61 Catalina

[Wickersham Humble]

You make me want to move my '61's to the top of my build list!!

Question; why do you paint the suspension in a lighter, contrasting color?  Was that original on the drag car, or ??  

Interesting that PMD used the 'infamous' X-frame with Chevy, et al, until '59 or '60, then went to the rectangular, perimeter version.  The X, like the 3X2 carbs, began with Cadillac.  I have an Offy 2X2 intake for my 215, but am now running a Rochester 4GC 4-bbl. on an aluminum Olds manifold.  The 2X2 has no chokes, runs synchronized linkage; for racing, I guess -- would look good on a street rod.

I like my '61 'Tampax' but wish it were a Catalina/Ventura coupe!  Wick

[meechum68]

So, on the original .. no idea .. from what I have seen on the frames for any of the Poncho's from 59-62 black, even on the 6 swiss cheese ones ( I think it was 6, slept since I read up on them)  I figure on this build, I wanted to really have a nice clean undercarriage, and I am planning on do a bit more detail work on the bottom side, I usually cop out and paint flat black on all the things, but this one, just really feel I need to do better. 

Plus if I decide to show it, it will look really nice. 

The other is, I have a model club meeting once a month, and wont make the next til Jan, I will have this one done, and will take it to the meeting and let them all the really awesome builders see what this guy can do. 

 

[Wickersham Humble]

Mike, not questioning your choice!  Our clan had a new '62 Catalina 9-pass wagon, and I can't recall anything about it's chassis, despite working on it numerous times at the Texaco station where I labored -- including putting on 'Pacemaker' glass-pak mufflers in '64.  My anniversary gift to my Mom and Step-dad, oc, the previous one being baby-moon hubcaps! ($5.00 per set, with attachment clips; House of Chrome ad in HRM; now the clips cost $12 each!!!)  Naturally, Xmas of '62, I bought all my sibs (including step-sisters) Revell model kits, which I expected them to let me assemble; all MoPars!  Still have two of 'em!

My AMT annual was a B'ville which I 'customized' and thought I'd converted to a Catalina.  Stripped and put back to stock as much as possible before the chassis shortening adventure, etc. still not finished.  I was thinking black/gold Yunick style, but a street machine.  I also have an original annual '64 Goat hardtop kit, unbuilt; thinking of doing it in PMD blue-green engine color, but using the Revell chromed 421 'parts pak' mill....  gauche?  I did my old annual B'ville as a GP, painted my version of Nocturne Blue in honor of my late bro-in-law's '63 Catalina HT, 389/4-speed which let  he go in favor of a black Firebirdy 400; I preferred the Cat!  I took my first driver's license test in our old '55 model 870 8-pass wagon with the Chevy rear fenders they used in that year and '56.  I surreptitious tried the tail-lites on my '55 Chevy, and the reverse; fit perfectly, but looked ungood.

Happy season!  Wick