1961 Pontiac Catalina

Safari Wagon Wagon

455 Big Block

Automatic

361S7737

Clear

Gasoline

Please read the following description very carefully. Some items have been expanded on, and this is now a buy it now, or make reasonable offer auction. Thanks, Dave This is a very rare 1961 Pontiac Catalina Safari 9 passenger 3 seat Station Wagon. 100% original rust free car from Arizona. The driest car underneath that I have ever had. Not even undercoated. Just like it came from the factory, no touch ups at all. One older repaint on a very straight body. Getting thin on high points, but still a very good driver quality job that shows well. Still shines up great. No wrecks or panel replacements that I can tell. Glass is all good and factory tinted. Chrome, stainless trim, and pot metal is all original and in very good condition. No pitting on pot metal pieces at all. The interior, believe it or not, is totally original except for the headliner and carpet, and still in very good shape. The car was garage kept which saved most of it. The seats covers are excellent and still very pliable. The door panel bottoms need some attention but the top 75% is good to go. I would just replace the bottom sections with carpet like the later model cars had. I have the carpet to do the work and it will come with the car. Headliner is newer and excellent. Carpet is all new reproduction as well as the floor mats. Dash is very nice with only some minor cracks on the dash pad. Not worth redoing unless you are going to make it a show car. Has drivers remote outside mirror. Has factory radio but aftermarket one located in glove box. Wipers, heater, speedometer, idiot lights, fuel gauge, turn signals, and all outside lights work. Under the dash A/C unit hoses were disconnected when the carpet was installed to make custom sewn around holes for the hoses to pass through. I was told it was working before the carpet replacement, and it is set up for 134A, but I have not tried to make it run again. All parts are there. Now the driveline. I saved the best for last. It has a rebuilt 1973 455 with a newly rebuilt 200R4 4 speed automatic transmission. Block casting # 485428. date code F163. Engine code "YC". Heads are 6X "D" ports from a 1976 400 C.I. engine. 101CC. 2.11/1.66 valves. Intake is from a 1968 428. Casting # 9790140. 9:5 to 1 compression. It has roller rockers. Ram Air 4 cam with Rodes lifters. 750 Edelbrock Carb. The headers came with the car in place of factory cast iron units, but were not installed. I used them but personally, I would replace them with long branch cast iron factory style units. There is one small leak where the header meets the head on the drivers side, but the leak diminishes somewhat after the engine warms up. It has a remote starter solenoid because of the header clearance. It has a factory HEI distributer from a later model engine. The electric fuel pump on the drivers side fender well was actually installed to just prime the carb after the car sits for a long period of time. There is an on / off switch under the dash. It prevents having to crank the engine for a long time to prime the carb. It is not needed and can be removed. The factory mechanical pump works just fine. Engine runs out great. There is an aftermarket 4 core aluminum radiator for cooling. Runs 185 degrees on 90 degree days. The transmission is literally new. I had it replaced with a newly rebuilt one from a local builder noted for performance transmissions. It was rebuilt to stock specifications. New torque converter also. The rear end is a factory posi unit with 3:08 gears. It has 4 wheel disc brakes. Yes, that is right. The original builder was very ingenious. He adapted 1971 Bonnelville front discs to the front, and adapted 1976 Cadilac Eldorado rear discs to the rear. Stops great. Has boxed in trailing arms. He even added front and rear sway bars. This car corners without any noticeable body roll. Unlike most cars of that year. All suspension parts front and rear have been replaced. It has new B.F. Goodrich T/A radials P215/65/R16 all around mounted on 16x7 polished Americans. Also comes with 4-15X7 stock looking but later model steel wheels painted white that have the bumps for poverty ( small center ) hub caps. Wagons like this are getting harder and harder to come by, and finding one that is, and always has been, rust free is almost impossible. To add to that, 1961 Pontiacs in general are a very hot item right now. How many of these 61 Safari wagons have you seen recently? How many 9 passenger models? Would make a great tow car for an old Pontiac race car or power tour car, or a drag strip clone car. I purchased this car as a non running 90% done project in the making and have finished it out to this point. It is now ready for someone to enjoy as is or take it to the next level. Since I have not driven it much, I would recommend having it shipped. I believe it would make a long distance trip, but I have not done one in it. Better to be safe than sorry. The first two times I ran it here on ebay it came very close the reserve price. If it does not sell this time, it will probably be going to a local classic car dealer here on consignment, which, of course, means the price will go up. Serious buyers should make an offer now to save some money. I also have it listed on other sites this time around so I may be ending the auction early. Now for the business end. The car does not leave here until all funds clear my bank. Bank / cashiers checks can take up to 10 days. My bank will give me a letter stating the length of time required for it to clear which depends on where the check is drawn from. No variances on the date they set. I will provide copy of the letter from my bank. Bank transfers are great but can take 2 days to clear depending on time of day the transfer takes place. Cash is cash and preferred if you are picking it up in person. A $500.00 deposit is required within 3 days. Balance due within 10 days. Deposit is refundable if the car does not match the above description. I encourage everyone to inspect cars, if at all possible, before committing to purchase one. Car can sit here for several weeks if need be, but not for months. Call me at 314-732-5925 BEFORE YOU BID for honest answers to all questions. NO TRADES unless you can bring your trade to me for my personal inspection before any deal is made. Thanks, Dave