catalina comes home.....
 

my dad bought new, a 1963 catalina 2 door post, red, 389 2 barrel, four speed. he of course realized the mistake in engine pick, and later added a gto cam, four barrel, and manifold, dual exhausts. this car was my introduction to cars. i have been hooked since on pontiacs. the catalina was sold in 1976 for $600. the same year my uncle sold his red ram air I gto hartop for the same amount.(kick kick kick!) the owner of the catalina died in a train accident, and the car changed hands a few times, but had not been registered since 1984. a gentleman bought the car, put tripower on it, new heads,(higher compression), eight luggers, and went through the cars running gear to make sure it was all road worthy. i heard through the nieghborhood that he was looking for my dad to show him the car. he found him in 1997 or so, showed my dad the car, and my dad gave him the original window sticker to go with the car. fast forward a few years to 2002 or so, i track the guy down, ask him to please call me if he ever wants to sell, three months later i get the call, and my dad now has his car back in his garage after almost thirty years, original paint and all. i am a happy kid again when i bang that car through all four gears with ME behind the wheel..................

Thats a GREAT story!

The world isn't so big after all. :)

well, i was putting my engine in my gto yesteday, with help from my dad, and you'll never guess what he gave me.........the catalina. i have been the caretaker of it for some time, but now the car that started it all is actually mine......

i am a happy man today............

davey

that's cool that the cat's been passed on. it's a sharp car.

mike

Lucky guys, both you for having such a great dad and your dad for having a son so interested in older cars. My dad was killed when I was 1 1/2 years old. He was a car guy. And my 26 year old son has absolutely no interest in old cars.

Very cool....

Good fer you!

Our first Pontiac was a '63 Catalina as well...

K

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...d001/63Cat.jpg

Now thats a great story. I love reading about the history of our old cars and this one is on tops as one of the best.

Im just amazed that after all these years, it switched hands and is still wearing its original paint. Good luck with it.