1965 Catalina 2+2 421 HO

[jkramb19]

I'm a highschool student who really likes old cars, and am looking to do my first restoration. I really like pontiacs and have found a 1965 Catalina 2+2 with a 421 HO engine. I really like the car. I was wondering if you guys could tell me what you know about this car. Any and all info would be appreciated. I'v been searching the web but have had little luck. Most of the sites are either about GTOs or Firebirds. The man wants high $6,000 for it, but im not sure it's woth quite that much.
As i've said this will be my first old car and i was wondering if you could tell me what i need to look for in the car and what questions i need to ask.
from what i can tell, the car could use some body work, and some interior work and a new trunk, as well as a fresh coat of midnight ble paint.

[65Ponchoboy]

a couple questions to ask is if the car has been in any accidents,and is it all origional. catalina 2+2's are very nice cars. www.amesperformance.com should have parts to restore this car and for a little information on the 65 http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclec...-history.shtml
if you need help finding parts contact me on AIM at Kev31289 or email me at [email protected]

[MagicRat]

Just onew quick note about that car.
Check the engine size. 99 % of those cars used the 389 as the V8 engine, so its difficult to tell the difference between that and a 421. Check the engine serial number and the car's VIN.
Back in the mid to late '60's. Car and Driver magazine would occasionally test Pontiacs. The Pontiac division test fleet would have a couple of 'ringers' that is specially modified cars for some journalists to test, which would actually go a lot faster than the average Pontiac. They were modified by Royal Pontiac, a Detroit area dealer.
Their '65 Catalina 2+2 ripped off a 3.9 second zero to 60 time.
So, that 421

[jkramb19]

The car has 421 plaques on it and the engine says 421 HO on it. The guy has the factory papers for the car.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by jkramb19

The car has 421 plaques on it and the engine says 421 HO on it. The guy has the factory papers for the car.

That is not enough proof. When there's a lot of money to be made, some plaques and papers are pretty cheap. Do some research and check some websites and Pontiac clubs. Get the engine code, serial numbers, build sheet and VIN number. They can tell you what you need to know.

[65Ponchoboy]

no it is a 421 that was the standard engine for the catalina 2+2 for 65. the 389 was in the catalina till 64.

[jkramb19]

I have another question. Does anyone know how fast a car it is both 0-60 and in the quarter mile? The 421 HO has the three carberators on top.

[65Ponchoboy]

ok so its a 421 tripower. dont know about the 1/4 but it goes from 0-60 in 3.9

[jkramb19]

i dont know about that 3.9 time. Iv read that they used a supped up car for that test. thats why i was asking, im trying to figure out what i can really expect from the car.

[65Ponchoboy]

ok let me correct myself i used the wrong source. According to the Febuary 1965 issue of Motor Trend the 2+2 went from 0-60 in 8.1 sec and did the 1/4 in 16.4

[jkramb19]

iv read that article but i dont think they used the 421 ho tri power.

[MrPbody]

The 2+2 was based on the Catalina. ALL of them were equipped ith the 421 as standard. TriPower is a desired option. They were called "2+2" because they have a console running the entire length of the interior and allow for seating 4. Beautiful cars, and quite powerful. I've seen stockers run mid-14s when conditions were right. About 1/3 were 4-speed cars. Pre-66 cars have an undesirable automatic transmission. '66 and '67 (last year) had TH400s.
I had a neighbor with a '67 (which was still badged 421, but was really a 428). That car was an animal from about 20 MPH-up. He claimed top end was "unreachable". I think he ran out of balls about 140 or so.
You could do a lot worse than a car like this for your first one. Just don't expect "muscle car" performance from it.