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1965-67 Catalina 2+2. Any experts out there?
At the much appreciated advice of others in the Classic Cars Town Hall, I've expanded my search for a nice 1960's convertible cruiser to include a mid-60's Pontiac Catalina 2+2.
I know a fair amount about this car (ie., it had its own model designation in 64-66 and was reduced to a mere option package in '67 (its last year). Engine choices ranged from a 389 to the revered 421 Tri-Power and you could even order one with a Hurst 4-speed.
However, I've never driven one of these and would appreciate any feed back from those who have. How do these car drive out? I imagine they accelerate fairly smartly, but can they stop and find their way through a corner? Were disc brakes available on this car?
Also, after checking with the CPI and VMR value guides, the absolute best 2+2 convertible (with all options) is valued at $18K to $20K. I'm aware of a '66 2+2 convertible that's reportedly been fully restored (I've not seen it). But, the seller wants $39K and won't budge down from that figure. Thus, I politely declined to pursue this car any further. Is there any way this car can be worth $39K?
I know a fair amount about this car (ie., it had its own model designation in 64-66 and was reduced to a mere option package in '67 (its last year). Engine choices ranged from a 389 to the revered 421 Tri-Power and you could even order one with a Hurst 4-speed.
However, I've never driven one of these and would appreciate any feed back from those who have. How do these car drive out? I imagine they accelerate fairly smartly, but can they stop and find their way through a corner? Were disc brakes available on this car?
Also, after checking with the CPI and VMR value guides, the absolute best 2+2 convertible (with all options) is valued at $18K to $20K. I'm aware of a '66 2+2 convertible that's reportedly been fully restored (I've not seen it). But, the seller wants $39K and won't budge down from that figure. Thus, I politely declined to pursue this car any further. Is there any way this car can be worth $39K?
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In fact there's a Car and Driver test from March 1965 that has a 2+2 doing the quarter in 13.8 seconds at 106 mph and 0-60 in 3.9 seconds--weighing 4155 pounds and with a 3.42 axle. That 106 mph trap speed means serious horsepressure.
These numbers are completely unrelated to the average 2+2, of course, designed to sell Pontiacs and magazines and not necessarily in that order. The car had been thoroughly massaged by Royal Pontiac and came with a crew that probably included a professional drag racer. The 0-60 number was probably timed with a stopwatch and a quick finger. But it should give you an idea of what a race-prepped 2+2 with slicks can do.
I like big '60s cars but the 2+2 felt huge even to me. The interior with the canted gauges is great. Pontiac knew how to style and engineer cars, both inside and out, to appeal to a broad range of buyers including enthusiasts. I like all kinds of cars but I'm not sure any other manufacturer even came close during this time.
My experience with pre-'67 Pontiac cylinder heads is that they really don't tolerate low-octane gas very well, but the later heads handle 91-octane fairly well, especially the low-compression '71-up heads (which also have hardened valve seats for unleaded gas).
The optional 8-lug drum brakes are fairly efficient and very attractive, and they're a must-have on any full-size '60s Pontiac. My guess is that discs were available by '67, perhaps as early as '66. As far as handling, there's nothing inherently wrong with them, aside from 4000+ pounds, a 121" wheelbase, steering with no feel that's 4.2 turns lock to lock and a 56/44 weight distribution. Just the usual '60s land yacht stuff.
What about my observations about value and do you think that even the best '66 2+2 on the planet could be worth $39K under normal, open market conditions? (ie., not in the artificial value world of Barrett-Jackson, etc.)
So if you are looking at a car that is actually driven on the street, it is automatically not a #1 and is not worth #1 price guide price.
http://www.buyclassiccars.com/value.asp
Most cars for sale will be #3 cars, which may be the place to look. Most #2 cars are considered better by their owners than what they are worth, so it may be cheaper to find a #2 and spend 4-5k to bring it up to #2 condition. (So you can lose money trying to sell it too) A complete car with good mechanicals, solid body, decent paint and interior is a place to start. It gives you a car that still looks good, is fully servicable, and you can use it while deciding whether redoing the interior chrome, paint chips and scratches, and other cosmetic issues are worth it. Just keep the mechanicals and rust repair up to date, which will run maybe $500 a year unless something major blows.
