Car: Pontiac Tempest Lemans Convertible

Year: 1962

What makes it special: Pontiac’s Tempest was the entry level compact that was introduced in September of 1960 for the 1961 model year. With it’s very innovative design, it also shared its new unibody Y-Platform with Buick’s Special/Skylark and Oldsmobile’s F-85/Cutlass models. These all came standard with a 4 four cylinder engine and a two-speed rear-mounted automatic transmission, a first for General Motors Corporation.

What made it famous: The Tempest line offered the optional LeMans trim upgrade for the 1961 model year, and a performance aspect beginning in 1962. The Trophy 4 four cylinder engine was designed for economy, and was based on the right-hand cylinder bank of Pontiac’s 389 V8 engine. Trophy 4’s came in a low-compression model with a single-barrel carburetor, a hotter version with a higher compression with single-barrel carburetor, and the highest compression version equipped with a four-barrel carburetor, producing 166 hp.

Why I would want one: I love the style and its innovative features. It’s a great looking 60’s economy car.

Fun fact: Another optional engine for the Tempest was the innovative aluminum 215 cu in V8, which first debuted on the Buick LeSabre model.
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Car: Ford Galaxie 500 Convertible ( ** Car shown at Dragone Classic Motorcars in Orange, CT. )

Year: 1959

What makes it special: Introduced late in the 1958 model year, the 1959 Ford Galaxie 500 was added as the top trim level above the Ford Fairlane 500 and offered with the same sedan and hardtop styles as the Fairlane. The Sunliner and Skyliner models were also moved from the Fairlane. The 1959 Galaxie models wore both the Galaxie and Fairlane 500 badging.

What made it famous: The 1959 Galaxie featured a stronger, wider railed frame giving the car more interior room, a new front stabilizer bar and variable-rate rear springs giving it a softer ride. A lighter 2-speed Ford-O-Matic transmission was mated to a 200 bhp, 292 cu in overhead-valve, a 225 bhp, 332 cu in or a 300 bhp 352 cu in V8. Another styling cue indicative of the era was that the Galaxie was decked with lots of stainless panels and loads of chrome, and a two-toned paint scheme was optional.

Why I would want one: This particular year of Galaxie was known as the “Galaxie with the Thunderbird look.”

Fun fact: The Galaxie name was used for Ford’s top-trimmed models from 1958 to 1961.
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