My name is Kevin, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to own a 1964 Pontiac Tempest Custom—a car with deep family roots. My grandmother bought it brand new in ’64, and years later, it became my first project car. I fixed it up as a teenager, just in time to hit the road when I got my driver’s license.

Life took me in a different direction after high school—I moved away for college, and the Tempest sat untouched at my parents’ house in dry, warm Central California for nearly 30 years. At one point, I nearly sold it, but my high school friends convinced me to hang onto it. Looking back, that was absolutely the right call. 🙂

In 2023, I finally had it shipped to Washington, bringing it home after decades apart. When it arrived, I stood there staring at it—maybe it was the fog in the air, but the moment felt surreal, almost like a dream.

Follow along as I restore the Tempest! I’ll be sharing before-and-after photos, along with any tips and tricks I pick up along the way. Huge thanks to YouTube tutorials and classic car parts stores—seriously, how did anyone restore a car before the internet?!