THE TRADE IN FROM THE SALE OF MY 1966 PONTIAC CATALINA CONVERTIBLE WAS A 1962 PONTIAC TWO DOOR POST SEDAN THAT WAS A 389 2 BBL THREE SPEED HYDROMATIC NON-AIR BENCH SEAT CAR. INTERIOR WAS A VERY NICE LIGHT METALLIC GOLD. THE EXTERIOR WAS A VERY LIGHT METALLIC GOLD OR BEIGE BADLY WEATHER-BEATEN, CAR WASH BRUISES, BIRD DODOO DROPPINGS, AND APPEARED TO BE ABSOLUTELY NO HOPE TO BRING IT BACK TO LIFE. GOOD STRAIGHT BODY ALMOST RUST FREE. LOVELY
INTERIOR AND RAN GREAT. I AGREED WITH THE OWNER ALTHOUGH THE TWO DOOR POST WAS NOT AS ATTRACTIVE AS THE HARD TOP, IT WAS STILL PONTIAC’S LIGHTEST BODY. WITH SOME SUPER DUTY EFFORT, IT COULD BE TURNED INTO THE HEART POUNDING, TIRE SHREDDING, LUNG CHOKING, TIRE SMOKING BAD ASS DRAG CAR THAT YOU SEE PICTURED HERE FROM ROYAL. IF ANYTHING, IT WOULD BE THE PERFECT SLEEPER CRUISER.
HE PAID VERY HIGH RETAIL FOR MY CONVERTIBLE AND I GAVE HIM VERY HIGH RETAIL FOR HIS 1962. PROBLEM, WHAT TO DO WITH THAT PAINT. TALKED TO SEVERAL DETAILERS AND OUR BODY SHOP MANAGER. IMPORTANT, YOU MUST MAKE FRIENDS WITH EVERYONE IN THE DEALERSHIP AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT SHOULD ARISE AND PROVIDE FAVORS AND CONCESSIONS EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE OBVIOUS ANY OF IT WILL EVER COME BACK TO YOU. THE BODY SHOP MANAGER BECAME A GOOD FRIEND AND SAID, HEY AL, I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE A VERY GOOD WHEEL MAN MEANING BUFFING CARS.
I SAID, I FEEL LIKE I AM, BUT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE 1962 CATALINA. HE WENT AND LOOKED AT IT WITH ME. HE SAID, CAN YOU HANDLE A 3600 RPM BODY GRINDER BUFFER? I SAID, YES, I CAN BUT WITH GREAT CAUTION, SO I DON’T BRUISE OR BURN THE PAINT. HE SAID, THAT’S RIGHT. HE GAVE ME THE NECESSARY MATERIAL FOR A THREE STAGE PROCESS THAT WOULD STRIP ALL THE DEAD OXIDATION, CAR WASH BRUISES, AND ROAD FILM. PROBLEM, THE BODY SHOP WAS FULL OF VEHICLES. I CAN’T DO THIS OUTSIDE AT NIGHT. HE SAID, YOU HAVE A KEY TO THE BUILDING AL. YOU ARE VERY GOOD AT SECURING THE BUILDING WHEN YOU LEAVE.
I REMOVED ALL THE EMBLEMS AND STARTED TO WORK. THANK GOD FOR ORIGINAL LACQUER PAINT. IT WAS COMING OUT LIKE A MIRROR. WELL AFTER ABOUT THREE INTENSE HOURS, THE PAINT ON THAT PONTIAC LOOKED ALMOST SHOWROOM. I THINK I FINISHED ABOUT ONE IN THE MORNING. I NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO GET A PHOTO OF THE CATALINA SO THE ABOVE PHOTO OF THE “ROYAL” IS CLOSE.
THE WORD HAD SPREAD RAPIDLY ABOUT MY 1962 PONTIAC AMONG THE PONTIAC LOYALISTS. I WAS APPROACHED BY THE CATALINA’S FUTURE NEW OWNER ALMOST AS I WAS WIPING THE LAST COAT OF POLISH OFF THE CAR. HE SAID, YOUR REPUTATION HAS PROCEEDED YOU AND THIS 1962 IS OUTSTANDING. NO DISAPPOINTMENTS. I AM DRIVING IT HOME.