Three years after it was named Motor Trend's Car of the Year, the Tempest has made quite a change. Gone is the aluminum V8 along with the 112 inch wheelbase, curved drive shaft and transaxle. Now, it shares the "A" body style similar to other GM divisions and a 215 cu. in. inline 6 cylinder replaces the 4 cylinder which features ball-mounted rocker arms.
Also available was two versions of the 326 cu. in. V8 along with either a 2-speed automatic with torque converter or a 3-speed or 4-speed manual transmission.
The famous GTO (Gran Turismo Omologato) option package was released for the first time in 1964 with a little over 32,000 produced and was available on the Tempest LeMans. The idea behind the package was to get around the restrictions of overpowered vehicles by offering the 389 cu. in V8 engine as an option.
1964 Pontiac Tempest Specifications & Production Numbers
Model Number
Body/Style Number
Body Type & Seating
Factory Price
Shipping Weight
Total Production
Tempest Series
20
69
4d Sedan - 6P
$2,313
2,970 lbs
19,427
20
27
2d Hardtop - 6P
$2,259
2,930 lbs
21,765
20
35
4d Station Wagon - 6P
$2,605
3,245 lbs
6,834
Tempest Custom
21
69
4d Sedan - 6P
$2,399
2,990 lbs
29,948
21
67
2d Convertible - 5P
$2,641
3,075 lbs
7,987
21
27
2d Hardtop - 6P
$2,345
2,955 lbs
25,833
21
35
4d Station Wagon - 6P
$2,691
3,260 lbs
10,696
Tempest LeMans
22
27
2d Coupe - 5P
$2,491
2,975 lbs
31,317
22
37
2d Hardtop - 5P
$2,556
2,995 lbs
31,310
22
67
2d Convertible - 5P
$2,796
3,125 lbs
17,559
Tempest LeMans with GTO option
22
27
2d Coupe - 5P
$2,852
3,106 lbs
7,384
22
37
2d Hardtop - 5P
$2,963
3,126 lbs
18,422
22
67
2d Convertible - 5P
$3,801
3,360 lbs
6,644
Chassis Data
Model
Wheelbase
Overall Length
Front Tread
Rear Tread
Tires
Tempest
115 in
203 in
58 in
58 in
6.50 x 14
VIN Decoding
Serial Numbers were on the left front
hinge pillar. Fisher body on cowl tells style number, body number, trim
code, paint code, and other data.
First Symbol - Engine
4 = Four Cylinder
8 = Eight Cylinder (V-8)
6 = Six Cylinder
Second Symbol - Series
0 = Tempest (Standard)
5 = Ventura
1 = Tempest (Custom)
6 = Star Chief
2 = LeMans
8 = Bonneville
3 = Catalina
9 = Grand Prix
Third Symbol - Year
4 = 1964
Fourth Symbol - Assembly Plant
(B) Baltimore, Maryland
(P) Pontiac, Michigan
(D) Doraville, Georgia
(R) Arlington, Texas
(E) Linden, New Jersey
(S) Southgate, California
(F) Fremont, California
(U) Lordstown, Ohio
(G) Framingham, Massachusetts
(X) Kansas City, Kansas
(M) Kansas City, Missouri
Last Four Symbols - Production Sequence
Started at 1001
1964 Pontiac Engines
Location Of Engine Code: (Six-Cyl) - On cylinder head-to-block contact surface behind oil filter pipe. (V8) - Stamped on right front side of block or beneath production engine number on machined pad on right hand bank of engine block.
Letter Code
Engine
Horsepower
Torque
Transmission
Carburetor
01A
8-389
215
390
Manual
2 BC
02B
8-389
215
390
Heavy Duty Manual
2 BC
03A
8-389
215
390
Manual
2 BC
04L
8-389
230
386
Automatic
2 BC
05L
8-389
230
386
Automatic
2 BC
08R
8-389
230
386
Automatic
2 BC
09R
8-389
230
386
Automatic
2 BC
10A
8-389
283
418
Manual
2 BC
11H
8-389
267
410
Manual
2 BC
12H
8-389
267
410
Automatic
2 BC
13L
8-389
Not Available
Not Available
Automatic
2 BC
17M
8-389
283
418
Automatic
2 BC
18M
8-389
283
418
Automatic
2 BC
19R
8-389
Not Available
Not Available
Automatic
2 BC
22B
8-389
235
386
Heavy Duty Manual
2 BC
23B
8-389
306
420
Heavy Duty Manual
4 BC
25K
8-389
303
430
Automatic
4 BC
26K
8-389
303
430
Automatic
4 BC
27P
8-389
303
430
Automatic
4 BC
28P
8-389
303
430
Automatic
4 BC
29N
8-389
306
420
Automatic
4 BC
30R
8-389
Not Available
Not Available
Automatic
4 BC
32B
8-389
325
428
Automatic
4 BC
33-6
8-389
330
430
Automatic
3 -2 BC
34N
8-389
330
430
Automatic
3 -2 BC
35B
8-421
320
455
Manual
4 BC
38S
8-421
320
455
Automatic
4 BC
43N
8-421
320
455
Automatic
4 BC
44B
8-421
350
454
Manual
3 -2 BC
45B
8-421
370
460
Manual
3 -2 BC
46G
8-421
370
460
Automatic
3 -2 BC
47S
8-421
350
454
Automatic
3 -2 BC
49N
8-421
350
454
Automatic
3 -2 BC
50Q
8-421
370
460
Automatic
3 -2 BC
Transmission Codes
Transmission
Location
Super Hydra-Matic "315" (Dual-Coupling Hydra-Matic)
On name plate located on lower left corner of the rear face of transmission
case.
