1963 · Pontiac · United States
1963 Pontiac Tempest and LeMans: a V8, and Super Duty's last stand
A V8 for the Tempest, and about a dozen Super Duty Tempests built for racing before Pontiac's January 1963 withdrawal.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
This record's own dek describes 1963 as the year of a V8 for the Tempest, and about a dozen Super Duty Tempests built for racing before Pontiac's January 1963 withdrawal. This record's own overview states that the Tempest Custom LeMans was offered as a sport coupe and a convertible, a compiled table listing 45,701 and 15,957, 61,658 in all, and that a V8 was offered in the Tempest for the year, the secondary fact sheet listing it as the 326 but noting that the 1963 engine actually measured 336 cubic inches.1
This record's own overview states that the V8 came in three ratings, all SAE gross: 250 hp two-barrel at 8.6:1 compression, 260 hp two-barrel at 10.25:1, and 280 hp four-barrel, and that a Royal Bobcat kit raised stock output further. This record's own overview also states that Pontiac's bulletin of January 24, 1963 ended its Super Duty competition support, and that on February 16, 1963, Paul Goldsmith won the American Challenge Cup at Daytona in the Ray Nichels-prepared No. 50 Super Duty Tempest, one of about a dozen lightweight Super Duty Tempests, this record's own key facts noting that figure is an institutional retrospective, not a factory ledger.2,3
This record's own production rows document the LeMans total at 61,658, partitioned into a 45,701-car sport coupe and a 15,957-car convertible, alongside a separately scoped Tempest Standard and Custom trim total of 69,832 for the rest of the line. This record's own production notes state that no V8, Super Duty, or transmission counts were found for the year, leaving the roughly dozen-car Super Duty figure as an institutional estimate rather than a production-table entry.1
This record's own engines section documents the four-cylinder in four states of tune, from 115 hp on regular fuel to 166 hp with a four-barrel carburetor, alongside the three V8 ratings already noted. This record's own transmissions section documents a standard three-speed manual, an optional four-speed manual at $189 that this record's own note states was not redesigned for the V8, with few V8 cars so equipped, and an optional two-speed automatic at $173, strengthened for the V8 with Powerglide components.4
This record's own prices section documents the LeMans sport coupe at $2,418 and convertible at $2,742, alongside a Car Life test car's $2,427 list price and $2,953 as-tested price for a V8-equipped LeMans coupe. This record's own performance section documents that Car Life test: 0-60 mph in 9.5 seconds, a 17.0-second quarter mile at 81 mph, a 115 mph top speed at 4,600 rpm, and fuel economy of 16 to 19 mpg, all with the 260-hp two-barrel V8 and two-speed automatic.5
Fourteen exterior colors are documented for the year without production counts, from Starlight Black to Nocturne Blue. This record's own specifications section documents a 112-inch wheelbase, a 194.3-inch overall length, and weights ranging from 3,015 lb for a four-cylinder LeMans sport coupe to 3,185 lb for a four-cylinder LeMans convertible, and its own identification section documents Tempest series 21 and the newly separate LeMans series 22, with its own note that the "326" V8 actually displaced 336 cubic inches despite being advertised as 326.4
Fact sheet · 1963 · United States
The numbers
1963 Pontiac Tempest and LeMans — A V8 for the Tempest, and about a dozen Super Duty Tempests built for racing before Pontiac's January 1963 withdrawal.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-23.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tempest Custom LeMans total1 Tempest Custom LeMans · not stated by source | 61,658 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Tempest Standard and Custom trim total (non-LeMans)1 Tempest Standard/Custom · not stated by source | 69,832 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeMans sport coupe1 Tempest Custom LeMans · sport coupe · not stated by source | 45,701 | built, model-year | Reported |
| LeMans convertible1 Tempest Custom LeMans · convertible · not stated by source | 15,957 | built, model-year | Reported |
LeMans body rows partition the LeMans total. The 69,832 row is the rest of the Tempest line and is separately scoped. No V8, Super Duty or transmission counts were found.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| LeMans sport coupe1 | $2,418 | factory price as compiled, 1963 model year |
| LeMans convertible1 | $2,742 | factory price as compiled, 1963 model year |
| Car Life test car (LeMans V-8 coupe), list price5 | $2,427 | list price as printed by the magazine, 1963-01 |
| Car Life test car, as tested5 | $2,953 | price as tested, 1963-01 |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 326 (336) V8 2-bbl, low compression4 336 cu in · two-barrel | 250 hp @ 4,800, 333 lb-ft @ 2,800 (SAE gross) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| 326 (336) V8 2-bbl, high compression4 336 cu in · two-barrel | 260 hp @ 4,800, 352 lb-ft @ 2,800 (SAE gross) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| 326 (336) V8 4-bbl4 336 cu in · four-barrel | 280 hp @ 4,800, 355 lb-ft @ 3,200 (SAE gross) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| 194.5 four-cylinder 1-bbl regular fuel (standard)6,4 194.5 cu in · 1-barrel, 8.6:1 | 115 hp @ 4,000, 195 lb-ft @ 2,000 (SAE gross (AMA published maximum bhp)) | standard, all models; synchromesh or automatic | Not yet sourced |
