Pontiac Catalina 4d sedan 1962

[Reuhkapelti2]

This time I will try to get things done the easy way, as I won't rise the roof of the 2d ht, just making the window openings a bit higher and enlargening the rear window. Let's see how it goes...

The driver side windows are still untouched. 

 

Edited September 15, 2019 by Reuhkapelti2

[bisc63]

I'll be watching this one with interest. It reminds me of a 4-door Bonneville I almost bought a few years back. I have regretted it ever since, as it was a very solid body with the original engine and drive train intact, and the factory interior was nearly perfect. It was an icy-blue metallic with a tri-tone blue interior.

[Reuhkapelti2]

Hi bisc63, that Bonneville would had surely been such a cool ride, sorry you didn't get it. 

My project got it's first paint to show all the dings and scratches on the body. My  white tamiya primer can was empty, so I had to use some market matt white spray, not a very good stuff, but it dries fast. 

[randyc]

Nice!  Love how the Non-USA builders make the non-standard versions of these cars.  Love the conversion!

[Eric Macleod]

This looks great.  I will be interested in watching your progress. 

[Reuhkapelti2]

No major development here, but Pontiac got a new layer of paint and I started to make it look like a finnish Taxi in 1962.

[Peter Lombardo]

Pretty slick, great conversion.  I guess, 1962 was really Pre-Uber" days.  very nice.

[Reuhkapelti2]

Thanks everyone. That is a funny coinsidence Peter L. , that we build the same AMT '62 Pontiac Catalina at the same time to so different direction. 

Your Pontiac will look very cooool. 

 

Edited October 9, 2019 by Reuhkapelti2

[Cpt Tuttle]

Conversion looks great indeed.

[Reuhkapelti2]

Thanks! Yesterday I got the interior painted. Nothing fancy there, mixed three different paint colours the get that light brown tone done... dark brown, white and some golden paint too. Light gray carpet on the floor. 

I took the floor shifter off and added a column shifter instead. This Taxi has a automatic gearbox. The 389cid 2bbl engine will have blue paint, but the rest of the chassis will be dark gray, as there's a stiff antirust threatment underneath the body. 

Edited October 14, 2019 by Reuhkapelti2

[espo]

Great looking four door. The proportions in the areas that you changed look perfect. You might consider casting this body, it's that nice. 

[Anglia105E]

I am liking your '62 Pontiac Catalina build, Ismo........ and it is even more interesting that you are converting this model into a Finnish taxi. Following your build with interest.

David

[Cpt Tuttle]

I guess that with a 389 you had been king of the Taxis in Finland back then, lol.

[Reuhkapelti2]

2 hours ago, Cpt Tuttle said:

I guess that with a 389 you had been king of the Taxis in Finland back then, lol.

Yeah for sure! I doupt, that there was no Pontiac taxicars in Finland back in those days. Some US cars, like Ramblers and Dodge Darts maybe, Plymouth Valiant too, but nothing this kind of vehicle. Mostly Peugeot, Volga, Mercedes etc. 

[Cpt Tuttle]

Maybe. US cars were pretty popular as taxis in Sweden though, but then it was sixes and three on the tree.

[Reuhkapelti2]

On 10/14/2019 at 4:35 PM, espo said:

Great looking four door. The proportions in the areas that you changed look perfect. You might consider casting this body, it's that nice. 

I can not do that kind of magic. One earlier 4 door project of mine raised the same idea to discussion and I watched some youtube videos of casting. Over my skills for sure. Thanks for asking though ?. 

[Reuhkapelti2]

Almost done. I've been fighting with the rear window and it's still missing. I got the taxometer installed on the dash, the mudflaps are there too. Two speakers at the back shelf. The extra beam lights are also done with the lense covers. Maybe some "Hella" text could be written on them? 

On those years the first letter on the license plate told, in which region of Finland a car is registered. The letter L puts this taxi to Lapland, the north part of my country. A and B to the capitol city Helsinki etc. Nowadays there is no meaning with those plates. The L-cars were considered to be less rusty, as no salt was used in Lapland to prevent the roads being slippery in the winter time. Oh those good old times. 

Edited October 20, 2019 by Reuhkapelti2

[Tom Geiger]

Very nice project!  I love light commercial vehicles.  

Here's a pair of old Valiant taxis from the Netherlands.  

[Reuhkapelti2]

Thanks Tom, that's a fine photo. 

I just found a photo of a finnish classic car magazine, that introduces 6 old taxis. It says Mercury Comet was one popular American vehicle used in taxi business in the '60ties in Finland. This is the cover of that issue 

 

Edited October 20, 2019 by Reuhkapelti2

[Reuhkapelti2]

and now my Pontiac Catalina can go Under the Glass, as it's as ready as it ever will be. Problems with windows and difficult to get the body sit well on the chsssis. The main target is achived though, a 4 door big Pontiac taxi.