1966 · Pontiac · United States
1966 Pontiac Tempest LeMans: the OHC six and Sprint arrive
Pontiac's overhead-cam six and the Sprint package arrive beside the 326 HO.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
This record's own dek describes 1966 as the year Pontiac's overhead-cam six and the Sprint package arrive beside the 326 HO. This record's own overview states that a compiled table lists the 1966 Tempest LeMans as 13,897 four-door hardtops, 16,654 sport coupes, 78,109 hardtops, and 13,080 convertibles, 121,740 in all, and that the GTO was a separate series that year rather than a LeMans-scoped option row, so this record's own production section carries no GTO-scoped total of its own.1
This record's own overview states that the fact sheet lists the new overhead-cam 230 six, with the Sprint version's four-barrel carburetor and 10.5:1 compression rated at 207 hp and the Sprint package listed at $127, and that the 326 HO is rated at 285 hp, all SAE gross. This record's own production notes state plainly that the four body rows partition the 121,740 total and that no Sprint or 326 HO installation counts were found for the year.2
This record's own engines section documents four powertrains: the standard OHC 230 six at 165 hp with a one-barrel carburetor, the Sprint version of that same six at 207 hp with a four-barrel, the 326 two-barrel V8 at 250 hp, and the 326 HO four-barrel at 285 hp, all SAE gross ratings. This record's own transmissions section documents a standard three-speed manual, an optional four-speed wide-ratio manual with a close-ratio version on GTO, and an optional two-speed automatic.2
This record's own prices section documents the LeMans sport coupe at $2,505, hardtop at $2,568, and convertible at $2,806, a spread of $301 between the least and most expensive body style, alongside a Car Life long-term test car, a Sprint-equipped four-door hardtop, at $2,682 list price f.o.b. factory and $3,316 as tested with the automatic, rally wheels, 7.75-14 whitewalls, the Ride and Handling package, radio, power steering, tinted windshield, and exhaust emission control.3
This record's own options section documents the Sprint package itself at $127, a Ride and Handling package at $16, Safe-T-Track limited-slip at $37, and order code 522 for red plastic inner fender liners with no price stated, alongside an extensive further list including air conditioning at $343, bucket seats at $145, and a push-button AM/FM radio at $137. Fifteen exterior colors are documented for the year without production counts, from Starlight Black to Candlelight Cream, none of the fifteen carrying a production figure in this record.2
This record's own specifications section documents a 115-inch wheelbase, a 3,125 lb shipping weight for the LeMans hardtop, a 206.4-inch overall length against 204.6 inches for wagons, a 74.4-inch width, a 54.8-inch LeMans height, a 58-inch front and 59-inch rear track, and axle ratios varying by engine, transmission, and air conditioning per Car Life's own table. This record's own performance section documents that same Car Life 10,000-mile long-term test on a Sprint-equipped four-door hardtop: 0-60 mph in 12.7 seconds, a 19.7-second quarter mile at 75 mph, a 100 mph top speed at 4,300 rpm, and 14.8 mpg over 10,723 test miles, 726.5 total gallons used across the whole test.3
