Pontiac Tempest

Which Pontiac Tempest version to choose

Start from the job, not from the year. If the job is a cabrio with a large-displacement V-shaped gasoline engine, the catalogue only lists first generation (1961–1963). If the job is a coupe with the highest horsepower and torque in the line, the catalogue only lists second generation (1964–1970).

Start from the job, not from the year. If the job is a cabrio with a large-displacement V-shaped gasoline engine, the catalogue only lists first generation (1961–1963). If the job is a coupe with the highest horsepower and torque in the line, the catalogue only lists second generation (1964–1970). If the job is a sedan with multi-point injection, independent spring suspension at both ends, and a choice of 5-speed Manual or 4-speed Automatic, the catalogue only lists third generation (1987–1991). There is no wagon in this dataset, no kerb weight, and no 0–100 figure, so those search questions cannot be answered with a number here.

Power ranking across all six named versions:

The 269 hp 5.8 MT is 51 hp above the 4.1 MT (218 hp) and 159 hp above the 3.2 MT (110 hp). The 140 hp cluster is not one car: 6.4 MT makes 140 hp from 6400 cc, while 3.1 MT and 3.1 AT make 140 hp from 3136 cc — 3264 cc less for the same rated output.

Pontiac Tempest engine options compared by generation

First generation (1961–1963), Cabrio — 6.4 MT vs 3.2 MT

Both versions are Gasoline, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, Carburetor, Manual 3-speed, RWD, engine Front, longitudinal, front brakes Disc. Rear suspension, rear brakes, tank, weight, clearance, wheels, 0–100, top speed, and fuel consumption are not measured on either.

The split is displacement and layout. 6.4 MT is a V-shaped 8 of 6400 cc at 140 hp (104 kW); 3.2 MT is an Inline 4 of 3200 cc at 110 hp (81 kW). That is 30 hp more on 6.4 MT from exactly twice the displacement (6400 − 3200 = 3200 cc). Specific output: 140 ÷ 6.4 = 21.9 hp per litre on 6.4 MT versus 110 ÷ 3.2 = 34.4 hp per litre on 3.2 MT. The smaller four-cylinder is the more efficient engine on paper; the eight-cylinder is the larger-displacement choice. Compression is 8.6 on 6.4 MT and not measured on 3.2 MT. Torque is not measured on either first-generation version, so a torque comparison is not possible. Fuel grade is not measured on either.

Choose 6.4 MT if the requirement is the 8-cylinder V-shaped 6400 cc unit and 140 hp. Choose 3.2 MT if the requirement is the smallest engine in the whole Tempest line (3200 cc, four cylinders) at 110 hp. There is no Automatic in this generation in the data.

Second generation (1964–1970), Coupe — 4.1 MT vs 5.8 MT

This is the only generation listed as Coupe. Both versions: Gasoline, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, Carburetor, Manual 4-speed, RWD, independent spring front, dependent spring rear, drum front, drum rear, 82 L tank. Fuel grade, 0–100, top speed, consumption, kerb weight, gross weight, clearance, and wheels are not measured.

4.1 MT: 218 hp (160 kW) at 5200 rpm, 346 Nm at 3800 rpm, 4103 cc, Inline 6, compression 10.5, bore × stroke 98.6 × 89.7.

5.8 MT: 269 hp (198 kW) at 4600 rpm, 481 Nm at 2800 rpm, 5812 cc, Inline 8, compression 9.2, bore × stroke 98.6 × 95.3.

Arithmetic: 5.8 MT adds 51 hp and 135 Nm (481 − 346) and 1709 cc (5812 − 4103). Peak torque arrives 1000 rpm earlier (2800 vs 3800). Peak power arrives 600 rpm earlier (4600 vs 5200). Specific output: 218 ÷ 4.103 ≈ 53.1 hp per litre on 4.1 MT versus 269 ÷ 5.812 ≈ 46.3 hp per litre on 5.8 MT. The six-cylinder extracts more horsepower per litre; the eight-cylinder extracts more absolute power and more torque. Compression is 1.3 points higher on 4.1 MT (10.5 vs 9.2). Bore is the same 98.6 mm; stroke is 5.6 mm longer on 5.8 MT (95.3 vs 89.7). Tank volume is the same 82 L, so the extra displacement is not paired with a larger tank in this dataset.

Choose 5.8 MT if the requirement is the catalogue maximum: 269 hp and 481 Nm. Choose 4.1 MT if the requirement is the higher specific output and the higher compression Inline 6 at 218 hp. There is no Automatic and no FWD in this generation in the data.

