Pontiacs in the 1960s and 1970s were great cars; for a bit more money than a Chevy or Ford, you got a lot more car with beautiful styling, beautiful interiors, and a rock- solid drivetrain. I sure miss those days. The junk on the market today is less than I can even describe.
I had a 69' Bonnie with the 400 - amazing car! I lost a cylinder enroute to Texas from Minnesota - drove it for 3 states on 7 cyls - arrived in Longview TX, pulled the heads and found a broken push rod - the hydraulic lifter had collapsed. All the lifters were pretty well dished out. Replaced them and the push rods, had the head lightly worked at the local Champion auto parts store machine shop. (remember when they did that?) reassembled using a needle torque wrench, and drove it back to Minnesota and for the next few years. what a car! Thanks for this video. Made me want to cry for longing.
My grandpa had a 69 Bonne Convertible with 428 4bbl. I was 14 at the time and wanted that car so bad. It needed a tune up i remember it having slight miss as well. He sold it before i could get the money together as a teenegager. He flipped old cars back then and I got to drive lots of different 60s and 70 cars on the property.
I loved Bunkie Knudson’s famous quote about taking over Pontiac. “You can always sell an old man a young man’s car, but you can’t sell a young man an old man’s car.”
@@dustin_4501 guys like him and John DeLorean were such car guys, old school, they didn't fit in with the boardroom types. I still remember the 60 minutes years ago when (name??),he has since passed away, took over running Chrysler, they stopped using the top few floors where executives came to huge offices in expensive suits. He was close enough to where the engineers were working, he could just walk in and talk to them. I think it was that way with Knudsen and JZD, they actually knew what they were building, Knudsen got JZD from Packard, said he was one of the most brilliant engineers he ever worked with. The OHC 6, the '69 Grand Prix, on and on, his brainchild
@@Sheisthedevilyouknowwho-ft9we They are very underrated names in the car game, John probably always just credit as the guy who came up with the DeLorean, Virgil Exer came to mind as influential but underrated car person too.
@@dustin_4501 Pete Estes was one of the guys like John that Bunkie brought to Pontiac in the 1960s I believe. And I think he was general manager of the division at one time like John was. Bill Mitchell was another, but I think Bunkie, Pete, John all thought highly of each other. DeLorean wrote a book in the '70s "on a clear day tou can see General Motors" after he stepped down from his position as VP of GM. I have a copy here somewhere, meant to read it someday. By the '80s most of the real car guys were gone I'm guessing, and bean counters and corporate types were running things at all levels near the top. Must be frustrating for a true gearhead to have passion for automobiles, but be surrounded by too many "businessmen" who know nothing about working on automobiles
In the fall of 1965, my dad brought home a new 1966 Catalina wagon with the 290-horse 389 from Totem Pontiac in Seattle. I was eight years old and thought it was one of the most beautiful cars I'd ever seen. Years later it would be the first car I'd ever drive. Great car and great engine, and I wish I still had it.
I was also 8 in 1965.. Papa brought home a new 1966 Bonneville hardtop coupe for my mother with console shifter and air conditioning. It also had the 421 4 barrel..I wish I had that car now, it was gorgeous in that turquoise metallic color Pontiac had that year.. Pontiac had some of the best designs of the 1960s.
Really enjoyed the video, good information on the Pontaics. My families only new car was a 1968 Pontiac Tempest with the OHC engine, which was surprisingly powerful.
The 1995 History channel hour on Pontiac, interviews w/ Bunkie Knudsen, he came through the design studio one day, he saw a '59 on a '58 Pontiac chassis, he told them, "it looks a little bit like a football player in ballerina slippers, let's see if we can get those wheels/tires moved out some, give it more of a muscular, aggressive stance, and the Wide-Track Pontiac was born".
My autoshop teacher back in 1977 said that the “wide track” claim came from the wheels, the offset was placed outboard thus making the track wider than that Chevy, Olds and Buick chassis. Some say it’s just the design, putting the lights was out to the edge of fenders
A regular customer of the Service Station I worked at drove 1000-2000 miles a week as a traveling salesman .... had his oil and filter changed every 6 weeks , he kept exact records and recorded 19 -24 mpg on a regular basis ! 389 2 bbl high compression ratio . Wow the car had excellent throttle response !
When I was a teen in the 50s I loved Pontiacs. My first Pontiac was my fathers 51 that I bought from the dealer when he traded it, in 54. Straight Eight Sold it when I was drafted in 58. Had a 65 GTO in 67 (gas was 33cents PG) 389 w/tri power. Loved that tri, power. My next car was my first new car, a 70 Fire Bird 350 W/4 barrel. That wasn't too shabby either. Pontiac built great cars.
@@MarinCipollinayeah, saturn was a mistake from the beginning, they already had enough divisions, $$$ dumped into Saab was a waste, lost $$$ at one time owning a chunk of Fiat , and backing out. Hummer, some loved it, eh🤔, whatever. Olds kind of lost their identity around that same time Plymouth did. I'm from a Pontiac, GM family, but the Mercury loss is a head scratcher. I still see a lot if Mountaineers and Grand Marquis around here, and the styling the last 6-8 years got better and better, I don't even notice Fords if I see them. But Pontiac being cancelled by the Obama administration was like a knife through the heart for me. I've still got hundreds of issues of HPP & Pontiac Enthusiast
I had a 65 Catalina 2 dr sedan back in the 90's with a 389 2V engine. It was an awesome car, no rust teal turquoise. I drove it coast to coast and it got 17 MPG.
Thats a real nice car you got there. Those old pontiacs had a unique feel to them i remember as a young kid in late 80s riding/driving in many thanks to my grandpa flipping 50s 60s and 70s cars in the late 80s. I got to drive them around his farm and became a "car guy" at a young age.
The mid-‘60s Pontiacs were absolutely gorgeous and a fabulous value. Chevy was the sales king those days, but for a few extra dollars the leap in perceived luxury of a Pontiac, particularly the interiors, was worth every penny. Adam, that Catalina of yours might just be my favorite of your collection. It is stunning in every respect.
Pontiac decided in 52 that is he upcoming 53 Pontiac was going to be as nice as they can make it while not charging an exorbitant price for it. That 53 was intended to have the new V8, but objections from Oldsmobile, who had a lot of clout in the 50s and 60s, forced them to delay it, first to 54, then 55. Olds felt that the Pontiac was becoming too Olds-like.
@@michaelbenardo5695 I never heard that before but I’d believe it. That was due to the hierarchy of GM. Cadillac was the top, then Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and finally Chevrolet was at the bottom as they were the value brand of GM. Being the cheapest, Chevrolet obviously sold the most. Pontiac was actually in the most unenviable position. It was supposed to be the performance division of GM but it was throttled because the Corvette was GM’s halo car and was produced by Chevrolet. So any performance idea that would make a Pontiac outperform the Corvette was canceled. There were several throughout the years.
