Pontiac Catalina Super Duty Swiss Cheese, 1963
Pontiac Catalina II
Pontiac Catalina II•
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Chassis No.: 363P97384
Auction: Indy 2025
Auction date: May 17, 2025
Lot No.: S114
$742,500 | Sold
- Odometer: 3,081 miles
- Engine: V-8
- Transmission: Manual
- Exterior: Silver/Red/Blue
- Interior: Blue
- Body: Hardtop
- 1 of only 14 “Swiss Cheese” Catalinas ever built before the January 1963 AMA ban on factory racing activities went into effect
- Extreme lightening measures were taken throughout the car, most notably the approximately120 holes drilled throughout the frame which gave the cars their nickname
- The boxed rails and front sway bar were also eliminated
- Other lightweight components included an aluminum hood with fiberglass bracing, aluminum inner and outer front fenders, aluminum bumpers and brackets and radiator support
- Delivered new to Royal Pontiac in Michigan
- Campaigned by Jim Wangers with the engine supplied by Frank Rediker
- The car was raced extensively throughout the Midwest and East Coast in NHRA, AHRA and Match Race trim
- It also won its class at the U.S. Nationals and was runner-up for “Little Eliminator”
- Comprehensive restoration by Scott Tiemann of Supercar Specialties in 2012
- 421 CI Super Duty V-8 engine, blueprinted and prepped to 505 HP
- Dual Carter AFB carburetors with special aluminum intake
- Very rare lightweight cast aluminum exhaust manifolds with dumps behind the front wheels
- Currently equipped with a 4-speed manual transmission
- Ordered with sound deadening and seam sealer removed to reduce weight
- PHS paperwork included
The 1963 “Swiss Cheese” Super Duty 421 Catalina that arrived at Royal Pontiac was built on January 12, 1963 under engineering memo 204 and loaded with about every trick that Pontiac Engineering could imagine from the NHRA rule book. Most notably was that the frame had about 120 holes drilled throughout—hence the name “Swiss Cheese.” A total of only 14 Swiss Cheese 421 Catalinas were built before the January 1963 AMA ban on factory racing activities went into effect, and all were painted the same “special” Firefrost Silver color and fitted with blue interior trim.
The tricks that Pontiac engineers had up their sleeves for 1963 were to lighten the frame of the car by drilling holes in the frame and eliminating the boxed rails. They also removed the front sway bar. The weight reduction continued with a diet of aluminum components to replace steel. These aluminum pieces included the front fenders, hood, inner fenders, radiator core support, bumpers and bumper brackets. The exhaust manifolds, bellhousing and rear axle center section were specially made in aluminum, and the battery was relocated to the trunk. Lastly, all non-essential equipment, including sound proofing and body sealers, were eliminated as well.
To qualify for the stock, drag race classes, these cars needed to be built on the production assembly line with all the other production Pontiacs. The cars were built with 389 CI 2-barrel engines and H.D. 3-speed transmissions. The special 421 Super Duty engines (Code 13B) that ultimately found their way into the cars were built and installed by Pontiac Engineering after the vehicle was built but before shipping. However, at some point this car was changed from a H.D. 3-speed to a 4-speed manual transmission. The other components in these 421 Super Duty engines included the best of the best parts, and the engine was very conservatively rated at 405 HP.
These cars were all-out race cars and not designed for street use. Pontiac determined that these “special” cars needed to go out only to select racers around the country and were given, not sold, to key drag race teams. Only 14 “Swiss Cheese” 421 Catalinas were built before the January 1963 AMA ban on factory racing activities came down. This “Swiss Cheese” 421 Super Duty was extensively raced throughout the Midwest and East Coast in both NHRA and AHRA events, plus match races, and it was driven by Jim Wangers. It won its class at the U.S.
Nationals and it was the runner-up for “Little Eliminator.” Restored by Scott Tiemann of Supercar Specialties in 2012, this car is a very significant piece of Pontiac Motor Division and Royal Pontiac performance and racing history, and it’s documented by included PHS paperwork.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1142548/1963-pontiac-catalina-super-duty-swiss-cheese/
Cost
2,726,832 AED
