ONE OWNER 1960 Pontiac Catalina Convertible! | Sitting 40 Years! Will it Run Again? (Garage Find)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ม.ค. 2025
- I bought this one owner 1960 Pontiac Catalina convertible over the weekend in NE Iowa where it had sat in a garage since 1985. The owner had started to restore the car but with his age he was unable to progress any further than you see it right now. the 389 v8 engine spun easily by hand, and with some time and effort, we hope the car can roar back to life. the floor pan and frame are pretty rusty, but this 1960 GM convertible is a worthy candidate for restoration or be used for a parts car to save a more solid car. Will the engine run again, or is this car bound to be parted out?
Thanks for watching!
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She deserves to live on, with the history!
I’m very glad to see younger generations taking an interest in old cars 👍👍👍👍👍
thanks man
Pontiacs were very well built cars. You got quite a project there. Good running engine. Congratulations!
Ryan, these 1959-60 videos are awesome. Great score on this 60 convertible. Thanks for the content!!
Glad you like them!
Definitely try and save it. Hard to trace a car this old's history back to it's beginnings, and that alone is pretty incredible. I'd say it's worth getting new floors in it. Absolute beauty, loved seeing it run and everything work. Would be a shame to see it parted out.
I agree
Agreed. They make floors for the impala’s which should be the same. Same with rockers .
im gona try or find someone that can
@@IowaClassicCars Awesome
Absolutely love those 59-60 GM models . Even sitting in it's present state she's a beautiful car. Thanks Ryan for what you're doing.
this car must be so rare, save it. Mads from Denmark
Definitely save it. '59 and '60 GM convertibles are worth saving. I'm sure you'll eventually come across a suitable donor car with your connections. The original paperwork and known history and the fact that the car is so complete are a bonus when considering the restoration of a car. It's a great car! I hope it gets restored. Congratulations on locating and purchasing this neat Pontiac!
Nice score Ryan! Being as its a one owner car that is complete & for the most part, original, I'd say yes it IS worth saving!
You've proven the ability to scour for parts cars, so it might not hurt to set it aside until you find a proper parts car.
Looks like a decent rig, wouldn't be too many left now, be nice to see it restored, thanks for sharing, all the best to you and your loved ones
Wow...nice...love the old Pontiacs...
You don't hook up a dwell meter that way. You put the red lead on the coil on the negative side and you put the black lead of the dwell meter on engine ground. what distributor dwell is the distributor degrees that the points are closed. If the points are too narrow the dwell will be higher and if the points are too wide the dwell will be smaller. On the GM distributor with the adjustable points one can close the points just to the point where the engine stalls and then open them up to where the engine runs smoothly, if one does not have a dwell meter. Of course one can adjust the points mechanically to specifications and the engine will run fine. That engine ran smooth and the idle was set right to begin with. Also i would have checked the coolant level and ran the engine until the upper radiator hose got warm (of course checking the level to see if the thermostat opens up).
Weird ive done it this way for maybe 4 yrs and always worked, ill need to test that if i hook em up backwards
Some impala floors and rockers. It’s worth it. If the doors open and close it hasn’t collapsed. Totally worth saving in my opinion.
Great car, restore it to all its glory
I’m doing the same thing today, getting a 389 in a ‘62 Grand Prix going after many years hibernation, found the fuel pump U/S so waiting on a new one.
My dad had this exact same car. White with same blue interior. 389. That car moved
awesome!
Back in 1960 I bought a new Catalina two door hardtop the same color. It had the 348 HP tri - power engine, four speed.and a 3:90 posi. I ran Super Stock for the first season and best time was a 13:90 at 101 mph. Save this car!
Not bad for a car thats been sitting 39 years cool
I really wanted to see you or the cat start driving it down the road!! Super cool to hear it run after all those years in storage. Hope you restore it and I can see it afterwards.
If it was halfway safe to, i would have!
Back in the I had a 62 Bonneville 4dr no post, then a 63 Catalina 2dr hdtp Ventura. Yeah try to save it. Find a parts car! V
Great running cars!😊
Mr. B. Here ! 🍩☕️👀😎👍. Am glad it has a engine , you know what to do Rayon . Looking forward to see it run 👀😎👍
She deserves to live, especially with the history! Poncho rag tops especially!
Excellent video Ryan :) my area since 1960 use Salt & Sand mix 50 % /50 % in last week October to Early May for melt snow or ice each in dump truck sanding on snow plow or liquid grim they spray on and garbage doesn't work good except ruin vechiles at any age ! Cost lots money on rust or restoration job on vechiles too ! I live in Ontario Canada and seen also my job fix up any vechiles!
