1963 Pontiac Tempest Lemans 421/535 Super Duty

 

MECUM

After Mickey Thompson and Royal Pontiac dominated Super Stock and A/FX in 1962 with their own specially-prepared Tempest racers, Pontiac Motor Division took direct aim at the NHRA's Factory Experimental class, building 14 special lightweight Tempest racers – six LeMans coupes, six station wagons and two standard coupes. Built on December 12th, 1962 at the Pontiac, MI assembly plant, the purpose-built LeMans coupes were all painted White and given Blue interiors with bucket seats. 

Following in Thompson’s footsteps, Pontiac Engineering endowed the cars with high compression, dual quad-equipped 421 CI Super Duty engines connected to unique rear-mounted 4-speed automatic transmissions. All used aluminum front sheet metal and brake drums, acid dipped bumpers and mounting brackets and lightweight windshield glass, resulting in almost perfect 48/52 weight distribution while keeping the cars in line with the NHRA’s 7.5 pounds-per-cubic-inch A/FX class weight limit.

One of the six built, this Tempest LeMans coupe was delivered to Stan Long Pontiac on Grand River Road in Detroit. Driver Stan Antlocer campaigned the car through a busy and successful 1963 season that included the all-important Indy Nationals. Along the way he made an important change to the car; the 4-speed transaxle accommodated only up to a 3.90 final drive ratio and was somewhat prone to breaking under the 421’s explosive power, so Antlocer replaced the factory driveline with a heavy duty Borg Warner 3-speed manual transmission and a full-size Pontiac rear end with a 4.30 gearset. The change paid off in spades, earning Antlocer the title of “World’s Fastest Tempest” after tearing off an 11.93 ET at 123.95 MPH at U.S. 131 Dragway in Martin, MI.

This record-setting Pontiac factory lightweight Tempest was restored by Scott Teimann’s renowned Super Car Specialties in Portland MI to its configuration as originally raced by Stan Antlocer, including the 421 Super Duty engine with dual inline Carter 4-barrel carburetors and unique exhaust headers built by George DeLorean, 10-inch M&H Racemaster slicks on Black painted steel wheels and graphics proclaiming Stan Long Pontiac sponsorship of the “World’s Fastest Tempest.” It holds an honored place in Pontiac’s storied drag racing history and stands as a tribute to the forward thinkers at Pontiac Engineering and racers like Stan Antlocer who competed with their creations in the heat of that era’s great A/FX battles.

 - One of six 1963 Pontiac Tempest LeMans factory lightweight 421 SD coupes
- Known as the “World’s Fastest Tempest”
- Sponsored by Stan Long Pontiac, driven by Stan Antlocer
- White with Blue bucket seat interior
- Restored by Scott Tiemann’s Super Car Specialties in Pontiac, Michigan
- Engine build and dyno by Doug Hughes, Mesa AZ
- Performance 535 HP @ 5700 RPM, 556 lb-ft @ 4300 RPM