Vehicle Description
Exceptionally rare, one-off Catalina with an all-aluminum 389 V8 produced specifically by Pontiac’s Bunkie Knudsen for legendary racer and performance engineer Mickey Thomson! This is the only one you will find like it in the world! Featured here is a collaborative effort made by possible by many of country’s best Pontiac restorers and performance enthusiasts! This rare 1962 Pontiac Catalina “Bubble Top” is finished in brilliantly applied Starlight Black over Tri-Color red interior as a tribute to 1 of only 2 factory produced Bubble Top examples made by Pontiac. The bodywork on this car was expertly completed to match factory results perfectly, and the paintwork finished by Walnut Park Auto Body is nothing short of show quality! The frame and final restoration assembly credits go to Classic Performance Restorations owned by Pontiac restoration expert, John Novelli. The real treat to make this car a genuine 1 of 1 in the entire world is what lies under the hood! By 1959, Semon “Bunkie” Knudsen had been Pontiac’s GM for 3 years and was eager to bring the Pontiac nameplate to the performance arena. To accomplish this task, he had to turn to racing veterans of that era to use his cars in the racing seen. The most notable of the legends hired was Mickey Thompson. As a drag racer, road racer, open wheel racer, and land speed record holder, Mickey Thompson was certain to help put the Pontiac name on notice! To kick off their new relationship, a Pontiac “Department X” all-aluminum 389 engine went into experimental production! This super rare engine was cast from the same 389 forms used in 1959 and experimental aluminum heads were cast with designs seen on both 1959 & 1960 cast iron versions, and a cast aluminum intake made to receive a 4-barrel carburetor. Only 14 engines we estimated to have been produced, with just 3 known to exist today! This is the only running example anywhere in the world! Pontiac enthusiast and restoration specialist, Tom Schlauch, located in California, found & expertly completed the actual build of this engine. With the help of Evans Speed and Machine located in El Monte, CA and Super Duty Performance in Abbotsford, British Columbia, the block and heads were skillfully prepared with a production-style Pontiac build in mind, versus looking for every last bit of power. Their engine results proved to quite worthy with heads that pushed more air than those found on a Ram Air IV engine! This engine was completely balanced and blueprinted at an astronomical cost! When the engine finally found its way into this Catalina custom, the approach was to build a car Pontiac never did, but likely wanted to! The quest to make this car as special as possible ensued, and many rare and hard to find Super Duty and Swiss Cheese components were incorporated! This included the addition of an original aluminum intake receiving correct dual Carter 4-barrel carburetors, carb jets, and linkage, aluminum water pump, aluminum Super Duty exhaust manifolds, aluminum collector with cut-outs, aluminum bell housing, correct clutch linkage, rare 4.30 aluminum third member, correct upside down starter, upgraded aluminum Muncie M-22 rock crusher transmission, 8-lug alloy wheels with whitewall tires, radio and heater delete, and much more! This car now encompasses components that are virtually nonexistent in the market today, and put simply, making this super exotic as unique as they come and impossible to reproduce! It was shown recently at the Pontiac Nationals proudly among Super Duty cars of matching caliber! The presentation materials including the article written by High Performance Pontiac magazine highlighting the rare engine build and the parties involved with complete restoration will be provided. This car is a delight to view in person and encouraged for all prospective buyers! Serious inquiries only please!!
Exceptionally rare, one-off Catalina with an all-aluminum 389 V8 produced specifically by Pontiac’s Bunkie Knudsen for legendary racer and performance engineer Mickey Thomson! This is the only one you will find like it in the world! Featured here is a collaborative effort made by possible by many of country’s best Pontiac restorers and performance enthusiasts! This rare 1962 Pontiac Catalina “Bubble Top” is finished in brilliantly applied Starlight Black over Tri-Color red interior as a tribute to 1 of only 2 factory produced Bubble Top examples made by Pontiac. The bodywork on this car was expertly completed to match factory results perfectly, and the paintwork finished by Walnut Park Auto Body is nothing short of show quality! The frame and final restoration assembly credits go to Classic Performance Restorations owned by Pontiac restoration expert, John Novelli. The real treat to make this car a genuine 1 of 1 in the entire world is what lies under the hood! By 1959, Semon “Bunkie” Knudsen had been Pontiac’s GM for 3 years and was eager to bring the Pontiac nameplate to the performance arena. To accomplish this task, he had to turn to racing veterans of that era to use his cars in the racing seen. The most notable of the legends hired was Mickey Thompson. As a drag racer, road racer, open wheel racer, and land speed record holder, Mickey Thompson was certain to help put the Pontiac name on notice! To kick off their new relationship, a Pontiac “Department X” all-aluminum 389 engine went into experimental production! This super rare engine was cast from the same 389 forms used in 1959 and experimental aluminum heads were cast with designs seen on both 1959 & 1960 cast iron versions, and a cast aluminum intake made to receive a 4-barrel carburetor. Only 14 engines we estimated to have been produced, with just 3 known to exist today! This is the only running example anywhere in the world! Pontiac enthusiast and restoration specialist, Tom Schlauch, located in California, found & expertly completed the actual build of this engine. With the help of Evans Speed and Machine located in El Monte, CA and Super Duty Performance in Abbotsford, British Columbia, the block and heads were skillfully prepared with a production-style Pontiac build in mind, versus looking for every last bit of power. Their engine results proved to quite worthy with heads that pushed more air than those found on a Ram Air IV engine! This engine was completely balanced and blueprinted at an astronomical cost! When the engine finally found its way into this Catalina custom, the approach was to build a car Pontiac never did, but likely wanted to! The quest to make this car as special as possible ensued, and many rare and hard to find Super Duty and Swiss Cheese components were incorporated! This included the addition of an original aluminum intake receiving correct dual Carter 4-barrel carburetors, carb jets, and linkage, aluminum water pump, aluminum Super Duty exhaust manifolds, aluminum collector with cut-outs, aluminum bell housing, correct clutch linkage, rare 4.30 aluminum third member, correct upside down starter, upgraded aluminum Muncie M-22 rock crusher transmission, 8-lug alloy wheels with whitewall tires, radio and heater delete, and much more! This car now encompasses components that are virtually nonexistent in the market today, and put simply, making this super exotic as unique as they come and impossible to reproduce! It was shown recently at the Pontiac Nationals proudly among Super Duty cars of matching caliber! The presentation materials including the article written by High Performance Pontiac magazine highlighting the rare engine build and the parties involved with complete restoration will be provided. This car is a delight to view in person and encouraged for all prospective buyers! Serious inquiries only please!!
For more go to .... http://www.carsforsale.com/used_cars_for_sale/1962_Pontiac_Catalina+Bubble+Top_133926493_3
No comments:
Post a Comment