Pontiac Tempest Trivia Questions of the Week: 1. What artist performed the song, “Another One Bites The Dust” and what year did it hit the pop charts? 2. And while we’re on the subject of pop songs, the following lyrics are from what 1969 top hit and who performed the song: “Now it’s been 10,000 years, Man has cried a billion tears, For what, he never knew. Now man’s reign is through. But through eternal night, The twinkling of starlight. So very far away, Maybe it’s only yesterday”. 3. Moving on to visual media, the highly popular medical series Marcus Welby, M.D. debuted on the ABC television network on September 23, 1969. Who played in the starring role? 4. Born on July 24, 1969, this American actor, singer, record producer, dancer fashion designer and television producer is, according to Forbes, the richest person of Latin descent in Hollywood. And according to People magazine, is the most influential Hispanic entertainer in the U.S. What is this person’s name? 5. Sadly, Pontiac will see its last production year in 2010. In 1969, however, it once again held third place in U.S. automobile sales. What was the new sub-model Pontiac introduced in 1969? 6. How good are you in sixties pop music trivia? What famous pop music event was held in 1969? Okay, can you answer the month, or better yet, specific dates it was held? In what state did this event take place? What town? On whose property was the event held? 7. The first ‘ATM’ was installed in Rockville Centre, New York on September 2, 1969. What does ‘ATM’ stand for? 8. October 9-12, 1969 are referred to as the ‘Days of Rage’ due to violent demonstrations in Chicago, Illinois in which the National Guard was called in to maintain order. What was the radical group called that was the center of the ‘Chicago Eight Trial’ that spurred these demonstrations?

For answers to this week’s trivia questions and more on the Pontiac Tempest for ‘69, visit the Fin Man’s web site at http://thefinman.com. To e-mail The FIN MAN, click or copy this link: mailto://the_fin_man@msn.com.


‘Another one bites the dust’. Great song, but a not so great expression when it comes to the recent news that Pontiac will soon go the way of countless other great American brand automobiles. In its new classification as a ‘orphan’ marque, it will share good company. Going back a number of years, we saw makes like Studebaker, Packard, Hudson, DeSoto and far too many others to mention, fall by the wayside due to weak sales and/or struggling economies. The most recent in modern history was Oldsmobile, another GM marque that was near and dear to The FIN MAN as my father drove Oldsmobiles for the most part, and after selling his half of Han-De Super Service, a Mobil service station in University City, Missouri, he got into full time sales of Oldsmobiles for a number of St. Louis area dealerships.

When I heard the news the other day, I began to reflect back on the Pontiacs in my life, and although the list of cars I’ve owned over the years is extensive, it only included one example of the proud, performance car from GM. I was twenty-something at the time, and in the market for a good, reasonably priced used car... nothing fancy, just reliable transportation. My father had just taken a 1969 Pontiac Custom S in on trade for a new Oldsmobile Cutlass. He invited me to come to the dealership, give it the once over and take it for a test drive. Although my first and second choices in body styles would have been convertible and two door hardtop (like the curvaceous LeMans coupe shown above), this particular car was a four-door– but at least it was a pillar less ‘hardtop’ and as such, delivered a pleasing open-air driving experience, weather permitting.

The Custom S and LeMans models were part of the Tempest line of compact cars. Like their GM cousins Buick Special and Oldsmobile Cutlass, the Tempest series evolved from near ‘sub-compact’ size upon introduction in model year 1961, to what would become commonly known as ‘mid-size’ or ‘intermediate’ automobiles. The first eight years of production would also see an overall refinement of the vehicles including improved performance, handling, comfort and ride.

Two-tone paint schemes remained a popular option at the turn of the decade and my Tempest Custom S was dressed, in Cameo White over Antique Gold... two of the eighteen hues offered to 1969 Pontiac buyers. Others included Mayfair Maize (a soft yellow); Midnight Green; Palladium Silver; Limelight Green; Carousel Red*; Liberty Blue; Expresso Brown; Verdoro Green; Matador Red; Champagne; Goldenrod Yellow* (a deeper yellow); Warwick Blue; Windward Blue*; Crystal Turquoise; Burgundy and Starlight Black. (*Available only on Firebird.)

