The 1964 GTO may have been the “big news” of 1964, but full size Pontiacs like this Catalina still accounted for the vast majority of total sales. In this video, Steve explores the major features of this boneyard relic.
My morning ritual,.. coffee and the latest uploads of Junkyard Crawl!! Anyways,.. Personally i like the Pontiac styling best of all from the GM line-up. Thank you Steve for another great upload!!
Very rare to find a bone yard that doesn't crush all the older stuff. I loved back in the early 80s just wandering around in one just looking and admiring what they used to be like in their prime. Just always keep an eye out for wasp nests and poison ivy. lol
@Sam They crush everything here in socal live In Imperial Beach used to go to Otay Mesa where they had a lot off old Vehicles back in the mid 90,s. Those days unfortunately are gone.
Wow Tasmania! I am not a scholar of world geography but I'm thinking its a dry, arid place, yes? Hopefully plenty of vintage tin awaits your discovery! THANKS for watching and writing, Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante pop on a little Loony Tunes and play the Tasmanian Devil Mate. A beautiful green island at the bottom of Australia 🦘❤️ Love the knowledge regarding a wonderful time of vehicle engineering that you share. 🙏🍺👍
I bought a ‘64 Cat 2+2 in 1975 from the original owner. 389 tri-power auto, white on white. He’d put a roller set up in it with headers. Very prompt for a big car.
@@fastinradfordable In the '80's I remember the first time a brand new 'Pontiac LeMans' (which looked like a Chevette crossed with a Geo Metro) rolled into the shop. When I opened the door I saw on the door pillar it said Daewoo. To me that moment felt GM had stuck it's knife into the back of the USA. I think GM killed Pontiac and Olds years before they pulled the Divisions.
Yep. The Vibe is nothing but a rebadged Toyota Matrix - nothing Pontiac about it. I have a friend who owned a transmission shop. He said that the Matrix' problematic transmissions sent his daughters to college.
@@danmcclure6670 The service manager of a large GM dealership told me the rate of warranty claims for Vibes was only 20% of the rate for vehicles GM built themselves. 🤔
Always a treat to see a new video from you. This is like trickle-learning about vintage cars. I was a young child when cars like this were new so I didn't notice them that much - my first car I recognized was the Mustang! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and keep the videos coming!
Although I'm a Mopar guy I searched for years for a 63 2dHT Catalina. It turned to be next to impossible to find one reasonably so I settled for a 64 Catalina Ventura. Great cars!
First car I remember our family owning growing up was a 1964 Catalina. I still remember the red Indian head, bright headlight indicator. It burned Ethyl gas, was 4 door, bench seat, ac, power steering/brakes, automatic trans. About 1970, it rolled over 100,000 and I helped my dad overhaul it. I think he sold it in 1974.
Fully loaded if you had the money for the options you would get: A/C, PW, locks, trunk release, 8 lugs, P seat, etc. But the big one was a 376 horse 421 H.O. 4 spd. Remember folks that back in the day a car like this even with an option a little less than one hundred dollars was the equivalency of one car payment. Compare that to today. A single option is 500 to 800 dollars now. A/C back then was 400 or more dollars. There go 4 car payments. That is why a lot of these cars back then were not fully loaded and most didn't have air conditioning. Thank you, Steve. Love your knowledge and the videos.
Thanks Steve. I have this same car in my garage right now doing a paint job. It is a 4 door but has the Ventura Trim and Fatory Air. If this wasn't so far I could use some parts :)
Back in '64, my neighbor ordered a Catalina 2 + 2, dark blue with a blue interior, 389 2-barrel, 267 HP with a 3.36 axle and 4-speed. He originally was going to order the 421 but thought better of it when he found out what his insurance rate would be. This car would scream and still get good gas mileage.
My 1st car it was a 1964 Bonneville with a Grand Prix interior special order It was black with the white vinyl top 389 with the 4 barrel I love that reverb Speaker in the back Bucket seats with the Chrome vacuum tack I sure missed that Thank you for the review brings back memories
My mom (R.I.P.) bought her first car in 1961 (she was 20 years old), a brand new Pontiac Tempest 4 door sedan and proceeded to drive nothing but Pontiacs until she gave up driving in about 2012 or so. She always bought a new car about every 7 or 8 years and swore by her Pontiacs. My favorite, and the first one I actually remember, was her blue 1969 Lemans 2 door hard top. It had a 400 and floor shift automatic. I'd love to have that one today.
Owned 3 Catalinas over the years. My first car was a 62 convertible. While in the Navy bought a 65 that had the 8 lug wheels. Later in my racing days, picked up a 67 with the big 421 for $50. The car would lose oil pressure after driving it for 5 miles. Pulled the oil pan and found 2 inches of clay. Cleaned it out and it ran good. Built a figure 8 car out of it. The engine broke a timing chain at 3000 RPM's and destroyed the engine. Dropped in a Buick 350 and finished the season.
