1964-1965 Tempest Reference Library
 

I`ve started this so others can share materials they have found for the early intro days of the 64-65 Tempest. I am certain for those wanting to gather more info on these cars that posting here will help us.
There is a lot of material out there including strictly advertising or good Road Test articles and my favorite, significant original pictures to research how it was.
If you have original Pontiac Parts catalogs, chassis manuals, paint chip info, Inspector Guide, loose advertising, model car promotion, flash news or any pictures of the above covers, please submit here. Just pictures of these materials help others locate and verify correct items for there own collections. I do not have much 1965 materials or magazine articles so help is needed here.
I will kick us off with what I have found to date. Following the magazine I will add the review symbol:
RT= road test
GI= general intro of car
+= good usable resto pictures
MA= magazine ad included
BC=Bob Cat building

CAR LIFE JUNE 1964 RT,+
CARS THE AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE MARCH 64 RT, +
CAR CRAFT AUGUST 64 +
CAR AND DRIVER MARCH 64 RT,+
CAR AND DRIVER YEAR BOOK 1964 (not reviewed)
HOT ROD DEC 63 RT, GI
MODERN ROD MAY 64,RT
MOTOR SPORT ILLUSTRATED JAN 64 GI, +
MOTOR TREND JANUARY 64 RT,+GI
POPULAR HOT RODDING MARCH 64 GI,+,BC,RT
POPULAR MECHANICS MAY 64, MA
RODDING AND RESTYLING SEPT 64 suggests the 65 GTO
ROAD AND TRACK MARCH 64,+,RT
SPEED AND CUSTOM APRIL 64, BC (421 block in Wangers car)
SCIENCE AND MECHANICS JULY64, GI,RT
SPEED MECHANICS NOV 64, (RACING THE GTO ROAD/COURSE)

Original local 64-65 Dealer Advertising can be posted here as well. Key fob, pencil/pen, post card ads and promotion.

As I posted on the magazine thread:

I have the December '63 Hot Rod, the January '64 Motor Trend, the March '64 Car and Driver and the April '64 Car and Driver that has the original 1964 GTO Sales Brochure (complete) included in the magazine.

Besides the sales brochure in the April '64 Car and Driver magazine - I also have an original sales brochure.

I have a 1964 Pontiac Dealers Sales Manual. Don't bother asking - it's not for sale. It was my father's (he sold Pontiacs from 1963 - 1996) and I have a '64 GTO convertible.

I also acquired a 1964 Tempest/LeMans Chassis manual from the gentleman that painted my car back in the 90's.

I have a 1964 pewter GTO bank and a 1964 Estes Award plaque with a 1964 Grand Prix and a 1964 GTO on it

If someone want me to scan/photograph something for them - just let me know.

War eagle asked me to post a cover shot of the '64 Pontiac Dealers Sales Manual. It's actually a red three ring binder full of information. Later I'll shoot a photo of the binder, but here's one page of the GTO section that I have already scanned and uploaded:

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p.../GTOOption.jpg

Thanks, War eagle for getting this list started. There is lots of interesting info in these '64 magazines. I have a few more titles to add to your initial list. I copied your list into my list below so it is all together and makes for smoother reading. These magazines can still be found at automotive swap meets and even Ebay. I used the same review symbols that War eagle started as shown below.
RT = road test
GI = general intro of car
+ = good usable resto pictures
MA = magazine ad included
BC = Bobcat building