Tempest/LeMans’ overall look, perhaps not one of Pontiac’s most exciting, was ‘pleasing’ nonetheless. The pinched center grill section closely mimicked full-size Pontiacs of the same vintage– so much so that, upon reading this story in print, one reader e-mailed to tell me that I had mistakenly published a photo of a full sized Catalina instead of a Tempest LeMans. I wrote ‘Tom D’ back explaining that the illustration I chose for this story, is typical of brochure and magazine ads of the period in which the illustrators used artistic license in order to exaggerate the longer, lower, wider look that appealed so much to buyers. That styling was further accentuated by Pontiac’s familiar ‘wide-track’ look... a form that was (and still is) very pleasing to the eye. While the term ‘wide track’ didn’t necessarily apply to the mid size Pontiac Tempest series, the ‘track’, or ‘tread width’, was about an inch wider than the comparable Chevrolet Chevelle.

My recollections of the driving experience behind the wheel of my Tempest Custom S are positive. While definitely not a ‘muscle car’, my Tempest Custom S four door hardtop, powered by a 350 cubic inch V-8 engine which produced a healthy 265 horsepower, was lively, if not breathtaking, off the line. (That 350 cubic inch spec equals 5.7 liters for all you gen-Xers [or later] in the crowd.) That engine was more than adequate for everyday driving in a car which tipped the scales at a modest 3,315 pounds... about 700 less than a comparable full size Pontiac Catalina. Too bad the original buyer didn’t opt for the 4-barrel version which was rated at 325 ponies. Oh well, I’d probably just have gotten myself into even more trouble if that had been the case! At least they DID go for the first V-8 option on the list. Standard fare for Tempests was an in-line six displacing 250 cubic inches (4.1 liter) with a power output of 175 horsepower.

The 1969 Pontiac sales brochure listed a dizzying array of available engines for the model year... twenty in all across the entire Pontiac line. No wonder there are some obvious discrepancies between two noted publications regarding engine options for the ‘69 Pontiacs! A generous list of appearance, convenience and performance options included such popular items as power disc front brakes ($64.00); ‘Wonder Touch’ power steering ($100.00); power door locks ($45.00); power rear antenna ($34.00); cruise control ($58.00); tilt wheel ($45.00); hood mounted tach ($63.00); instant air heater ($16.00); Rally II wheels ($64.00); ‘Custom Sport’ steering wheel ($34.00) and the Turbo-Hydramatic, like the one in my Custom S sport sedan, was a $227.00 item.

Owning a high-line LeMans coupe, like the one shown above in ‘Espresso Brown’ (o-o-oh, doesn’t that sound yummy?), was the next best thing to owning a GTO. Factory suggested base prices for the Tempest line started at $2,603.00 for a base, Custom ‘S’ series 2-door coupe with post, and soared to $4,212.00 for a limited-production GTO ‘Judge’ ragtop. My Custom S 4-door hardtop had a base price of 2,777.00 and the sensuous LeMans Coupe was tagged at $2,835.00. Buyers who gingerly checked off items on the aforementioned options list, could handily add another $1,000.00 to the bottom line. In terms of 2009 dollars, that $2,777.00 to $3,777.00 range would equal approximately $16,970.00 to $23,000.00. With that in mind, today’s cars don’t seem to be too far off base in terms of price and you get a much more advanced automobile for the money.

Before long ‘Pontiac excitement’ will be just a memory, only to be experienced by those who protect, preserve and enjoy collectible automobiles. And someday in the future, as I stroll the Easter car show with my grandson, strolling past row after row of Nissans, Toyotas, Kias and Hyundais, he just might look up at me and ask, “Grandpa... what’s a Pontiac?”

