By 1970, muscle cars had become more expensive. While many were still priced below the $3,000 mark (equivalent to around $23,600 in 2022), insurance rates skyrocketed, especially for high-performance big-block vehicles.
With a starting price of roughly $2,600 ($20,500 in 2022), the T-37 was about 18% cheaper than a GTO and almost $30 more affordable than a Judge. In fact, the T-37 became GM’s lowest-priced midsize hardtop during its production, outperforming the Chevrolet Chevelle. The T-37 moniker originated from the ‘T’ in Tempest and Pontiac’s internal code for hardtop coupes, ’37’.
Though the T-37 was budget-friendly, boasted a minimalist interior, and came standard with an inline-six engine, it could also be equipped with Pontiac’s high-performance engines, including the formidable 455-cubic-inch (7.5-liter) H.O. V8.
While most buyers opted for the T-37 as a more affordable, lower-insurance vehicle with an inline-six, a few savvy enthusiasts recognized the potential of a no-frills Poncho with a robust V8 and chose the 455 H.O.
These T-37s, however, are exceedingly rare. Out of nearly 36,000 units sold in 1971, a mere 54 were equipped with the H.O. engine, amounting to only 0.15% of total production. This scarcity puts them on par with the legendary HEMI-equipped Mopars.
As some of these vehicles were purchased for drag racing due to their impressive power-to-weight ratios, even fewer than 54 remain in existence today. The unassuming white Pontiac featured here is one of these rare survivors.
So, how did this unique vehicle manage to stay in such pristine condition for over half a century? One could argue it’s due to a stroke of luck, as it was originally purchased for drag racing.
In its early days, this Poncho competed in the quarter-mile as “The Quiet Gent,” utilizing a modified Cadillac transmission for enhanced grip and acceleration.
Fast forward to 2022, the car has been reunited with a period-correct Pontiac transmission and still boasts its original, numbers-matching 455 V8.
With only 18,000 miles (28,968 km) on the odometer, this highly original and well-preserved T-37 is undoubtedly a noteworthy piece of Pontiac history and a rare treasure deserving of greater recognition. Discover more about this exceptional vehicle in the video below.