| 194.5 four-cylinder 1-bbl premium fuel (synchromesh)6 194.5 cu in · 1-barrel, 10.25:1 | 120 hp @ 3,800, 204 lb-ft @ 2,000 (SAE gross (AMA published maximum bhp)) | optional, synchromesh | Not yet sourced |
| 194.5 four-cylinder 1-bbl premium fuel (automatic)6 194.5 cu in · 1-barrel, 10.25:1 | 140 hp @ 4,400, 209 lb-ft @ 2,200 (SAE gross (AMA published maximum bhp)) | optional, automatic | Not yet sourced |
| 194.5 four-cylinder 4-bbl6 194.5 cu in · 4-barrel, 10.25:1 | 166 hp @ 4,800, 217 lb-ft @ 2,800 (SAE gross (AMA published maximum bhp)) | optional, synchromesh or automatic ($39 four-barrel option) | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| Three-speed manual, floor shift (I-4 2.94/1.68/1.00; V-8 2.47/1.53/1.00)4,6 | standard | Not yet sourced |
| Four-speed manual, floor shift (3.65/2.35/1.44/1.00)4 | optional, $189; not redesigned for the V-8, few V-8 cars so equipped | Not yet sourced |
| Two-speed automatic (transaxle; low 1.76, high 1.00), strengthened for the V-84 | optional, $173 | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Four-speed manual4 | $189 | Not yet sourced |
|
Two-speed automatic4 | $173 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tachometer4 | $54 | Not yet sourced |
|
336 (advertised 326) V-84 | $167 | Not yet sourced |
|
194.5 four-cylinder four-barrel carburetor4 | $39 | Not yet sourced |
|
Heavy-duty clutch, one-barrel four-cylinder4 | $27 | Not yet sourced |
|
Heavy-duty clutch, four-barrel four-cylinder4 | $66 | Not yet sourced |
|
Air conditioner4 | $319 | Not yet sourced |
|
Bucket seats4 | $134 | Not yet sourced |
|
Console with shifter4 | $48 | Not yet sourced |
|
Cordova vinyl top4 | $75 | Not yet sourced |
|
Custom steering wheel4 | $9 | Not yet sourced |
|
Deluxe steering wheel with horn ring4 | $4 | Not yet sourced |
|
Padded dash4 | $16 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power convertible top4 | $54 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power steering4 | $75 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power tilt bucket seat, driver's side4 | $67 | Not yet sourced |
|
Radio, push-button4 | $62 | Not yet sourced |
|
Two-speed wipers and washer4 | $17 | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
A |
Starlight Black4 | Not yet sourced |
C |
Cameo Ivory4 | Not yet sourced |
D |
Silvermist Gray4 | Not yet sourced |
F |
Yorktown Blue4 | Not yet sourced |
H |
Kimberley Blue4 | Not yet sourced |
J |
Silverleaf Green4 | Not yet sourced |
L |
Marimba Red4 | Not yet sourced |
P |
Aquamarine4 | Not yet sourced |
Q |
Marlin Aqua4 | Not yet sourced |
R |
Yuma Beige4 | Not yet sourced |
S |
Saddle Bronze4 | Not yet sourced |
T |
Caravan Gold4 | Not yet sourced |
V |
Grenadier Red4 | Not yet sourced |
W |
Nocturne Blue4 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
|
LeMans (series 22): custom interior with bucket seats and console, deluxe steering wheel, dual sun visors; power top on the convertible. Tempest sports coupe (2117) also had bucket seats.4 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase1 | 112 in | all Tempests |
| Shipping weight, LeMans sport coupe1 | 2,865 lb | LeMans sport coupe |
| Overall length4 | 194.3 in | all Tempests |
| Overall width4 | 74.2 in | all Tempests |
| Overall height4 | 54 in | all Tempests |
| Track, front / rear4 | 57.3 / 58.0 in | all Tempests |
| Tires4 | 6.00 x 15 standard Tempest; 6.50 x 15 on LeMans, all V-8s and Safari | 1963 Tempest and LeMans |
| Curb weight (AMA), LeMans sports coupe 22176 | 3,015 lb | four-cylinder, standard equipment; V-8 option adds 240 lb, automatic adds 30 lb with V-8 |
| Curb weight (AMA), LeMans convertible 22676 | 3,185 lb | four-cylinder, standard equipment |
| Shipping weight (AMA), LeMans convertible 22676 | 3,035 lb | licensing weight |
| Weight distribution, LeMans sports coupe6 | 1,548 front / 1,467 rear lb | curb weight, four-cylinder |
| Axle ratios, 326 H.O. four-barrel6 | 3.30 maximum with synchromesh; 3.09 maximum with automatic :1 | 326 H.O. premium fuel engine, 280 hp |
| Special-order axle ratios6 | 2.91, 3.09, 3.30, 3.56, 3.78 and 3.90 on special order for certain models; 3.56 mandatory with air conditioning (four-cylinder) :1 | 1963 Tempest and LeMans |
| Paint finish6 | Acrylic lacquer | all bodies |
Period road tests
| Test | Car tested | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Car Life, 1963-0150-60 mph | Tempest LeMans coupe, 326 V-8 2-bbl 10.25:1 (260 hp), two-speed automatic transaxle, 3.09:1, power steering, 6.50-15; test weight 3,570 lbas reported by the magazine | 9.5 s |
| Car Life, 1963-0150-30 mph | Tempest LeMans coupe, 326 V-8 (260 hp), two-speed automatic, 3.09:1 | 3.8 s |
| Car Life, 1963-015standing quarter mile, elapsed time | Tempest LeMans coupe, 326 V-8 (260 hp), two-speed automatic, 3.09:181 mph at end | 17 s |
| Car Life, 1963-015top speed | Tempest LeMans coupe, 326 V-8 (260 hp), two-speed automatic, 3.09:1at 4,600 rpm, as reported | 115 mph |
| Car Life, 1963-015fuel economy, normal range | Tempest LeMans coupe, 326 V-8 (260 hp), two-speed automatic, 3.09:1 | 16-19 mpg |
| Car Life, 1963-015curb weight | Tempest LeMans coupe as tested54/46 front/rear at test weight | 3,260 lb |
A road test result belongs to the one car that was tested, with its engine, gearing, tires, and conditions. It is not a figure for every car of the year.
