After 5 years or so, I bought an old car

Unfortunately, it's not a Mopar. I really expected it to be one, but I think there's some here who would appreciate it.

I was visiting family in Buenos Aires and a friend sent me the FB ad while I was overseas. I begun chatting with the guy then and called him immediately when I got home. A friend's cousin had already seen the car so I knew what I was up against, but the car ran well, so any issues with rust and the interior were perfect because I'm a dummy with my hands. This will allow me to enjoy the vehicle somewhat while I learn body work and other stuff. Alas, I have a broken ankle so I will have to wait to drive it.

It arrived a week ago Saturday, and the following day I found the original owner--all 89 years of him! He was a Mopar guy but bought this. Notice it's a 2-door sedan.....

How rare is that Diego? 389? and a 4 speed. I'd say you've done well. Nice fun car.

It's a 428/375. I have a friend who has one with the 428 HO, which is currently on display at the Gilmore.

The pages from the GM Heritage Museum are MIA so I don't have any info on this specific body style and engine combo. This is all I know:

-- 755 4-speeds for all big Pontiacs
-- 609 428 4-speeds, plus another 146 HOs for all big Pontiacs
-- 363 Catalina 4-speeds
--1,160 428s installed in Catalinas, but only 314 had a manual tranny

I can guess most of them were installed in hardtops and, perhaps, ragtops, with the balance going to 4-doors, wagons, and this 2-door sedan. I don't know any more than what I posted above and I wouldn't want to speculate cuz I hate when people do that. Looking at other cars with known numbers, like a Fury I vs. a more upscale Fury hardtop, I think it stands to reason this is quite an unusual vehicle. Has suspension package with sway bar, gauges, and dual exhausts, so it has some decent options.

I appreciate it! That thing is AWSOME!!

Hell if a car. Good deal.

Very nice!! Enjoy!!

It's fine by me - I was shocked to scroll down and see the stick.
I'd bet that car is VERY rare; you should document it before any restoration work.
Have fun !

Sweet!

Rare indeed. Congrats

What year and model is it ?

Oh duh! It's a 1968 Catalina two-door sedan, the cheapest big Pontiac. Standard was a 400-2, with a 340-horse 400 optional. Next step up was a 428/375, which this has, and a 428/390.

Nice car, my dad had a 4 door version back when I was a kid in the early 80's. His brother bought it for $200 and drove it back home from the west coast to east coast with no reverse, his joke was "didnt matter, I wasnt going back". It was all primer spots and door dings but my dad did all the body work and made it pretty sweet before flipping it.

Gorgeous and cool.

Nice looking Poncho, and a 4 gear!

There's a fellow in my area that has a 69 Galaxie 2 door with a 4 speed.

Full size stick big engine cars are proof that even dads needed to have some fun.

Wow, Diego, that's an awesome find! And it looks pretty unmolested, too, with the whitewalls and wheel covers still in place!
That would be a multiple-photo car if I came across it at a show or cruise. Enjoy!

What part of the country did it come from? I guess the pics are from the seller because they don't look like it is New York.

Great find! I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun with it.

I had a '68 Catalina convertible that I flipped in the late '70's. Still regret selling it.....

What a cool old Poncho! Enjoy!

Awesome car Diego! I love big full size cars of all brands. My dad owned a '64 Catalina 2 door hardtop, that he bought new.
It was turquoise with turquoise cloth/vinyl interior. Wish I could find it.

428 4 speed?! Yeah, that qualifies as cool! 👍

Might want to obtain paperwork from PHS on the car - might not be the only one made, but could be close to that.

Very nice. Great find!

It is originally from Northern California. I believe it was bought new in Redwood City. The guy I bought it from lived in Torrance, CA, so I had it shipped out to me because I didn't want to drive it in the desert with the heat wave, not to mention my ankle can't handle the clutch for 7 hours.

I have the paperwork.

PHS may have a few counts on the ultra-rare, like Trans Am ragtops or 1971 Judge ragtops, but they don't have production numbers as a whole except for engines and transmissions. Until missing paperwork pops up, there will be no way for me to know how many built. I do agree it's quite a rare piece.

This is my friend's car. It has the 428 HO, 4-speed, 4.11 gears from the factory. It's a strange one. Mine doesn't compare.

Unexpected for many reasons!

Congrats, Diego. That's a great find!!

I'm sure you're counting the days until your ankle heals up so you can get out and start rowing some gears!

Nice Poncho, congrats!

I smell a new purestocker

Great car. I dig the unusual stuff, especially full size. Congratulations

Wow. I'm a "Mopar or No Car" guy but I can definitely appreciate this Pontiac!

It's terribly logical to build it as an HO and see what it can do.

But I live 2000 miles away, and I'm the announcer besides. Not gonna skip my weekend job to drive.

Cool car! The 4 speed definitely makes it awesome!

Definitely. Can imagine a young guy just home from Vietnam buying something like this.

I am also but a few years ago i picked up a V12 Mercedes. The first non mopar car i ever owned. Pontiac's are alright, I liked a few of them. It's just the Chebys i can't stand.

Exactly. A Pontiac or Olds, very cool. No chebbies! My brother and I loved Mercedes when we were kids (Mopars more though) and I still think they are cool.

Very cool car. I like it better than the Caprice or Biscayne.

congratulations on your new toy Diego

Carsten

Wow what a sleeper

Nothing wrong with a Pontiac. If I didn't have so many projects, I'd have a '64 Catalina. Always loved them.

My experience with big Ponchos is only Grand Prix cars. I've had 3.. My '69 was a 428/three pedal car - yellow with a black top and interior. Tons of fun! Dad hooked me on GPs with his '63GP. Was a 421/4-gear car. Still love MOPARS, but the Ponchos are sweet, as well. Nice car, good find. Congrats!

Thanks!

Absolutely beautiful car. I'm jealous.