[c5farmer]

My tempest is white with a red roof. The inner fender panels and firewall are painted black. The car is original and has not been restored. Most tempests are painted the same color under the hood as the body is. Can anyone comment on the correct under hood paint colors--body match or black?

Thanks

[mechanickeith]

I have never seen a 61-63 that didnt have the body color in the engine compartment. I have 3 original unrestored numbers matching cars & all 3 have matching color under the hood.

[sprintman]

Matching color under the hood and not necessarily a stellar application. I think this lack of attention to detail was kind of normal for the time. I remember reading something in this regards about another make of this vintage.

[tom s]

my original 63 that I have now is black,my original new 63 I bought in 63 was also black.My 63 wagon was blk,need to find a pic of my 63 convert as I dont remember.Tom

[GaryK]

I think we covered this question a number of years ago in the Little indians Ropeshaft reader. Depending on which plant built your Tempest determines what color your engine compartment. Pontiac plant painted the engine bay the same color as the rest of the car, one of the other two plants painted it black. I will have to dig up the information. Both my 62 Tempests were built in Pontiac MI and had Caravan Gold engine bays. I changed one to gloss black.

[beemergary]

Originally Posted by GaryK

I think we covered this question a number of years ago in the Little indians Ropeshaft reader. Depending on which plant built your Tempest determines what color your engine compartment. Pontiac plant painted the engine bay the same color as the rest of the car, one of the other two plants painted it black. I will have to dig up the information. Both my 62 Tempests were built in Pontiac MI and had Caravan Gold engine bays. I changed one to gloss black.

I heard that the late John Sawruck said the same thing.

[mechanickeith]

Both of my 61's & 1 62 I have were built at the Pontiac plant & I also have 2 more 62's that were built at the Southgate plant. All 5 have body color matched engine compartments.

[KJB]

Everything we've seen indicates Kansas City Plant painted inner fenders and firewalls black. The other 2 plants went with body color.

[mechanickeith]

So, Looks like you need to check your vin number & see where it was assembled. If the kansas plant, then black paint, all others body paint.

[62eyadams]

I've read (probably in the Little Indians newsletter) that black was used under the hood for all cars starting with calendar year 1963. Which means (in theory) all '61 and '62 would be body color, and early '63 would be as well. My '62 was body color under the hood.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 62eyadams

I've read (probably in the Little Indians newsletter) that black was used under the hood for all cars starting with calendar year 1963. Which means (in theory) all '61 and '62 would be body color, and early '63 would be as well. My '62 was body color under the hood.

Apparently not. My '63 Lemans convert was built in Pontiac in May and is body color under hood (white).

K

[c5farmer]

Thanks to all who have replied.....a couple interesting theories. I will check the VIN to see where the car was built (maybe Ks City) and report back.

Jerry

[fasteddy]

Both of my 63s were blacked out in the engine compartment. White cars-both original paint when I got them.

[tom s]

I know all the SD tempests were body color.tom

[azkeebler]

Okay, not meaning to throw a wrench in the grinder here, but, my early south gate built '62 actually has partial black over the body color. I hope to post pics soon. Fenders are body color , but select areas around headlight and cowl are black. My other southgate car (wagon) is all body color.

[elefantrider]

Both my orig. CA cars are Cameo ivory and have that body color in the engine compartment. I haven't run the PHS but I guess they were both built in Southgate.

My '63 originally sold in Eastern WA has a black engine compartment.

I like the body color matched eng. compartment a little better.

[mechanickeith]

Chris, If you have the vin numbers handy, that will tell you where it was assembled.
vins start with 1 (Tempest)
61-62 or 63 (year)
Then will have P for Pontiac Mi.,, S for Southgate, etc, etc.

Vin on my Daily driver starts out as 161P

[elefantrider]

Thanks for the tip Keith, will check for that now.

[c5farmer]

I just got home from a Thanksgiving family get together and checked the VIN number on my 63. It was assembled at the Pontiac plant and was number 65,519 off the line. My guess is the inner fenders were painted black or body color depending on the painter or paint line it was assigned. Or the color had something to do with the number of "big" cars being built on the same date. It is good to know, from a restoration stand point, that all weren't painted the body color. Looks like it will get repainted black.

thanks

['62pest]

Thanks to the lazy painter who repainted my car, my engine compartment and wheel wells are now satin black. I dont mind as much because i did not repaint the car stock colors, but i do mind because i told him to paint the engine compartment the body color. Oh yeah and he left it to my to paint them black.

I could go on complaining but it will do no good.