A Member of the Family – 1970 Pontiac Tempest GT-37

The 1970 Pontiac Tempest GT-37 is a rare muscle car that was produced only for one year.

On October 18, 1970 Bob and Diana Fisher went to Lew Davies Pontiac in Meadville Pennsylvania looking for a new car. While Bob wanted a GTO, he was unable to find a new one for sale locally. While he was looking at a new AMX (Lew Davies was also an American Motors dealer) his wife spotted a 1970 Tempest GT-37 on the new car lot. She liked the way it looked, so the salesman went to get the keys.

When the GT-37 was fired up, Bob heard it from across the lot and was attracted to the sound of the 400 cubic inch V8.

The car had 2 miles on the odometer when he left for the test drive and 25 miles when he returned.

Two days later, on October 20, 1970, they became the proud and only owners of their 1970 GT-37. The Tempest was their first new car. In December 1970, they brought their newborn son home from the hospital in the Pontiac.

Their GT-37 Tempest was built during the 4th week of April 1970. It sat on the Lew Davies Pontiac lot for several months prior to the Fisher’s taking delivery. The car was factory optioned with a 400 cubic inch 4 bbl V8 engine, a 4 speed manual transmission, Saf-T-Track, an AM radio, power steering, and bucket seats.

While 14 inch Rally II wheels were part of the 1970 GT-37 package, the Fisher’s personalized their GT-37 with a set of slot wheels after they owned the car for about 8 months (they still have the original Rally II’s). They also added a Hurst T-handle shifter. In 1983 they added a cassette deck under the dash.

Other than the modifications mentioned and a few items added to protect the original components such as the dash and steering wheel covers, the car remains as delivered, save for maintenance and repair items. The GT-37 now has just over 100,000 miles and the only repair needed in its over 50-year history was a lifter.

Bob says that although the GT-37 was their daily driver and only car for the first five years of its life, he always washed the salt from the car after any winter driving, even when it was freezing cold outside. That care and keeping the car garaged have led to a very well preserved survivor.

Bob mentioned that over the years the car has become “A Member of the Family”. Something that many owners can relate to regarding their Pontiacs.The cars documentation includes the Protect-O-Plate, thank you letter from Pontiac, 1970 pre delivery check sheet, owners manual, warranty and owner protection plan, sales documents and loan papers, production letter from Pontiac and more.