Used 1963 Pontiac LeMans for sale in Concord, NC

Rare, interesting, unique, and surprisingly affordable - all of this and more is why this 1963 Pontiac Tempest LeMans convertible is one of the coolest classics in our showroom. And that's before you even hear about this V8 drop-top's amazing survivor story.

This is the final-year for the first-generation Pontiac Tempest, and it's the one to have. It still retains the sports car-like driving features, and now it's wrapped around what's arguably the most attractive Wide Track sheetmetal of the series. This one has a striking look from across a parking lot with its bright and correct Grenadier Red paint. But the real story is revealed when you get closer. There are the scratches and imperfections that get your mind wondering about how much of a survivor this one really is. In fact, the paint is believed to be mostly original. And the way the sheetmetal fits and the level of completeness - right down to the emblems - shows all signs of respected garage care over the years. So this was someone's baby. That's because we're told it has spent nearly all its life with one owner, and the recent second owner was his good friend. It was bought brand new 40 minutes away from our dealership, and this gem basically spent its whole life only about 5 miles from its original Pontiac dealer. So it truly is a local boy. And you'll want this for more than just a terrific story. It's also rare. It's believed that only about 7,200 LeMans V8 convertibles were produced, and nearly 60 years later, how many do you think survived with this kind of history and originality?

While most of this car has a terrific originality, one part you'll be quite thankful that it was replaced along the way is the convertible top. After all, they just can't stand up to over half a century and still look this well-presented today. And while the clean look of the white roof against the red paint is attractive, with the flip of a switch, it powers down to reveal a whole new style. After all, there's just something timelessly sporty about a red convertible with a black interior. This has a terrific look of originality, right down to the working AM radio. And you even have sporty details, like the front bucket seats and floor shifter. It's a well-preserved time capsule where you can feel the history every time you grab the thin/grippy factory wheel.

The engineering is what makes this car so uniquely special. The 1963 LeMans was the first year that the compacts got a V8 with a significant displacement. In fact, this 326 cubic-inch V8 would highlight the liveliness that paved the way for the GTO the next year. With a powerhouse this significant, it's nice to know that the original motor was rebuilt around 20k miles ago. So today it runs and drives great. Plus, the real advantage of the first-generation Tempest comes from how it utilizes its power. This is actually a transaxle car, and so the automatic transmission is mounted in the rear to give this Pontiac a better weight distribution than any other comparable American car. And the independent rear suspension is something truly unexpected in a classic like this (remember the case-cracker from My Cousin Vinny - only this car and the Corvette were the big Americans that had an independent rear in the '60s!) So while this looks like an attractive mainstream vintage convertible, the drivetrain is one of the most modern of its era.

The sale comes complete with the original title documentation, owner's manual, and service manuals. So you have rare features that make this LeMans both fun to drive and great to talk about - and it's all part of an affordable drop-top package. This kind of all-around appeal is why we know the Pontiac will be leaving us very soon. Call now!