My parents had the 389cid in both their '60 and '66 Bonnevilles. It was yet another factor for their buying Pontiacs for 25+ years, and the 326 in their '66 LeMans. Great engines!
They were still using these in the late 70's Pontiacs. I feel bad for my dad who had to dismantle one in an unheated garage during a bone-chilling winter to fix a bent connecting rod. I have memories of watching him lift the engine from the hood with a crane, and the smell of a kerosene heater being used to keep the space warm.
yep, I grew up around pontiacs, Father was a mechanic at the pontiace dealership in the 60' thru to the 80's, yep your so right on that 2 barrel, we had respect of those cars, it was not a mockery having a two barrel, some mechanics claimed that they had more torque than 4 barrels, but I suppose they were all just as surprised at their performance as you were. I, just like every one else wish I still had my 67 GTO, and also, yes, very quiet, when i rebuilt the alternator, and new water pump, so as to eliminate pulley noise, quiet as a whisper
The 389 was used after 1966. I had a 67 Bonneville with one it. Great car! If it hadn't used a fiber timing gear it would probably still be running today
Unlike the SD389 and 421, The SD455 is a very different engine compared to the normal 455, same architecture but the block and heads are unique, forged crank and unique rods, etc…
I was a used car mechanic in 1970-72 at a Ford dealer and I really enjoyed working on cars in the 70's we had room to work under the hood and those 389s were easy to work on, all cars before 1975 needed valve jobs back then at around 75.000 to 100.000 miles and the 389 Pontiac was my favourite to do. Thanks for the video nice memories.
That's because, starting the 75 model year, (some engines before that year), they all started using Stellite inserts in the valve seats and Stellite valves in order stand up to unleaded gas without needing a valve job every 10,000 or 20,000 miles.
@@michaelbenardo5695 except in Trans Am racing. It's a little funny Pontiac stuck with that badging without racking any wins/titles from that series, so they never really earned the name for their Firebird. Regardless, it stuck and sold the cars
I had a '63 Catalina with a 389 and 4-speed hydro from a '64 Star Chief rebuilt with high performance factory parts and bored .040" over. My only complaint about Pontiac's 389 was that they had press in rocker arm studs in the head instead of threaded studs. Ordinarily this wasn't a big problem, but when I put in a Pontiac high performance cam with dual valve springs, it had a nasty habit of pulling out the rocker arm studs. I tried to get away from the problem by putting on a new set of 421 HO heads, with roll pins holding in the studs, pretty much turning it into a SD 389. But over time I found the roll pins were shearing off from the pressure. She was a fast road warrior though!!
@@michaelbenardo5695 Yes, you can, but you have to replace the tunnel in the floor pan. The "Slim Jim" was indeed a lot smaller than the hydro, but it was a worthwhile trade. As I recall, you might have to swap or shorten the drive shaft, too.
Kind of piggybacking off of the tightness of the 389. My dad would always comment about how much he loved the 283 and 327...he said those two little engines just wanted to run. You could make the 350 produce power, sure...but the 327 just couldn't wait to go. He's not a mechanic, just his opinion only. Great feature as always!
I always liked the 327 Chevrolet because it had forged crankshaft and connecting rods it could build power quickly and was durable. The 389 Pontiac filled the same role for their models from mild mannered to being offered powerful upgraded versions for their line up. Both engines were extremely capable for what was asked of them.
First car I drove was my parents’ 1961 Ventura. Dad would encourage me to open up the secondaries on the 4 barrel, because we both loved the way that 389 surged. The wide track was no joke - at 100 indicated it was steady as a rock, tracked straight and true. The bias tires and drum brakes, though…😢
My first new car was a 1964 Catalina fresh out of high school, first set of rear tires lasted 3000 miles. At 17000 miles new clutch and flywheel great street racer.
A traditional Pontiac V8 is like a small block Chevy on steroids. For example 18 degree valve angles on a small block Chevy are offered in exotic aftermarket heads for racing. Stock is 23 degree. Pontiacs came with 14 degree valve angles from the factory.
I had a new Firebird in 1967 with a 326 and sold it last year. Never had the heads off.(however did replace the valve stem seals a few times and installed isky cam and lifters plus timing chain). That was it. Also had a 2 barrel. Bill
Another informative engine video, Adam. I especially enjoyed your description of the Rochester 2GC carburetor. And that 389 in your '66 Catalina is very smooth.
Thank you SO much for this video! I spent these 15 minutes enthralled by memories of the best time of the auto industry, and my personal affection for the cars reviewed and many others. I'm an aficionado of the "50's and '60's American cars. The last car I got excited about was the Dodge Viper. Since then, I'm merely nauseated by the influx of Asian econoboxes with Briggs & Stratton "engines."
My friend once got a '68 Catalina from a copart auction and I was surprised how great the engine was with a 2-barrel carb)) it evoked associations with car chases in the old movies, where cars were loosing their hubcaps, so quick the acceleration was)
The engines that were used in the GTO were also available in "regular" Pontiacs as well. Lots of Star Chiefs and Bonnevilles had Tri-Power 389s and Dual-Quad 421s!
Overheating used to be a common feature of cars up until the 1970s. The Pontiac V8s had the largest cooling systems which made them best for towing, mountain driving, heavy traffic, and hot weather with A/C. But this was a problem with emissions where engines had to warm up quickly, so it was discontinued.
Pontiacs were mechanically stout, more so than nearly everyone else across the board.. Every full size 1960s Pontiac was nearly a police package as standard equipment.
When I was three years old in 1963 dad brought home a 61 tempest. We went from Minnesota to Los Angeles to visit aunts and uncles. Got there in four days sightseeing a long the way 😂❤
I had a '66 GTO back in the 80s with a 389 (6.5 Litre) with a 4 barrel. It was a runner, but it actually got pretty good mileage on the freeway at high speeds. Steady 70 mph = 20-21 mpg. I did replace the 2 speed auto Slush-O-Matic with a Turbo-Hydramatic 400 transmission, which probably helped. I even ONCE did a long distance high-speed run in the car cruising at 110 mph and was getting almost 14 mpg at those speeds. Fortunately I didn't meet up with any traffic enforcement, or I might still be in jail. 😁
In the early 70's my Dad picked up a 67 Tempest that had a GTO front end and a tired, smoking 326. We went to the junk yard and bought a 2bbl 389 out of a Catalina. We got to hear it run. Took it home and put it in that car and gave it a new fark blue paint job. That was a running piece of iron. He kept it for a while then sold it. He was a firefighter so there was always buying and selling of cars and trucks at the fire station. Great days as we always had a new project to work on in the garage. Now I have my own projects going.😅
Bought a 1967 firebird convertible with a 326 in 1984 needing alot of work. It was just a 2 barrel carb, but engine turned out to be a 64 389. One lucky add in the Memphis paper and i had a 3 carb intake to put on it when i rebuilt it. Great motor and fun car with that motor in it!!
