Introduced in 1950 as a trim level on the Chieftain, the Catalina became a stand-alone nameplate for the 1959 model year. Produced until 1981, it was Pontiac’s bread-and-butter full-size car for many years. With 3.7 million units sold, it was among the company’s best-selling nameplates.
But the Catalina was more than just a comfortable people hauler available in various body styles. The nameplate was also involved in the horsepower wars that took over the American car industry in the early 1960s. With midsize rigs not yet available, the Big Three used full-size automobiles to battle for supremacy on NASCAR ovals and at the drag strip.
The second-gen Catalina, for instance, gave us one of the greatest factory-built race cars. It was 1961, and Pontiac had trouble using its brand-new 421-cubic-inch (6.9-liter) Super Duty engine in NASCAR and at NHRA events due to new regulations. To make the massive mill eligible for competition, which had to be factory-installed, Pontiac dropped the Super Duty into regular-production Catalina two-door coupes.
The venture spawned around 177 Catalina Super Duty sleepers, including a few lightweight “Swiss Cheese” cars. These Ponchos are now rare and very expensive, with some examples valued at almost $500,000. The Catalina 421 Super Duty is just as iconic as the Chevrolet Impala Z11. The 1963 Catalina you see here is not one of those race-ready Super Duty cars, but it comes close, and it’s even rarer.
Don’t let the mundane appearance of this two-door hardtop fool you. This Pontiac is more than just a stylish family hauler. That’s because the plain white hood hides a 421-cubic-inch V8. It’s not the four-barrel carburetor version, either. This monster packs a trio of two-barrel carbs, which makes it a Tri-Power unit good for 370 horsepower.
But wait, there’s more. This rig is not your regular 421-powered Catalina, either. This Poncho is a very special car that was put together as a factory demo vehicle for the 1963 Daytona Speed Week. Only eight were made, and they weren’t born with 421 engines.
These Catalinas rolled off the assembly line with 389-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) V8 engines with two-barrel carburation before they were sent to McNamara Pontiac in Orlando, Florida. The dealer converted them to 421 four-barrel V8s. Why weren’t they ordered like that from the factory? Well, Pontiac wanted the cars to have air conditioning, and the unit required a 389 powerplant.
After receiving their 421 V8 transplants, the Catalinas were sent to Daytona International Speedway, where they were driven on the track by factory representatives and potential customers looking for a beefed-up version of the full-size car. Pontiac opted to add A/C so the customers would feel comfortable behind the wheel.
Once the event concluded, the eight Catalinas were sent to various dealers and sold as new. But this white example was shipped with a dealer-installed Tri-Power version of the 421 V8. So, while it may be one of eight vehicles on paper, it’s probably much rarer than that.
The current owner says he didn’t know about the Catalina’s super-rare status until he requested documentation from Pontiac Historic Services in 2008. The report confirmed a 389-cubic-inch engine and A/C, but PHS suggested the owner look for a hand-written build sheet in the car. The said build sheet was found under the driver’s seat, and the car’s factory demo status, the engine swap, and the dealer-installed Tri-Power carburetor were confirmed. The owner immediately decided to restore the vehicle.
The restoration took about nine months, and the result is downright fabulous. The white exterior is flawless, while the gold interior is true to its original specifications. The 421 V8 engine is squeaky clean, and the car runs and drives pretty much like new. It doesn’t get any better than this when it comes to non-Super Duty Catalinas. And if you haven’t experienced such a Poncho from the driver or passenger seat, the video below includes a few minutes of in-car footage. Hit play and enjoy!