Projects Barn find - 1964 Pontiac Catalina 421 early custom car

I wonder if those seats would clean up, so you have something to use while waiting for SMS to finish your order. An old timer at an auto upholstery shop told me to use Coleman camp stove fuel (basically what used to be called white gas) - put some on a clean white rag, and rub the vinyl. It really does a good job of removing old dirt and grime, and doesn't leave a smell behind. Works on fabric upholstery, too.

I think giving SMS a friendly phone call on a regular basis to check status of your order helps...they do good work, but they sure are slow.

 

Thanks Stuart, the car hasn´t been started since the engine and trans rebuild, so I don´t need to use the seats. Now that we have the last of the ´body´work done, they car might go into paint...and then it can be re***embled.
I have spent many hours emailing SMS, the door panels were supposed to be in Jan, but Jan became the middle of Feb. Feb became end of March and the last I heard it was now the end of May...as I´ve not heard from them, I´m guessing they will say end of June.
I have the rest of the interior, just the door panels are left. Once he has painted the car still I still need to get it ***embled, so I don´t need the door panels until the end of the fitting of all the parts

 

i cant wait to see this in paint!!! any progress???

 

missed seeing progress reports!! hope all is well with you and the pontiac!!!

 

any progress getting the poncho in paint??

 

We're fiending over here man... Yall got anymore of them updates ?

 

any updates on the poncho?? hope you are doing well!!
jim

 

No real updates to talk of, the car hasn't been painted...this is a combination of things like the weather, and wanting to wait until the spring or at least warmer weather.
But also due to the fact that I changed jobs, moved house and moved countries (back to the UK), this has meant that projects like the Pontiac have had to go on hold for a while. But very soon I hope to have the car in paint very very soon. And the fact I have taken on too many other restoration projects at the same time, but slowly working on them to either finish them or get them sold.

This is the last photo I have of the car, taken at the end of the summer last year...the good news is that I have all of the interior from SMS now...but after 3.5 years of waiting for the interior, I'll have to double check I have everything that was ordered. But it does look good.

 

outstanding!! did you decide which color to paint it yet??

 

For now the original Marimba Red, then ***emble the car, get it roadworthy and iron out any issues...and then do the custom paint.

 

3 1/2 years for the upholstery? Damn, that's a long wait time.

 

I'm sure you know this after all your extensive research, but just in case, make sure you know which Marimba Red code is being used. At some point during the '64 model year, the formula was changed and what was a nice cranberry red at the beginning, became more maroon at the end. Both shades show on some paint charts, but not all. My '64 Catalina convertible was originally the earlier color but was painted the later, (less pretty color in my opinion), maroon shade during a repaint sometime in the 70's.

 

the marimba red is my fav 64 color! it will be an excellent base for any custom touches. i didnt know about the change though. one last thought is that you would not get tired of it as you might with a different color!
looking forward to seeing it done!!
jim