Everyone that knows anything about old American cars knows that big Poncho's make BIG TORQUE. My neighbor up the street has a green and white '55 Pontiac four door. He has an authentic Class of '56 Varsity jacket in the same green from some school in Pennsylvania and an A&W window food stand, complete with plastic hamburgers and onion rings.... [I always ask him where are the root beer floats?] Now, I was a student at Embry-Riddle in Florida in 1985; Another student in my dorm had a '79 Pontiac Trans Am. On the "shaker" I think it said T/A 6.6. He told me that it was a 403, an engine that Pontiac never built. I saw under the hood one day and I swear I saw gold valve covers, but this was nearly 40 years ago. I highly suspect that this was the Oldsmobile station wagon engine rather than the true Pontiac 400, which had about 40 more horsepower. Nevertheless, it was a cool car. WAY cooler than the '77 VW Rabbit I drove at the time.... Great video!
My first car in 1969, my senior year of college, was a 1966 Pontiac Catalina 2 door hardtop, white with a red interior. It had the 389 with 2 bbl carb that you show. It was an excellent performer even as a used car with 33K miles on it. Earlier my dad had a 1962 Bonneville with the 389 4 bbl, and it was the first car I drove as a teenager. That was also a wonderful car to drive. So, thanks for the memories of these great Pontiacs.
Had a 69 GTO in 74-76. Lots of tickets Lol ! My favorite was display of horsepower or otherwise known as LONGGGGGG Burnouts ! Loved the blue metallic engine color.
My second car I’ve ever owned was a 66 Pontiac 2+2 with a 421 tri-power in a four-speed that car was amazingly quick for what it was and later had a 66 Grand Prix for 21. Try power automatic with 323 years in a car. We keep up with the 911 Porsche side-by-side.
We had two 67 Pontiacs growing up, a Bonneville 4 Dr Hardtop and 4 Dr Catalina 4 Dr Hardtop. The Cat had the 2 barrel Carb high compression and the Bonny had the 4 barrel. The Cat was the quicker car. Both amazing vehicles. I was the proud owner of a 69 GTO w/ a 4 speed. That was quick. The mid sixties were the pinnacle of Pontiac design & performance! Thanks for the video!
I wish I had the 63 Catalina 389 4bbl spread-bore Q-Jet, 2dr. Such a smooth quiet ride. What a luxury that car was. In 83 my 1st wife wanted it and I felt she needed it, so that was that.
Had a '66 GP back in ''74-'87. It was cream yellow with black interior! What a dream of a car. Pick it up from a senior women. It was not running and pick it up for $200! Trans was shot & the A arm bushings also gone!! Worked at a auto shop as a mechanic and rebuild the 400 trans and put bushings & ball joints on it. Sure do miss that car! It had 98,000 miles when I got it and the only time it let me down was the T-chain jumped! Which was very common for most V-8's from that time. I miss that big V-8 big car ride!
The 389 has a stroke of 3.75", pretty long, even for its day. Lots of torque, and like you mentioned, the carbs weren't completely anemic, allowing the engine to rev pretty well. Lots of power in the sweet spot for a largish American V8.
Had a 72 Catalina sedan with the 400 2bbl wow what a strong performance. Like all pontiacs I’d driven good handling despite its size responsive steering. Wish I’d kept it.
I gotta agree with everything you said in this video - my dad owned a '65 Catalina with the automatic transmission package (389, 2 bbl, high compression) with the trailer package (stiffer rear suspension). The only problem he had (and I had later with a '66 Tempest Custom with the 326 2bbl) was the Rochester 2 bbl carb - they were known for accelerator pump failure. You'd step on it to pass or accelerate, and there'd be a pause before it "jumped". Fortunately, they were easily accessible to change, but when failed it did make you think before passing on a 2-lane road. Speaking of "passing", when working properly you had to use a different technique - usually, you'd stomp on it, and then go out to pass. But not with these engines! You went out to pass BEFORE you'd stomp on it!
I was a junior in High school in '59. Dad brought home this wonderful Bonneville. To say I was thrilled was an understatement. Was it ever a great thing to drive it to school once in a while.
I once bought a 'junker' 79 catalina that someone has at some point swapped in a 389. The seller knew of the swap but thought it was a 350 sbc. I knew it was not, but wasnt sure what it really was until it nedded some work i could not do myself. The mech enlightened me and offered to buy the car, which i eventually did a few years later when the rust issues got serious. It was a beast, and had i known then what i do now idve kept the mill
Cette voiture appartient à une époque où tout était différent, je veux dire la décennie de rêve des années 60, c'était vraiment une époque passionnante.
Had a '71 T/A in the late 70's early 80's. 455-HO auto 3.42 gears. It was some fun with that car to start off slowly and let it upshift early in the first two gears, then once it shifted into third, just ease that power on and feel the torque hammer me into the seat. One of my favorite things to do with that car was power drift around highway cloverleafs with it. I still regret selling it.
I have 1978 Pontiac LeMans with 305 Chevy and Rochester 2CG carburetor all original. Though not a 389, that carburetor makes that engine move out more than you think because it has an internal vacuum operated "power valve" that bypasses main jets and dumps gas into those big throttle bores under strong acceleration, allowing it to perform similar to a four barrel.
A friend of mine had a 1966 GTO with the 389. It had a 4-speed manual. He modified it of course. We all did back then. He had a Holly 4bbl carb, Posi-traction rear end, Hurst shifter, etc. He also has big tires on the back. It could pull up a steep grade in 4th gear without any problem. The funny thing is that, when I met him, he was no longer really a hot-rodder anymore, but he couldn't get rid of that car. It was too nice. I got into small British sports cars when I bought my first car (and second and third and motorcycle) i the 1970s. We did just as much to those as people did to the American cars. Totally different vide. The engine sizes were 1.1L, 1.275L and 1.8L (0.75L for the bike). All in they didn't displace as much as one of these Pontiac V8s (all in 1.4L less). Of course, they were all convertibles. The women loved convertibles. It was great fun working on all of them, the British and American. In fact, I learned on my parents' cars which were all GM V8s.