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
On serial number plate attached to left side of transmission.
Super Turbine 300 (TempesTorque)
On metal tag fastened to right side of transmission case or stamped
on lower servo cover.
Jetway
On metal tag fastened to right side of transmission case or stamped
on lower servo cover.
3-Speed
Painted or stamped on the transmission case.
4-Speed
Painted or stamped on the transmission case.
Plant and Type Designation Prefix
Transmission Type
20
TempesTorque
30
TempesTorque
31
TempesTorque
40
TempesTorque
MC
TempesTorque
NA
TempesTorque
NB
TempesTorque
P
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
PAH
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
PAS
Super Hydra-Matic "315"
PB
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
PBS
Super Hydra-Matic "315"
PC
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
PCS
Super Hydra-Matic "315"
PE
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
PEH
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
PES
Super Hydra-Matic "315"
PG
Roto Hydra-Matic "10"
PS
Super Hydra-Matic "315"
Axle Codes
Location Of Axle Codes: Color Markings on flange end
of axle shaft and by ratio stamped on right hand axle tube. (For example:
if 43-10 is stamped on the axle tube it is a 4.30:1 ratio. Just divide the
first number by the second number to give you the ratio.)
Color - Non-Locking
Color - Locking
Ratio
Black
Black & Green
4.30
Blue
Blue & Green
3.55
Brown
Brown & Green
3.23
Gray
Gray & Green
2.56
Green
3.90
Orange
Orange & Green
2.93
Pink
Pink & Green
3.73
Red
Red & Green
2.78
Yellow
Yellow & Green
3.08
White
White & Green
3.36
Options and Accessories
Description
Description
Air Conditioning
Sports Wheel Covers
Console (incl. tachometer)
Aluminum Hubs & Drums
Instrument Gauge Cluster
3-Speed Manual Transmission
Luggage Carrier
Hydra-Matic Transmission
Remote Control Mirror
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Power Brakes
389-cid/230-hp V-8 (economy)
Power Seat
389-cid/330-hp V-8 (Tri-Power)
Power Tilt Bucket Seat (driver's side)
389-cid/348-hp V-8 (Tri-Power)
Tachometer
421-cid/350-hp V-8 (Tri-Power)
Cordova Top
421-cid/370-hp V-8 (Tri-Power)
Ventura Trim (Catalina 2369, 2339, & 2347)
Paint Codes - Exterior Colors
Color Name / Code
Color Image
Color Name / Code
Color Image
A - Tuxedo Black
Lucite® Code - 88
Dulux® Code - 93-005
V - Ember Red
Lucite® Code - 4387LH
Dulux® Code - 93-95896H
NOTES: The first letter of a two-letter paint code identifies the body
color. The second letter identifies the roof color. (For example,
the combination FW on a Pontiac would indicate the body finished
in Yorktown Blue Metallic and the roof area in Nocturne Bleu Metallic.)
General Motors paint code plate for all models except Corvair and
Corvette is located under the hood at the top of the firewall on
the left or right of the upper shroud. Corvair paint code plate
is on the left rear wheel housing. Corvette paint code plate is
under the dash, below the glove compartment.
Paint Codes - Interior Colors
Color Name / Code
Color Image
Color Name / Code
Color Image
Parchment
Lucite® Code - 9000L (semi-gloss)
Dark Aqua Metallic
Lucite® Code - 9012LH (semi-gloss)
Lucite® Code - 4429L (flat)
Medium Fawn Metallic
Lucite® Code - 4527L (semi-gloss)
Medium Blue Metallic
Lucite® Code - 9006L (semi-gloss)
NOTE: Unrubbed
LUCITE® will generally produce a gloss comparable to original
unrubbed interior semi-gloss finishes. If lower gloss is required,
use DuPont #4528 flattening compound to reduce gloss. This can be
approximately 10%.
Note: Information, Specifications, Resources & Photos found in the Research Library should only be used as general guidelines. OldRide LLC makes no warranty as to the authenticity and accuracy of the information contained hereon.
