63 Pontiac Catalina. Lavishly Maintained One-owner Black-plate Original! Wow!! on 2040-cars
Cypress, California, United States
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Thanks for stopping by to take a closer look at
this gem of a 1963 Pontiac Catalina 2-door Hardtop with the Ventura
option.
Here's Some Pontiac Background:
During most of it's earlier years, Pontiac was the
conservative step upward from Chevrolet and treated buyers to an eight cylinder
(L-Head In-line 8) power option and upscale interiors. The face of Pontiac
changed dramatically in 1959, however, with its 'Wide-Track' chassis,
lower/wider stance, iconic split grill, standard 389 cubic inch engine and a
host of performance options.
The 60's were the heady John Z. Delorean (Pontiac's Chief
Engineer) days at Pontiac with offerings like Catalinas, Venturas, GTO's and
Grand Prix's - which, over the years, have become coveted pieces of mechanical
artistry. At the time they captured the public's interest and led the way
to Pontiac's major resurgence in the marketplace.
One needs to look no further than this Catalina to
find a prime example of 60's Pontiac styling. It features a most stylish example of Pontiac's recessed split grill - accentuated by
the vertical dual headlamps and massive front bumper. It has what many consider
to be the best of automotive hardtop designs with its whisper of convertible top bows. This greehouse style is augmented by its lengthy trunk
and capped off by a beautifully sculpted taillamp design. Its clean, lean
lines are in stark contrast to the bulbuous look Pontiac adopted for its full
size cars a couple years later.
History of 3971:
I've referred to this one as an 'All-California' Car.
Actually, it's an all-Southern-California-Car manufactured at GM's South Gate
plant, transported 40 miles to Tate Motors in Pomona, CA and sold to Marvin
Leaman who made a 'have to have it decision' when he saw it arrive on the showroom floor and later returned to purchase it.
Marvin was a citrus rancher a few miles away in Upland
and worked for the State Parole Board. The Catalina's original Black Plates,
original dealer license plate frames, and blue key fob have been with the car
during it's 51 years and its documented 82,000+ miles - an average of about 1600
miles per year.
Because Marvin was provided with a State vehicle, the
Catalina was only used for personal outings which included a couple trips to San
Fransisco. The uncracked deluxe steering wheel, dash cover and unpitted chrome
and its shiny original paint testify to the car having always been garaged. In
fact, there were some years from the seventies through the 90's it was tucked
away under cover of blankets - since Marvin was saving the car for his son,
Larry.
Larry is the good friend for whom I'm listing the
car. To say Larry is a Pontiac enthusiast and meticulous about the upkeep of
his cars would be a gross understatement.
The car migrated from his dad's garage to Larry's in
2003. During that time Larry has easily spent ten thousand dollars maintaining
the car in perfect mechanical condition and thousands more keeping it in weatherproof commercial storage. There is nothing this car needed that it didn't
get. And while he was at it, Larry gathered up all available information he
could lay his hands on - a sort of 1963 Pontiac Library, if you
will.
Cosmetics:
One of this Catalina's prime features is its
still-shiny, Factory Original GM Duracryl Yorktown Blue finish. Another is the absence
of rust. Even the corners of the trunk seams beneath the rear window
molding are corrosion free (see photo).
Every body panel is original. And while it shows some
wear in areas like the top of the driver-side door, some scratches and a few
discolored spots, most are evident only when paint is closely scrutinized.
Interior shows almost like new. Over the years the
headliner, sun visors and carpet have been replaced with original materials.
Seats are original Pontiac Morrokide over optional foam. Optional DeLuxe
Two-color steering wheel is a mint example with no cracks or pitting on the
chrome horn ring. Instrument panel and uncracked dash cover look virtually
new.
Mechanical:
Engine is Pontiac's high compression Trophy 389 with
Rochester two-barrel carburetor rated at 283 HP @ 4400 RPM. It is mated to
GM's three-speed Hydra-Maric transmission. Both function flawlessly and the
transmission throws a crisp 1/2 shift (not always the case with the 'Roto'
Hydra-Matic transmissions). The engine was repainted when out of the car for
the rebuild. Remaining engine compartment surfaces are
original.
Over the years, Larry has treated the car to virtually
everything it needed to function perfectly (and without leaks or drips). Here are some relatively
recent documented examples:
Extras:
Purchase Information:
On an as is/where is, no warranty basis, this car will be sold to the highest bidder meeting the
reasonable reserve during this ten-day auction, but owner reserves the right to end the bidding at any time. The Catalina is available
for your pre-arranged evaluation in the Orange/Santa Ana, CA area. It is highly
recommended that prior to entering a bid, you personally inspect the car and
draw your own conclusions about purchase suitability. Larry will assist with the transporter, if required, and can store the car for reimbursement of his storage costs.
I look forward to and respond ASAP to your questions.
They are encouraged!
Larry can be contacted for any additional
information. Photos of the underside of the car, can be sent to you upon
request.
Bidders outside the Continental US and those without
a solid eBay feedback history MUST contact me prior to submitting a
bid.
A $500 PayPal non-refundable deposit is due within 48
hours and balance can be paid with the instrument of your choice, but the car
will not be released until the instrument is bank approved (includes cash and
cashier's checks).
Associated Hyperbole:
You don't have to remind me that I've been associated
with the old car hobby since 1954 when I bought a 40 Chevy two door sedan for
fifteen dollars. Because I'm both car and eBay conversant, I will ocassionally
list cars for friends. But they have to be gems. What I've learned about cars
over the years is 1) avoid cars with ANY evidence of rust; 2) typically avoid
'restored' cars; 3) buy cars directly from the owner with documented history;
4) match what you see with what you hear; 5) whenever possible, buy cars that
are original and unaltered.
As you can see, this one fits well into the above
categories, has a lot of desirable options and given it's provenance should be a
smart buy for both ol' Pontiac fans and investors alike as the market for pristine examples continues to climb. This Catalina is ready for
touring, showing or just enjoying.
Thanks for wading through all this information. Rest assured I will appreciate
your consideration of this 63 Catalina Ventura. Addendum: A check of the March/April, 2014 'Old Cars Price Guide' lists the #2 value of the 63 Catalina 2-dr Hardtop at $20,300 and this one meets the Guide's 'fine' criteria. A comparison check was made with my June, 2010 issue. Price of a #2 four years ago was $13,300 and offers evidence of significant appreciation in value for pristine examples. GOOD LUCK BIDDING!
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Driving Notes