past. With DeMarey as chairman, and under the auspices of the Springfield to Boston Education Foundation, the hill climb was revived last year as an annual event.
Buick-Powered Ford Sets Fastest Time
Taking first place with a fastest run of 48.40 seconds was this 1932 Ford five-window coupe, driven by James Maloney. The Ford is powered by a Buick "nailhead" V-8.
Photo: David LaChance
The hill climb is open to pre-1959 vehicles. For this year's event, held May 11, there were 21 participants, ranging in age from a 1912 Ford Model T to a 1956 Porsche 356A coupe, with sports cars, vintage race cars, and unmodified sedans all competing. The fastest ascent of the day, 48.40 seconds, was set by a Buick-powered 1932 Ford five-window coupe, with second taken by "The Old Gray Mare," a 1935 Reuter Ford V-8 Special driven by Ben Bragg IV, with a fastest run of 50.55 seconds.
To Benefit Automotive Education
Among the many crowd-pleasers was a 1912 Mercer Raceabout, entered by the Heritage Museums & Gardens of Sandwich, Massachusetts, and driven by Jon Elmendorf, the museum's auto collection manager.
Photo: David LaChance
The hill climb benefits the Springfield to Boston Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to educate students on all levels about antique transportation. Jeff, a director of the organization as well as chair of the event, told Hemmings that the hill climb and its associated car show, craft show, plant sale, food vendors, and DJ drew an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 people to downtown Wilbraham.
The 2025 event is scheduled for May 10. "Come and have fun, bring the family, support small businesses, and see the cars move," Jeff said. The event is sponsored by the LUSO Federal Credit Union, Genesis of Northampton, WARE Radio, the Valenti Auto Group, and Stonewall Insurance Group.
From Model Ts to Porsches
Photo: David LaChance
Another celebrated ARCA veteran, this Ford-powered 1935 Amilcar was entered by Tom Ellsworth.
When one thinks of the automobile in Americana lore, a few key models springs to mind: the Ford Model T as the car that democratized the automobile; the 1957 Chevrolet as the pinnacle of the good times of the 1950s and 1960s; the 1965 Ford Mustang as the car that was aimed directly at the Baby Boomer market right as they came of age. These are the cars you see everywhere, and for good reason. The 1932 Ford is another one of those icons: the car that many people immediately think of when they hear the term "hot rod". Used up Model Bs and Model 18s found new life with those who craved speed and had the mechanical know-how to build with their hands. War veterans who had tasted adrenaline found them affordable and easy to craft into something that could bring that thrill to them every day, if desired.
Over time, basic jalopies would morph into gorgeous, detailed builds. While a real racer would still have the grit and grime, a street-going build didn't need to be rough and raw. Custom builds with as much thought put into appearances and comfort as had been placed into the chassis, suspension and engine would bring these once-discarded machines new life, one that enshrined them into the American lore of cars and the high times of the 1950s and 1960s. The hamburger stand cruise-in scene wouldn't be right without a Deuce parked up, engine exposed, sitting amongst the Bel Airs and Belvederes.
This 1932 Ford Model B roadster that is currently up for auction on Hemmings.com is a great example of the type. It's simple in appearance and detailed in execution. Nearly six figures were spent to bring the Ford to what you see in the photos. but the car isn't busy and over-wrought with frivolous extras. The House of Kolor Lime Gold Pearl is only accentuated by the Ivory-colored chassis and areas in the engine bay and interior. On the body, some tasteful pinstriping work can be found, as well as custom touches like the 1939 Chevrolet tail lights and 1940 Packard headlight buckets. American Racing "Salt Flat" wheels are wrapped in Coker wide-whitewall tires. The dashboard is a narrowed unit from a 1940 Ford. The body is from Rod Bods Down Under, is channeled over Dearborn Deuce frame rails and features a working cowl vent and stock door hinges.
Hot rods of this nature used any engine that the builder could find that would provide the power. A built Chevrolet 350-cu.in. V-8 does the trick nicely without breaking the budget, but efforts have been made to keep the classic appearance up, which is best shown with the Edelbrock triple-carburetor manifold and Rochester carburetors. The power is sent through a four-speed to a Curries 8-inch rear axle with a Trak-Lok.
A 1932 Ford roadster isn't going to be an everyday driver. This is a fair-weather machine, the car to bring out just before the sun begins to sink into the West. This is a cruiser, a pleasure machine, a car you want to be seen driving. You want streetlights and neon signs reflecting off of the paint. You want people to ask you about this car. That's the idea behind many of the icons of American machines: they were enjoyed as part of a social interaction - like a cruise-in, for example.
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