56-Years Owned: 1962 Pontiac Catalina
Not only has this 1962 Pontiac Catalina had just one owner for the past 56-years, but for the past 50-years that one owner hasn’t driven it. This tip was sent to us by an anonymous Barn Finds reader who found it here on eBay in Penfield, New York. The reserve appears to have been met after just 3 bids have pushed the current price to $8,417.47.
As seemed to be the case with many 1960s Pontiacs, following the Catalina’s 1961 restyle, the 1962 model received a facelift. It was slightly longer, the wheelbase grew, and bodylines were re-sculpted. The 421 cubic-inch V8 was also made available, but this one does not appear to be so equipped. Those are a rare find with just 1,500 or so of the nearly 205,000 1962 Catalinas leaving the factory with that 421 and were also crazy expensive, nearly doubling the sticker price. This 2-door hardtop was the second most popular configuration, with 46,024 examples being built.
All the photos the seller has included in the pictures show the car parked indoors. I don’t know if that’s where it’s been for the past 50 years, but it doesn’t seem like much of a stretch to assume it’s been there a majority of the time. The seller tells us there is minimal undercarriage rust, no floor or trunk rust, and the most notable rust is in the lower rear quarters – each of those rust areas being smaller than 2”. This Pontiac is wearing its original 8-lug wheels. Again, drawing conclusions as there’s no mention made of the front fender and hood damage, but I’d guess that may be what prompted the grounded status in 1970.
The red interior is very matchy-matchy to the exterior paint. There is a seam tear in the driver seat, the dash appears to be cracked, and the carpet is worn and discolored. While those are all strikes against it I’m sure the new owner will want to erase, overall the interior looks to be fairly well preserved. That floor-mounted 4-speed is exactly what I’d hope to see in a 1960s Pontiac.
The seller never tells us what engine this Catalina is equipped with but tells us it’s a 1962 Pontiac engine with a 4-barrel carburetor. Maybe someone who knows more about 1962 Pontiac engine numbers can offer more information than what the seller has provided. This Catalina is not running, but the engine is not frozen and said to be complete. It is equipped with power brakes and positraction.
I haven’t even been alive for 56-years, but I can imagine letting go of a car you’ve owned that long could be difficult. Since this seller has made the decision to part ways with this Catalina and made it available to all with deep enough pockets, I now must ask you the same question Pontiac asked in its 1962 Catalina advertisement – “Why go on just being a Pontiac-watcher?”
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Comments
Wow,I just might be checking this one out….unlike most vehicles which are on the other side of the country or a few states away,this one is just on the other side of the county
Probably a 389 4 bbl which might make
somewhere near 300 HP in this form.
But even with this engine hooked to a
4-speed, driving this car would be a
blast! The only real problem with a
389 was its appetite for timing chains.
They broke often and left their owners
stranded causing the engine to be replaced by the more reliable 400 cube
motor in ’67. The 389 was offered in
’67, but not as the top engine choice.
Instead, it was toned down a bit and
put into the cheaper cars like the
Executive series that ran for two or
three years. As for the hood damage,
any good body shop could fix that
easily. If I were in the market for a classic car, I’d definitely consider this one.
The timing chain issue on Pontiacs was caused by the factory using a timing gear covered with nylon teeth to make the timing chain quieter. The nylon got brittle with the engine heat and the nylon teeth broke off. Easy fiz today just use steel gear
BBC also had nylon timing chains. Broke a few teeth on my 396 Chevelle.
I had the same problem with a 1971 Fury with a 440. Broke down Christmas Eve 1979, fixed it New Year’s Eve. Steel gears.
I love 62 Cat’s! I just don’t have the time for another project at the moment. But I am curious as to your statement about the 389 versus 400 eating timing chains. I know the stock OEM part was prone to failure, as most GM cars had a nylon covered timing gear. I’ve had a bunch of 389/400/455 engines and I don’t remember one eating the timing chain more than the others. I worked in a service station in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Replaced a huge number of timing sets, more Oldsmobiles as I remember. Seems like 90% drove in with “engine sounds” as the owner put it. Most stayed in time (relative to the gear teeth) due to the slop in the chain. I only remember 1 or 2 that stopped running due to breakage, and that was well after the owners remember it making noise but continued to drive them. The 389/400 blocks were basically identical except for the .060 overbore creating a 400. I’m curious as to your experiences, no argument, just like to hear other opinions!