CAR & DRIVER MARCH 64 6 PG. ON 64 GTO,RT,+
CAR & DRIVER MARCH 64 REPRINT W/ GTO AD BACK CVR
CAR & DRIVER MAY 64 1 PG. ON 64 GTO,GI
CAR & DRIVER AUGUST 64 1 PG. ON 64 GTO
CAR & DRIVER YEARBOOK 64 2 PG. ON 64 LEMANS,GI
CAR CRAFT AUGUST 64 5 PG. ON 64 GTO,+
CAR LIFE NOVEMBER 63 2 PG. ON 64 LEMANS,GI
CAR LIFE JUNE 64 6 PG. ON 64 GTO,RT,+
CARS(HI Performance) MARCH 64 7 PG. ON 64 GTO,RT,+
ENGINES (BY CARS)ANNUAL 64 64 PONTIAC ENGINES,BC
HOT ROD DECEMBER 63 6 PG. ON 64 GTO,RT,GI
MECHANIX ILLUST.JANUARY 64 4 PG. ON 64 GTO
MODERN ROD MAY 64 3 PG. ON 64 GTO,RT
MOTOR CARS ILL AUGUST 64 4 PG. ON 64 GTO,GI
MOTOR SPORT ILLUST JANUARY 64 2 PG. ON 64 GTO,GI,+
MOTOR SPORT ILLUST MAY 64 2 PG. ON 64 GTO,CRITICAL COMMENTS
MOTOR SPORT ILLUST NOVEMBER 64 1 PG. ON 64 GTO
MOTOR TREND NOVEMBER 63 INSERT BROCHURE ON 64 GTO
MOTOR TREND JANUARY 64 6 PG. ON 64 GTO,RT,GI,+
MOTOR TREND APRIL 64 INSERT BROCHURE ON 64 GTO
MOTORCADE WINTER 63 2 PG. ON 64 326 HO,GI
MOTORCADE SPRING 64 2 PG. ON LEMANS/GTO
POPULAR HOT RODDING MARCH 64 10 PG. ON 64 GTO,RT,GI,BC,+
POPULAR MECHANICS May 64 MA
ROAD & TRACK MARCH 64 4 PG. ON 64 GTO,RT,GI
ROAD TEST DECEMBER 64 4 PG. ON 64-65 GTO,GI
RODDING & RESTYLING SEPTEMBER 64 3 PG. ON 64-65 GTO,STYLE FORCAST
SCIENCE & MECHANICS JULY 64 RT,GI
SPEED & CUSTOM APRIL 63 7 PG. ON BOBCAT (CATALINA)
SPEED & CUSTOM APRIL 64 8 PG. ON 64 GTO,BC,WANGERS 421
SPEED MECHANICS NOVEMBER 64 7 PG. ON 64 GTO, ROAD RACING
w/PHOTO OF THE TRIPOWER CURVED ARM

Champ great pictures!! Keep em comin` Those product albums were no doubt responsible for a bunch of first owner GTO`s and us secondary enthusiasts having a car at all. Those factory renderings seem to stir up a devil and angel feeling that makes you want one!! Great that you have Dad`s album and taking on its preservation.

Jtea64. WOW. You made my small collection of 64 GTO mags look anemic. Great and know that your sharing will be appreciated by current and new members yet to come. I like getting the entire magazine and not just GTO articles. Captured in those pages are a lot of material that reflects the times and fresh excitement for the new models. Good Job.

I have the BROOKLAND BOOKS glossy backed magazine titled "PONTIAC TEMPEST and GTO 1961-1965" complied by R.M.Clarke. It is a compilation of several road tests and articles by the major magazines back in the day. It includes:

Pontiac Tempest................CAR LIFE...............................Nov-1963
GTO Le Mans ...................HOT ROD...............................Dec-1963
PONTIAC GTO ................. MOTOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED...Jan-1964
Tempest GTO Road Test .....MOTOR TREND........................Jan-1964
Pontiac GTO Road Test.......ROAD & TRACK........................March-1964
Tamed Tempest Six............MOTOR TREND........................Feb-1965
GTO-Tale of a Tempestuous Tiger...CAR CRAFT...................March-1965
Pontiac GTO Road Test.......HOT ROD................................July-1965

This book has numerous articles about the 61-63 Tempests starting in 1960 and into 1963.

I had forgot about the Brookland series. From England I think. I have one for the Chevelles that also had magazine reprints from USA and a British publication.

Maybe someone has the Motor Trend from 65 that has the Car of the Year info. I remember that was some good reading and included some great pics of the 65 Pontiacs. I do not have a date but if someone could list and perhaps post some of the article please.

Also any and all magazines listing the 65 Tempest and GTO and especially those Road Tests welcome here.

War eagle

I'm on the road right now in IA. Will try and get the whole LeMans/GTO section of the' 64 manual scanned and posted this week.

After that, I could do the Tempest section if there is interest.

Please include the Tempest section if you don't mind. :)

Anyone have the 64 and 65 GTO or Lemans or Tempest dealer brocheres they could post here?

War eagle

I've got the '64 GTO dealer brochure. Sorry that I haven't been able to scan and post the other info yet, but will be home Wednesday night - maybe I can have a scan fest when I get there.

b-man

Will scan the Tempest section too.

This is an excellent thread
Keep up the good work guys

Pontiac Craftsman Service News
 

The Pontiac Craftsman Service News is an excellent source for 64-65 research, both for the 64-65 Tempest and Big Car upgrades.
This monthly sometimes bi-monthly publication was a Company to service dept dialog. This attempted to keep the service dept aware of corrections in printed manuals, upgraded repair procedures and parts availability and those superseded items.
Starting with issue #6 Sept-Oct 1963, the 1964's are introduced. #7 Nov-Dec 1963 would finish out the 63 year. Issues #1 thru 6 1964 continue thru 1964. 1965 issues begin with #1 Jan-Feb and continue thru 1965. I only have #1-4 for 65. Maybe someone can complete the 65 issues.

