[mjs5678]

New here with a couple questions. I bought a 1969 Catalina convertible 428 with allegedly under 60K original miles. It does have original paint confirmed with a digital paint thickness gauge. The car came with the window sticker and protect-o-plate and is all matching without any modifications other than electronic points and after market coil.

My questions are, how unusual is this car and would I be foolish to slightly modify it with front disc brakes and a limited slip diff. and gear and eventually big valve heads? Nothing that couldn't be changed back to stock.

[Ben M.]

It's unusual solely because it's in great shape and 52+ years old. That alone makes it "rare" nowadays. As far as modifications, adding disc brakes and a posi rear or doing some minor motor mods will NEVER result in lowering the value of the car if you use factory style components and keep the factory stance. If you go full airbags, 4" drop, big wheels, or turbo LSx, you'll lose some value, gain some other regarding trying to sell it.

At this point I would drive it and do the disc brakes and better rear end at a minimum just because those things don't hurt value and make the car safer and more fun to drive. Anyone who complains about those mods when you go to sell the car wasn't interested in buying it anyways.

[Stuart]

Welcome to the site, and nice car. I don't know how many were equipped with a 428, but there were only 5,436 Catalina convertibles built out of a total of 212,851 Catalinas of all body styles in 1969, so they weren't common by any means. I agree the changes you would like to make won't detract from its value.

[67GP428]

Welcome aboard Mate! I'm a Big Fan of the 1969 styling over the 68 and 70 Pontiacs. I feel that would be nice upgrades for your car and wouldn't hurt the resale at all. Post some more pictures and info on your car. Have you gotten the PHS yet?

[mjs5678]

I will have to send for the PHS docs. The car was sold in Indianapolis September of 1968. The gentleman I bought it from was the second owner said he got it from his friend. I do know he put less than 5K on the car in the 25 years he had it.

The interior and dash are both in great shape with no cracks or tears, barely any wear! I can tell the timing chain is worn by the way it runs but that will be corrected very soon. Drove it 190 miles home in the rain the day I bought it, first rain it has seen in many years according to the previous owner.

[stevep]

I would do the discs and posi and not worry about it.
A 1969 428 Catalina is a rare car

[Mark Simiele]

Neat car and nice to see a survivor like that still out there in such well preserved cosmetic and mechanical condition. . Good luck with it and enjoy it as you wish. None of those changes you want to do are going to affect anything.

[J GLASGO]

What a cool car!! If you ever get tired of it, call me. 330 6186583 John

[OCMDGTO]

Wow very nice ride! Amazing that the original paint looks that good

[mjs5678]

I was very skeptical when the previous owner insisted the paint was original it just looked too good! There are no swirl marks or even micro scratches in the paint. I have only had the car for just over 8 weeks and haven't even washed it yet, it is dirty in my pics!

Here's a pic of the window sticker and protect-o-plate.

[camerjeff]

Very Nice Ride! I agree with disc front brakes, posi and some engine tuning and enjoy the drive!

[will slow gto]

Sweet Catalina convertible with some nice options. Agreed that adding disc brakes will do nothing but increase value and your enjoyment. Can you confirm that it has the #46 heads? If it has 16 or 62 you already have the large valve heads.

[mjs5678]

I will check the head casting #, installing a new timing chain in a few weeks.

[scottydl]

Beautiful! Body style is almost identical to my 69 Executive coupe, and the story is remarkably similar... mine is almost all original, and I bought it from the 2nd owner who was a friend of the 1st. I've frequently wished mine were a convertible with a 428 also.

[trophy421]

Wow! That car is awesome and rare. Doesn't need a thing except timing chain IMO.

[Diego]

Per the GM Heritage Center, 114 Catalina convertibles were built with the L79 428.

[hawkins69]

Very cool 69, crazy so few were made. My mother drove a 69 2 dr hardtop Catalina Ventura 428 in the late 80s. Probably not near as rare as your convertible

[scottydl]

Originally Posted by Diego

Per the GM Heritage Center, 114 Catalina convertibles were built with the L79 428.

Where is this info found? I've like to look up my '69 Executive hardtop coupe, 400 2bbl.

[mjs5678]

Wow! I knew it was a cool car when I found it. Had no idea it was that unusual!

[Diego]

Originally Posted by scottydl

Where is this info found? I've like to look up my '69 Executive hardtop coupe, 400 2bbl.

They have a matrix that someone made a long time ago (it's not the Fred Simmonds ones from '89), but they're incomplete. The numbers came from somewhere, but those documents are MIA. That being said, 2,793 were built among all Executives.