The most interesting part of Pickett's Tempest, however, is the top end, where the ultra-rare parts begin. Pickett purchased a set of R/A-V tunnel port 303 heads, specifically designed for use in Trans/Am SCCA Sedan II racing and originally planned to be part of a '69 1/2 Trans Am 303 ci option package that was nixed before it hit the streets. They feature 56cc combustion chambers and a mild clean up. "The heads are stout, just like Pontiac's Herb Adams intended them," Pickett tells HPP. "There was no need for us to perform serious porting on the intake and exhaust sides, Nunzi just did a cleanup." Custom pushrods activate Nunzi 1.7-ratio shaft-mounted rocker arms that compress dual valve springs and open 2.19/1.76 titanium valves. The compression ratio is 11:1.
A Nunzi cam orchestrates the valve action and, thanks to HPP contributor Rocky Rotella, we were able to "declassify" its specs as a custom solid roller with 272/278-deg duration and high 0.600's gross valve lift. Rotella also learned that this pair of R/A-V heads produces intake flow in excess of 300 cfm at 28 inches of pressure with exhaust flowing 74 percent of intake.
HPP contributor Don Keefe weighed in on the rarity of these heads. "While any Ram Air V cylinder head is a rare piece, the 303 versions are particularly scarce," he said. "No one knows for sure, but somewhere between 80 and 200 Ram Air V 400 crate motors and 25 complete 303s were ever built. Some additional heads were said to have been sold through the parts network. Even so, there never were a lot of them to begin with. Quite a few sets of 303 heads were liberated from their short-deck blocks, however, as the smaller engines ran much better with modified Ram Air IV cylinder heads. As far as we know, Tom Schlauch's is the only 303 short-deck Ram Air V in running condition, though another one is being built by an East Coast enthusiast using a shortblock that I used to own."
 The Tempest came with a spare...  The Tempest came with a spare tire compartment that Pickett used to display an NOS set of Pontiac R/A-V 400 heads (PN 546534). Now that's putting the promise, "seats two comfortably," to good use. |  Pontiac originally planned...  Pontiac originally planned on introducing a badge-engineered Corvair to be named "Polaris," but both Bunkie Knudsen and John DeLorean balked at the idea. Instead, Pontiac developed the Tempest, available in coupe, sedan, and, as shown here, in wagon form. |  The machine work was expertly...  The machine work was expertly managed by Nunzi Automotive of Brooklyn, New York (who also provided the hot cam), and Maihler Engine Service of Collingdale, Pennsylvania. This motor was assembled by Jim Pickett and his brother, Mark. |
An equally ultra-rare Pontiac R/A-V 400 aluminum intake manifold (PN 545288) supports a Holley 950 cfm carburetor (the factory used a Holley 800 cfm carb), and the fuel feeds from a Barry Grant 280 electric fuel pump. Spark is activated with an MSD crank trigger distributor and travels through MSD wires to NGK Iridium plugs. Exhaust exits through custom made headers, built by Lucky's, that feature 2-inch primaries and 4-inch collectors. A 3-inch dual exhaust with Flowmasters makes this race car street ready and legal.
A Trans Specialties 3,000 rpm converter sends the torque to a Turbo 350 transmission mated to a custom driveshaft. The rear wheels are Pickett's own creation, custom 15x10.5s that mount 30x10.5-inch slicks.
This is Pickett's fourth Tempest racer. He completed a '63 coupe that runs Pro Nostalgia clocking 8.97 e.t.s at 153 mph, a '61 sedan that runs Nostalgia Modified posting 9.32s at 145 mph, and a '63 wagon that was completed in Spring, 2007. He has yet to produce a time slip for his '61 R/A-V wagon.
Nonetheless, Pickett tells HPP his "sleeper" wakes up whenever he pushes the pedal. "This wagon is really fun to drive and will peel the tires through Third gear." he says. "The motor is really reliable and it's great at local cruises. It's fully street legal, and it will be fierce competition at the racetrack."
The factory never intended for the '61 Tempest to be more than a low-price, entry-level family car. Thanks to Jim Pickett, all that has changed. This is one '61 Tempest that hauls...a whole lot more than groceries, wherever it goes.
 This Tempest is sprayed in...  This Tempest is sprayed in the later Pontiac color of Lucerne Blue (code 26), The bodywork and paint was completed by Ron and Marty of East West Auto Body of Collingdale, Pennsylvania. |  This '61 Tempest rides on...  This '61 Tempest rides on 15-inch steel wheels up front with poverty caps and Coker reproduction F70-15 bias ply redline tires in back. |  We told you this Pontiac's...  We told you this Pontiac's owner likes the color blue and we mean it. Even the custom rollbar is painted to match the interior. |