1962 Pontiac Catalina 421 Super Duty Tribute
Pontiac reigned supreme with their performance vehicle selections in the early 60’s. To continue to dominate NASCAR and NHRA for stock appearing cars at the races, Pontiac engineering kept upping the ante with bigger engines producing more horsepower, and finding ways to make their beautiful cars lighter. The formula of power-to-weight was taken very seriously. In 1962, the Catalina was again the lightest car of choice to insert the most powerful engines. Their torquey big-block “Trophy V-8,” enlarged to 421 cubic inches, were equipped with four-bolt mains, forged connecting rods and crankshaft, a big camshaft, a dual-point distributor, “Pulse Flow” dual outlet cast iron exhaust manifolds, great flowing heads with large valves, topped by a street/strip set-up of dual four-barrel carburetors. The most potent Pontiac was a Super Duty that offered 410 horsepower and an off-the-chart 605 foot-pounds of torque.
An indication of performance could be measured for this combination: driven off the showroom floor: the 421 Catalina was immediately capable of running the quarter-mile in 13 seconds at 100 MPH, compared to some ’62 Corvettes at only 14.2 seconds at 104 MPH. This, in a 3,730 pound, six-passenger body style with a 119” wheelbase and a massive trunk!
This Catalina emphasizes the SUPER in Super Duty, and has been stuffed with a 455 Pontiac block that has been bored and stroked to just over 500 cubic inches, filled with special aluminum high performance heads, and topped with an aluminum intake and dual four-barrel carburetors. Everything under the hood was done to emulate the factory Super Duty, including the correct engine paint and the hose clamps.
Inside the interior, the floor shifter is properly placed against the bench seat; it takes a close eye to see the pattern on the white shifter ball is for a 5-Speed. The manual transmission has been exchanged for modern Tremec, updated for stop-light launches, with a fifth gear overdrive to keep the revs down during longer cruises. The same kind of option applies to the exhaust note, as there is an electric switch for actuating the exhaust system cut-outs that will allow for pulsating Pontiac power to bypass the mufflers and broadcast that distinctive, deep, and intimidating wide-open Super Duty engine sound.
Tremendous effort was accomplished by the professional restoration shop to maintain a completely stock, 1962 era-correct exterior and interior appearance to this 421 Super Duty Tribute. This Catalina has always been a California car, originally built in the GM plant in South Gate, CA. The “Magic Mirror paint” color selected for the exterior is Caravan Gold Metallic, a subtle color that will not belie its mechanical potency. The factory correct DeLuxe interior is “Morrokide,” matching the Caravan Gold outside, with two other complimentary colors forming a stripe effect, with piping. The pattern purposely makes the wide bench seats front and rare appear narrower…
For 1962 was the new design for Wide-Track Pontiacs, the longer and lower design now accented by a V-shaped twin grille in the front, with a new rear styling and curved taillights. Is it coincidence that the C-shape taillight bezel stood for Catalina? The new design styling continued in the roofline for the Sport Coupe, with a multi-plane metal roof that gave a convertible-like appearance. As big as the big bodied Pontiacs were, the turning circle was reduced by 3 and a half feet…
Special descriptive names were given to many of the optional accessories: “Wonder Touch” power steering, and “Wonder Touch” also described the power brakes. The “Safe-T-Track” rear axle in this Catalina is equipped with 3.91:1 ratio. “Soft Ray” Safety Plate glass was all around the Sport Coupe hardtop design. The instrument pad, covering the wide sweeping speedometer is made of “Seville grain” vinyl. The Sun tachometer is steering column mounted, just as in ’62.
The Catalina was a popular Pontiac in 1962, with a total of 204,654 built in all body style configurations, quickly narrowing to 40,024 produced in the most desirable Hardtop Coupe form. With only 1,514 equipped with the highest level Super Duty option, this solid and superb Tribute pays homage and brings honor to the rarest and most powerful Pontiac.
