1962 Pontiac Tempest LeMans.

[t walgamuth]

Strange looking engine, sit's on an angle like SLANT SIX mopar, to keep the carb level, WAY UNDER POWERED, Used the Covair transaxel as well, Left over parts I guess.

Actually if looked at as half a v8 (which it is) it is sitting upright....prolly uses stock v8 pan and other things.

[53k]

Strange looking engine, sit's on an angle like SLANT SIX mopar, to keep the carb level, WAY UNDER POWERED, Used the Covair transaxel as well, Left over parts I guess.

As I remember, they were very rough running engines (no balance shaft like most 4-bangers now). Also, the rear axles pivoted at the transaxle. If you had much of a load in the rear the wheels would really cant in at the top.

[55coupe]

That transaxle I was driving a 61 4 dr tempest 4cyl auto to work 4:30 am and swerved for a opossum with litter on her back. After getting sidways acouple of times I was almost stopped going backwards and the car just fell on the drivers side. It broke the rearview on the side and bent the gutter alittle. I don't swerve for animals anymore.

[Dougie]

I had a Dealer promo model of one of these when I was a kid. Wish I had it now.

[t walgamuth]

That transaxle I was driving a 61 4 dr tempest 4cyl auto to work 4:30 am and swerved for a opossum with litter on her back. After getting sidways acouple of times I was almost stopped going backwards and the car just fell on the drivers side. It broke the rearview on the side and bent the gutter alittle. I don't swerve for animals anymore.

That's one of the first things my dad taught us. Also saw a car in a ravine upside down from the school bus one day from swerving for a dog or some animal....that is still a vivid image in my mind.

[jnormanh]

We had one of those. It was an awful car. If you weren't careful with the three on the floor, the rope drive would wind up and leave a stop light going ungha....ungha...ungha while the rear tires went bark...bark...bark. Great 4 cyl iron lump in the front, very light in back with swing axles, it was downright scary. Anything more than modest speed into a corner and the back end would hang out...and if you then panicked and let off the gas, it would do multiple 360s.

The razor edged instrument surround was a nice touch - sort of an on-board guillotine.

Maybe with the aluminum Buick V8, four speed, and if they'd have used full IRS and decent brakes it could have been a good car, but the one we had - if I've driven a worse car, I can't remember what it was.

[wolfie]

International also had a 'half of a V8' four cylinder as well. It was 152 cubic inches and used in the first Scouts and the rare '900' pickup.

Craig

GREAT trucks in the woods. They dont have enough power to spin! Steve

[Buzzard]

Check out "The Tempest which would have been king".