1968 Catalina 2 door sedan, 428-4spd

[427strato]

Hi; has anyone heard of one of these cars? I would have thought they would have been available in 1968 and that at least a few would have been produced. I'd be interested in acquiring one if possible. I know that sleepers really were not that desirable at that time, or maybe even now, as the factories procuced all of the packages you could want, however, you would think some would have been in existence. I've been looking for them for a number of years but to no availe. In any event, its food for thought. Thanks, Doug.

[442w30]

There was one for sale a few years ago. It was in eastern PA. I chatted with the owner. He said it was a documented HO 4-speed. Even an automatic HO would be fantastically rare.

[427strato]

Hi. I'm sorry I didn't reply to you earlier however I seldom check the site. It would have been nice to have had the individuals name that had the 68 Catalina 2 door sedan, 428 car. I'm glad there is such an animal out there somewhere though. The equivalent in Canada was a 68 Strato Chief with a 427 chevrolet engine of which I am just completing a body off restoration on mine. We have GM documentation here which shows they made 5 of them and I'm the original owner. We had roughly 30 million people in Canada in the 60's while the USA had approximately 300 million so if we had 5 you should have about 50 428 2 door sedan Catalinas. I've been searching sites for years and have never run across one so I was starting to think there really wasn't such a vehicle made. It was nice to here from you and thanks for the information. Doug.

[442w30]

Were you friends with Hillar?

[twertsy]

I got my 428 in my firebird out of a '68 catalina in ?Vestal? at Harry's You Pull-it (salvage yard).

[427strato]

With respect to 442W30 post; yes, I was a good friend of Hillar. I sold him a 1970 Pontiace Laurentian, 2 door, 454 cu. in.car that was one of 221 full size cars made with that option in Canada in 1970 and it had 31,000 original miles, probably less than 10 of those particular cars made. I knew him for many years prior to that and he frequently came to see me. We would discuss the Canadian hi-performance Pontiacs with great enthusiasm during that time as they were not made in the United States. There is no forum to discuss these hi-performance cars now and they are a dying breed. There were few original B-body big block cars made from 1965 to 1970 in the Canadian Pontiac line and documentation of these is somewhat rare. Hillar was a wonderful, energetic person, so full of excitement about the Canadian Pontiac hi-performance cars and he infused this excitement in everyone he met. There was no pretence as to what made a high performance Canadian Pontiac, just that they did exist and were made in various models, Acadians, Beumonts and full size B-bodies, mostly being big block cars, although some small block 350 hrs cars were made. They were all built on a Chevrolet frame and drivetrain, hence the big block chevrolet engines. I've seen many Pontiac forums where people tend to resent and dismiss these cars because they are not made as a pure Pontiac. In any event they look like a Pontiac, were built like a Pontiace, were purchased as a Pontiac, can be documented by GM of Canada as a Pontiac and then MUST therfor be a Pontiac. I miss him and his knowledge as to these cars very much. Its disappointing now that there is no one to discuss and get excited about these cars with. Doug.

[427strato]

By the way; I'm still looking for an original documented 1968 Pontiace, Catalina, 2 door sedan, 428, 4 speed car. They must exist and someone must have heard of one. They cannot be so rare that they haven't been seen. Doug.

[ZAPPER68]

Its disappointing now that there is no one to discuss and get excited about these cars with.

The guys over on the Canadian Poncho website are passionate about all things Pontiac. They are a very knowledgeable about the big block cars. The 'Two Carls' are the big block go to guys over there.

[442w30]

Doug, I've known about your cars for years. I may even have pics of them. I knew Hillar from my time in MI. It's probably 4 years this month since he passed? What a shame. :-(

[Charley Lillard]

Is there a pic of one of these 68's ?