Car of the Year 1961
The Pontiac Tempest was Motor Trend
magazine's Car of the Year for 1961. It was a
compact car with a rear-mounted Corvair transaxle
with a combined differential and transmission
which gave it a 50/50 weight distribution.
Road & Track also praised the Tempest as the best utility car since the Model-A Ford.
The 1961 Continental
It was two feet shorter than
pervious years with the infamous rear 'Suicide
Doors" which opened from the front (all models
were 4 doors). The first American car with a
full 24,000 mile or 2-year warranty.
A special convertible model,
the SS-100-X was purchased by the Secret Service
as a presidential parade limousine. It soon
became the car remembered by most of the
world.
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