The Pontiac Catalina 1963 Was Ahead of its Class in Style, Luxury
Because automobile makers are so keen on staying abreast of each other, it’s rare when one model excels above all others. But, occasionally there are exceptions when totally innovative body styles and high-powered engines set some makes of vehicle apart, and one such car was the Pontiac Catalina 1963.
There were seven different models of 1963 Catalina made from among the total of 235,000 Catalina’s Pontiac manufactured that year. Each of those seven models had memorable features that even today remain distinctive.
First-look observations of the ’63 Pontiac Catalina, primarily because of its luxury and style, were those of instant approval. But the improved looks didn’t stop there, but also included recessed split grilles and upward curving taillights. In addition, the ’63 Catalina had plain, full-length body moldings and surprisingly small hubcaps.
Factory prices for the 1963 Pontiac Catalina vacillated between $3,300 for its convertible to $2,725 for the two-door sedan. About 80,000 four-door sedans were manufactured in 1963, which placed it as the No. 1 seller from among the seven models of Catalina sold that year. The factory price of a four-door sedan was $2,795.
One thing that made the ‘63 Catalina so popular in addition to its great looks and power was the fact they were marketed in the same price range as Chevy Impalas, Ford Galaxies, and the Dodge 880.
Engines for ’63 Catalina’s produced as much or more power than any other car then driving on the highways. The larger ’63 Catalina cars were stocked with 389 cubic inch engines capable of producing 410 horsepower of thrust. It was not uncommon to hear individuals knowledgeable in the automotive industry say Pontiac’s 389 cubic inch 1963 Catalina engine was capable of generating up to 550 horsepower of thrust.
Huge successes at NASCAR races and on drag strips the previous two years set the stage for the even more powerful ‘63 Catalina.
Although buying a convertible Cars for sale undoubtedly would be expensive almost a half century after it was first manufactured, anyone interested in the vehicle can go online and buy a 1:18 scale Precision Die-Cast Replica of the car at an extremely reasonable price.