If my story has moved you to run out and look for a ‘69 Pontiac LeMans for the next Saturday evening cruise at your local Culver’s, check Trader Publishing Company’s Auto Trader Classic Cars & Parts book. It’s a wish book for old car lovers and one of the best sources to find that collectible car that you know you want. According to Krause Publication’s Old Cars Price Guide, you should be able to pick up a very nice Tempest Custom S four door hardtop, like the one I had, for just a skoche over ten grand. A LeMans coupe, on the other hand, will set you back about fifteen g’s. Still, that’s a bargain compared to other, more sought after muscle car era intermediates.

A great source for learning more about Pontiacs of all years and models is the Pontiac-Oakland Car Club... the largest Pontiac club in the world. A membership will pay itself back many times over in terms of the knowledge you will gain from it... and the newsletters are a good source for cars for sale. You can find all this and more at www.poci.org.

Good luck. See you at the next big car event.

For answers to this week’s trivia questions and more on the Pontiac Tempest for ‘69, visit the Fin Man’s web site at http://thefinman.com. To e-mail The FIN MAN, click or copy this link: mailto://the_fin_man@msn.com.

EVENT REPORT: Things got off to a slow start recently at the GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois for the 5th Annual, KSHE Rock & Roll All American Car Show. The field was pretty sparse when my trusty assistant, Pablo and I arrived around nine. It was cool and overcast and we speculated that many would be car owners and spectators were holding out to see if media news reports predicting a wet day, would come true. That was not the case, fortunately, and as the morning moved toward high noon, the cars kept rolling in and the spectator lot began to swell with vehicles. This was only my second time to attend this show, and just like before, I saw some interesting wheels for the first time ever.

I would like to thank Mike Overby of O’Reilly Auto Parts in Collinsville, and Karen Gibson and Don Hilmer of Advance Auto Parts, also in Collinsville, for their generous contribution of car care products which were given away for correctly answering The FIN MAN’s trivia questions at the KSHE car show. I’m sure they will all be put to good use as we enter the summer cruising season!

UPCOMING, ‘DON’T MISS’ EVENTS: The end of this month brings with it one of the most exciting old car events you’re likely to attend all year long– the ‘Muscle Car Reunion and Nostalgia Drags.’ The dates this year are Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 29, 30 and 31. I was there last year and among the highlights of my weekend was getting the chance to sit down with ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits for a one-on-one interview. Big Daddy will be here again this year along with a number of other features and special events. For all the details, go to http://www.musclecarreunion.com/news.htm for more information and details. Trust me... you won’t want to miss this one!

‘The FIN MAN’^TM is available for your group’s special occasions. In addition to his seminar schedule, he has been a guest speaker at group meetings including car clubs, engineering clubs and other professional associations. He has also acted as host or emcee at a number of special events including trivia parties, holiday parties, social and professional club events, benefits and fund raisers. During his appearances, he presents an overview of the collector car hobby plus a detailed look at American cars from the fifties and sixties. His program includes a fascinating Power Point presentation with images of collectible automobiles and various associated nostalgia and Americana. Guests also have the opportunity to play “FINS for FUN,” the video game he produced in 1987 which inspired his nickname, in which players compete to identify the year, make and model of cars from tightly cropped photos of fins and taillights. Those who score the highest win auto-related prizes donated by supporting Fin Man sponsors. For more information, go to http://www.thefinman.com. We are currently accepting bookings for the remainder of calendar year 2009 and 2010.

The FIN MAN^TM is a member of the Society of Automotive Historians and the St. Louis Chapter of the Buick Club of America. At one time or another, he has held membership in the Cadillac-LaSalle Club, the DeSoto Club, the Imperial Owners Club and the Edsel Club of America. He welcomes your questions, comments and suggestions regarding the column or old cars in general. We’ll see you at the next Chuck-A-Burger cruise at the original location in St. John or the new Chuck-A-Burger in St. Charles.
^{R.I.P. Pontiac: 1926-2010}