Old Friend

Hello Pontiac 59'ers. I've been reading your posts for some time. It's great there is a forum for these cars. The knowledge on this site is amazing. My Catalina Sport Sedan has been in the family since my Grandfather bought it new. The car is 98% original with owners manual, orig invoice, delco battery receipt, floor mats, 2 orig key sets, etc. I last drove the car in 1991 and it has been covered in a garage for almost 20 years. Color is Dundee Green with a Cameo Ivory Top. Thanks for sharing all your information.

Jim

Cat SS 59, what a fantastic original! I love it, and your photos bring to mind a nearly identical car that I regularly saw in my hometown as a kid in the 1960's.

Congratulations on getting this beautiful car out on the road again after all these years. It's a great family treasure.

Absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing the pictures, now drive it, drive it, drive it.

Cat SS 59.....Wow great, car and a great family story. Could you share some pictures of the interior and engine compartment? Do you have the original window sticker? If you do, would you help us with our little (major) project? See Pontiac Restorations section......John

John,
I saw the posts for the window sticker, sorry I don't have one. Here are some more pics. Back seat OK . Front seat needs work. I've got material samples from SMS that match. It will be my winter project.
Jim

Same colors as mine, exept mine is vista roof - beutiful !. I see that you have the power steering option that i am missing .

Is it 2 brl/hydra like mine ?.

59Vista, yeah , I saw your car in the parking garage. Great car and pictures. Yes, mine is a 2brl/hydra.
Jim

OH MY! I love it! I love the grandma green sedans

STUNNING!!

Well, it was a great winter and early spring. I was able to install the new Carpet(thanks to Robert for the pedal tip),windlace, and Headliner(thanks to John). I had the seats upholstered by a pro. The car was looking up. It even began to smell like a Man cave and not a Mouse outhouse. But things were about to change The Pontiac Gods threw a lighting bolt down and had a direct hit on cylinder #2. The reason I am told was due to sitting for 20 years. Engine work is not my best asset. I wish I was as good as some of you guys, but I'm not, so I assumed the postion and took one for the team. Did all 8 at .030. My kids don't need to go to college anyway. Actually, it probably was only equal to about one Month
of Higher Education here in Michigan(48k yr). It's time this Old Friend started to act like my Best Friend! Here are some new pics and some before and afters. Jim

Very very impressive. What a fabulous car to own. I can't own a car like that because I end up modifing them and that car deserves to be just what it was. Perfect. I see a world of enjoyment in your future. Mark L

Nice !!! - Congratulations on the nice result - I just picked my block up from the machineshop today, and got it painted. I cant wait to put a nice blue engine back in that big hole .

Hey Mark, thanks. If I had your talent, I'd be working on the car and modifing too. You've done some real cool stuff on your car. With my lack of ability though, just getting back in shape and on the road in good running condition was my main goal. Good luck with your Mods. Jim

Thanks Christain. My heart went out to your when I read your engine blew up. I was thinking "I hope that Bull Shit doesn't happen to me" and then wham...down goes cylinder #2. It must be twice as hard getting parts over there. Glad to hear you got the block back. Did you end up with bore .060?

Wow, that turned out very nice!

Looking Good!!! Mighty Fine!!!

Jim.....Your car looks great! SMS never ceases to amaze me. That they could come up with a good match for your seat material, is fantastic. They provided me with all the correct embosed vinyl for my seats, and did complete door and quarter trim for mine. You did a super job on the headliner also......John

Thanks Bob and John. I had to get a new tuck rail from Indiana Pontiacs for the Headliner, but the install went smooth and used very little adhesive. I'm pretty sure SMS had NOS material, because both the headliner and seat material looks to be exactly the same. I used my old vinyl. John, you say was SMS able to match the embossed vinyl on the seats, how about the ribbing/stripes on the door panels and arm rests?

Jim.....The door panels were perfect reproductions of the originals, with all the embossed lines and the two colors stiched in the right places. I didn't have the armrests done, but I did have that panel done on the back of the front seat, and it was correct also. Being a convertible my seats were all vinyl. They provided all the plain vinyl in both colors, and oversized pieces with the embossing for the upper seat backrests, and even the pieces for the sides of the seats where the adjuster knob is. I am very happy with their work, even though it took almost a year to get done.....John

Ditto for me on SMS. Door panels were correct and I ordered matching material from them to upholster my seats. First batch of material had some slight imperfections and they replaced it with no argument.

I'm so jealous! that thing is way too cool. IMO you cant beat grandma green with grandma green interior in a 2 dr sedan