I read the sales ad, which provides an Engine Code: 538177. It also says that it is a 1962 Pontiac engine (which doesn’t necessarily mean that it is Numbers Matching…especially when the seller describes it as a Pontiac engine)–If the engine was original and numbers matching, then noting it is “A” Pontiac engine is kind of unnecessary, right?
Anyway, I went on the Wallace Racing website, which has an engine code chart, and looked up the code. It is a 389, 10.25 compression ratio with one 4 bbl carburetor.
Yep. Those nylon timing chain gears. My dad told me a story about those going out in his 65 gto at a stoplight on a bitter cold December night.
Yes.it was strange,those gears usually let go at idle or startup and didn’t do any damage to the engine. But they definitely left you stranded.
Something about a ’62 Chief. My uncle had a ’61 Bubbletop, which I never really cared for, but the ’62 got everything right. Ken is right, probably a 389, and the 4 speed is unbelievably rare. While the GP or Bonneville stole all the thunder, a ’62 Catalina with factory 4 speed, is pretty darn sweet too. In drag racing in ’62, aside from the Chryslers, not much could beat them. I think that all changed in ’63 when Ford waxed them all with the 427, even though, the ’63 “Swiss Cheese” Ponchos gave them plenty to sweat about.
I watch Pontiacs, they come home on my trailer, a 61 Ventura bubble 389AT and a 64 LeMans 326 with bucket seats, console, and Cali Pink Slip. This one is pretty cool, but I’ll take a 61 any day, way better looking to me.
3 bids? What? Perfect Poncho color, good interior, almost original owner and extra parts? What?
Glad its on the East Coast or I might do something really dumb.
Our assistant parish priest had this exact car; color, 4 speed, wheels. He was very popular to the parish teens.
Serious bidders have no reason to show their hand at this moment. They have probably contacted the buyer to see if he would end the auction by taking an offer, if he said no, they will likely wait until the last few hours before acting.
Steve R
That is so true. I never bid early. Let the goofs set the price. If it goes out of hand move on. Basically auctions can go either way. Smoking deal or waste of dough.
The auction ended with 9 bids at $10,928.
Steve R
Now this is a barn find! Nice car and will restore easily.
Great to see a big Pontiac like this with the hog leg sticking through the floor!! This certainly would be a fun car and piling in a family of five with the gear in the trunk wouldn’t be a problem!! I think I would source a 400 like others have said and add a more aggressive cam!! After all it’s a big car to move around!!
@19sixty5: As a kid, I hung out with a lot
of older mechanics that had these cars in
their shops with this very problem. Due to
the high failure rates, I was told to avoid
them entirely. One of these older men
worked for Wiley Pontiac in my hometown. He told me that GM designed
the timing chain assembly to fail in order
to raise revenues in their service departments. Back then, a job like that
could cost the customer anywhere between $150 to $300 to fix the problem.
Bear in mind that this in 1960s money so
it was quite expensive to make the repair
every time the problem popped up. As
a result, if you went to any used car lot in my
hometown, you’d see it half full of these
Pontiacs. And while they may have been
good cars, but the damage was already done. It was their reputation for timing
chain failures that hurt them in the sales
race. Shoot, a friend of Dad’s was selling
them for $75 just to get rid of them. Best
thing to do would be to yank the 389 and
drop in a more reliable engine. Nice boat
anchors though.
By 1962 Pontiac was #3 in the nation saleswise, with many many conquest sales and lotsa one-year trades, like my dad, with five in six model years whole climbing the model ladder.
There were warranty issues but most dealers were in for the long run with repeat customers to satisfy.