Identification
- Series and bodies
- Tempest series 21 (2119 sedan, 2117 sports coupe, 2127 coupe, 2167 convertible, 2135 Safari); LeMans became its own series 22 (2217 sports coupe, 2267 convertible). Serial number on the left front body pillar; engine number on the front of the cylinder block.6,4
- V-8 displacement
- The '326' V-8 of 1963 actually displaced 336 cu in (3.78 in bore); it was advertised as 326, and the AMA sheet also lists it as 326.4,6
Identification
Read a 1963 Pontiac VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1963
- Buick Riviera Buick's first Riviera, a four-seat personal-luxury hardtop limited to 40,000 cars, with a 401 Nailhead standard and a 340-hp 425 added in December 1962.
- Buick Wildcat The Wildcat became its own series, adding a convertible and four-door hardtop; 35,725 built.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova First Nova Super Sport year in the source production table. Enthusiast-compiled production: 372,626 cars; Super Sport 42,432.
- Chevrolet Impala SS Super Sport (RPO Z03) peaks toward the 1960s high: 153,271 built, plus the Z11 427 drag package.
- Chrysler 300 letter series Hardtop-only and trimmed exclusively in Claret Red leather, the 300J carried a 390 hp short-ram 413 as its only engine; 400 were built, the smallest letter-car run.
- Dodge Dart 330/440, Polara and Max Wedge The Max Wedge grew to 426 cu in, rated at 415 or 425 hp, and a Ramchargers Dodge driven by Herman Moser won Stock at the 1963 NHRA Nationals; Ramcharger production remains unsourced.
- Ford Fairlane Hardtops and wagons joined the Fairlane line; reference-site counts give 28,268 bucket-seat Fairlane 500 Sport Coupes, beside 97,444 Fairlanes and 246,443 Fairlane 500s.
- Ford Falcon Sprint The mid-year 1963 1/2 Sprint put the Fairlane's 164 hp 260 V8 into the compact Falcon for the first time, as a hardtop and a convertible.
- Ford Galaxie The 406 opened the year and was replaced mid-year by the 427, in Q-code (410 hp, one four-barrel) and R-code (425 hp, two four-barrels) form, while a fastback Sports Hardtop was offered in the Galaxie 500 and 500 XL series.
- Ford Thunderbird The Sports Roadster's second and last year: only 455 were built.
- Mercury Marauder and S-55 The S-55 line grew to four bodies, and the mid-year fastback Marauder hardtop arrived with 390, 406 and 427 V8s available.
- Oldsmobile Starfire A squared-off roof with a concave rear window; production fell 38 percent to 25,890.
- Plymouth Savoy, Fury and Max Wedge The Super Stock engine grew to 426 cu in at 415 or 425 hp, a Stage II revision followed, and Chrysler's own four-speed arrived in May 1963; Super Stock production remains unsourced.
- Pontiac Catalina 2+2 and Super Duty Three Super Duty 421 ratings up to 410 hp, then GM's racing withdrawal ended them early in the model year.
- Pontiac Grand Prix Production more than doubled to 72,959 at an unchanged price.
- Studebaker Avanti Studebaker's fiberglass four-seat coupe went on sale with a 289 V8 and an optional $210 Paxton supercharger. It was billed on the strength of a 1962 run of Bonneville records, and 3,834 were built as 1963 models.
- Studebaker Hawk The GT Hawk could now be ordered with the Avanti's R1 and supercharged R2 engines, and a spring 1963 package created the Super Hawk. Old Cars Weekly counts 396 R1 cars among 4,009 domestic GT Hawks.
- Studebaker Lark and Super Lark Studebaker offered the Avanti's R1 and supercharged R2 engines in the compact Lark and added a Super Lark package in April. No source read gives an R2 Lark count; the estimates run from about 200 to a few hundred.