Fact sheet · 1966 · United States
The numbers
1966 Pontiac Tempest LeMans — Pontiac's overhead-cam six and the Sprint package arrive beside the 326 HO.
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
- Reported 1966 LeMans production was 121,740.1
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tempest LeMans total1 Tempest LeMans · not stated by source | 121,740 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeMans four-door hardtop1 Tempest LeMans · 4-door hardtop · not stated by source | 13,897 | built, model-year | Reported |
| LeMans sport coupe1 Tempest LeMans · sport coupe · not stated by source | 16,654 | built, model-year | Reported |
| LeMans hardtop1 Tempest LeMans · hardtop · not stated by source | 78,109 | built, model-year | Reported |
| LeMans convertible1 Tempest LeMans · convertible · not stated by source | 13,080 | built, model-year | Reported |
The four body rows partition 121,740. No Sprint or 326 HO counts were found.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| LeMans sport coupe1 | $2,505 | factory price as compiled, 1966 model year |
| LeMans hardtop1 | $2,568 | factory price as compiled, 1966 model year |
| LeMans convertible1 | $2,806 | factory price as compiled, 1966 model year |
| Car Life long-term car (LeMans 4-door hardtop, Sprint), list f.o.b. factory3 | $2,682 | list price f.o.b. factory as printed by the magazine, 1966-08 |
| Car Life long-term car, equipped as tested3 | $3,316 | as tested: Sprint package, automatic, rally wheels, 7.75-14 whitewalls, Ride and Handling package, radio, power steering, tinted windshield, exhaust emission control, 1966-08 |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| OHC 230 six Sprint 4-bbl2 230 cu in · Rochester four-barrel | 207 hp @ 5,200, 228 lb-ft @ 2,800 (SAE gross) | optional, not wagons | Not yet sourced |
| 326 V8 2-bbl2 326 cu in · Rochester two-barrel | 250 hp @ 4,600, 333 lb-ft @ 2,800 (SAE gross) | optional, not GTO | Not yet sourced |
| 326 HO 4-bbl2 326 cu in · Carter AFB four-barrel | 285 hp @ 5,000, 359 lb-ft @ 2,900 (SAE gross) | optional, not GTO | Not yet sourced |
| OHC 230 six 1-bbl (standard)2 230 cu in · 1-barrel, 9.0:1, overhead camshaft | 165 hp @ 4,700, 216 lb-ft @ 2,600 (SAE gross (period advertised rating)) | standard, all transmissions | 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 (I-6 2.85/1.68/1.00; V-8 2.42/1.61/1.00)2 | standard | Not yet sourced |
| Four-speed manual (V-8 wide ratio 2.52/1.88/1.46/1.00)2 | optional; close ratio 2.22/1.64/1.28/1.00 on GTO | Not yet sourced |
| Two-speed automatic (1.76/1.00)2 | optional | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sprint option package2 | $127 | Not yet sourced |
|
Ride and Handling package2 | $16 | Not yet sourced |
|
Safe-T-Track limited-slip2 | $37 | Not yet sourced |
522order code |
Red plastic inner fender liners2 | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Air conditioner2 | $343 | Not yet sourced |
|
Bucket seats2 | $145 | Not yet sourced |
|
Carpets2 | $19 | Not yet sourced |
|
Cordova top2 | $72 | Not yet sourced |
|
Custom sports steering wheel2 | $29 | Not yet sourced |
|
Deluxe steering wheel with ring2 | $15 | Not yet sourced |
|
Electric clock2 | $19 | Not yet sourced |
|
LeMans console shift2 | $48 | Not yet sourced |
|
Padded dash2 | $16 | Not yet sourced |
|
Rally Gage panel cluster with tachometer2 | $86 | Not yet sourced |
|
Parking brake signal2 | $3 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power brakes2 | $43 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power convertible top2 | $54 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power steering2 | $95 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power tilt bucket seat, left-hand2 | $67 | Not yet sourced |
|
Push-button radio2 | $62 | Not yet sourced |
|
Push-button AM/FM radio2 | $137 | Not yet sourced |
|
Rally wheels2 | $36 | Not yet sourced |
|
Remote control deck lid2 | $11 | Not yet sourced |
|
Safeguard speedometer2 | $16 | Not yet sourced |
|
Super-Lift shock absorbers2 | $40 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tachometer2 | $54 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tilt steering wheel (with power steering only)2 | $43 | Not yet sourced |
|
Two-speed wipers and washers2 | $17 | Not yet sourced |
|
Wheel discs2 | $20 | Not yet sourced |
|
Whitewall tires2 | $41 | Not yet sourced |
|
Wire wheel discs2 | $54 | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
A |
Starlight Black2 | Not yet sourced |
B |
Blue Charcoal2 | Not yet sourced |
C |
Cameo Ivory2 | Not yet sourced |
D |
Fontaine Blue2 | Not yet sourced |
E |
Nightwatch Blue2 | Not yet sourced |
H |
Palmetto Green2 | Not yet sourced |
K |
Reef Turquoise2 | Not yet sourced |
L |
Marina Turquoise2 | Not yet sourced |
N |
Burgundy2 | Not yet sourced |
O |
Coronado Gold2 | Not yet sourced |
P |
Barrier Blue2 | Not yet sourced |
R |
Montero Red2 | Not yet sourced |
T |
Martinique Bronze2 | Not yet sourced |
V |
Mission Beige2 | Not yet sourced |
W |
Platinum2 | Not yet sourced |
Y |
Candlelight Cream2 | 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.
