[64speed]

Originally Posted by bdk1976

I don't get the point of threads like these? Is it to make yourself feel better about throwing money away? Commiserate with others in the same situation? Attempt to justify 'saving' a Tempest?

I like '64 Tempests, but now, as then, the GTO is king and always will be. Over the years I've seen many people try and justify 'saving' a Tempest/Lemans, 'uncloning' GTOs, etc., talking about how they are the only Tempest at a show, etc.

If you're going to pump a ton of $$ into a car, it makes no sense to start with a low end model, even if the initial cost is higher. In fact, with the possible exception of convertibles, I wouldn't even look at a Pontiac a-body that isn't a GTO to start with. I'd probably go even further and avoid certain color/option combinations as well.

It makes even less sense to do such a resto if you aren't doing 90% of the work yourself.

I can understand 'family cars' that have been passed down since original being restored in some cases, but don't try and kid yourself that it isn't a huge money pit.

If for some reason I wanted to get a nice Tempest, I'd find one that is already done and that someone else lost their shirt on.

See its comments exactly like this that I am talking about. "I wouldnt own anything but a GTO" mentality is what has gotten a lot of these cars crushed over the years. Its worse in the Pontiac community it seems than in the Chevrolet etc, I see a lot of Chevelle 300 and regular Chevy II's around here that Arent SS.