Very cool!!! You never see these cars !
very true
Save it!
Even as a ford guy that needs saving for it's unique history.
It's a keeper 😊
I would love to be able to restore that Pontiac. Hopefully it doesn't become a parts car.
Interesting to see the power steering pump was separate from the generator, like on the '59 Parkwood station wagon my father and I were restoring back in the day. 🤔😎🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
The reason why your dwell meter is reading wrong is because you hooked up the dwell meter wrong. Your supposed to attach the Red wire of the dwell Meter to the Neg side of the coil & the blk wire go’s to ground on the motor,then set dwell to 30deg with motor at norm op temp & your good to go. Since it’s been sitting for yrs pull dist cap to lube to mech advance mechanism & to put some point lube/grease on rubbing block/dist cam to reducing rubbing block wear. Use a little sandpaper to break up contacts in the dist cap & on the rotor too.
When points & cond need Repl get std motor prod pt dr2270xp points & udr7x condenser. If dist & rotor need Repl get ones with much better Cooper or brass terminals sling with original looking spiral core plug wires from pertronix too. Get the points,cond dist cap & rotor from rock auto,Summit or eBay. Don’t use the cheaper dr2270p points. For higher perf gm v8’s that turn more rpm with with points use dr2371xp that have stiffer spring to avoid point bounce/midfield at higher rpm that can happen with dr2270xp points at over 5500/6k rpm.
Much check dwell more often with stiffer spring dr2371cp points due to stiffer high rpm spring causing accelerated rubbing block wear on points.
Clean all new points contacts with contact cleaner,brakleen or alcohol due to machining process & or sitting for long period of time as NOS/new old stock,sometimes new nos point contacts need to first be hit with some 600 -800 paper to buff them up, then use solvent to ,clean,then apply point grease to rubbing block or dust cam,install,preset gap,then start motor & set dwell to 30 degrees (motor at norm op temp) with red wire of dwell meter on Neg side of coil & blk wire of dwell meter to ground on engine Goof luck & happy motoring!
Scott/MR396
Hm the instructions on back said black to negative, red to 12v, but i can try that too lol ive done it this way for yrs with success too
Great vid, love the Catalina!!!!!!!
thanks man
Not even a lifter tick when she fired. That’s a good motor
Original Parts Group and Kanters are some suppliers for this car
It sold for about $3,900 in 1960 which was a fairly pricey car for the average worker. Might be worth restoring if you find out what they are selling for in a 3 or 4 condition. Just depends on how much you can do and how much a body shop would charge. You could get 40 grand in that if paying a shop to do it. I believe I would sell it to someone who had a passion for this type of car and the money to restore it. Thanks for rescuing it.
That is a very nice Pontiac. I only own Mopars but if I didn't it would be Pontiacs and Buicks.
I prefer the 59 convertible but that’s a nice car that needs saving particularly with that much documentation
He's Ryan and he brings us this 1960 ! 5:49 - car sound ! It makes car sound ! 11:09 - more car sound ! 12:57 - wait what ? I never knew they had the Pontiac's head for indicator ! Wow. 17:36 - the top rack looks like it's maybe 10 years old 18:04 - rust leave the body alone ! 20:04 - springs go boing ! boing ! 20:34 - still miss you saying "leave a like rating" :)
Being that it's a one previous owner, with good interior, glass and engine, plus it's a convertible. It's surely as rare as hens teeth. So as such, it deserves to live. Get to work making those floor pan, rockers and patch those front fenders etc...PLEASEEEE.... ( Where's my pray emoji, when I need it ? ) I. Shane. G. 🙂
Hope you will do a frame off resolution. From the looks of the rust the frame may have serious rot. None the less that Catalina convertible is rare and should be saved. Is amazing the electrical system is still in tact.
I meant restoration. My phone screwed up my message
Ryan, you sure can find them! If it was mine It would take time, but I would fix this one, it is true it is harder with a convertible to make them straight, BUT perhaps find another as a doner for this one? Are the tubs and rockers the same in a regular 2 door as the drop top? I myself have only had 1 convertible in my life and that was a early 80's pontiac.
