Set your theme before you...
Set your theme before you start your restoration. That's what Ralph Ronzello did with his '61 Catalina sport sedan.
When restoring a classic Pontiac, hobbyists often argue over the terms "original" vs. "period correct." Is it better to return a Pontiac to how it was delivered from the factory or restore it to how it potentially could have been optioned and modified by an original owner to compete in drag racing? This is the question that confronts many Pontiac hobbyists as they choose the right theme for their vehicle's restoration.
Ultimately, it comes down to what you want. For Ralph Ronzello, one of the district managers of the Harris Teeter food chain located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the decision on how to restore his '61 Catalina "Batwing" sedan was easy-he knew he desired a Pontiac that would remind him of Super Stock drag racing in Detroit at such legendary quarter-mile tracks as Martin Dragway, Motor City Dragway, Milan Dragway, McBride Dragway, and Detroit Dragway.
Pontiac advertising exclaimed,...
Pontiac advertising exclaimed, "It's All Pontiac! On a New Wide-Track!" The '61 Catalina sport sedan was smaller and lighter than the previous year's model. Wheelbase decreased from 123 inches to 119 inches, and shipping weight was down as well.
"To me, it seems that 90 percent of the restored Pontiacs in the hobby today are done to factory-stock specifications," Ronzello says. "I came out of mid-'60s Detroit when you bought a hot car from the factory, brought it home, and changed it to fit your personality. You'd drive it to work all week and race it at the track on the weekend. I'm partial to that era. That's why I went with the theme of a Super Stock re-creation."
Batwing Vs. Bubbletop
In 1961, Pontiac built 24,370 two-door Catalinas. Production was split between two models: a sport coupe and a sport sedan. Before long, both models had been given informal names by enthusiasts-the Bubbletop (referring to the pillarless sport coupe) and the Batwing (referring to the pillared-sedan). Pontiac production records show 14,524 and 9,846 of each were produced, respectively.
The Bubbletop was the preferred model for NASCAR drivers because of its aerodynamics, but some quarter-mile racers believed the two-door sedan was lighter, making it the better choice for the strip. A look at Pontiac's original specifications proves the Batwing was lighter, but just barely. According to Jim Mattison of PHS Automotive Services, "The Bubbletop has a curb weight of 3,865 pounds and the Batwing sedan weighs 3,835 pounds. That's only 30 pounds lighter, but to a drag racer, 30 pounds can make all the difference in the world."
The Batwing's reputation as a classic Super Stocker has remained strong to this day. "The '61 Pontiac two-door sedan has 'vintage race car' written all over it," Ronzello says. "When I see a Bubbletop, I see the early NASCAR racer of Fireball Roberts, but when I see a Batwing, I see a factory drag car."
The '61 Catalina "Batwing"...
The '61 Catalina "Batwing" sedan was the perfect car to buy on Friday, take to the track on Saturday, and win, win, win. This example features '62 Grand Prix rear springs that allow it to sit 2 inches lower in the rear. It rides on BFGoodrich Silvertown bias-ply 8.00x14 street tires (front) and M&H Racemaster 8.50x14 drag tires (rear) mounted on Pontiac 14x6 steel wheels.
Creating A Show-Stopper
Ronzello turned for advice to Pontiac restoration specialist Scott Tiemann of Supercar Specialties in Portland, Michigan. "In the summer of 2006," Ronzello says, "I mentioned to Scott that I had an interest in obtaining a '61 or '62 Pontiac, and asked if he knew of one for sale. He mentioned a '61 Catalina two-door post sedan that had been in his neighborhood for 25 years. It was built at the South Gate plant in South Gate, California, and delivered new to Westward Pontiac in Phoenix, Arizona."
After purchasing the sedan for his customer, Tiemann agreed that Ronzello's proposed Super Stock theme would be a winner. "We wanted the Catalina to look like someone had bought it in 1965 and set it up to go drag racing," Tiemann says.
Unlike many of Tiemann's completed restorations that have required 2,000 or more man-hours, this project was completed in only 700. "It was one of my faster restorations," he says. "We wanted a car that Ronzello would feel comfortable with on the track, instead of having to keep always in an enclosed trailer."
Here's how the 700 hours panned out. "I stripped the vehicle of its original Cameo White exterior, blue interior, 389 engine, automatic trans, and highway gears, and prepared to convert it into a concours nostalgia race/show car," Tiemann says.
 Originally a two-barrel, this...  Originally a two-barrel, this 389 was upgraded to Tri-Power carburetion, a hotter cam, and long-branch manifolds. It features casting No. 538177 heads with 69cc combustion chambers, 1.88/1.60 valves, and 1.5-ratio stamped steel rockers. |  The interior featured a newly...  The interior featured a newly designed speedometer and gauge cluster for '61. A column-mounted tach adds a period touch. |  During its restoration, a...  During its restoration, a radio delete plate and vintage Stewart-Warner gauges were added to the "Batwing" sedan to give it a period-correct Super Stock look. |
 This Pontiac came from the...  This Pontiac came from the factory with a column-shift automatic trans, but the Super Stock-themed buildup meant converting to a BorgWarner Super T-10, an Inland four-speed shifter, and Hurst linkage. |  Lynn Ronzello designed the...  Lynn Ronzello designed the seat upholstery using N.O.S. fabrics and vinyl. Believe it or not, Pontiac never offered a red interior on the '61 Catalina sports sedan, although it did on the same-year Catalina sports hardtop. | |