[70ra455]

Did Bonnevilles and/or Cats come with the same automatic console as a Grand Prix?

I don't think I've seen a Bonnie or Cat '62 with an automatic console?

What do you guys think?

[Stuart]

This is a good question for Engine-Ear. I don't think I've ever even seen a 1962 Bonneville or Catalina with a floor shift auto at all.

[Marv]

I believe the Bonneville had an option for a console, but it would be very, very rare.

Bonnevilles with bucket seats would be rarer than chickens with lips!

[pfilean]

Here is a parts book listing for 62 --Console - trans. floor

62 23-29 HT 542701
62-64 23-29 3sp exc Cat Sp 542933
62-64 27-28 4sp 543139
62 27-28 exc 4sp 542701 yes that is the same as the first listing
62-64 23-29 4sp 543140

So yes - Cat and GP got the same console. And there were three. A HT model, a 4 sp model and also a 3 sp model.

Bonneville got a HT console (listed as exc 4sp?) which is the same number as the Cat and GP model for HT. Which seems odd as the floor hump was different.. And the 4 sp was a different number than the Cat and GP but that is probably because it had a different transmission hump and needed different numbers to fit.

So if you had a 3sp Bonneville you couldn't get a console. If a 3sp was even available in the Bonneville. And if you wanted a Star Chief you were probably a grumpy old man and didn't wasn't a console anyway.

[70ra455]

So then this bears out what I was thinking. ONLY 1962 automatics had consoles as an option. That option didn't exist for 1963/64 for automatics ... only 3spd and 4spd.

So my console that I have ... a 1962 auto ... is fairly rare since it would mostly be for Grand Prix since I'm sure VERY FEW Cats with automatics had buckets and floor shifts in 1962.

[Tim Younker]

I think the auto floor console was for GP only. You never know what special backdoor orders there may have been in 62 though.

[tom s]

Rare is not always desirable!More auto console end up getting thrown away when they are converted to 4 speed.I ended up doing that with mine.Tom

[70ra455]

I understand that rare isn't always desirable (like a 6 cyl 1965 Corvette) however, I think that fact that an automatic console was only available for one model which is in fact desirable makes it a nice commodity to sell. However, I understand that you may feel differently.

[ornjcr8]

I have seen Bonnies with bucket seats, but never with a console. You would have to check the PHS to really know for sure. After fifty years anything could have been added or subtracted.

[8LUG]

Here 's more

[tom s]

Is there a diff from the 62 and 63 GP auto console?Kind of thought they were the same.My conversions were about 15 years apart.Tom

[Stuart]

Here's an illustration of the console in a Grand Prix from the factory brochure: http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/stati...e/image12.html Of course, the picture is a little stylized but it should be a close rendition of the real thing. I looked through the rest of the brochure as well as the accessories manual and didn't find any other pictures or mention of it.

[pfilean]

Part numbers I listed above were, I think, for a complete console. Listed below are the numbers for - COVER console trans tunnel. The cover I presume is the chrome top of the console and so is the general appearance of the console.

62 23-29 HT 542776
62 27-28 exc 4 sp 542840 (I think the exc 4 sp means HT but is just listed different)
62-64 27-28 4 sp 543128
62-64 23-29 4 sp 543129
63-64 23-29 HT 548716
63-64 28 HT 9770471 (notice that in this case 27 is not included)

So it appears that for 62 and 63 Cat and GP the cover and hence the appearance are different for the HT but not the 4 sp. And in general Cat and GP got a different appearance than the Bonneville.

And then if you look at the listings for the glove box door you get a whole different set of listings. And on and on.

[U47]

1962 console stays on the floor all the way to the front;
https://assets.hemmings.com/uimage/5...@2X.jpg?rev=19

1963 console attaches to the the dash;
https://assets.hemmings.com/uimage/5...0@2X.jpg?rev=1

[tom s]

That rings the bell!I did the 63 20 plus years ago.Thanks,Tom

[JC61]

Yes it was an option.
Have a friend with a 1962 Bonneville Conv. (auto) with buckets and center console.

[U47]

Something else I remember is the A/T cars got the vacuum gauge and the M/T cars got the Tachometer. If you wanted a tachometer with the A/T it was mounted on the left side of the dash as the vacuum gauge was still retained on the console.

[tom s]

My 62 GP was a auto car.It came with a tach where the vac gauge would be.63s got the tach on the the dash,dont think any 62s ever had the tach on the dash?Tom

[mgarblik]

I think a 62 with bench seat would have a factory tach in the extreme left corner of the dash. Looked rather weird there. If ordered.

[tom s]

I have only seen the tach adapter to bolt it to the dash on 63-64s,never a 61-62?I never thought of that?Tom