In your price range, you should be able to get a beautiful #2 car. For my price range, shipping and transportation added too much for cars out of state, so I tried to be flexible.
Depends on what you want to do with the car. If you don't plan on showing it, a #3 car with drum brakes will be fine for weekend cruising.
Of course, I understand the bug bites hard, and I've been spending a lot of time figuring out what upgrades I want to do this winter to mine.
One major problem...you'll probably never find one, especially a convertable.
I think they were ALL 421's. The hottest one of all was the '65-66 tri-power. They had 376 horsepower and were EXTREMELY fast!
A guy in my hometown had a yellow '65 with that engine. He could beat almost anything that was street legal at the time!
One of my favorite cars of all time.
Good luck finding one!
However, I think we're both about the same age and neither one of us is getting any younger, which makes me a little concerned about value say ten or fifteen years down the road. The 2+2 doesn't have the same broad appeal as a GTO. How many 35-year-olds know or care what a 2+2 is?
As far as I know the 2+2 option was just a bucket seats and trim package. If you're just looking for a cruiser maybe you'd be better off not paying a premium for a 2+2 and just finding a nice Catalina with buckets.
64 2+2=option, no mention of engine (base for Catalina was 389/2bbl), but I'm pretty sure 421 was standard; cost $231 for ht or cvt (7998 made);
65 2+2=option, 421 standard, no mention of cost, no breakdown of production figures;
66 2+2=separate series, $405 extra for hardtop, $383 for convertible compared to standard Catalina. Included 421 4bbl/338 hp, low-restriction exhaust, chrome air cleaner and valve covers, emblems, buckets, sports steering wheel. Total production=6383, no breakdown for coupe or convertible;
67 2+2=option $410 coupe/$389 conv, included 428 4bbl, buckets, dual exhaust, stablilizer bar and special trim. No production figures.
I think Pontiac couldn't keep decent production histories because they offered so MANY full-sized cars in the mid 60s. They offered every year from 64-67 Catalina and 2+2 (some years offered 'Ventura' trim also, w/ or w/o 2+2), Bonneville and Grand Prix. Also 64-65 Star Chief (between Cat and Bonne), 66 Star Chief Executive, 67-on Executive. I guess other makes offered this many big cars then, it seems mind boggling now. The coolest thing about Pontiacs was that you could get a 'sporty' model (or at least option it that way--buckets, big engine, 4 speed) with just about any big car they offered. Oh yeah, no disc brakes mentioned in my book til 68, though they might have been offered (this book is not exhaustive).
IMHO, 2+2s are rare but not so much that they're outrageous (with some exceptions). Big muscle cars have a limited audience, except for Impala SS. 60s Pontiacs are really desirable across the board, but prices are all over the place. Kinda like with most cars, the *best* one is always gonna be outrageous (I saw a $60k 67 GTO convertible the other day), but really nice one are available for 1/3 to 1/2 the price. I think unless smoking the tires or having buckets is super important, a Bonneville or Catalina 'vert would do just as well as a cruiser.
Let us know what you find, good luck!!!
The thing I always liked about big Pontiacs is that they came standard with a big engine. Even the cheapest Catalina still would've had a 389 or 400. With Chevy though, you'd get stuck with an inline-6, and would have to pay extra for a bigger engine.
But...get one on the open road! Even at 80 MPH in fourth gear if you stomped on the gas these would thorw you into the backseat!
Of course, I love GTO's too. Still given the choice I would take the 2+2 hands down!
Trivia...Pontiac had a one year only color in 1965 that Chevy used too. It was a love it or hate it color...anyone? No cheating now!
No books now...
BTW the standard '64 2+2 engine was the 389/2v, according to a road test of one I have.
Speaking of "what were they thinking" colors, how about that Lime Gold Ford offered in the late '60s? It seems like every fifth Cougar and Mustang came in that color, a light green metallic. I hated it then but kind of like it now, maybe because it's so uniquely late '60s. The automotive equivilent of an Avocado Gold stove.
It was called Evening Orchid.
Actually not bad but it wouldn't have been my first choice.
A GTO convertable exactly like your friend had went through a Silver Auction here in Seattle a few years back. It drew quite a crowd!
Still believe it or not, yellow is the color I most remember those years. It really looked good with a black interior.
It shows Iris Mist, but not Evening Orchid.