I also have 3 maybe more of " News Flash Bulletin" memos that are issued when immediate action is required. Service and Parts Dept Managers are the target here. These memos are considered confidential and not shared like the above Craftsman News. Just by memory one of the early 64 memo's has a note of possible 8 bolt hub trouble and possible wrong stud/nut installed from factory and includes the from serial number to serial number effected. Another had to do with a framer of time that a valve in the power steering gear could cause a car to steer into the ditch and no way to correct. Mid 65 a memo was issued regarding the 64 mechanical linkage and a concern noted. The 65 design should be used.

Last year I made a huge buy of paper materials from a dealer who had been around since the 40's. Way too much stuff but I will share it as I discover any items of interest.

Well here are pages C1 - C4 of the LeMans section of the 1964 Pontiac Dealers Sales Manual. Enjoy.

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...re/LeMans1.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...re/LeMans2.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...re/LeMans3.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...re/LeMans4.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...re/LeMans5.jpg

More to follow - probably tomorrow night. Next up will be the GTO section.

After that - it will probably be next week before I post the Tempest section.

I have the 5 and 6 issues also.

:)

Wow.

I need a '64 of some kind.

K

Great effort Champ!!!! I would bet that we could get someone to second the motion to have you post the Big Car art from your Dad's dealer album here. Thanks.

Link to 1965 CSN 5 & 6

1965 CSN 5 & 6

:)

Thanks for the link John. I knew there had to be a couple more issues in the 1965 series. Some good info included there too. I think I will try and find those original 5 & 6 copies to add to my collection. (anyone have the 5 and 6 from 1965? I think I have an extra #6 Dec. 1964 to swap)

7 page GTO Option section...

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...GTOOption1.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...GTOOption2.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...GTOOption3.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...GTOOption4.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...GTOOption5.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...GTOOption6.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...GTOOption7.jpg

Bonus for tonight - the 1964 GTO Dealer Sales Brochure. This is the piece that was handed out at the dealerships and was in the April '64 Car and Driver magazine.

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...sBrochure1.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...sBrochure2.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...sBrochure3.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...sBrochure4.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...sBrochure5.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...sBrochure6.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...sBrochure7.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...sBrochure8.jpg

You can tell from reading the brochure that Pontiac was not intending this to be a car for everyone - the whole brochure is designed to attract the performance enthusiasts...;)

Next upload won't be until the middle of next week.

I put together the 1964 GTO brochure available as a pdf as well as the Tempest and GTO dealer album pages as a pdf. If you want a copy send me a PM with your email.

PONTIAC SONGS
 

Just off of You Tube and listened to Lil GTO. A Pontiac tune also popped up that I have not heard in a long time (Shut Down Album). "Wide Track by the Super Stocks." Love that guys voice! Some great stills from some one as the song plays. Check it out!

Are there other Pontiac tunes we need listed here? I recall an early race song involving a 55 Pont and an Olds and "Dusting the Competition".

Red Dirt Road by Brooks and Dunn:

Must have been a '74 - the only year GTO with leaf springs...;)

Yes!

Here you go... Tempest

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/Tempest1.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/Tempest2.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/Tempest3.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/Tempest4.jpg

and Tempest Custom

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...estCustom1.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...estCustom2.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...estCustom3.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...estCustom4.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...estCustom5.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...estCustom6.jpg

Any interest in the Safaris?

Would definitely like to see the Safari wagons. :)

THUMBS UP CHAMP!! THANKS AND KEEP EM' COMING.

Any 65's?

Wow, after scrolling through these great illustrations I want to run out and order one. Thanks for posting them.

This site has downloads of all the 1965 GTO Ads.

http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9930355534750

Also has the downloads for the 1965 Pontiac and GTO brochures

http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...aldisplayed=50

In addition the site has brochures and and ads for all year GTOs and Firebirds as well as other Pontiac models.

Also you can find 2 of the 1965 GTO posters done by Pontiac here

http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...aldisplayed=50

Motor Trend 65 Feb
 

There is a windo sticker of the award that we posted in a prior thread. If someone has that please post here for the 65 guys.

Sorry for the delay (been a little crazy around here lately) in getting the Safari's posted - but here they are!

