Pontiac Catalina Convertible, 1959
Pontiac Catalina I
Pontiac Catalina I•
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Chassis No.: 159W15942
Auction: Kissimmee 2017
Auction date: January 15, 2017
Lot No.: S239
$73,700 | Sold
- Exterior: Black
- Interior: Red/ivory
- Body: Convertible
- Concours frame-off restoration by Grumpy’s Garage in Austin, Minnesota
- Gold winner at 2016 Pontiac Nationals
- Matching numbers 420A AN 389/345 HP Tri Power engine
- 420 ft/lbs torque
- 4 bolt main bearings and high nickel block
- XO high compression heads
- Factory Isky cam and special drivetrain
- Long exhaust manifolds and oversized exhaust
- Heavy duty air cleaner
- Heavy duty cooling system
- 4-speed manual transmission
- Heavy duty clutch
- 3.23 Safe-T-Track rear axle
- Power steering
- Regent Black with White convertible top
- Two tone Red and Ivory interior
- Wonderbar radio
- Decor group
- Heater
- Back-up lights
- General Whitewall tires
- Restoration photos included
This 1959 Pontiac Catalina convertible is an outstanding example of the Pontiac that ruled the road and racetracks of 1959 and beyond. The result of a frame-off restoration completed to concours standards by Grumpy's Garage in Austin, Minnesota, it embodies the brashness that set Pontiac apart in the era of General Manager Bunkie Knudsen, Chief Engineer Pete Estes and a young and coming John Z. DeLorean. Their work transforming Pontiac into General Motors’ performance division reached a milestone in 1959, when the glamorous Catalina nameplate replaced the aging Chieftain.
This coincided with Knudsen’s creation of the Super Duty engineering group, whose mandate was to follow Knudsen’s lead in ignoring the AMA restrictions against factory participation in sanctioned racing, especially NASCAR, and deliver a full range of over-the-counter performance parts for Pontiac owners. Among their first issues was this car’s special high nickel content cast-iron block with 4-bolt mains, which forms the foundation for its matching-numbers 420A AN 389 CI V-8 engine.
With Tri-Power triple 2-barrel carburetion, XO-code high-compression heads, a factory-supplied Isky camshaft with special valvetrain, long-passage exhaust manifolds and oversize dual exhaust, it’s rated at 345 HP and produces gobs of torque. Breathing through a special high-volume heavy-duty air cleaner and protected by heavy-duty cooling, it is teamed with a heavy-duty clutch, a floor-shifted 4-speed and a long-legged 3.23:1 Safe-T-Track rear axle for the performance that won multiple NASCAR titles.
The car also oozes the Pontiac style of the period: longer, lower, wider bodywork, Wide Track suspension, a new split grille that would become a Pontiac trademark, and a roomy and stylish interior. Beautifully cloaked in Regent Black with a white convertible top and two-tone red and ivory interior, it is generously appointed with the Décor Group, heater, backup lights and Wonderbar radio. A tinted windshield, dual outside chromed mirrors and spinner wheel covers over wide General whitewall tires complete the style treatment on this wonderful Knudsen-era Pontiac Hot Rod.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/269810/1959-pontiac-catalina-convertible/