We always called the lavender Ponchos Evening Orchid buy we may well have been wrong.
Yeah, white over Iris is sharp but it's just a little...I don't know, I'm more of a white over medium blue metallic kind of guy. That's a happy combination, kind of like a Florida beach.
My Judge was white over Carousel Red, very snappy. Bright red looks cheap on the early Goats but I saw a '65 Impala 409 at the Palo Alto Concours that was gorgeous in black over bright red. Black over burgundy was real popular on Pontiacs then and I had a '67 GTO with that combination--very purposeful.
It's a shame we don't have red interiors anymore. Red over white is very crisp, one of my favorites. Lots of Galaxie XLs were red over black, a real dramatic statement. Actually you can still get a red interior in the LeSabre, so I don't know what that says about my taste.
There's an Iris 65 Bonneville right now for sale on e-bay. It's a repaint, not quite the right color (I remember it being more gray than this car), but a very nice car.
What was that metallic blue-green color called, sold on GMs in 65-66 (most often seen on Pontiacs and big Chevies)?
I think I know the color you're talking about. There's a '66 Olds 88 around the corner from my home for sale, and it's painted kind of a dark turqouise, with a light turquoise cloth interior. I think it's a really nice color.
My '67 is a light creamy yellow with a black top and interior, which I think is pretty nice, but I always loved those pastel greens and blues from the 50's and 60's.
Also, do you know if tilt steering columns were available in the '67 Pontiac Catalina/Bonneville/GP? If so, I wonder how feasible it'd be to replace a non-tilt column with a tilt-column.
Any input with regard to the seats and tilt column would be appreciated.
There must be a gear that holds the wheel in position and mine seemed to be worn because I could (accidently) move the steering wheel up and down without using the disengaging mechanism--so maybe that's something to look out for.
As for comfort, well, I just have a bench seat, and it's not power, but I think it's very comfortable. It's thickly padded, and gives good leg and back support. It doesn't have head rests though, I don't think they were required until 1969. It's also a very roomy car. Being a convertible, it's not going to have as much room as a hardtop coupe, but even with the top down, there's about as much trunk room as a modern Intrepid or LeSabre, and it's still wide enough for three people in the back. How many modern convertibles can boast that?
Three people across up front is a breeze, too. This is something most modern cars, even those with bench seats, just aren't capable of. I don't think any car made today has as much shoulder room. Plus, most modern cars have a dashboard protrusion right in the middle that houses the radio and climate controls. Many modern dashes are fairly low too, which cuts into your foot room.
BTW, the '67 Grand Prix is a really sweet car! I think that was the only year they offered the Grand Prix as a convertible.
I once owned a 64 Catalina 2 door HT. It was fairly rare in the fact it had the 421 4bbl with a three speed on the column!
It took forever to shift but MAN, was it fast!
I also owned a '67 GTO.
This was in the mid-seventies.
At that time, I guess I thought the seats were comfortable enough. I'm sure the modern cars are much better.
Tilt steering was actually a pretty common option on GM cars back then. I remember as a kid seeing a 63 Impala with tilt (first year offered) and I wondered what good that could possibly do.
It might contain some info on the steering column parts. Or you could e-mail them and ask.
http://www.amesperf.com/
It was an unusual (probably specially ordered) vehicle with a bench seat, 4-speed, 428 HO (376 HP), and posi. Add-on AC had been installed at some point. Black in and out with plain wheel covers.
I owned quite a few muscle cars of that era and that 2+2 was as quick as any of them and especially strong at lower speeds. Don't know what the final drive ratio was (probably a 3.55) and it did not have a tachometer. It drove good on the highway but, of course, had little handling ability. The 4 wheel power drum brakes were adequate (and certainly better than the manual drums I had on one '67 GTO which occasionally required two feet!) It had model specific interior door panels which I doubt would ever be available in reproduction.
There's one other reason that car was special - my wife and I drove it on our first date on January 6, 1979. I'm lucky to still have her and wish I still had the 2+2!
Back to the original question - although they are far rarer than GTOs, they have the same performance at a lower price.
A/C, power windows, tilt, AM-FM w/reverb, and any other accessories that were available.
Yellow, black buckets, 4 speed, red stripe tires.
Guess I can dream.....?