Grand Prix Vs Catalina Vs Bonneville
 

Which of these share the exact same body/chassis? Is it Cat/GP and Bonne/Star chief that are the same? Found a pretty good deal on a "running" '62 GP 2 dr ht. I was thinkin take the stick parts out of my car and put it in the nicer car.

You are correct!

Ok thank you! I'm tryin to figure out why GPs don't look as cool as Cats then. I guess it's the trim down the side?

And did all GPs come with buckets?

I believe bucket seats were standard in a GP, but at least in some years a bench seat was an option - I used to own a '65 GP with a bench seat. Don't know for sure about 1962.

I think that buckets was all you could get in a GP up to 1964.

I thought that it was 1966 until I read Stuart's post!

I've seen a front bench seat in a 65 or 66 but not in earlier years.

Jim

Yeah, that was sort of an unusual car - black vinyl bench seat interior, mayfair maize body with a black painted roof. Base 325hp engine, auto, not much else. I bought it from the proverbial little old lady and used it as a daily driver for several years, but eventually sold it.

That's cool, thanks for the info. I reread the listing and it said it had a console so I figure this one has buckets. I'm not too sure if I want buckets though. I love the look of a big ol hurst shifter in front of a bench seat.

The G/P will have a formal roof line along with a distinctive tailpanel,trim and grille that the Cat's / Bonnie's don't.

Personally I like the G/P's styling better that the other cars. less trim, less flash.
Bench seats were available in 65 and later years as a no cost option. My 72's a bench seat car.

Post 73's in SJ trim were all buckets,LJ's usually had the bench in one form or another, and a base car went either way.

Early car's didn't have the trim pkgs so it was an as ordered deal.

If I had the choice between a Cat and a Prix, I'd build the Prix for the distinctive look and the added value. Prix's usually sell higher than Cats unless it's a 2+2 or SD car.

What's different with the roof? Looks the same to me???

I got more pics of this GP, it looks sweet! I don't quite have all the cash but I'm gunna try to work it out. This car will save me lots of time because I won't have as much rust repair. I'm excited!

Here's my Cat Vs the potential GP

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...x/IMG_1598.jpg
GP
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...alina/pass.jpg
Cat

I like the Cat grill a lot more
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...Catalina/6.jpg
Cat
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...%20Prix/W1.jpg
GP

The 62 may not have a idfference. On the 63 and up cars the rear window will generally be Concave instead of Convex on the Prix. The roof line will reflect this.

That's a nice 62 Prix. As I said above I like the Prix's styling better than the Cat's. If the floors are like the rest of the car that G/P's worth building. Those are HARD to find in good shape, Especially a Red / White car.

Mike

While they are all "rare," aren't '62 4 speed GP's REALLY "Rare"?

Passing note: besides 63 and 64 B-Body Pontiacs, I love them '59 Buicks. Awesome cars.

Ok, that makes sense. I was pretty sure the 62s all had the same roofs except the sedans.

This car appears really solid, at least for its age and compared to mine. I wish this GP was a 4 speed. But my Cat is a 3 speed so I have all the manual tranny parts anyway.

'59 Buicks are probably my favorite lookin car. I've been tempted to sell mine for a while so I can have some money to move along my Pontiac projects more quickly. I don't have the heart to sell it though

62's were an option on the Cat platform, 63's where the G/P became it's own car IIRC.

Mike

I like the Rat-Rod Racer Cat myself :)

According to the Standard Catalog of Pontiacs, by Gunnell, there were 30,195 GP's built in 62. 3,939 had manual, 26,556 had automatic.

3 speed manuals were actually the standard equipment, but I have no idea how many were built, I suspect very few. I have only seen one 62 GP with a 3 speed manual. It was a floor shift that had been converted from a column. There was no front section on the console, only the part between the seats.

And yes, only bucket seats were available in the 62 GP.

I owned a three-speed stick '62 GP in 1990...mine was completely console-delete, but the shifter porch was carpeted!

That thing was a real head-scratcher.

Did you have hair back than? I did.