I had a 66 Catalina. I paid $75 for it. It had a tiny battery and my friend told me it would never start. It sat for a year or so. I put the pedal to the floor and let it up to engage the choke and not flood it. I hit the key and it came alive on the second turn of the starter. No smoke. It always ran clean. My brother had a GTO and it ran the same. Cleanest running engine ever.
Adam, I was at a car show today and saw a '57 Nash Ambassador. If you ever get a chance, find someone who owns these old cars and do a video about it. These are strange and weird and the "Quirks and Features" would be interesting to see.
I had a '62 Catalina with a 389 2bbl. It had sat for some years before I bought it, so I popped the valve covers and cleaned out the sludge. Dropped the oil, but failed to oil up the valve train (hey, I was only 16 at the time) and those valves complained for a while, but got happy in short order. Great engine -- the transmission was not nearly as good, however.
Very smooth. My old ‘64 Chevy 283 was quite smooth like that….people said that you could balance a quarter on the air cleaner stud on those. While I never tried it, I did try to start it a number of times, when it was already running.
I remember reading the Motor Trend 1965 Pontiac car of the year issue on microfiche at the Virginia Tech library in 1982 and wishing cars were still that good. This was when X cars, K cars, J cars, Escorts, etc. dominated the market.
Yep Adam, Gr8 Stuff about the Pontiac 389 V8...Huge Engine for back then in '59 especially.....I'd say a '63 Tempest with the 326 wud have been the go, if the buyer knew it was actually a 336 in a Mid-Sized Pontiac. Probably a lot lighter than the Pontiac's with the 389 and more fuel efficient, unless driving the Tempest with the pedal 2 the metal all the time....Cheers fm Damo😊👏
My mom had a 64 Catalina that had a 389 4 barrel that when she would stick her foot in it best I remember is it didn't come out of as my dad called it "passing gear" untill mom had passed several cars and I do mean several and I won't tell how many she passed one time when she was running a little late headed to summer school with us as we stayed in the dorm with her. If I told you I guarantee there would be at least a few that would call me a liar so I won't. I occasionally would bring that specific time up because I thought it was awesome & she would grin & quietly say she shouldn't have drove like she did when she was young. Mom was a real hot rodder. She was cool. Oh and aw, I wish I had that car because it was cool. Got any idea what kind of carburetor that 4 barrel was? I don't think I've ever seen anything like it since that car. It was sideways from what's been in everything I've ever seen like a Holley. The float bowls were on the side and were almost to the valve covers. As a 16 year old I showed the car to the man that bought it for his son so naturally I had to take the breather cover off & show him how big the carb was. With big eyes & a big grin he exclaimed "Good Lo-ard that thing is big as a lawn mower motor". That car had a big set of lungs on it.
I have never seen or knew of the "Sportable" radio that is seen on the brochure page at about 5:00 Could you imagine using 3 of those 500 CFM two barrel carbs for a tri-power set up for a built GTO?
Lots of 58 and later Pontiacs had Tri-power, much to the delight of Pontiac drivers and the chagrin of other drivers. The Sportable or Transportable radio was a Kool idea, but never really caught on.
I have a 66' starchief executive 389ci 4bbl 325hp and 423fp/torque i beleive it is. It ran hard and also very smooth. Untill I overaved it in neutral shifting with one finger while flooring it. It went, 1....2.....Dr...neutral...(supercharger sound) before I let go the pedal of the foor. It started blowby after. Im not proud at all for that incident last year. It still ran good, but I broke 3 pistons rings and shims between the rings. They were broken like Mike Tyson punch you in the face and all your teeth fell off. Lol You can see my resto-mods I done to my Starchief Executive in my little picture ! Another great video !
My wife's folks had a 4Dr HT Catalina Std engine. Wow what a car! You could put a full size bike in the trunk. It fit in the garage better that a newer chiseler. On the road it got 20-21 MPG. And my father in law said it had a lot of Thump, torque.
Pontiacs in the 1960s and 1970s were great cars; for a bit more money than a Chevy or Ford, you got a lot more car with beautiful styling, beautiful interiors, and a rock- solid drivetrain. I sure miss those days. The junk on the market today is less than I can even describe.
and less than you can understand
I had a 69' Bonnie with the 400 - amazing car! I lost a cylinder enroute to Texas from Minnesota - drove it for 3 states on 7 cyls - arrived in Longview TX, pulled the heads and found a broken push rod - the hydraulic lifter had collapsed. All the lifters were pretty well dished out. Replaced them and the push rods, had the head lightly worked at the local Champion auto parts store machine shop. (remember when they did that?) reassembled using a needle torque wrench, and drove it back to Minnesota and for the next few years. what a car! Thanks for this video. Made me want to cry for longing.
My grandpa had a 69 Bonne Convertible with 428 4bbl. I was 14 at the time and wanted that car so bad. It needed a tune up i remember it having slight miss as well. He sold it before i could get the money together as a teenegager. He flipped old cars back then and I got to drive lots of different 60s and 70 cars on the property.
Yours was a 69 footer?
Sorry, how should I have abbreviated 1969?
Figured it out! Should be’69
69?
Nice
I loved Bunkie Knudson’s famous quote about taking over Pontiac. “You can always sell an old man a young man’s car, but you can’t sell a young man an old man’s car.”
Oh Bunkie, i wonder what he would have done for GM or Ford if they didn't kick him off.
@@dustin_4501 guys like him and John DeLorean were such car guys, old school, they didn't fit in with the boardroom types. I still remember the 60 minutes years ago when (name??),he has since passed away, took over running Chrysler, they stopped using the top few floors where executives came to huge offices in expensive suits. He was close enough to where the engineers were working, he could just walk in and talk to them. I think it was that way with Knudsen and JZD, they actually knew what they were building, Knudsen got JZD from Packard, said he was one of the most brilliant engineers he ever worked with. The OHC 6, the '69 Grand Prix, on and on, his brainchild
@@Sheisthedevilyouknowwho-ft9we They are very underrated names in the car game, John probably always just credit as the guy who came up with the DeLorean, Virgil Exer came to mind as influential but underrated car person too.
I don't know about that because I would have bought a Corvette at 16 if I could have payed for it.
@@dustin_4501 Pete Estes was one of the guys like John that Bunkie brought to Pontiac in the 1960s I believe. And I think he was general manager of the division at one time like John was. Bill Mitchell was another, but I think Bunkie, Pete, John all thought highly of each other. DeLorean wrote a book in the '70s "on a clear day tou can see General Motors" after he stepped down from his position as VP of GM. I have a copy here somewhere, meant to read it someday. By the '80s most of the real car guys were gone I'm guessing, and bean counters and corporate types were running things at all levels near the top. Must be frustrating for a true gearhead to have passion for automobiles, but be surrounded by too many "businessmen" who know nothing about working on automobiles
In the never ending debates on who is better (chevy, ford, mopar) I've never heard anyone rag on Pontiacs. They were great cars.
