A slick two-seat speedster based on a production 1961 Tempest, Pontiac’s Monte Carlo was one of the more intriguing entries on the show car scene in 1961-1962. And in modified form, the car is still around today.
Most factory show cars have but one life, but the 1961 Tempest Monte Carlo has enjoyed two. Conceived in the General Motors styling studios directed by Bill Mitchell, the Monte Carlo was based on a standard ’61 Tempest production car, but with approximately one foot surgically removed from the floor pan to create a two-place roadster. A wraparound plastic windscreen lowered the now-stumpy profile dramatically, while a fiberglass tonneau, Halibrand racing wheels, and a flashy pearl white paint job with a blue racing stripe completed the competition theme.
Powering the Monte Carlo was a modified slant-four Tempest powerplant with a supercharger and loads of chrome goodies, coupled to the four-speed manual Tempest transaxle. In classic Mitchell style, the production Tempest cockpit was redone in flashy metallic blue vinyl with bucket seats and a customized instrument panel housing a full set of competition gauges. In this form–we will call it Mark I here—the Monte Carlo made the rounds of the 1961 factory show car circuit and, early in the 1962 season, appeared at the Chicago Auto Show as well.
At some point in 1962, the Tempest two-seater received a complete makeover. The plexiglass windscreen was replaced by a production-style full-height windshield assembly (above) and an all-weather convertible top was engineered. Chrome wires with whitewalls were mounted up in place of the magnesium racing wheels, and the full-race Tempest four-banger was swapped out in favor of a 215 cubic-inch BOP aluminum V8. We don’t know this, but it appears the comprehensive do-over was designed to transform the racy but impractical speedster into roadworthy, regular transportation.
In this, its Mark II form if you will, the Monte Carlo was presented to GM vice-president Ed Cole and was reportedly used as family transportation for some years. When Cole, who retired from GM in 1974, was tragically killed in a 1977 plane crash, his widow donated the car to the San Antonio Museum of Transportation. Eventually the Monte Carlo passed into private ownership, changed hands at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction in 2007, and is currently listed for sale by Hunting Ridge Motors in Mt. Kisco, New York. So if you’ve ever wanted to own a small piece of GM concept-car history, here’s a rare opportunity. Photos courtesy of GM and Hunting Ridge Motors.
This is a miss for me. It looks like something George Barris would have built, or one of the options in an AMT 3-1 model kit. It’s mostly the base car that ruins it for me. I never cared much for the original Tempest. Gimme the Gray Ghost any day.
Coupled with the Banshee featured not long ago, it’s evident that Pontiac really wanted a sports car, if not a Corvette. Maybe Chevy should have given them the Corvair instead of Firebird. That car was dead once the Camaro was on the drawing board. I continue to believe that the Corvair was a contender with the proper guidance and it never got that.
Pontiac hardly would have wanted the Corvair. Knudsen when promoted from Pontiac Division G.M. to Chevrolet ( fall of 1962 ) wouldn’t accept the promotion unless he was aloud by the corporation to fix Corvair’s handling problems.
Of course Pontiac ( DeLorean ) wanted a sports car but the corporation and Ed Cole in particular didn’t want Chevrolet to have any internal competition.
Don
How did they shorten the Tempest driveshaft I wonder. Unlimited resources I suppose.
They shortened the unibody behind the doors, They shortened the Rope drive housing and it’s shaft the same amount and repositioned the permanent tension bearing in-between the engine and the transaxle.
I like it a lot. It’s great that it’s around and available to be used and enjoyed.