Pontiac Tempest and LeMans specifications by year

Independent · Source-led · American performance history Issue 01 · 1951–2023

Folder panel with a yellow 1961 Tempest seen head-on among trees, a vital-statistics table, and a dark Tempest coupe under the words What is Tempest really like — 1961 Pontiac Tempest, from Pontiac's 1961 Tempest folder: front view, specifications and the new Tempest coupe

1961

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase	112 in	all Tempests
Overall length	189.3 in	all Tempests
Shipping weight, LeMans coupe	2,795 lb	Tempest Custom LeMans coupe 2127
Shipping weight, 4-door sedan	2,800 lb	Tempest Standard and Custom sedan 2119
Shipping weight, Safari	2,980 lb	Tempest Safari 2135

1962

Measure	Value	Applies to
Shipping weight, LeMans sport coupe	2,820 lb	Tempest Custom LeMans 2117
Shipping weight, LeMans convertible	2,975 lb	Tempest Custom LeMans 2167
Wheelbase	112 in	all 1962 Tempests

1963

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase	112 in	all Tempests
Shipping weight, LeMans sport coupe	2,865 lb	LeMans sport coupe
Overall length	194.3 in	all Tempests
Overall width	74.2 in	all Tempests
Overall height	54 in	all Tempests
Track, front / rear	57.3 / 58.0 in	all Tempests
Tires	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 2217	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 2267	3,185 lb	four-cylinder, standard equipment
Shipping weight (AMA), LeMans convertible 2267	3,035 lb	licensing weight
Weight distribution, LeMans sports coupe	1,548 front / 1,467 rear lb	curb weight, four-cylinder
Axle ratios, 326 H.O. four-barrel	3.30 maximum with synchromesh; 3.09 maximum with automatic :1	326 H.O. premium fuel engine, 280 hp
Special-order axle ratios	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 finish	Acrylic lacquer	all bodies

1964

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase	115 in	all Tempests
Overall length	203 in	1964 Tempest line
Overall width	73.3 in	1964 Tempest line
Overall height	54 in	1964 Tempest line
Track, front / rear	58.0 / 58.0 in	1964 Tempest line
Tires	6.50 x 14 (I-6); 7.00 x 14 (V-8 and wagons); 7.50 x 14 whitewall optional	1964 Tempest line (GTO 7.50 x 14 red-line)

1965

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase	115 in	all Tempests
Overall length	206.2 in	passenger cars (wagons 204.4)
Overall width	73.1 in	1965 Tempest line
Overall height	54 in	1965 Tempest line
Track, front / rear	58 / 58 in	1965 Tempest line
Tires	6.95 x 14 (I-6); 7.35 x 14 (V-8 and wagons); 7.75 x 14 optional	1965 Tempest line

1966

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase	115 in	LeMans
Shipping weight, LeMans hardtop	3,125 lb	LeMans hardtop
Overall length	206.4 in	passenger cars (wagons 204.6)
Overall width	74.4 in	1966 Tempest line
Overall height, LeMans	54.8 in	LeMans
Track, front / rear	58 / 59 in	1966 Tempest line
Tires	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)	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

1967

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase	115 in	LeMans except Safari (113)
Overall length	206.6 in	passenger cars
Overall width, LeMans	74.7 in	LeMans and GTO
Overall height, LeMans	55 in	Tempest, Tempest Custom and LeMans
Track, front / rear	58.0 / 59.0 in	1967 Tempest line
Tires	7.75 x 14 on 14 x 5J rims	Tempest line (non-GTO)
Sprint package content	215 hp OHC six with four-barrel, heavy-duty stabilizer and Ride and Handling package, three-speed floor shift, sport shocks, front fender emblems, Sprint side stripes; wheel opening moldings on Tempest and Tempest Custom	Sprint option ($127)

1968

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase, two-door	112 in	LeMans two-door
Wheelbase, four-door	116 in	LeMans four-door and Safari
Overall length, 2-door	200.7 in	Tempest 2-door (4-door 204.7)
Overall width	74.8 in	1968 Tempest line
Overall height, LeMans	52.3 in	LeMans
Track, front / rear	60 / 60 in	1968 Tempest line
Tires	7.75 x 14 (14 x 5J rims with six, 14 x 6J with V-8); 8.25 x 14 optional with V-8	Tempest line (non-GTO)

1969

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase, 2-door / 4-door	112 / 116 in	1969 Tempest line
Overall length, 2-door	201.5 in	Tempest 2-door (4-door 205.5)
Overall width	75.8 in	Tempest and LeMans
Track, front / rear	61.0 / 60.0 in	1969 Tempest line
Tires	7.75 x 14 (14 x 5J with six, 14 x 6J with V-8); 8.25 x 14 optional with V-8	Tempest line (non-GTO)
Shipping weight, LeMans 2-door hardtop	3,245 lb	LeMans 23737

1970

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase, two-door	112 in	Tempest, T-37, GT-37, LeMans two-doors
Shipping weight, GT-37 hardtop	3,360 lb	GT-37 hardtop
Overall length, 2-door	202.5 in	Tempest/LeMans 2-door (4-door 206.5)
Overall width	76.7 in	1970 mid-size line
Track, front / rear	61 / 60 in	1970 mid-size line
Tires	LeMans: F78 x 14 (six), G78 x 14 (V-8), on 14 x 6JJ	LeMans

1971

Measure	Value	Applies to
Shipping weight, GT-37 hardtop	3,450 lb	GT-37 hardtop, V8
Wheelbase, 2-door / 4-door	112 / 116 in	1971 mid-size line
Overall length, 2-door	202.8 in	T-37 and LeMans 2-doors (4-doors 206.8)
Overall width	76.7 in	1971 mid-size line
Track, front / rear	61 / 60 in	1971 mid-size line
Tires	E78 x 14 (six), F78 x 14 (V-8), on 14 x 6JJ; G78 x 14 optional	T-37 and LeMans
Shipping weight, LeMans Sport hardtop V-8	3,455 lb	LeMans Sport 23737, V-8 (six 3,199)