Third generation (1987–1991), Sedan — 3.1 MT vs 3.1 AT

This is the only generation listed as Sedan and the only one with FWD, multi-point injection, a measured 150 mm ground clearance, independent spring suspension front and rear, and ventilated disc front brakes with drum rear. Both versions share the same engine: 140 hp (103 kW) at 4800 rpm, 251 Nm at 3600 rpm, 3136 cc Gasoline V-shaped 6, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 8.5, bore × stroke 88.9 × 84, fuel 92.

The only drivetrain difference in the data is the gearbox: 3.1 MT is Manual 5-speed; 3.1 AT is Automatic 4-speed. Power, torque, displacement, layout, fuel, clearance, and brakes are identical. 0–100, top speed, consumption, tank, kerb weight, gross weight, and wheels are not measured on either, so the automatic cannot be scored as slower or thirstier from this dataset. Specific output is 140 ÷ 3.136 ≈ 44.6 hp per litre on both.

Choose 3.1 MT if the requirement is five Manual gears. Choose 3.1 AT if the requirement is four Automatic gears. There is no second engine in this generation in the data.

Pontiac Tempest specs: engines and transmissions in one table

Injection appears only on the two third-generation 3.1 versions. Carburetor is on 4.1 MT, 5.8 MT, 6.4 MT, and 3.2 MT. Automatic exists only as 3.1 AT. Five-speed Manual exists only as 3.1 MT. Four-speed Manual is 4.1 MT and 5.8 MT. Three-speed Manual is 6.4 MT and 3.2 MT. FWD exists only on the two 3.1 versions; RWD is the other four.

Pontiac Tempest horsepower and what the extra displacement buys

Same 140 hp, two very different engines: 6.4 MT (6400 cc, V-shaped 8, Carburetor, RWD Cabrio) versus 3.1 MT / 3.1 AT (3136 cc, V-shaped 6, multi-point, FWD Sedan). The later 3.1 makes the same 140 hp from 48.99% of the first-generation 6.4 displacement (3136 ÷ 6400). Kilowatt labels differ by 1 kW in the data: 104 kW on 6.4 MT, 103 kW on both 3.1 versions.

Between the two second-generation coupes, 1709 extra cc on 5.8 MT buys 51 hp and 135 Nm. Per extra litre that is 51 ÷ 1.709 ≈ 29.8 hp per extra litre and 135 ÷ 1.709 ≈ 79.0 Nm per extra litre.

Between first-generation cabrios, 3200 extra cc on 6.4 MT buys 30 hp. Per extra litre that is 30 ÷ 3.2 = 9.4 hp per extra litre — a much smaller return than the second-generation step from 4.1 MT to 5.8 MT.

The smallest engine is 3.2 MT at 3200 cc / 110 hp. The largest is 6.4 MT at 6400 cc / 140 hp. The strongest is 5.8 MT at 5812 cc / 269 hp — not the largest displacement. Largest displacement and highest power are therefore different versions.

Torque is measured only on 3.1 MT, 3.1 AT, 4.1 MT, and 5.8 MT. Ranking: 5.8 MT 481 Nm, 4.1 MT 346 Nm, both 3.1 versions 251 Nm. 5.8 MT has 230 Nm more than the 3.1 pair (481 − 251) and 135 Nm more than 4.1 MT. First-generation torque is not measured.

Pontiac Tempest transmission and drive: what actually changes

Gearbox count in the data: 3, 4, or 5 speeds, never mixed inside a generation except generation 3.

• Generation 1: Manual 3, RWD only.
• Generation 2: Manual 4, RWD only.
• Generation 3: Manual 5 or Automatic 4, FWD only.

Moving from first to second generation in this catalogue adds one Manual ratio (3 → 4) and keeps RWD. Moving from second to third drops RWD, adds FWD, and splits the gearbox into 5-speed Manual versus 4-speed Automatic. There is no 4-speed Automatic on the coupes and no 3-speed Manual on the sedan.

Drive is not a trim option inside a generation: every first- and second-generation version is RWD; every third-generation version is FWD. A buyer who needs RWD is choosing among 6.4 MT, 3.2 MT, 4.1 MT, and 5.8 MT. A buyer who needs FWD is choosing only between 3.1 MT and 3.1 AT.