I truly miss Pontiac 😢
In the fall of 1965, my dad brought home a new 1966 Catalina wagon with the 290-horse 389 from Totem Pontiac in Seattle. I was eight years old and thought it was one of the most beautiful cars I'd ever seen. Years later it would be the first car I'd ever drive. Great car and great engine, and I wish I still had it.
I was also 8 in 1965.. Papa brought home a new 1966 Bonneville hardtop coupe for my mother with console shifter and air conditioning. It also had the 421 4 barrel..I wish I had that car now, it was gorgeous in that turquoise metallic color Pontiac had that year.. Pontiac had some of the best designs of the 1960s.
Really enjoyed the video, good information on the Pontaics. My families only new car was a 1968 Pontiac Tempest with the OHC engine, which was surprisingly powerful.
I was surprised in the 1990s when I saw a Pontiac ad in a 35 year old newspaper, and realized that Wide Track wasn't just a '90s thing!!
They had tv commercials, a jingle too
@MarkSmith-js2pu AMC called the Pacer, "The first wide small car".
The 1995 History channel hour on Pontiac, interviews w/ Bunkie Knudsen, he came through the design studio one day, he saw a '59 on a '58 Pontiac chassis, he told them, "it looks a little bit like a football player in ballerina slippers, let's see if we can get those wheels/tires moved out some, give it more of a muscular, aggressive stance, and the Wide-Track Pontiac was born".
My autoshop teacher back in 1977 said that the “wide track” claim came from the wheels, the offset was placed outboard thus making the track wider than that Chevy, Olds and Buick chassis. Some say it’s just the design, putting the lights was out to the edge of fenders
@@MarkSmith-js2puwide track Pon-ti-ac
A regular customer of the Service Station I worked at drove 1000-2000 miles a week as a traveling salesman .... had his oil and filter changed every 6 weeks , he kept exact records and recorded 19 -24 mpg on a regular basis ! 389 2 bbl high compression ratio . Wow the car had excellent throttle response !
Better with the Carter AFB.
Thanks for another great video!!! Pontiac made many very good engines and they had a focus on torque more than high horsepower.
When I was a teen in the 50s I loved Pontiacs. My first Pontiac was my fathers 51 that I bought from the dealer when he traded it, in 54. Straight Eight Sold it when I was drafted in 58.
Had a 65 GTO in 67 (gas was 33cents PG) 389 w/tri power. Loved that tri, power.
My next car was my first new car, a 70 Fire Bird 350 W/4 barrel. That wasn't too shabby either. Pontiac built great cars.
Rest in peace, Pontiac. GM had to downsize, but the wrong division got cut.
Thanks Obama administration. They forced GM to eliminate Pontiac (along with Hummer, Saab, Saturn) if they wanted the bailout money.
General Motors is Chevrolet Pontiac Oldsmobile Buick Cadillac and GMC. Those divisions should have remained intact.
@@MarinCipollinayeah, saturn was a mistake from the beginning, they already had enough divisions, $$$ dumped into Saab was a waste, lost $$$ at one time owning a chunk of Fiat , and backing out. Hummer, some loved it, eh🤔, whatever. Olds kind of lost their identity around that same time Plymouth did. I'm from a Pontiac, GM family, but the Mercury loss is a head scratcher. I still see a lot if Mountaineers and Grand Marquis around here, and the styling the last 6-8 years got better and better, I don't even notice Fords if I see them. But Pontiac being cancelled by the Obama administration was like a knife through the heart for me. I've still got hundreds of issues of HPP & Pontiac Enthusiast
No words have ever been more true. Oh how I miss Pontiac.
One in every 10 cars around my town was a Pontiac. They were everywhere like Toyotas. Is you add Chevy Buick and Caddy together you may get one in 10.
I had a 65 Catalina 2 dr sedan back in the 90's with a 389 2V engine. It was an awesome car, no rust teal turquoise. I drove it coast to coast and it got 17 MPG.
Thats a real nice car you got there. Those old pontiacs had a unique feel to them i remember as a young kid in late 80s riding/driving in many thanks to my grandpa flipping 50s 60s and 70s cars in the late 80s. I got to drive them around his farm and became a "car guy" at a young age.
The 400 ram air IV was awesome, it was a giant killer
The mid-‘60s Pontiacs were absolutely gorgeous and a fabulous value. Chevy was the sales king those days, but for a few extra dollars the leap in perceived luxury of a Pontiac, particularly the interiors, was worth every penny. Adam, that Catalina of yours might just be my favorite of your collection. It is stunning in every respect.
Pontiac decided in 52 that is he upcoming 53 Pontiac was going to be as nice as they can make it while not charging an exorbitant price for it. That 53 was intended to have the new V8, but objections from Oldsmobile, who had a lot of clout in the 50s and 60s, forced them to delay it, first to 54, then 55. Olds felt that the Pontiac was becoming too Olds-like.
@@michaelbenardo5695 I never heard that before but I’d believe it. That was due to the hierarchy of GM. Cadillac was the top, then Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and finally Chevrolet was at the bottom as they were the value brand of GM. Being the cheapest, Chevrolet obviously sold the most. Pontiac was actually in the most unenviable position. It was supposed to be the performance division of GM but it was throttled because the Corvette was GM’s halo car and was produced by Chevrolet. So any performance idea that would make a Pontiac outperform the Corvette was canceled. There were several throughout the years.
We had many Pontiacs with 2 bbls. Great point Adam, Pontiac engineers had a way of getting good performance out of 2 bbls coupled with their V8s
My parents had the 389cid in both their '60 and '66 Bonnevilles. It was yet another factor for their buying Pontiacs for 25+ years, and the 326 in their '66 LeMans. Great engines!
Nice 389! Very quiet and smooth!
They were still using these in the late 70's Pontiacs. I feel bad for my dad who had to dismantle one in an unheated garage during a bone-chilling winter to fix a bent connecting rod. I have memories of watching him lift the engine from the hood with a crane, and the smell of a kerosene heater being used to keep the space warm.
yep, I grew up around pontiacs, Father was a mechanic at the pontiace dealership in the 60' thru to the 80's, yep your so right on that 2 barrel, we had respect of those cars, it was not a mockery having a two barrel, some mechanics claimed that they had more torque than 4 barrels, but I suppose they were all just as surprised at their performance as you were. I, just like every one else wish I still had my 67 GTO, and also, yes, very quiet, when i rebuilt the alternator, and new water pump, so as to eliminate pulley noise, quiet as a whisper
Love Pontiacs
My heart still beats a little faster when I see a twin snorkel air cleaner.