My younger sister had one just like it in the early 70's. We were both in our early 20's, living with parents. She came home one day and backed up in the driveway with her door hanging open. She forgot our father's car was parked there and her door caught it and broke off at the hinges. It laid on the driveway rocking on the outer curved shell. She didn't know what happened for a few seconds and sat there looking out without a door on the car. I laughed my butt off, it looked funny. Our dad got another door at a junkyard and said he had to take the fender off to get it off. I told him, no, you don't because I took the broken hinge off no problem. When I went to put the door on, I had to take the fender off to get to the front bolts. He was right.
Brings back old days. My dad had a 64 Catalina convertible. During the summers we would tow our 16' boat all over the western states to go boating. Never had any problems. would love to have it now.
Great stuff Steve....we had a yard like that and us car nuts used to pack a lunch every time and spend the day, exploring, taking off rare pieces for owner and even having funerals for our classic drivers,we would bring them to his yard,say a few words and revisit and slowly watch the weeds take over every season ,the owner,Harry,died in his 80s at his office desk,black rotary phone and still working,it was sold off and turned into housing subdivsion as it was acres and acres in the heart of town...many were happy..we mourned...hey you missed that what seems like the factory tire cover in trunk,they rarely survive! Thanks for the great vids,Im learning more things...now hit the shower,lol!
Michael Jacobs,,, you sure hit on something there.... old Mr. Coggins the junk man in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang telling the kids he was gonna put Chitty in 'the clapper' and her old bones shuddered in fear, even as the kids sat in her front seat, imagining all the racing she had done.... Your salvage guy, Harry,, and in my neck of the woods,, Plessinger's Salvage yard a place you could walk up on a black and white 63 Corvette with red guts and a 327 4speed and Larry Plessinger could tell you his adventures as a younger man in that old car. Now it seems every damned nosey neighbor in the country wants to crush everything and fine you if you prefer to keep your old cars and trucks unless you keep plates and insurance on each one. Just like Will Darnell, the Salvage yard owner in the movie 'Christine',,,, Larry Plessinger could jump your ace if you failed to show respect while you were at his place,,, but unlike Will,,, Larry was soft spoken and cared to share his love for the old cars with kids who came there for a fender to repair their mistakes on the street. It made me sad to hear of Harry, and your good times traipsing around his place. Because we did that at Larry's here in Indiana. And boys went to boys bathrooms and girls went giggling to theirs. Now, boys steal swim trophies from girls while wearing their swimsuits, and the company I used to love for Steamboat Willie and his girlfriend Minnie, is grooming children for debauchery in broad daylight, and the sick few who push that are going unaddressed. The silent resolve is building..... whether it be a bulldozer with armor about to exact revenge,,, or a father drawing a bead on the monster who raped his daughter in the girls bathroom while he was 'identifying' as a girl..... things are getting closer to a reckoning......
@@patrickwayne3701 - was enjoying the nostalgia in these posts until yours went off the deep end. The world changes and some decide to stoke fear and anger in others based upon a few extreme cases - don’t let them win. Lots of good out there in many ways
@@dstarr8222 having a rough time right now with zoning nazis and after fighting to stay healthy and employed, it feels like real shytte to be thrust into foreclosure by a zoning board fining me 10k on my taxes, on top of all the rest of this crazy guys wearing women's swimsuits and Disney power selling the bonfire of the family. Sorry man,, it's hitting everyone differently. Those weekends in the salvage yards were great. Not hurting anyone. Now, everyone in government is furtively trying to wipe away everything from the cub scouts I was in, in 1972,,, to old cars on private property,, in some cases, even out of sight....
Your Automotive knowledge is quite impressive. I had a 1970 Catalina 2 door the 350 in it. That thing was a tank. But I loved it. I also had a 67 executive with a 400 in it a two-barrel Quadra junk and limited-slip rear end. That thing was a screamer I would beat 327s and 350s all day . The title weight was 4,038 lb . Put it in low and floor it. At about 70 it sounded like it was going to come undone so shift into second. At about 90 it sound like it going to come undone so shift into drive and the speedometer would disappear and bounce at 120 . 4 door gold with 14" wheels . but as a kid you don't appreciate the value. I beat the snot out of it and junked it. I wish I would have hung on to it. 65 Catalina 2 + 2 with the 421 is one of my dream cars
The last new GM car I bought was an '07 G6 Pontiac. It was a good car, and I was dumbfounded when GM discontinued the Pontiac brand. The Pontiac brand was always known for delivering a lot of bang for the buck.
