Vehicle Description
Pontiac practically invented luxury muscle in the 1960s, and this
gorgeous 1961 Pontiac Catalina ragtop was the ride of choice for
the up-and-coming young executive. Only 12,379 Catalina
convertibles were built in 1961, and they were available with a
wide range of performance and luxury options, including the 389
cubic inch "Trophy" engine found in this one.
Wearing a coat of its original code L Coronado Red, this awesome
ragtop certainly looks the part of a gentleman's express. Tailfins
were fading, but hadn't entirely vanished in 1961, and the dramatic
upswept quarter panels give this Pontiac the appearance of being in
constant motion. Fit and finish are quite good, and you can still
see details from the '50s in the wrap-around windshield and
stylized stainless trim. The finish has just the right shine, not
too harsh like a modern car, but definitely not faded like original
paint would be, giving this car a very inviting look. The
traditional Pontiac split grille is in excellent shape, and some
the chrome appears to have been refinished during the restoration
process and still glitters brightly today. And with big, bold block
letters spelling out PONTIAC on the tail panel, it won't be
mistaken for anything else on the street.
The guys at Pontiac loved their multi-tone upholstery, with this
one wearing maroon and Ivory seat covers that are sporty and
elegant at the same time. With matching door panels that are works
of art by themselves, correct burgundy carpets, and that oh-so-cool
clear steering wheel, there's no doubt that the Pontiac buyer in
1961 was getting something truly special. The matching burgundy
instrument panel offers a wide speedometer flanked by auxiliary
gauges, plus secondary controls down low. Someone has thoughtfully
added a trio of retro-looking auxiliary gauges under the dash, as
well as an FM receiver that works in conjunction with the original
AM radio in the dash. That slender shifter lever is pure 1960s
cool, along with the shiny stainless dashboard face that runs from
end to end. A white power top with crystal clear rear window folds
with the touch of a button and hides out of sight under a matching
ivory boot. The gargantuan trunk is neatly finished with a correct
mat that's the size of a queen bed, as well as a full-sized
spare.
Pontiac's top engine was the 389 cubic inch V8, and while this one
was originally topped with a 2-barrel carburetor, there's a Demon
4-barrel unit living there now (the original carburetor is
available). This is the car's original engine, coded as an A1
Trophy engine with 267 horsepower. Painted with correct Pontiac
Turquoise and dressed up with an oversized open-element air
cleaner, it definitely lives up to the excitement brand's
reputation. Other luxury features include the power braking system
with an updated dual master cylinder, power steering, a new
alternator in place of the original generator, and a
Roto-HydraMatic automatic transmission. A newer dual exhaust system
with Flowmaster mufflers gives it a muscular tone that is never
annoying. Optional spinner hubcaps look awesome and it wears
bias-ply wide whites to complete the 1960s luxury look.
No other car maker combined style and performance quite as well as
Pontiac, and this handsome Catalina convertible is every bit as
impressive today as it was in 1961. Call today!
