Projects What To Do With This Car ('64 Pontiac 2+2)?

I've had this car for a few years now on the back burner. Because I also have my '34 coupe and a '63&1/2 Galaxie I put this car up for sale figuring I'd never get to it. Haven't really got much interest on it (my price is probably too high) and most are scared away because of the rust.

It is a pretty cool car, 72K miles, 389, 4 speed with factory tach and gauge pods, super clean interior, and 8 lug wheels. The bad part is it has quite a bit of rust around the rear fender openings and at the back of the front fenders, driver's door and some floor. I have a complete rust free parts car to use so I can fix all the rust.

Because of the lack of interest from any buyers I figured I'll just keep the car and go through it. The question is, what style to do the car? Because it is all original (I have original window sticker, bill of sale from dealer, owners manual with Ident-o-plate, etc) I feel like I should restore it. The problem is, I'm a hot rod guy and never was a big fan of restored cars. Back in the early 70's when I first started driving I didn't keep them stock and still feel the same way!

So if not a restoration then what? I thought maybe satin black on the lower half and heavy blue flake on top with maybe some Radir wheels? Maybe Watson style paint job? All satin black iwth some pin striping?

 

Maybe something along these lines (of course not those ugly wheels on the last one!)?

 

Just as it is! Bad Ass car, Step away from the model glue

 

It's not the car for you it sounds like. My advice is restore it, fix the rust, lose the mickey mouse under hood stuff and sell it. Then build what you want. Its cool and worth money to the right buyer.

 

Or something a little more drag car inspired?

 

Drive it

 

Or maybe just keep it simple?

 

This is what I would do, this is just me now so,,,,, trade those troublesome 8 lugs to a restorer, get his stock hubs ,axles (if needed) and brake assemblies. Get a set of REAL Cragar SS wheels, 14 inch, and black wall or white letter bias ply , like the wide ovals from the late sixties. Give her a 2 or 3 inch lift just to make her tough looking. DONT PAINT IT FLAT BLACK, its a PONTIAC for criminey sake, fix the rust and spray it the stock color. Put a garter around the rear view and dye the interior light red. Oh, glass pack, cant forget them. I would LOVE 2+2 , when I was a kid, I thought those and 67 GTO's were what dreams were made of. Mitch.

 

You would probably get a better return if it was lightly restored. With the paint markings showing on the fire wall and the original documentation that you have. Repair the rust, replace the valve covers, match the paint but do not repaint the entire car and put it up for sale maybe auction with all of the documentation. That would be the least expensive rather than re painting the entire car after the rust repair and covering the originality.

 

Or, just leave the paint and body alone, it dont look that bad. You got to put a name on the rear quarters, my buddies used black magic marker cause they were cheap skates. A name like "PONCHO VILLA" or "BIG TROUBLE" or something crazy that a young punk in the late sixties would think was boss. I really like the look of that white and green 66 Chevelle posted above, ahhhhh the memories......Mitch.

 

Totally agree

 

Please, join the local Pontiac club. That is a very desirable car. You can find a buyer there and have enough to build a rockabilly dream machine. That looks like a pretty nice Poncho. Don't flat black it. Please...

 

Sell the Galaxie, fix the rust, drop it, panel paint, done.

My first car was a '64 Catalina convertible, so I'm a bit biased. LOL Still have it 35 years later....not finished. One of these days.... Yours is a nice looking car in great looking shape, despite the rust. Sure, it's a 2+2 and "desirable"....but you haven't had any takers, and it's really, truth be told, only "desirable" to a limited marked. Lots of other cars in the world to restore...this is a hot rod and custom site....cut it up! (but don't paint it flat black)

 

You paint it black and put a BIG fucking Pontiac motor in it. Nice quiet exhaust though.....

-Abone.

 

The parts car is a complete car with regular non-8 lugs so I can use those. My first car was a '65 GTO and I ran Cragars on it so I wouldn't mind running them on this car. I'm also a big fan of slotted aluminum like the black car above.
I'm not touching the interior. It is in too nice condition to mess with it.
It has turbo style mufflers on it it now but glass packs would be fun!
I like the ideas of raising her up a hair. My Galaxie will be raised slightly using station wagon front springs.

 

Something along these lines?

 

He'll yea, it really needs a name, adds to the street racer persona. We all thought we had the baddest cars in the neighborhood, a name on the quarters clinched it for sure. Mitch.

 

But I like my Galaxie too!

All the Pontiac guys say to restore it but like you said, doesn't seem to be a big market for it. That's why I figured I'd just keep the damn thing and have fun with it. And yeah, I'm a hot rodder so I'd like to change it up a bit. I'm also a 70's guy ( graduated high school in '74) so would kind of like to do it up in a late 60's / early 70's style.

 

Do not paint it flat black...that would destroy that car. Fix the rust and paint it the original color and drive it. It will sell a lot easier that way.
Again DO NOT PAINT IT FLAT BACK...the car deserves more.

 

You do know they make 15" wheel rims for those now? Nothing better than 8 lugs on those cars.
68-70, in my part of the world would have been 8 lugs, single color, a little lift up front, Tubular Automotive headers, tri-power , and 4.56's..In other words, a bad ass street and strip car.

 

CAhotrodboy, If it were me, I'd repair the rust and leave the rest alone. My Bubbletop has all the original chrome and stainless just as it left the factory. The drive train is where the modifactions are at.

Gary

 

^^^^^^ Needs lowered.

 

First year of the 2+2, U.S. produced from 1964 to 1967.
From 1970 to 1976 I owned an O/T 1966 and presently own an O/T 1967 since 1986.

That car looks too nice and complete to start heavily modifying it.
Try some Pontiac oriented events to sell it. POCI shows, you can search the Internet for a local chapter, contact them and ask if they know anyone who would be interested in it. If you want to pm me do so, I do have a friend that works for a large collector car dealership, maybe they would be interested. Up to you. They are a large dealership, I would forward your information to him and you would deal direct with them. I've been to their facility before, in fact my friend tried to hire me but it would entail more hours than I want to work in retirement so it's not a fly by night operation.

Problem with a 2+2 is that most people have no clue what it is. You realize that when some kid comes up to you and asks you why you put Mustang emblems on your Pontiac.

I wish that I had the room and the money, I'd love to have that sitting next to my '67. Unfortunately not to be though.

 

P.S., and even the antenna looks to be an original, combined with the stick shift that is one sweet car.

 

Crap
What an easy fixer

 

that car would make a bitchin' sleeper!

 

Now, this is just me but that's my least favorite color combo. (Personal opinion only and not universally true.) Other than that, I love it. I think these Pontiacs are underappreciated at the moment but they were, and still are, sexy, stylish and better than most as examples of the times back then and are going to appreciate in value and demand.
This would be my plan......
Fixing the rust is a must do to make it a proud "driver". Then the rest is just details. Switch focus from the body to making the interior as fresh as can be. No "upholstery patina", no odors, carpet as needed, etc.
Good news.......
Almost everything can be done while you enjoy driving it. I say it's a keeper.

 

Steel wheels out back with pie crusts
Radars please up front with pro tracs...please...no flat black.

 

do the basic repairs, stated above, and sell - if no action in Nevada place ads in California, Pontiac sites, etc - or, chop/channel/section/trick bagged frame and blower motor with full custom interior

 

If you want test the waters more, consider getting on the Ames Performance site (Cool links, then Pontiac forums). It's an all Pontiac site, costs nothing. Members there know what a 64 2+2 is, I can guarantee that. Disregard if you've already tried there.