Even though Todd wasn't particularly...
Even though Todd wasn't particularly looking for a '64 model A-body, let alone a Tempest, consistent top-3 wins at the Pontiac Southern Nationals (since 1997) have made it worthwhile. Now you can see why we chose it as the HPP Editor's Choice award winner at the 2003 event.
Things are not always what they appear. That's something to which any horror movie buff can attest. The kindly stranger with the twinkle in his eye is really the evil monster. Or conversely, that gruesome creature is really a being with a heart of gold. Nothing gets the blood curdling, the stomach tightening, and the adrenaline pumping like a good, suspenseful scare flick. Keeping that in mind, consider this sweet 1964 Pontiac GTO. Or so it would appear.
Awe-inspiring aptly describes the transformation this '64 convertible went through to achieve its current state of being. Fresh out of college in June of 1992, Todd Schoel of Carrolton, Texas, was looking for an A-body project; although not particularly a '64 model. Yet things changed when he stumbled across this abused and neglected Tempest; that's right TEMPEST. But who could resist a '64 Pontiac convertible with selling price of $400-even though it was more freak show than automobile.
This dormant convertible showed its split personality on the day Todd bought it. "Upon arrival at the home of the former owner, I found a somewhat complete but rough candidate. I immediately noticed that one side of the Pontiac and hood were painted with flat white latex house paint! The other side was multi-colored with a skull and crossbones theme." Somewhere underneath all of that were the remains of factory Skyline Blue paint.
It gets better as he describes the once aqua-colored interior. "It had large houseflies painted [stenciled] underneath the deck lid. The dash had red paint dripping down as if it was blood. From the door panels to the radio knobs, fluorescent green, blood red, silver and black paint covered the interior." Anywhere trim was missing in the interior they had applied red paint to appear as oozing blood. No doubt the '64 was screaming bloody murder to be saved from this kind of treatment. "Call it operation rescue; call me crazy; I just had to have it."
Todd's line of thinking was quite straightforward. As nothing short of a full frame-off restification would make this project worth the money and effort, then why not go all out with a bar-none performance GTO clone? The game plan was simple: Stick as many performance components into this ragtop as possible to make it a Pontiac that didn't need to be number's matching to get the thumbs up from everyone but a concours judge.
Schoel, a 42-year-old salesman of aviator lighting, hardly claims to be a sheetmetal-welding expert although he does have some experience in general welding from high school. This rough '64 was the perfect project on which to cut his teeth. With that said, there were many pitfalls and repeat work performed along the journey to create his ultimate A-body.
The Tempest-specific taillight panel had to be changed for a LeMans/GTO look. Rather than go with reproduction or NOS, a couple of '64 LeManses donated their skin for the cause-fenders and doors to be exact. Oddly, while the rear quarters were a solid challenge, filling the Tempest-specific 3/8-inch trim holes that originally ran along the sides of the quarter panels required some creativity. Todd explains, "I had small steel discs punched out at the shop where I worked to fill the holes. Using strong magnets on the back I was able to weld them in place leaving very little evidence."
 Would you believe those are...  Would you believe those are original chrome bumpers? Todd found them in a junkyard while on vacation at Superbowl XXX and snuck them back on the airline as skis. |  The casual observer will be...  The casual observer will be too blinded by the brilliant Halibrand 15x8 wheels to notice the stealthy 4-wheel disc brake Power Stop rotors that lurk behind. |  The Butler-built 467 stroker...  The Butler-built 467 stroker puts out some serious power with aid of a Air Inlet Systems ram-air kit and tons of hi-po parts. Nevertheless, Todd has already expressed an eagerness to upgrade just a few minor things like adding an electric evacuation system for the crankcase vacuum and a sequential fuel injection system. You know the usual small stuff. |