I am looking at trading a 2 door post Plymouth Plaza. The Plaza has a running (smoking like crazy) motor and needs a lot of body work. The car is complete, but not road ready. I have been offered a 1963 Pontiac Catalina 4d. The car has new brake and gas lines, fresh fluids and tuned up, new battery etc. The car will have a fresh coat of flat black epxy primer shot on it. The only thing I would need are tires to run the car down the road and enjoy it. The car is tan right now and has some minor rust on the quarters that will be puttyed up and painted over. I am looking at this as being an even trade and hoping for input. I know that the Plaza is worth a lot more in the end, but I am not to concerned about that. I am just looking at the option of having a car to cruise around in this summer and maybe next year.
Probably would help a lot to know what year Plymouth, since some of them are more desirable than the Pontiac, and others are barely worth their weight in s**** metal. Pontiac has that Slim-Jim Roto-Hydramatc transmission that is super failure prone, and the 61-64 Pontiacs are really succeptible to frame rot - I had a '64 Gran Prix that really didn't look bad, quarters, rockers, floors were there, and the frame was rotted clean in two under the back seat on the driver's side. Parted it out. Also, '63 is a year too old for the block to be drilled for a block mount starter, so changing out the trans is a pain in the ***, it means an expensive adapter for a lot of holes that pretty well already line up.
Pictures of both would help but if you don"t have any use for the Plaza get the Pontiac.Hope it doesn"t tear up cause they are hard to get rid of.
The Plaza is a 57. I am going to look at the car later this week or next week. I will check out the frame. I know the floors have been replaced. I'm indeifferent on the cars. I know the problems with the ****** on the catalina and I would probably just look at throwing a 400/th400 in the car if the ****** went. That seems to be the cheapest way to upgrade a ****** in these cars.
I don't think I would do it for a 4 door. I think your car is the cooler of the two but without pics it is real hard to say.
I think your goiing to get as many different answers as there will be replies. To many variables.....
Yea I suppose I will get quite a few different responses. I'm just looking for ups-downs to the trade. I mainly like the fact that it is road ready. I have limited investment in the Plaza and I am just looking to move up a rung in the ladder to get to a car that I really want. My main interest is getting more instant value. Not looking more than 1-2 years ahead. I dont think that I will have the car more than 12 months. The Plaza is pretty rusty, as most Plymouths are from 57-58.
Keep the Plymouth. Easier to sell a 2 dr. Plymouth than a 4 dr. Pontiac in a year or two. If you want a driver, get what you want; if you want something easy to sell, keep the Plymouth. Neal
I know for sure you don't want ANY car that has rust that "will be puttyed up and painted over." That's a whole 'nother issue.
personally id keep the plymouth cause it sounds cooler , but thats my thoughts you have to drive it and look at what evers sitting in the driveway when you make the ultimate choice
The Plymouth, this is the one advertised as having a '58 front clip and tail lights, right? I'd really like to have that car. Take some pictures and post them, no excuses. I personally wouldn't trade for the '63. If it being roadworthy is it's best selling point, then why would you want to tear the motor and trans out to swap it with a 400/400? If you're going to do that, you may as well just swap a different motor into the Plymouth. I also would be concerned about rust on the Pontiac, in the frame and what they're covering up with putty and flat black (which will look like absolute dog ****, just so you know). I'd rather drive it in tan with some rust spots.
I am not planning on replacing anything on the Pontiac right away, just saying that i would not just replace the ****** if it went. I would replace engine/****** together. Seems to be cheaper that way beacuse of the starter mounting issues. Yes it is a 57 w/58 front clip. where did you see the posting? I have it listed in a couple places. I took some pictures earlier today that I was planning on having my wife put them up tomorrow. I am not sure that I want to make the deal with the Catalina.. I just want something to drive. I plan on looking over the car before it is painted so that i can see what the rust looks like. If it is out of hand or the frame has issues I won't bother with the car.
I have heard this quite a bit! The 2 or 4 door thing doesn't bother me, although it is on my mind based solely on being able to re-sell the car. My goal is to get a 46 Ford 5 window in the next 3-4 years. I am just looking to make a positive move towards that goal, while having something fun to drive for a summer.
I am not sure if it is a hard top or sedan. I am having a hard time finding what the difference in looks is, and I didn't realize until the question was posed that there was a hard top and sedan in the 4 door. Going to get in touch with the guy tomorrow.
I'd stick to the Plymouth, perhaps a biased opinion, but would not swap just so you can drive something this summer. I haven't been driving for 2 summers due to restoration work, making next summer the best ever! Good luck in deciding.
I found out that the car is a hard top. When I get a good look at the car I will post up some pictures of the Catalina. Are there any areas that I should look real close at on the Catalina in particular?
The '57 Plymouth was known for rust, so anybody interested in buying one won't have a problem with it. The Pontiac isn't as rare. Keep the Plymouth.
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