Those $75 Pontiacs had to have been older, mistreated, worn out examples, because Pontiac was on a roll…
Thanks Ken! I changed quite a few timing sets back in the in the late 60’s and early 70’s, and I remember replacing more Oldsmobile sets than Pontiacs. I am a Pontiac guy, I’ve had overt a dozen PontiacsI can remember off the top of my head and I still have my 65 GTO. I disagree on a 67 Pontiac factory equipped with a 389. 1966 was the final year for the 389. With the introduction of the 1967 Pontiac line, the 400 replaced the 389. The base 400 engine was a 255HP 2 barrel. The Pontiac V8 engine lineup in 1967 was the 326, 400 or 428 engine. In 1969 the 350 was replaced the 326, and in 1970 the 428 was replaced by the 455. I believe Pontiac continued to use the nylon covered timing gear at least through the 1972 model year. Chevrolet continued to use them on the small block well into the 80’s
Owning a car for almost 60 yrs is crazy! Not driving for 50 yrs is even crazier! Would like to a own a ’61-’65 Catalina/Grand Prix/ Ventura one day. I would just get it mechanically right and enjoy!
Seems like a great Barn find for an easy restoration!
Nice car. The 4 speed is over the top. Extra hood and grill plus some other parts come with it. Like some others have said I could get in trouble here if it was-almost anywhere else besides New York.
God bless America
Interesting add, he’s the second owner, bought in ’64 while he was in high school. Parked due to brake problems beyond his ability. That’s a long freaking time ago!
Hurst shifter, different intake set up…..you know it was ran hard, luckily it’s a well preserved old Poncho. Had the brakes been repaired all those years ago……
…it would most likely not be around today! 😁
This is more what I think of as a muscle car; before the intermediates snatched that term. Just love that opposed ‘C’ tail light treatment!
Sure saw a lot of these winning races from 1960 through 1964. In this area (Toledo and Detroit) Royal Pontiac would furnish their famous Bobcat tune-ups for about $250.00 and these big Catalinas would usually win you a trophy. I’ve always liked those taillights too.
So, a person is stupid enough to 86 the timing chain, and it’s the engine’s fault ? Timing chains and gears give plenty of warning that failure is coming to those who care enough to pay attention to their engine talking back.
The 389 gives stout power, decent fuel economy, and is perfectly reliable for those who maintain their cars. Any moron can run any engine into the ground. I’ll take a big body Pontiac like this any day. The 389 would be my preferred power, coupled to a 4-speed, of course.
My mom bought one of these brand new, Nice car except for the horrible slim jim transmission.As for the plastic toothed timing gear,GM used that for a long time. I still have a ’57 Chieftain Catalina-had to replace the gear and chain 30 years ago. Used a steel one and it’s quiet in my 347 cu.in. engine with Tri-Power. Drove many other Pontiacs over the years and I got proficient in changing those gears. Mine always failed right at engine startup and they never damaged anything else in the engine-just needed a gear ,chain, gaskets and a couple of hours of my time.
Born in ’66 so I had to educate myself on cars, not mechanically so to speak, but just about them. Started at the age of twelve and in 1978 clear to the mid eighties I never recalled the term “muscle car” being used to describe any type of car to be honest. Super cars, yes. Pony cars, of course, the only time I can recall the word “muscle” being used was an old Hot Rod magazine road test of a ’70 Buick GS 455 stage 1..”Mr. Muscle for 1970″, they weren’t kidding either. LS6 454 Chevelle, same mag, “Earth mover!”, ha..still not kidding. In 1985 or ’86 Car Review magazine was featuring a lot of original factory terrors and changed their name to Muscle Car Review,,, a few years earlier Hot Rod did an article called “diamonds in the rough” which listed all the intermediate hot rods from each brand, how to buy, what to look for, rarities, and so forth as these were worthless cars money wise at the time(’81-2?).
This here big Cat, early sixties full size performance car, was more of of what Roger Huntington referred to as part of the super stock or stock class era. A 421 lightweight Pontiac would obliterate any GTO hands down….I’ve actually seen it happen at nostalgic drags. Just jawin’, sorry.
I worked with a guy back in ’67. I owned a ’66 Cat 421ho. This guy talked a little about his weekend driver, a ’62 Ventura 421 and 4spd. So one day he brings it in to work . Very clean car in that dark red. As I walked around it he just stood and smiled. Out of his pocket comes a large tissue wrapped magnet. That car was a factory Super Duty with swiss cheeze. If I remember correctly his grandma bought it for him.
Fireball Roberts won the 1962 Daytona 500 with one of these with a 421-4speed.
Right on Steve – Pontiacs Ruled NASCAR in 1962 with their 421-SD – Smokey Yunick wrenched for Fireball Roberts – those cars are worth big $$$$$$ now with the 421-SD – Great History :)