Thank you Adam. They were building legendary Pontiacs in the 1960's. They were indeed on a roll.
The 389 was used after 1966. I had a 67 Bonneville with one it. Great car! If it hadn't used a fiber timing gear it would probably still be running today
This and the 283, especially in the trucks was another great motor.
It's amazing how you could choose from a dozen different engines!
Axle ratios, also.
They were great engines indeed.
Thanks for remembering the SD 389. Often forgotten next to the 421 and 455.
The Chrysler 383 is underrated too
Unlike the SD389 and 421, The SD455 is a very different engine compared to the normal 455, same architecture but the block and heads are unique, forged crank and unique rods, etc…
Sturdier.
They had a 428 too
@@bryanguthrie-ej1fb Not a SD like the 389/421/455.
I was a used car mechanic in 1970-72 at a Ford dealer and I really enjoyed working on cars in the 70's we had room to work under the hood and those 389s were easy to work on, all cars before 1975 needed valve jobs back then at around 75.000 to 100.000 miles and the 389 Pontiac was my favourite to do. Thanks for the video nice memories.
That's because, starting the 75 model year, (some engines before that year), they all started using Stellite inserts in the valve seats and Stellite valves in order stand up to unleaded gas without needing a valve job every 10,000 or 20,000 miles.
51 - 55 Chrysler HEMIs had seat inserts.
Had a 400 in my 68 'bird....loved it.
Man...too cool. I'd be happy to get any 350 Pontiac for that matter.
"Bird"?
@@Johnnycdrums Firebird. A car like a Mustang.
More like a nicer faster Camaro
@@michaelbenardo5695 except in Trans Am racing. It's a little funny Pontiac stuck with that badging without racking any wins/titles from that series, so they never really earned the name for their Firebird. Regardless, it stuck and sold the cars
Very much agree Adam! We had a 63 Catalina similar color, same engine always in the power band! Nobody got past mom!
I owned a 64 + 66 Bonneville and 69 Grand Prix. January of 1982 it was 23 below 0 and my 66 started right up! 153k miles on it.
I had a '63 Catalina with a 389 and 4-speed hydro from a '64 Star Chief rebuilt with high performance factory parts and bored .040" over. My only complaint about Pontiac's 389 was that they had press in rocker arm studs in the head instead of threaded studs. Ordinarily this wasn't a big problem, but when I put in a Pontiac high performance cam with dual valve springs, it had a nasty habit of pulling out the rocker arm studs. I tried to get away from the problem by putting on a new set of 421 HO heads, with roll pins holding in the studs, pretty much turning it into a SD 389. But over time I found the roll pins were shearing off from the pressure. She was a fast road warrior though!!
I thought Pontiac used screwed-in studs
So my memory is right, you CAN replace that Slim Jim trans with the superb 4 speed Hydramatic!
@@michaelbenardo5695 Yes, you can, but you have to replace the tunnel in the floor pan. The "Slim Jim" was indeed a lot smaller than the hydro, but it was a worthwhile trade. As I recall, you might have to swap or shorten the drive shaft, too.
@@michaelbenardo5695 Not in '63 or '64, and not in the factory replacement HO heads I bought in the mid '70s.
Those were just all-around marvelous cars. Thanks.
Kind of piggybacking off of the tightness of the 389. My dad would always comment about how much he loved the 283 and 327...he said those two little engines just wanted to run. You could make the 350 produce power, sure...but the 327 just couldn't wait to go. He's not a mechanic, just his opinion only. Great feature as always!
I always liked the 327 Chevrolet because it had forged crankshaft and connecting rods it could build power quickly and was durable. The 389 Pontiac filled the same role for their models from mild mannered to being offered powerful upgraded versions for their line up. Both engines were extremely capable for what was asked of them.
First car I drove was my parents’ 1961 Ventura. Dad would encourage me to open up the secondaries on the 4 barrel, because we both loved the way that 389 surged. The wide track was no joke - at 100 indicated it was steady as a rock, tracked straight and true. The bias tires and drum brakes, though…😢
My first new car was a 1964 Catalina fresh out of high school, first set of rear tires lasted 3000 miles. At 17000 miles new clutch and flywheel great street racer.
When the 2nd gen small block LT1 came out. Reverse cooling was one of its trademarks. I didn't know Pontiac had done it so long before
IHC Did it on their 392 V-8 also.
You can thank Smokey Yunick for reverse cooling
A traditional Pontiac V8 is like a small block Chevy on steroids. For example 18 degree valve angles on a small block Chevy are offered in exotic aftermarket heads for racing. Stock is 23 degree. Pontiacs came with 14 degree valve angles from the factory.
I had a new Firebird in 1967 with a 326 and sold it last year. Never had the heads off.(however did replace the valve stem seals a few times and installed isky cam and lifters plus timing chain). That was it. Also had a 2 barrel. Bill
i had a 62 grand prix black on black with the 348 hp 389 with the wide ratio 4 speed and 3.42 rear gears, what a great car.
Another informative engine video, Adam. I especially enjoyed your description of the Rochester 2GC carburetor. And that 389 in your '66 Catalina is very smooth.
Thank you SO much for this video! I spent these 15 minutes enthralled by memories of the best time of the auto industry, and my personal affection for the cars reviewed and many others. I'm an aficionado of the "50's and '60's American cars. The last car I got excited about was the Dodge Viper. Since then, I'm merely nauseated by the influx of Asian econoboxes with Briggs & Stratton "engines."
My friend once got a '68 Catalina from a copart auction and I was surprised how great the engine was with a 2-barrel carb)) it evoked associations with car chases in the old movies, where cars were loosing their hubcaps, so quick the acceleration was)
How they rated flow differently between the 2-barrel and 4-barrel carburetors would make a great video in itself.
Now that is an engine that literally purrs!
Summer of '68, I had a 1963 Star Chief. Beat a GTO off the line despite my 2 extra doors. Miss her.
The engines that were used in the GTO were also available in "regular" Pontiacs as well. Lots of Star Chiefs and Bonnevilles had Tri-Power 389s and Dual-Quad 421s!
Overheating used to be a common feature of cars up until the 1970s.
The Pontiac V8s had the largest cooling systems which made them best for towing, mountain driving, heavy traffic, and hot weather with A/C.
But this was a problem with emissions where engines had to warm up quickly, so it was discontinued.
Pontiacs were mechanically stout, more so than nearly everyone else across the board.. Every full size 1960s Pontiac was nearly a police package as standard equipment.
The 55 - 58, with that backwards water flow, was best of all in that regard.
