1961 Pontiac Catalina Convertible with RARE Removable Hartop
Price: -
Item location: Watkins, Colorado, United States
Description:
1961 Pontiac Catalina
Looking for a great car with an even better story?This is the car for you.......
First, the car is extremely solid. Floor pans are good. Trunk floor only has minimal rust at body mounts by the wheel wells. Rear quarters have some rust above the rockers due to mouse pee (rockers are solid). Front fenders are clean. Frame is straight and solid with only light surface rust (this car has spent it's whole life just East of Denver on the dry plains)
Full PHS documentation which verifies:
8 lug wheels (car has correct wheels and drums for 1961)
Dual exhaust
Saf-t-Trac rear differential ( with optional 3.42 gears)
4 barrel carb
Heavy duty air cleaner
Safety Sentinel speedometer (including low fuel light11)
3 speed manual transmission
Super deluxe radio
Remote control mirror
This car has manual steering and brakes
Possibly the most interesting feature about this car is the first owner and what he did with the car.
The car was purchased new by a gentleman in Wheatridge, Colorado from Seifert Pontiac.
Sometime after purchasing the car (very soon we speculate) he had several modifications done:
A second fuel tank was added in the trunk. It is a stock 1961 tank with the fuel filler exiting right next to the original tank behind the gas door. It had a separate fuel level sensor inside and there was a switch on the dash to view the level in each tank.
An extra set of coil springs were installed inside the factory rear coil springs for supporting extra weight.
A fiberglass removable hardtop (manufactured by LeMans in San Diego) was also added. I have a magazine article that featured on of these tops.
He sold the car to the person we bought it from in November of 1962. According to the second owner's brother, the first owner used to make trips from Colorado to California. Nobody knows the reason for these trips but there have been many theories.
The second owner rarely (only once or twice) removed the hardtop. His brother took his future wife to prom in this car.
The car runs, drives, stops and steers just fine.
New fuel pump, gas tank, wheel cylinders, convertible top hoses and cylinders.
Power top goes up and down just like it should. Top material was removed as it was brittle and would not let the top come up.
The removable hardtop is EXTREMELY rare. It was manufactured by LeMans in San Diego. It is serial #345. It will fit any GM full size convertible for '61 and '62.
Nobody seems to be able to figure out why the car was ordered with the options it has. Chances of another car documented to be optioned like this one would be slim. This car is believed to be one of one. This is truly an interesting and desirable car.
This car would be fairly easy to restore to it's former glory. it is 100% complete.
I do have the original owner's name and his address in 1961 on some of the paperwork I gotwith the car. I have tried to find more information on the gentleman but have not been successful.
PLEASE, do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have. I can take pictures of specific items if you like.
Thanks, Matt. 719-314-6901
Vehicle Details:
- Make: Pontiac
- Model: Catalina
- SubModel: Convertible
- Type: Convertible
- Year: 1961
- Mileage: 117,130
- Color: Blue
- Engine size: 389
- Number of cylinders: 8
- Transmission: Manual
- Interior color: Blue
- Vehicle Title: Clear Want to buy? Contact seller!