Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

63 Pontiac Catalina. Lavishly Maintained One-owner Black-plate Original! Wow!! on 2040-cars

Year:1963 Mileage:82491
Location:

Cypress, California, United States

Cypress, California, United States
Advertising:

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:
 
  • Complete engine rebuild @ 80,134 miles by Gordon's Auto Works, Orange, CA which also included replacement of hoses, belts, plugs and coolant, water pump and thermostat - $6905
  • Carburetor overhaul@ 80,500  -    $223
  • Radio parts replacement  -   $126 
  • New Fuel Pump and Defroster Diaphram @ 80,940 -  $419
  • Adjust hood alignment, replace axle bearings, replace gasket and pinion seal @ 81,308 -  $638  
  • Replace transmission seals @81,333 - $883
  •  Oil/filter change and fuel filter replacement @81,604 - $110
  • Install electric fuel pump @ 81,720 - $250
  • Replaced inefficient electric fuel pump with new mechanical, new transmission oil cooler line, replaced transmission pan gasket @82,344 - $407
Extras:
  •  A correct trunk  mat and new trunk lid seal, along with the car's four mint original wheel discs
  •  Owner's manual, Owner Protection Plan, Deluxe, full color, 16 page, dealer brochure, '63 Pontiac Accessories Catalog,  reproduction window sticker, 3/4 inch folder of Pontiac articles and fact sheets (one of 5 folders Larry maintained)
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!
 
 
 

Auto Services in California

Z & H Autobody And Paint ★★★★★

Automobile Body Repairing & Painting, Truck Body Repair & Painting
Address: 4738 Marine Ave, Lynwood
Phone: (310) 263-1040

Yanez RV ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Used Car Dealers, Recreational Vehicles & Campers
Address: Gilman-Hot-Springs
Phone: (951) 526-9089

Yamaha Golf Cars Of Palm Spring ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Golf Cars & Carts
Address: 55955 Pga Blvd, Bermuda-Dunes
Phone: (760) 564-0400

Wilma`s Collision Repair ★★★★★

Automobile Body Repairing & Painting
Address: 25571 Dollar St, Dublin
Phone: (925) 484-2324

Will`s Automotive ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service
Address: 770 Post St, San-Pablo
Phone: (415) 776-3543

Will`s Auto Body Shop ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Body Repairing & Painting, Truck Body Repair & Painting
Address: 2715 Geary Blvd, San-Pablo
Phone: (415) 563-8777

Auto blog

Junkyard Gem: 1986 Pontiac Sunbird Sedan

Sun, Jun 28 2020

The J-Body platform was a giant seller for GM, staying in production from the first 1981 Chevrolet Cavalier all the way through that final 2005 Pontiac Sunfire. Outside of North America, Opels and Daewoos and Isuzus and Holdens and Vauxhalls and even Toyotas flew the J flag, and better than ten million rolled out of showrooms during that quarter-century. In the United States, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick, and Cadillac each sold J-Bodies. Of those, the Pontiac Sunbird often had the sportiest image, more cavalier than even the Cavalier Z24. I've documented a discarded Sunbird Turbo in the past, and now here's a bread-and-butter Sunbird sedan from the same era. The Sunbird name began its life in 1976 on the Pontiac-badged version of the rear-wheel-drive Buick Skyhawk, itself based on the Chevy Vega. The first J-Body Pontiacs had J2000 badges, then 2000 badges, then 2000 Sunbird badges, until finally the pure non-2000 Sunbird appeared for the 1985 model year. I remain disappointed that the 2000 name didn't survive into our current century, because we could have had a 2000 Pontiac 2000, or just the "2000 2000" for short. The base engine in the '86 Sunbird was this SOHC 1.8-liter four of Brazilian origin, rated at 84 horsepower. Originally developed by Opel in the late 1970s, this engine family went into cars built all across the sprawling GM empire. 84 horsepower doesn't sound like much— and it wasn't much, even by 1986 standards— but at least the original buyer of this car had the smarts to get the five-speed manual transmission. This car weighed just 2,336 pounds, a good 500 pounds lighter than the current Chevy Sonic, so performance with the manual transmission was tolerable. The '86 Sunbird's interior was much nicer than those in its Cavalier siblings, though nowhere near the Cadillac Cimarron's reading on the Plush-O-Meter. An AM/FM/cassette stereo with auto reverse was serious audio hardware in a cheap car during the middle 1980s, when even a scratchy factory AM-only radio cost the equivalent of several hundred 2020 bucks. The price tag of this car started at $7,495, or about $17,500 in 2020 dollars. The cheapest possible Cavalier sedan went for $6,888 in 1986, but a zero-option base '86 Cavalier would make you think you'd been transported to the Soviet Union every time you slunk into its harsh confines. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Woman Cleared In Fatal Car Wreck After GM Letter

