1968 Catalina 2-door sedan 428 HO 4-speed
 

This car was for sale around 7 years ago, maybe 8. Car was in PA, prob east of Carlisle and possibly as close as metro Philly or Reading. Anyone remember this car? Anyone know what happened to it? Needed a resto.

Sounds like a pretty awesome car!

I know, right?

Diego, Inquiring minds need to know more. Do you know some of the nitty gritty details and options? That would be such a cool car and I wonder if any production numbers exsit on 428 HO 4-speed big cars, let alone Cat sedans?

Dennis

I don't remember anything else than that, other than it needed a resto. Can't remember where I saw the car but prob Hemmings.

From what I've seen at the GM Heritage Center, there are no records. Can't remember if a page was missing or that exact combo wasn't listed. I can tell you 363 Series 5200 cars had M20, though.

Thanks Diego! Dennis

I may know this car. What color was it? Fred

Diego, so the 363 cars built with M-20's could have been either 400's or 428's, so a very rare(unusual) Catalina. I imagine most of the sticks were in the sport roof 2-dr hardtops.

Dennis

1968 Engine Production Totals:

428 HO (WJ) Syncromesh = 177
428 HO (YK) Hydramatic = 318

Mike

I do have numbers for some HO stick cars, but not the Catalina sedan.

For Fred: I don't remember what color it was. I want to say blue but that's a guess. Never saw pics of it.

Mike, are these all B-bodies including GP's? (495 total HO engines in 68)

Dennis

They're for all full-size cars in 1968. However, my paperwork from the GM Heritage Center shows 453 in total (with 155 manuals), which goes against prevailing info - perhaps it's the number of engines built?

Anyway....

GP 138
Bonne 135 (105 automatics)
Catalina 173
Executive 7

Diego, so you are saying 453 HO's total installed in cars with 42 HO motors built, but not installed from Mike's numbers (453 + 42 = 495)?

Dennis

Sure, that's what I'm saying.

But I also know the source of Mike's numbers, which have been in books for years. Can't say for sure why they add up differently unless one's for the number of engines built and installed versus engines built for the parts dept.

OK, I'm good with it (lol). Dennis

not trying to hijack the thread but I have a friend with a '69 Catalina 2 dr coupe, 51K original miles, 428 rebuilt to HO like spec's, 3.42 rear end that is for sale. Lots of great features and options for the car. PM me if interested and I will put you in direct contact with him. Friend is in China - his wife works for the State Department. Car is located near Frederick MD.

blubomber, Sounds like one cool Cat (I can't help but think of Sammy Davis Jr. when I say that). 69 B-body HO's were auto only (not the new GP's). The fellow that originally ordered and raced the '71 455 HO T-37, now owned by my brother Dan, ordered a '69 Catalina 428 HO, TH400, 3.42 posi, PS/PDB, Rally II's w/WW's, Liberty Blue w/ blue cordova top and interior, gauges, etc...no a/c (which the family still has). Up until that point, he raced a '66 2+2 421 HO (which he also ordered new), TH400, 4.11 posi in NHRA D/SA, sold that to a friend, bought the Catalina, and then the T-37 to go back racing.

I'd love to hea more about the '69 of your friends.

Dennis

Dennis, I believe the 3-speed was standard for HOs in 1969.

Diego, I looks like you are correct according to the '69 Full Line brochure powertrain page. The last box 20 says 3-speed manual and TH400 for the B-bodies....weird they would offer the 3-speed (Dearborn trans w/ floor shifter?), but not the 4-speed! Box 16 is the trans offerings for the 428 HO GP which 3 & 4-speeds manuals. Another observation is the lack of the M-21 close ratio trans even with the 3.90 gears in the GP.

Looks like '68 was the last year for real fun in a big car with 4.11's and M-21 factory options.

Dennis

correct, all the 69 B cars had only two transmission options, standard equipment was a 3 speed manual sycromesh on the tree and optional was a TH400 automatic three speed on the tree. All engines including the HO were available with either trans with the following two exceptions... the NC option regular fuel 265horse-400 2 bbl and the mid year optional 340horse-400 4bbl were available only with hydramatic.

You could still order buckets (black only) in only Catalina or Bonneville two door models but no console or floor shift of any kind were offered. Note that some early factory literature incorrectly shows a 4 speed option.