1972

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase, two-door	112 in	LeMans two-door
Wheelbase, 4-door and wagons	116 in	1972 mid-size line
Overall length, 2-door	203.2 in	LeMans 2-doors (4-doors 207.2; GTO 205.1)
Overall width	76.7 in	1972 mid-size line
Track, front / rear	61 / 60 in	1972 mid-size line
Tires	E78 x 14 on 14 x 5JJ (six); F78 x 14 on 14 x 6JJ (V-8 and six-cylinder convertible)	LeMans
Shipping weight, LeMans 2-door hardtop V-8	3,450 lb	LeMans 2037 V-8 (six 3,234)

1973

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase, 2-door	112 in	LeMans and LeMans Sport Coupe 2-door
Wheelbase, 4-door	116 in	LeMans 4-door
Overall length	207.4 in	2-door (4-door 211.4)
Overall width	77.7 in	2-door and 4-door
Overall height	52.9 in	2-door (4-door 54.3)
Track, front/rear	61.5/60.7 in	2-door and 4-door
Trunk capacity	15.1 cu ft	2-door and 4-door
Fuel tank	21.5 US gal	LeMans
Standard tires	F78-14 blackwall	LeMans and Sport Coupe (G60-15 with GTO option and Handling Package; G70-14 white-letter with GT option)
Standard axle ratio	3.23:1	LeMans and Sport Coupe; 3.42:1 standard with 400 4-bbl manual and 455 SD

1974

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase, 2-door	112 in	LeMans and Sport Coupe 2-door (4-door 116.0)
Overall length	208.8 in	2-door with rubber bumper strips (4-door 212.8)
Overall width	77.9 in	2-door and 4-door
Track, front/rear	61.5/60.7 in	2-door and 4-door
Fuel tank	21.8 US gal	LeMans
Standard tires	F78-14 blackwall	LeMans (G70-14 white-letter with GT Package; GR78-15 radials with RTS)

1975

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase, 2-door	112 in	2-door (4-door 116.0)
Overall length	208 in	2-door (4-door 212.0)
Overall width	77.4 in	2-door and 4-door
Track, front/rear	61.2/60.7 in	2-door and 4-door
Fuel tank	22 US gal	LeMans
Standard tires	FR78-15 GM-specification steel-belted radial	LeMans and Sport Coupe (GR70-15 white-letter with GT option)

1976

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase, 2-door	112 in	2-door (4-door 116.0)
Overall length	208 in	2-door (4-door 212.0)
Overall width	77.4 in	2-door and 4-door
Track, front/rear	61.6/61.1 in	2-door and 4-door
Fuel tank	21.8 US gal	LeMans
Standard tires	FR78-15 GM-specification steel-belted radial	LeMans (GR70-15 with Rally RTS Handling Package)

1977

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase, 2-door	112 in	2-door including Can Am (4-door 116.0)
Overall length	208 in	2-door (4-door 212.0)
Overall width	77.4 in	2-door and 4-door
Track, front/rear	61.6/61.1 in	2-door and 4-door
Fuel tank	21.8 US gal	LeMans
Axle ratio, Can Am	3.23:1 (T/A 6.6); 2.41:1 (Olds 403)	Can Am
Tires, Can Am	GR70-15 steel-belted radials	Can Am

1978

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase	108.1 in	coupe and sedan (2745 mm)
Overall length	199.2 in	coupe (sedan 198.5)
Overall width	72.4 in	coupe and sedan
Track, front/rear	58.5/57.8 in	coupe and sedan
Trunk capacity	16.4 cu ft	coupe and sedan
Fuel tank	17.5 US gal	Grand LeMans and LeMans (66 litres)
Standard tires	185/75R14 GM-specification fiberglass-belted radial	LeMans (205/70R14 steel-belted on Grand LeMans and with Rally RTS)

1979

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase	108.1 in	coupe and sedan (2745 mm)
Overall length	198.6 in	coupe and sedan (5041 mm)
Overall width	72.4 in	coupe and sedan
Tread, front/rear	58.5/57.8 in	coupe and sedan
Trunk capacity	16.6 cu ft	coupe and sedan
Standard tires	P185/75R14 black fiberglass-belted radial	LeMans; 205/70R14 among available tires
Axle ratio, V6 manual	2.93:1	3-speed and 4-speed manual, Federal

1980

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase	108.1 in	coupe and sedan (2745 mm)
Overall length	198.6 in	coupe and sedan
Overall width	71.9 in	coupe and sedan
Fuel tank	18.1 US gal	LeMans (69 litres)
Standard tires	P185/75R14 black fiberglass-belted radial	LeMans and Grand LeMans (205/70R14 steel-belted available, required with 305 V8)

1981

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase	108.1 in	coupe and sedan (2745 mm)
Overall length	198.6 in	coupe and sedan
Overall width	71.3 in	coupe and sedan
Fuel tank	18.1 US gal	coupe and sedan (68.5 litres)
Standard tires	185/75R14 blackwall fiberglass-belted radial (six-cylinder only)	LeMans and Grand LeMans
EPA estimated mpg, 3.8 V6	21 Federal; 20 California mpg	LeMans and Grand LeMans, as published by Pontiac
EPA estimated mpg, 4.3 V8	19 Federal; 19 California mpg	LeMans and Grand LeMans, as published by Pontiac

Each year's heading links to that model year's full fact sheet. Specification labels are carried as recorded and not normalized across years, so the same measure may be worded differently from one year to the next.