Tue, Nov 25 2014

A Texas judge cleared a woman Monday for a car accident that killed her fiance in 2004, after General Motors acknowledged that her car would have been among millions being recalled for a problem that may have contributed to the death. Candice Anderson was driving a 2004 Saturn Ion when it suddenly veered off a road about 60 miles east of Dallas and slammed into a tree. Anderson, then 21, was severely injured when the car's air bags failed to deploy. Her 25-year-old fiance, Gene Erikson, who was a passenger, was killed. She later pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the wreck. But during a hearing Monday, State District Judge Teresa Drum expunged the conviction from her record, according to officials in the Van Zandt County court andAnderson's attorney, Bob Hilliard. In a letter given to the court ahead of the hearing, an attorney for the automaker confirmed that Anderson's Saturn would have been among 2.6 million GM vehicles recalled in February to address ignition switches that can slip out of the "run" position, causing the engines to stall and disabling power steering, brakes and air bags. Anderson's crash "is one in which the recall condition may have caused or contributed to the frontal air bag non-deployment in the accident," attorney Richard C. Godfrey wrote. Hilliard provided a copy of the letter to The Associated Press, and Godfrey confirmed its contents Monday. Anderson was initially charged with criminally negligent homicide because there was no clear explanation at the time why the wreck occurred, according to court documents from the case. She pleaded guilty to a letter charge in 2006, and was sentenced to five years' probation. She also was ordered to perform 260 hours of community service, pay court costs and cover the costs of Erikson's funeral. "GM knew this defect caused this death, yet instead of telling the truth watched silently as Candice was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter," Hilliard said Monday. "It took 10 years for GM to find its voice." In a separate statement issued by the company, GM said it "cooperated fully by providing technical information that was requested to make a decision in this matter." The carmaker also said the issue in Anderson's case was for local law enforcement and courts to consider. "That's why we took a neutral position on Ms. Anderson's case," the company's statement said. "It was appropriate for the court to determine the legal status of Ms.

Junkyard Gem: 2003 Pontiac Grand Am GT 30th Anniversary Edition

Mon, May 29 2023

With the era of the 1960s-style muscle car ended by the ever-more-stringent emissions regulations, insurance costs and higher gasoline prices of the early 1970s, GM's Pontiac Division was ready with a lineup of flash-enhanced machines packed with (alleged) European-style performance and styling. Three of them were based on the midsize A Platform for 1973: the LeMans, the Grand Prix and the brand-new Grand Am. The 1973 Grand Am was cheaper than the luxed-up Grand Prix, but still had a BMW-ish interior and wild exterior styling; sales weren't great, but the 30th anniversary of this car seemed sufficiently momentous for Pontiac to create a special-edition package for its soon-to-be-axed successor. Here's one of these rare machines, spotted recently in a Denver car graveyard. The original rear-wheel-drive Grand Am was built for the 1973-1975 and 1978-1980 model years, but its similarity to the much cheaper LeMans kept sales numbers unimpressive. When the Grand Am name was revived for a Pontiac-badged compact on the front-drive N Platform in the 1985 model year, however, it became a big seller right away and stayed that way into our current century. The N-Body Grand Am was built through 2005, with platform updates for the 1992 and 1999 model years. Along the way, it was sibling to such cars as the Oldsmobile Calais, Buick Somerset, Chevrolet Beretta and Oldsmobile Alero. By 2003, though, the ground was shifting under Pontiac's feet. The iconic Firebird had been discontinued the previous year, and even the Grand Prix's days were officially numbered. Oldsmobile would be gone after 2004, and the entire Pontiac vehicle lineup would be shaken up soon after. The last year for the Grand Am (and the Sunfire) would be 2005, with the G6 taking its place. With all that going on, why not offer a 30th Anniversary package? After all, the Grand Prix got a 40th Anniversary Edition for 2002. Our reviewer described this car as "leaner, trimmer and more contemporary" at the time, but made no mention of the 30th Anniversary Edition. The VIN says this car is a top-grade GT1 sedan, with an MSRP of $22,325 (that's about $39,920 in 2023 dollars). Two engines were available in the 2003 Grand Am: a 2.2-liter Ecotec four-cylinder with 140 horsepower and a 3.4-liter pushrod V6 with either 170 or 175 horsepower. This car has the 175-horse V6, complete with "Ram Air" cold-air induction. That name goes way back in Pontiac history.