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase1 | 115 in | LeMans |
| Shipping weight, LeMans hardtop1 | 3,125 lb | LeMans hardtop |
| Overall length2 | 206.4 in | passenger cars (wagons 204.6) |
| Overall width2 | 74.4 in | 1966 Tempest line |
| Overall height, LeMans2 | 54.8 in | LeMans |
| Track, front / rear2 | 58 / 59 in | 1966 Tempest line |
| Tires2 | 6.95 x 14 on 14 x 5JK rims standard; 7.35 x 14 optional | 1966 Tempest line |
| Axle ratios by engine and transmission (per Car Life)3 | standard six 2.56 automatic / 3.08 manual / 3.08 with air; Custom and LeMans 2.78 / 3.08 / 3.23; optional 207 hp six 3.23 / 3.55 / 3.36 :1 | 1966 Tempest six-cylinder cars |
Period road tests
| Test | Car tested | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Car Life, 1966-0830-60 mph | Tempest LeMans 4-door hardtop, Sprint OHC six (207 hp, 4-bbl), two-speed automatic, 3.36:1, 7.75-14; after 10,000 miles; test weight 3,860 lb10,000-mile long-term test | 12.7 s |
| Car Life, 1966-083standing quarter mile, elapsed time | Tempest LeMans 4-door hardtop, Sprint OHC six (207 hp), two-speed automatic, 3.36:175 mph at end | 19.7 s |
| Car Life, 1966-083top speed | Tempest LeMans 4-door hardtop, Sprint OHC six (207 hp), two-speed automatic, 3.36:1at 4,300 rpm, as reported | 100 mph |
| Car Life, 1966-083fuel economy over 10,723 test miles | Tempest LeMans 4-door hardtop, Sprint OHC six (207 hp), two-speed automatic, 3.36:1726.5 gal used | 14.8 mpg |
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
Read a 1966 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 1966
- Buick Riviera A longer, heavier new body on the same X-frame; 5,718 of 45,348 carried the GS option, and the dual-quad Super Wildcat went from dealer add-on to factory MZ engine in March 1966.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX The Gran Sport became its own Skylark series (44600) on the restyled body, still with the 401 at 325 hp; 13,816 are tabulated.
- Buick Wildcat The one-year Wildcat Gran Sport: 1,244 built, 242 convertibles, 22 Super Wildcats.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The first full year of the SS 396 as its own series, with a 396 V8 in every car: 66,843 sport coupes and 5,429 convertibles.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova The source engine table lists the 327 L79 at 350 gross hp. Enthusiast-compiled production: 172,485 cars; Super Sport 20,986.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS No factory Super Sport El Camino is documented for this year; the record carries the host El Camino production as context.
- Chevrolet Impala SS Impala SS falls to 119,314 as the 427 arrives; 3,247 full-size Chevrolets got the 390-hp L36.
- Dodge Charger Dodge's first Charger, a fastback on the Coronet platform introduced on 1 January 1966, built 37,344 times, 468 of them with the new Street Hemi.
- Dodge Coronet R/T and Super Bee The first year the 426 Hemi was sold as a street engine; in the Coronet it was an option on ordinary sedans, hardtops and convertibles, before any R/T package existed.
- Ford Fairlane A new, wider Fairlane could take the 390 big-block for the first time, bringing the Fairlane 500 GT and GTA, and a small run of R-code 427 hardtops was built for Super Stock racing.
- Ford Galaxie The 428 became the big-car performance engine and gave its name to the Galaxie 500 7-Litre hardtop and convertible, with the 427 still available.
- Ford Thunderbird A 345-hp 428 became a $64.77 option, and the Town Landau outsold every other body combined.
- Mercury Comet and Cyclone The Comet moved to the larger Fairlane-based body, and the Cyclone GT brought the 335-hp 390 with twin hood scoops, bucket seats and a heavy-duty suspension.
- Mercury Marauder and S-55 The S-55 returned as its own line, a hardtop and convertible with the 345 hp 428 'Super Marauder' V8.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The 4-4-2 package gained the L69 three-two-barrel 'Tri-Carb' option at 360 hp, and a handful of factory W-30 forced-air cars were built for drag racing.
- Oldsmobile Starfire The last Starfire of the 1960s: coupe only, moved downmarket, 13,019 sold.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The last glassback-era year: one fastback body, the 273 Commando as the top engine, and production that fell to 38,029.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite The 426 Street Hemi reached showrooms in the Belvedere and Satellite, and 1,546 were built into Plymouth intermediates.
- Pontiac Catalina 2+2 and Super Duty The 2+2 was listed as its own model for the only time, and production fell to 6,383.
- Pontiac GTO The GTO becomes its own Pontiac series and has its biggest year: 96,946 built.
- Pontiac Grand Prix Production fell to 36,757 as the GTO and 2+2 drew performance buyers.
- Rambler and AMC Marlin The Marlin's second year: production fell to 4,547, less than half the 1965 figure.