Purr's like a kitten ❤😍😍
When I was three years old in 1963 dad brought home a 61 tempest. We went from Minnesota to Los Angeles to visit aunts and uncles. Got there in four days sightseeing a long the way 😂❤
I had a '66 GTO back in the 80s with a 389 (6.5 Litre) with a 4 barrel. It was a runner, but it actually got pretty good mileage on the freeway at high speeds. Steady 70 mph = 20-21 mpg. I did replace the 2 speed auto Slush-O-Matic with a Turbo-Hydramatic 400 transmission, which probably helped.
I even ONCE did a long distance high-speed run in the car cruising at 110 mph and was getting almost 14 mpg at those speeds. Fortunately I didn't meet up with any traffic enforcement, or I might still be in jail. 😁
Smart decision in replacing that 2 speed with something better.
Decades ago I had a 1966 Ventura with 389, Carter AFB.
Good stuff.
In the early 70's my Dad picked up a 67 Tempest that had a GTO front end and a tired, smoking 326. We went to the junk yard and bought a 2bbl 389 out of a Catalina. We got to hear it run. Took it home and put it in that car and gave it a new fark blue paint job. That was a running piece of iron. He kept it for a while then sold it. He was a firefighter so there was always buying and selling of cars and trucks at the fire station. Great days as we always had a new project to work on in the garage. Now I have my own projects going.😅
Pontiac had the tight balance of styling, confort, power, and price, with a cool factor that i can’t think of any other US brand had.
My dad had a Pontiac Star Chief with a 389 2 barrel and a four-speed automatic
Bought a 1967 firebird convertible with a 326 in 1984 needing alot of work. It was just a 2 barrel carb, but engine turned out to be a 64 389. One lucky add in the Memphis paper and i had a 3 carb intake to put on it when i rebuilt it. Great motor and fun car with that motor in it!!
Everyone that knows anything about old American cars knows that big Poncho's make BIG TORQUE.
My neighbor up the street has a green and white '55 Pontiac four door. He has an authentic Class of '56 Varsity jacket in the same green from some school in Pennsylvania and an A&W window food stand, complete with plastic hamburgers and onion rings....
[I always ask him where are the root beer floats?]
Now, I was a student at Embry-Riddle in Florida in 1985; Another student in my dorm had a '79 Pontiac Trans Am. On the "shaker" I think it said T/A 6.6. He told me that it was a 403, an engine that Pontiac never built. I saw under the hood one day and I swear I saw gold valve covers, but this was nearly 40 years ago. I highly suspect that this was the Oldsmobile station wagon engine rather than the true Pontiac 400, which had about 40 more horsepower.
Nevertheless, it was a cool car. WAY cooler than the '77 VW Rabbit I drove at the time....
Great video!
Automatic trans were equiped with 403 olds engines 4 speeds got the pontiac 400
Yep, that is a smooth sounding 389 you have there.
Very smooth!! Thanks!! 🙂
My first car in 1969, my senior year of college, was a 1966 Pontiac Catalina 2 door hardtop, white with a red interior. It had the 389 with 2 bbl carb that you show. It was an excellent performer even as a used car with 33K miles on it. Earlier my dad had a 1962 Bonneville with the 389 4 bbl, and it was the first car I drove as a teenager. That was also a wonderful car to drive. So, thanks for the memories of these great Pontiacs.
👍🏻I agree with you, my 389 two barrel (in a 64 safari) loves the highway and just wants to go!
Adam, I would like to know how the 389 compared to the equivalent Oldsmobile engines of the day. 😁
Had a 69 GTO in 74-76. Lots of tickets Lol ! My favorite was display of horsepower or otherwise known as LONGGGGGG Burnouts ! Loved the blue metallic engine color.
My second car I’ve ever owned was a 66 Pontiac 2+2 with a 421 tri-power in a four-speed that car was amazingly quick for what it was and later had a 66 Grand Prix for 21. Try power automatic with 323 years in a car. We keep up with the 911 Porsche side-by-side.
We had two 67 Pontiacs growing up, a Bonneville 4 Dr Hardtop and 4 Dr Catalina 4 Dr Hardtop. The Cat had the 2 barrel Carb high compression and the Bonny had the 4 barrel. The Cat was the quicker car. Both amazing vehicles.
I was the proud owner of a 69 GTO w/ a 4 speed. That was quick.
The mid sixties were the pinnacle of Pontiac design & performance!
Thanks for the video!
I wish I had the 63 Catalina 389 4bbl spread-bore Q-Jet, 2dr. Such a smooth quiet ride. What a luxury that car was. In 83 my 1st wife wanted it and I felt she needed it, so that was that.
Had a '66 GP back in ''74-'87. It was cream yellow with black interior! What a dream of a car. Pick it up from a senior women. It was not running and pick it up for $200! Trans was shot & the A arm bushings also gone!! Worked at a auto shop as a mechanic and rebuild the 400 trans and put bushings & ball joints on it. Sure do miss that car! It had 98,000 miles when I got it and the only time it let me down was the T-chain jumped! Which was very common for most V-8's from that time. I miss that big V-8 big car ride!
The 389 has a stroke of 3.75", pretty long, even for its day. Lots of torque, and like you mentioned, the carbs weren't completely anemic, allowing the engine to rev pretty well. Lots of power in the sweet spot for a largish American V8.
I believe the 326, 350, 389 and 400 Pontiac V8s all shared a 3.75” stroke.
Had a 72 Catalina sedan with the 400 2bbl wow what a strong performance. Like all pontiacs I’d driven good handling despite its size responsive steering. Wish I’d kept it.
1966 Pontiac Boneville with a 389 . That is my dream car !
I gotta agree with everything you said in this video - my dad owned a '65 Catalina with the automatic transmission package (389, 2 bbl, high compression) with the trailer package (stiffer rear suspension). The only problem he had (and I had later with a '66 Tempest Custom with the 326 2bbl) was the Rochester 2 bbl carb - they were known for accelerator pump failure. You'd step on it to pass or accelerate, and there'd be a pause before it "jumped". Fortunately, they were easily accessible to change, but when failed it did make you think before passing on a 2-lane road. Speaking of "passing", when working properly you had to use a different technique - usually, you'd stomp on it, and then go out to pass. But not with these engines! You went out to pass BEFORE you'd stomp on it!
Your collection of automobiles is so exactly as I would have. We have a very similar taste in what cars that are timeless, and I would want to own!
Absolutely my favorite. Still have a 66 Catalina 389.
I was a junior in High school in '59. Dad brought home this wonderful Bonneville. To say I was thrilled was an understatement. Was it ever a great thing to drive it to school once in a while.