A friend of mine just had a tree fall on his G6 convertible during a severe thunderstorm 2 weeks ago. He's still sick about it! His insurance company is still trying to decide if it's repairable or if they'll write it off.
I remember when I saw a 64 Grand Prix Coupe interior for the first time, I think I was 9 or 10 . I felt I was in a spaceship that shiny floor shifter center console with tach was exotic to me
I had an uncle that was an engineer for a company in Detroit and he always drove Pontiac Catalinas in the 1960's. I still remember being impressed on the acceleration of a '63 with the 421 tri power he had at the time. I thought it was way cooler than my dad's '62 Plymouth Savoy slant six.
My mother still owns a 64 Catalina 421 tri power 4 speed 2 door hardtop 8 lug car with no other options besides a power antenna that my grandfather purchased in 1966. It’s in good shape except for a few places on the paint due to poor storage in the last 5 years. It would need an engine rebuild as well. Pretty sure it has 70k original miles. She and my dad have been casually selling it for a few years. I’m hoping it can go to a good home.
Went to a girl friend's uncle's place. Had been a salvage yard for years. Tons of cool cars from old T-buckets, `57 Chevs, etc... He wouldn't sell anything because Bigfoot. Bigfoot would get mad if he did. If that doesn't make sense to you, it's not suppose to.
What a great looking car! I always like the 60s Pontiac wide tracks! Let’s just hope that one get a rescued home! Is still looks in great shape! Great history! Thanks for sharing Steve!
Man, this one hit home. My dad restored a '63 convertible and put a 400 in it, could do the craziest burnouts. It was killed by a Honda in our neighborhood in a low speed head on collision. The Pontiac folded, the Honda drove away🤔. Anyway, he passed in February, this video provided some great memories. Thanks Steve
PuhLEEEZE Steve!!,, 'Salisbury' type with the rear cover that comes off?? At the tender age of 13 in Tampa, I bought a 68 Dodge Monaco at the police auction for a whole fifty bucks. Learning about how to fix it, I bought a 'Motors' manual and I read it like a fiend. In the black and white photos depicting how to service the rear axle, the technical description of the 8 3/4 rear axle says it is a 'Salisbury' type, 8 3/4" ring gear equipped unit, with a removable center section. For 43 years, when 'Salisbury Hill' comes on the radio I have smiled and thought of that summer in Tampa where I learned about cop car suspension and dreamed about Kelly DiCicco's hazel eyes smiling back at me in the Sligh Junior High library,,, I have understood the 8 3/4" Rears in these old cars to be of the 'Salisbury' type as Peter Gabriel makes famous in his song about freedom from oppression.... Was that Motors manual wrong all those years ago?
Hi Patrick Wayne, in my experience, the terms "Salisbury" and "Hotchkis" type rear axles refer to: assemblies with REAR loading integral "guts", a one=piece case with press-in axle tubes and a bolt-on inspection cover = "Salisbury" and assemblies with removable FRONT loading "guts" (a.k.a. center section) and a pressed steel housing with no inspection cover + "Hotchkis". These terms "Hotchkis and Salibury" go way back to the earliest manufacturers to pioneer each axle type. Yes, there were Hotchkis and Salisbury cars (I think one is European). That's the terminology I've been using - without complaint - for 30 years in print and video. The Dodge factory service manuals are occasionally written with "questionable" data. Then again maybe I've been wrong all these years. I didn't invent this stuff, I just report on it as I see it. Thanks for writing. I'm going to have a Salisbury Steak for dinner now! -Steve Magnante
As a kid working in my dads gas station / garage in the late 50s and 60s I memorized the firing order of GM engines with 18436572 stamped on the intakes...I kinda turned it into a rhyme to remember it. Now I see you can buy T shirts with that on it....kinda cool, I think I will order one.
Years ago I went to a car show at the Pontiac world headquarters. They had a Fireball Roberts Grand prix edition parked just outside the front door. A very unique car. The brakes were huge and wheels bolted to the outer edge of the drum. They looked like a hub cap but it wasn't.
I found a photo of that car. It looks like it has the 8-Lug wheels, but the centers are painted gold. Thanks for mentioning it because I had never seen that car.
When I was a kid my father had one it was the winter car he would use it put the custom van away in the winter east coast is hard on cars . I do see a Monte in front of that Pontiac my brother has a beautiful 71 Monte he restored
I currently own a '61 Catalina 2 door hardtop. It has a '70 400/2bbl in it. I also own a '61 Star Chief with an original 389. I was originally going to use the Star Chief as parts to restore the Catalina but with the prices of old cars I might keep it in tact and just piece the Catalina together with sourced parts.