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...re/Safari1.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...re/Safari2.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...re/Safari3.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...re/Safari4.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...re/Safari5.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...re/Safari6.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...re/Safari7.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...re/Safari8.jpg

Enjoy!

heres the 64 brouchure..it was available before the GTO was released, its about half the size of a standard brouchure..its NOS...
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psd1b35e77.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psebd62776.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psbb632639.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psb5bb0150.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...pscd1e782e.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psf83b2293.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps37848274.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psde9bd6e1.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps5711cd8e.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps29c5d2d9.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps1a6b895d.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psa50d6d78.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psf1b25d30.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psf2c2fdd2.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps51f5f076.jpg

Very early page from Pontiac to Dealer brochere.

I was re-looking at all these priceless photos posted by The Champ from his '64 Dealer Sales Manual. This time I noted one that is in my accessories section of the manual that is not posted. Based on what is in the photo, I'll guess that page was lifted from his manual by a thief. It is the Wood Wheel complete with some sales wording and the price.
Attachment 357748

Here are all the Pontiac brochures, including both versions of the GTO brochure. Downloading is free.

http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9950379360685

And here are a few advertisements:

http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9940355534750

And a press photograph:

http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9960463716817

I missed your post...

That is from the "Accessory Section" of the 1964 Pontiac Dealers Sales Manual. It's there because the wheel was available on several 1964 models - not just the GTO.

In my focus for getting the Tempest/LeMans/GTO specific info - I failed to look at the other sections to post info from.

You are going to be responsible for another marathon scanning session - as I have discovered many more pages that may be of interest here...;)

Some great stuff has been posted in here, I appreciate the effort. Eric, thanks also for the wild about cars links.

Champ, I have one request. Early in the thread I think you mentioned the April, '64 C&D. If I'm not mistaken, that issue contains the Letter to the Editor responses to the March review of the GTO.

I have at least a sampling of those letters that Davis, Jr. included in his retrospective on the original article which appeared in the '75 Car & Driver, an issue I purchased new, at the dawn of my own '64 GTO interest.

But I have always assumed there were others that were published in the April, '64 issue.

For anybody that has never read the response letters, I think they make for a good chuckle. I realize they aren't really in keeping with the technical reference intent of the thread, but I think they offer a little historical perspective of what some in the automotive enthusiast thought of the GTO as it was launched.

Any chance you can scan them and post them up?

John

I can do that. Might be awhile before I get to it, but will probably get done when I add the accessory section of the '64 dealers manual.

1964 GTO model cars thru the ages
 

The question came up recently about the earliest known 64 GTO or Tempest toy model car. If someone can post a picture of this ebay auction, not just Http, but the picture of the car please. 181525009800 This plastic model by AMT is represented as a dealer promo. If you have an early model and its box please post. AMT JoHan Monogram etc welcome. Maybe there are dates on the early boxes.

This one not too sharp.

The '65 promo is actually a GTO.

War Eagle- This is the oldest one I have but no date on box or paperwork. No picture of car because it is un-built. AMT 5614-150. '64 Tempest/Lemans
https://plus.google.com/photos/10498...937?banner=pwa

Here is the thumbnail.

Great models guys. jtea64 would this be the exact model John V has? The reason I ask is that Ford AMT models of the same era have a slightly different feel and look to the plastic if they are promo vs store purchased. At least that seemed to be the case with a 64 Ford promo we received and a hobby shop AMT model I had. (we received ford promos from 61 thru 66 with the different plastic) Also the promo chassis had writing on the bottom like 5yr/5000 mile lubrication.

Thanks for posting. Did JoHan have a 64 GTO? Early Revell during 1964? Or were these like Monogram a much later model?

Just to be clear, I only posted the pix, don't own those models. I have an unbuilt Monogram '64 GTO kit purchased in the '90s which I think was supposed to have been a reissue of a kit from '64?

I also have the mailer from "Scale Dreams" of Beverly Hills from around the late '70s. I remember my dad sent it to me, not sure where he found it. There were 6 different very detailed 1:25 scale models offered at $150 each. They were supposedly only going to sell 250 numbered copies of each.

One of them was a '64 GTO convertible, choice of 7 different original colors (Pinehurst Green was not one of them) and you could specify 6 interior colors,

There were 6 separate 1/2 page card stock showing a B&W photo of each model and describing them. The GTO card mentions the AMT "pillarless coupe" kit that came out in "mid-'64" and the "kits are still around" so they went with the convertible as the "best looker".

$150 was too rich for me back then so didn't order, I wonder if they exist today?