I once bought a 'junker' 79 catalina that someone has at some point swapped in a 389. The seller knew of the swap but thought it was a 350 sbc. I knew it was not, but wasnt sure what it really was until it nedded some work i could not do myself. The mech enlightened me and offered to buy the car, which i eventually did a few years later when the rust issues got serious. It was a beast, and had i known then what i do now idve kept the mill
My uncle bought a new 1967 Pontiac Tempest in blue. I was just 6 when I saw it in 1968, but I remember thinking it was so beautiful.
Cette voiture appartient à une époque où tout était différent, je veux dire la décennie de rêve des années 60, c'était vraiment une époque passionnante.
Had a '71 T/A in the late 70's early 80's. 455-HO auto 3.42 gears. It was some fun with that car to start off slowly and let it upshift early in the first two gears, then once it shifted into third, just ease that power on and feel the torque hammer me into the seat. One of my favorite things to do with that car was power drift around highway cloverleafs with it. I still regret selling it.
Okay next do a video on the 1966 Star Chief Executive. The crossover year.
I have 1978 Pontiac LeMans with 305 Chevy and Rochester 2CG carburetor all original. Though not a 389, that carburetor makes that engine move out more than you think because it has an internal vacuum operated "power valve" that bypasses main jets and dumps gas into those big throttle bores under strong acceleration, allowing it to perform similar to a four barrel.
A friend of mine had a 1966 GTO with the 389. It had a 4-speed manual. He modified it of course. We all did back then. He had a Holly 4bbl carb, Posi-traction rear end, Hurst shifter, etc. He also has big tires on the back. It could pull up a steep grade in 4th gear without any problem.
The funny thing is that, when I met him, he was no longer really a hot-rodder anymore, but he couldn't get rid of that car. It was too nice.
I got into small British sports cars when I bought my first car (and second and third and motorcycle) i the 1970s. We did just as much to those as people did to the American cars. Totally different vide. The engine sizes were 1.1L, 1.275L and 1.8L (0.75L for the bike). All in they didn't displace as much as one of these Pontiac V8s (all in 1.4L less). Of course, they were all convertibles. The women loved convertibles. It was great fun working on all of them, the British and American. In fact, I learned on my parents' cars which were all GM V8s.
I had a 66 Catalina. I paid $75 for it. It had a tiny battery and my friend told me it would never start. It sat for a year or so. I put the pedal to the floor and let it up to engage the choke and not flood it. I hit the key and it came alive on the second turn of the starter. No smoke. It always ran clean. My brother had a GTO and it ran the same. Cleanest running engine ever.
Adam, I was at a car show today and saw a '57 Nash Ambassador. If you ever get a chance, find someone who owns these old cars and do a video about it. These are strange and weird and the "Quirks and Features" would be interesting to see.
I had a '62 Catalina with a 389 2bbl. It had sat for some years before I bought it, so I popped the valve covers and cleaned out the sludge. Dropped the oil, but failed to oil up the valve train (hey, I was only 16 at the time) and those valves complained for a while, but got happy in short order. Great engine -- the transmission was not nearly as good, however.
Must have had that Slim Jim trans. It was not the greatest. The older 4 speed Hydra was FAR superior.
Didn't know Pontiac had reverse flow cooling. Interesting video.
Very smooth.
My old ‘64 Chevy 283 was quite smooth like that….people said that you could balance a quarter on the air cleaner stud on those.
While I never tried it, I did try to start it a number of times, when it was already running.
Your 66 is a beautiful car! If it was mine I would change to 4v carb and intake as soon as possible!
Another fine ‘cameo’ video presentation. Does your ‘66 Catalina run on fourteen inch wheels?
I remember reading the Motor Trend 1965 Pontiac car of the year issue on microfiche at the Virginia Tech library in 1982 and wishing cars were still that good. This was when X cars, K cars, J cars, Escorts, etc. dominated the market.
1966 Bonneville Station Wagon with 389/325 would BURY it's 120 mph speedometer. Kind of quickly too.
Yep Adam, Gr8 Stuff about the Pontiac 389 V8...Huge Engine for back then in '59 especially.....I'd say a '63 Tempest with the 326 wud have been the go, if the buyer knew it was actually a 336 in a Mid-Sized Pontiac. Probably a lot lighter than the Pontiac's with the 389 and more fuel efficient, unless driving the Tempest with the pedal 2 the metal all the time....Cheers fm Damo😊👏
Same basic block, so probably weighed about the same
My mom had a 64 Catalina that had a 389 4 barrel that when she would stick her foot in it best I remember is it didn't come out of as my dad called it "passing gear" untill mom had passed several cars and I do mean several and I won't tell how many she passed one time when she was running a little late headed to summer school with us as we stayed in the dorm with her. If I told you I guarantee there would be at least a few that would call me a liar so I won't. I occasionally would bring that specific time up because I thought it was awesome & she would grin & quietly say she shouldn't have drove like she did when she was young. Mom was a real hot rodder. She was cool. Oh and aw, I wish I had that car because it was cool. Got any idea what kind of carburetor that 4 barrel was? I don't think I've ever seen anything like it since that car. It was sideways from what's been in everything I've ever seen like a Holley. The float bowls were on the side and were almost to the valve covers. As a 16 year old I showed the car to the man that bought it for his son so naturally I had to take the breather cover off & show him how big the carb was. With big eyes & a big grin he exclaimed "Good Lo-ard that thing is big as a lawn mower motor". That car had a big set of lungs on it.
Super Duty Content! Very nice to enjoy.
I agree - very smooth!
I have never seen or knew of the "Sportable" radio that is seen on the brochure page at about 5:00 Could you imagine using 3 of those 500 CFM two barrel carbs for a tri-power set up for a built GTO?
Lots of 58 and later Pontiacs had Tri-power, much to the delight of Pontiac drivers and the chagrin of other drivers. The Sportable or Transportable radio was a Kool idea, but never really caught on.
I miss Pontiac so much.
I have a 66' starchief executive 389ci 4bbl 325hp and 423fp/torque i beleive it is. It ran hard and also very smooth. Untill I overaved it in neutral shifting with one finger while flooring it. It went, 1....2.....Dr...neutral...(supercharger sound) before I let go the pedal of the foor. It started blowby after. Im not proud at all for that incident last year. It still ran good, but I broke 3 pistons rings and shims between the rings. They were broken like Mike Tyson punch you in the face and all your teeth fell off. Lol
You can see my resto-mods I done to my Starchief Executive in my little picture !
Another great video !
My wife's folks had a 4Dr HT Catalina Std engine. Wow what a car! You could put a full size bike in the trunk. It fit in the garage better that a newer chiseler. On the road it got 20-21 MPG. And my father in law said it had a lot of Thump, torque.
Just smooth gem!
I enjoyed the video. And yes, it is smooth and quiet. Do you have an acceleration video featuring this engine?
Very smooth running engine 😊