Hello from Finland.
Found this forum while looking upper ball joints to my Catalina. Seems to be right place to find good information.
My story with 1959 Pontiac started twenty years ago. I was looking old american car, to be my first one.
My brother and I found one nearby. Car was torn apart, it was shipped from states couple year ago, and original engine were blown out on a trip from custom to eastern Finland.
I bought that flattop without engine and transmission.
Next winter went in garage, and I managed to get it to first inspection at the same day when I got my drivers license.
It was my eighteenth birthday too
But as you know, at seventeen, your work quality ain't so, how to say, luxorious, so I took car apart again and it was
undrivable for a long time. During that time, I rebuild interior, changed carpets and painted dashboard etc.
Car itself is Catalina 4D Vista, and runs with Oldsmobile 307 + TH350, it was impossible to find working 389 twenty years ago from Finland. It is modded just to be drivable, all the time. (picture shows our driving conditions in march)
Few years ago I found interesting add from local american car forum (overdrive.fi)
One guy was selling two ´59 Catalinas, and other was Convertible.
Price was reasonable, and it included spare part car, 2D HT Catalina also, lots of parts and so on, so I picked it up.
Car might be ONLY 1959 Convertible in Finland (not yet sure), chassis is already restorated, but body needs some work to do.
2D HT came along to give quarter panels for the convertible, but it is too good shape to be destroyed, didn't have the guts to do it
Also both cars engines was missin parts, so I shipped one more Cat from states. It was 4D model. That car also included extra engine and transmission, so I believe I got enough part to start build up atleast two of cars.
So, those four Catalinas, they are from separate factories, only that flattop is made in Pontiac. 2D Hard top is painted "spring edition" color, pretty interesting color, to be honest, maybe I'll keep it that way too. Major lack off in that car is that it does not included any seats, so i got to find those somewhere, but i believe any GM seat will fit, maybe a lot newer also...
Here the start of story, do not be afraid to ask if you want to know more. I'll be sertainly asking dumb questions constantly
Sami Vainionpää, Nurmes, Finland
P.S.
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I'll add those photos later
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