A transmission in the rear?  It had a differential, these were decent cars.

Nope.  Trans is right behind the motor, where it should be.  It can be dependable, as long as it's properly maintained.

Sorry to correct you but the Tempest Lemans have rear trans axles (2 speed power glide on v-8 models with very limited manual trans models being built. The slant 4 are more common to have a standard trans).
It is a independent-suspensionm trans-axle driveline. They have a spring steel torque tube that is know to break quite easily, not a drive shaft.
Its also not a common 326 CI V-8, its a 336 CI V-8 with .060 larger cylinders and pistons from the factory. In short, a 326 has a 3 23/32" bore, while the 1963 Lemans v-8 has a 3 25/32" bore, (Doing the simple math with the crank stroke) its 336.9 cubic inches. I found a complete 63 lemans convertible with 28,000 miles, and a virgin engine and machined it in my shop. I discovered the original rings, pistons, rod bearing, main bearings and so on. Thats when I noticed the .060 larger pistons. I know 3 other people that own a 1963 lemans and they all have the same engine/transmission/suspension packages.

Its a fun vehicle that took me 5 years to restore, but its worth it. Its not a car worth 6 digits, but they are very hard to find.

After all, its a baby GTO!!