Let's go all the way with the tag so we can brag: 64 for 1964 model year, 2347 for Catalina two door sports coupe, looks like 01D for the fourth week of January 1964 production (or if it's 11D, that's the fourth week of November 1963 production), BL for Linden, NJ assembly, 288 for Aqua interior trim, PPA for Aquamarine upper and lower exterior paint, and I agree "A" is possibly a black vinyl top or black wheels. Accessory codes are B70 for padded dash, Y85 for Decor Group, C11 might be something to do with wiper and windshield washer system. No VIN, can't win, but I got it figured out, no doubt: 8 for eight cylinder equipped vehicle, 3 for Catalina, 4 for 1964 model year, L for Linden, NJ assembly and the rest is the production sequence. The Linden, NJ plant was in operation from 1937 to Wednesday April 20, 2005. I could be wrong, but I think you meant "2GC" with the "C" being for "coil type choke". Usually on Rochester nomenclature, the choke style is the last character of the model series.
Very good. I wonder how many people's hearts sank as mine did when they read "The Linden, NJ plant was in operation from 1937 to Wednesday April 20, 2005."
@@discerningmind It's not a far drive from me and my '82 Toronado (and '79 parts car Toronado) were both made there, and both likely assembled by my grandfather's friend, Mr. Billotti who worked there for years and years. My '82 was assembled on 9/11/81 which was a Friday that year. There was an old grainy video online sometime ago showing what was left of the Linden plant with what appeared to be half built S10 Blazers inside. That was the last product assembled there in 2005 when the plant closed. I went to Linden in 1980 on a school trip and remember seeing a black and gray 1980 Seville Elegante getting the body dropped onto the chassis. At the time in 1980, the Toronado, Riviera, Eldorado and Seville were being assembled there.
@@googleusergp Thanks for sharing that, very interesting and some nice memories for you too. But I'm sure that you're sad about that plant being closed and the other plant closures too. We build so little now, and most people don't know of how widespread poverty is in the USA due to the loss of so many manufacturing jobs.
$5 says the frame is rotted clean through in at least one place under there. The '64 Gran Prix I had was missing about 3 inches under the rear seat on the driver's side. It was parked in the early 70s with the lower quarters patched up once already. The Wide Track was actually done as a styling change, the 1959 cars they felt looked absurd with the wheels way inside so they moved them out closer to the fenders. Then they found it improved handling and kept it on later models. What you may find on that engine, it has an ear for the block mounted starter. Some of them have the bolt holes but not tapped, and some have the holes tapped. 1964 was the last year for the Slim-Jim Roto-Hydramatic and the last year for the bellhousing mount starter.
@@CR7659 But that was the thing about back then. Yes, salt definitely would eat the body panels, but the frames had nickel in the steel and didn't rot. I remember in the '70's when the 1965 and newer cars started turning up with rotting frames. People were mad, and part of it was the manufacturers didn't publish anything about having to keep an eye on your car's frame. Nothing in owner's manuals either. People were bringing lawsuits against the auto manufacturers because of accidents involving frames letting go. But it was always the cars from 1965 and up that had rotted frames, because that was the first model year of nickel being left out of the steel for frames. Now, if you're thinking about cars from the 1950's and earlier that used to have outriggers coming off the frame to support the sides of the body, yes, those would rot because they weren't made from the same steel as the frame.
When talking about Don Garlis the question should be...what did he not use in his cars? I met him at his Museum outside Ocala. He was just walking around on the property behind the build which has his house and personnal garage on it. I ask if there was ever something he wanted to have or use in his cars that he never tried. He said "If it was out there I tried it at least once". What a great driver and man. he signed to allow Shirley Muldowney to drive...there men wouldn't.
thanks' again for the videos Steve! I look forward to these every day! Your kinda spoiling us with a new video every day. Thanks for all your hard work!!
1964 Pontiac built 257,768 Catalinas. 15,194 were standard transmission (I'm pretty sure the base car came with a 3 spd on the column, unless you ordered the standard on the floor or the automatic which both were options), 242,574 had automatic transmissions. 7998 had the 2+2 package and then there were 6 and 9 passenger wagons, convertibles and four doors. Base price on this car no options: $2,869.00!! A/C add $430, 8 lugs $122-$138. Man, do those go for a premium now!
I noticed that the Parisienne was not listed in your booklet. I had a 1964 Parisienne, looked exactly like the Catalina, but had a 283 with a powerglide. Maybe Parisienne was only available in Canada?
Love the video, great cars ! noticed the stainless molding separating the top from the quarter panel suggesting a original two tone or vinyl top car. Had a good friend while in the navy, that had a 63, did a lot of cruising in that car, stationed in Oahu at NAS Barbers point