In your travels around the midwest, do you ever find any 63 impalas or belairs? or maybe any 66's? 1963-1972 chevy pickups? Look me up sometime, N Illinois now, but still have my parents place in S Wisconsin... I have a 1951 Chevy deluxe that I have owned for about 35 years... been sitting now for about 10? Used to start and drive in around the block a couple times a year, then I got hurt,, and now I dont get around very well, If you know of anyone interested, let me know.. shouldn't take much for it to run . Have a great one!
Russ please email me, im in that area often, would be cool to meet and check that car out!
Save her.
I’ll bet it was rusted out when he parked it
Please save this car .. with all the paperwork.. it needs a total numbers matching restoration.. very nice restorable car and especially since it is a convertible.. I had an old friend that had this very car and totally thought about what a mistake it was when he traded it off .. he was always talking about it and wanting it back all the up until he was 83 years old and then he passed away ..
Oh yeah, rust belt Rhode Island!
Any update on the 1960 Catalina convertible? I have always loved Pontiacs.
Its in sweden now!
The rust in the floors doesn't look like it was inside all the time. I would replace the rusted sheet metal and get it back on the road. Convertibles are always in demand it seems.
If you could find parts for it, and a 60 pontiac convertible is desirable, then I would say redo it complete as you can. Even making parts like floor pans is not too bad. But its a no go if parts are unobtainium or the car is not worth much fixed.
You can buy the panels and fix it fairly cheap
No panels are made for 60 pontiacs that im aware of
I’m sure you can sell it to a Scandinavian collector in a second.
Restore it definitely
If I had that car, and the money, I would restore it, paint it back to white and put a blue top on it.
It's a nice one owner original car, ok so it's rusty! what are you going to do, sell it on or part it out?? Thanks Ryan!
Just wondering if a Chevy frame will fit under that.
Might be the same?
It will not
Being a convertible, it should be fixed. Judging by the number of rust repair videos I've seen, that repair is pretty easy.
My wife Debbie has a 60 Pontiac . we are the second owners. It sat from 1970 till 2018. Sunk in the ground the bottom 6 inches is just too far gone.
Is it for sale? Please email me if so
How is the frame is the question
Its bad sadly
Flip that sucker and send her overseas for some big money! They love those cars over there!
Hey Ryan are you sure you know how to do that it's not a Chevy it's a Pontiac😂❤😂😂😂😂😂 just having fun with you man
Haha
😎
Dwell is 28 to 32
Am I to believe that you just started cranking w/o doing anything else ?
Like i said in the vid, i did sand the points for about 10 seconds with some 60 grit, its like playin roulette. Sometimes you win sometimes you lose, but was worth trying a simple thing before taking all the old parts off & replacing them
@@IowaClassicCars I'm talkin about oiling down the cylinders before you crank ! Pulling the plugs, ,poppin the valve covers to be sure the valves are free! Doing what you did could have caused bent lifters .
Haven't you watched how other youtubers that do startups do their thing. I guess you were lucky. Some day doing this will cause you problems. Aslso makes for a more interesting video. Luck.
@@kapekodbob i didnt do that in this case, the engine turned by hand almost with only 1 hand, that is a sign to me that it isnt stuck or any valves r bent etc, if there is some resistance, maybe, but this one moved as smooth as silk
Number one this is definitely not a parts car ! I’d send it out to a full blown resto shop if your concerned about doing the metal work properly. Some place like Jeff Lilly restoration down in Texas. Fix the rot and then just drive it if your out of money by then. It’s hard to beat an old 389 v8 engine. Does it have 800 foot pound of torque no. Does it make 500 hp no. But you can park it for twenty years or more and if it don’t stick it’s gonna fire up and run without too much fuss. I had one many years ago. Should never of sold it…… to me this engine is the equivalent of the little Chrysler slant six in that it will go and go. I’ve saw some of the little slants set for thirty years and then fire up with just a squirt of fuel in the carb. These are about the same.
Fix it my name is Bill nice car my grandfather a 1966 Pontiac it was a hardtop
I can hear the old girl now. *Ryan, take me. Open your wallet and make me cool again.* That car would’ve rusted anywhere. That’s just part of ragtop life. I have a 66 Mustang convertible I just finished. You’re right though. Road salt will rust a car to nothing. Only thing worse is year round Florida salt air.
Fix it
I got stories badass i pack 9 people i drove it God destroyed i got so many perfect parts . Wonder touch! Joe murlin antwerp ohio . Find me flawless. Genrator carter grill crome ashtray i got it all 45 years in wrapping paper 4 u
You only care about money that you can squeeze out of someone for something you care nothing about.
Lol