Pontiac Catalina, 1960
Pontiac Catalina I
Pontiac Catalina I•
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Chassis No.: 160P18458
Auction: Kissimmee 2018
Auction date: January 14, 2018
Lot No.: F131
$75,000 | High bid
- Exterior: Black
- Interior: Red
- Comprehensive restoration on solid original car by Scott Tiemann
- Factory 389 CI Catalina
- Rebuilt to circa-1960s racing specifications
- 1968 400 CI block for easy maintenance and part adaptation
- Correct 1960 heads with 1965 GTO valves and modern valvetrain
- Correct 1960 Tri Power layout and air cleaner
- Period correct Borg-Warner 4-speed manual transmission
- 4.88:1 final gear ratio
- Custom OEM-design replacement trunk pans
- Backup light delete plates
- Custom maroon interior using original vintage Pontiac materials
- Relined 8-lug drums
- M & H slicks drag racing tires
- Black exterior
- Red interior
The sound of horsepower was approaching in 1960, and this hot Catalina echoes the success of the championship-winning Pontiacs of the early ‘60s. In fact, this beauty has been constructed to exacting Super Duty specs, the same way that the famed “Hot Chief” cars fielded by Royal Pontiac were equipped that year. Scott Tiemann, arguably the country’s leading Pontiac expert, collaborated with owner Nick Smith to build this car to not only the highest-quality standards, but also to exacting, original Super Stock standards.
When released new, many Super Duty parts were dealer installed only, and this roaring Catalina even has the correct oblong-opening Tri-Power air cleaner that was released just in time for the 1960 Nationals. Carefully and thoroughly assembled by Tiemann, this engine is “built to run,” but drives like a dream. Upon completion, it was dyno tested at 425 HP. The build further includes free-flowing factory D-port exhaust manifolds, correct 1960-design intake manifold and Rochester Tri-Power layout, as well as the period-correct Warner T-10 4-speed transmission with iconic Hurst shifter. Off-the-line performance is maxed with a steep 4.88:1 rear gear ratio.
With its clean grille, broad body lines and “Wide Track” stance, its exterior is further augmented with factory Tri-Power callouts and scarce backup-light delete plates. Beautifully finished in Regent Black, this Catalina further benefits from a maroon interior, not actually available in 1960, but custom created by Tiemann’s Super Car Specialties using original vintage Pontiac materials. Riding on the famous 8-lug wheels, the car even wears a set of new, period-correct M&H slicks. In 1960, Jim Wangers himself raced a similar Pontiac to the winner’s circle at the NHRA Nationals in Detroit to help start the legend of excitement.
This car—on the street or at the Nostalgia Drags—has been designed to give you the exact same feeling.