Pontiac Tempest performance and mpg

0–100 km/h is not measured on 3.1 MT, 3.1 AT, 4.1 MT, 5.8 MT, 6.4 MT, or 3.2 MT. Top speed is not measured on any of the six. City, highway, and combined consumption are not measured on any of the six. CO2 and eco class are not measured on any of the six. Weight per horsepower cannot be calculated: kerb weight is not measured on any version. Claims about which Tempest is quicker or more economical would be numbers that are not in the data.

What can be compared instead is engine speed at peak. On versions with rpm listed: 5.8 MT peaks power at 4600 rpm and torque at 2800 rpm; 4.1 MT at 5200 and 3800; both 3.1 versions at 4800 and 3600. 6.4 MT and 3.2 MT rpm figures are not measured.

Pontiac Tempest dimensions, weight, tank, and clearance

Kerb weight is not measured on any version. Gross weight is not measured on any version. Wheel size is not measured on any version. Length is not measured (a common search; the catalogue does not contain it).

Ground clearance is 150 mm on 3.1 MT and 3.1 AT and not measured on 4.1 MT, 5.8 MT, 6.4 MT, and 3.2 MT. Tank is 82 L on 4.1 MT and 5.8 MT and not measured on 3.1 MT, 3.1 AT, 6.4 MT, and 3.2 MT. The two coupes share tank volume; the sedan’s tank is not measured, so a range comparison between generations is not possible from volume.

Front suspension is Independent, spring on all six versions. Rear suspension is Independent, spring on both 3.1 versions, Dependent, spring on 4.1 MT and 5.8 MT, and not measured on 6.4 MT and 3.2 MT. Front brakes: Ventilated disc on both 3.1 versions, Drum on both second-generation coupes, Disc on both first-generation cabrios. Rear brakes: Drum on the four versions where measured (both 3.1 and both second-generation); not measured on 6.4 MT and 3.2 MT.

Pontiac Tempest history as a buying map, not a timeline essay

The catalogue records three generations and six versions. Body type does not overlap: Cabrio only in 1961–1963, Coupe only in 1964–1970, Sedan only in 1987–1991. A 1967 or 1968 Tempest in this dataset is second generation Coupe, so the named versions on those years are 4.1 MT and 5.8 MT. A 1963 Tempest is first generation Cabrio: 6.4 MT and 3.2 MT. A 1970 Tempest is still second generation Coupe: the same 4.1 MT and 5.8 MT. The third generation does not cover 1960s search years.

Engine layout in the data is not one family: Inline 4 (3.2 MT), Inline 6 (4.1 MT), Inline 8 (5.8 MT), V-shaped 8 (6.4 MT), V-shaped 6 (3.1 MT, 3.1 AT). Do not collapse those into a single “six” or a single “V”. Boost is No on every version.

Which version to buy: a short decision list

1. Maximum horsepower and torque in this catalogue: 5.8 MT (269 hp, 481 Nm, 5812 cc, Inline 8, Manual 4, RWD, Coupe, 1964–1970). 2. Highest horsepower per litre among measured engines: 4.1 MT (≈53.1 hp/L, 218 hp, 4103 cc, Inline 6, compression 10.5, Manual 4, RWD, Coupe). 3. Same 218-to-269 hp coupe family, smaller engine: 4.1 MT; larger engine and +51 hp / +135 Nm: 5.8 MT. Tank 82 L on both. 4. Open body only: first generation Cabrio. Larger V-shaped 8: 6.4 MT (140 hp, 6400 cc). Smaller Inline 4: 3.2 MT (110 hp, 3200 cc). Both Manual 3, RWD. 5. Sedan, FWD, multi-point, 150 mm clearance, independent spring rear: third generation. Manual 5: 3.1 MT. Automatic 4: 3.1 AT. Engine identical: 140 hp, 251 Nm, 3136 cc, V-shaped 6, fuel 92. 6. Same 140 hp as 6.4 MT but 3264 cc less and FWD sedan instead of RWD cabrio: 3.1 MT or 3.1 AT. 7. Smallest engine in the line: 3.2 MT (3200 cc, 110 hp). 8. Only Automatic in the line: 3.1 AT. 9. Need a measured tank: only 4.1 MT and 5.8 MT (82 L). Need measured clearance: only 3.1 MT and 3.1 AT (150 mm). Need measured torque: not the first generation. 10. Weight, 0–100, top speed, mpg, length, and wheel size: not measured on every named version — they cannot decide the purchase from this catalogue.

Prices and cars for sale are not in the data. Reliability and common problems are not in the data. The comparison above is only the arithmetic of the six named versions as recorded.