Next repro project will be 1964 Catalina Nylon Quarter Panel Clips.  Once again, a part that the industry really needs.  Door clip are available and have been for a long time.  As with all repro parts, its the tooling that kills you.  We expect these in late September.   Cost should be around $3.95 each.  We may sell in car sets as well.  Keep watching!  Other future projects include the following:

-Re-run of 1965 Battery Trays

-First run of 66 Battery Trays

-1964 Grand Prix Parking Light Lens

-63-64 Clock Lens

-61-62 Clutch Rod Boot and Wiper

-61-62 Clutch Rod Boot Retainer

-Re-run of correct 63-64 Bellhousing Boot

We need to borrow a correct 63-64 bellhousing boot from somebody PLEASE!  Our first run of these was incorrect as we were sold a 65-72 boot in a 63-64 box.  We are eating these.  PLEASE HELP!

Still have just a few 64 tachometer mounting brackets left. We have heard that former Ames owner Steve is reproducing 66 GP Parking Light Lens. We also plan on making the correct pretzel 62-64 console shifter to bolt to your new under car Hurst Comp. Plus shifter to maintain that original look. Prototypes are done.  Last but not least is for us to make both bench and console rubber boots that fit a Hurst stick, not the round piece of crap that currently available.  Material will be 10 times better than current crap. Boots will include 60-64 bench seat boot, 62-64 console boot and 65-68 shifter boot.  Again, tooling is a lot of cash. Cash takes time.  Thanks!  LK 8/20/2017

Because of problems associated with taking credit cards, fees and practices beyond our control, we are no longer accepting credit cards.  We gladly accept personal checks, money orders and PayPal with a 3% up-charge. We are sorry however these changes were forced upon us.  Thanks for understanding!  LK 6/23/2017

After providing the fuel tank, straps and sender to get repro’d 3 years ago, they are finally here!  Available to order: Correct Fuel Tanks with galvanized finish with 3 year warranty…$299.00.  Strap kits: $59.00 and Senders (single line only) are $100.00.  We have the capacity to convert single line senders into dual line senders and do it correctly.  The senders come with the new lock down ring and he correct “flag” o ring.  No more used crap tanks filled with garbage!  LK 6/23.2017

After a long time waiting, we are about to make another run (more this time) of our 65 battery trays.  We sold out of 111 trays in a very short time.  Same company that did them last time using our tooling.  Also, we are going to make a run of the 66 battery tray.  We have a NOS 66 tray to use as our pattern.  We hope to do this by early fall.  Please keep watching this blog for future updates.  Thanks for your patience. LK 6/20/2017

Ever seen the frame mounted “beehive” bumper mounted in the center of the frame directly above your 61 to 64 3rd member?  Don’t feel bad as most haven’t.  They are usually long gone.  If they are still in place, they are cracked, dry rotted and harder than Japanese arithmetic!  Once your car bottomed out once or twice, they were gone.  After searching for many years, we finally found a good one.  This is our next repro part.  Cost is $13.95 plus $7.20 current USPS Priority Mail in the US only.  World wide at cost.  

First off, this is in my opinion.  Being that I do a fair amount of electrical work, I pursued an account with American Autowire out of New Jersey way over a year ago.  I never received any type of catalog EVER even though I requested one FIVE TIMES.  That should have tipped me off.  They were well aware of the fact that we only deal in big Pontiacs.  I dealt with a person named Josh in Customer Service and Ray in their Tech. Dept.  So far, so good….

My first (and only) order was for something out of the normal scope of wiring for a 64 Pontiac Catalina. Lets side-step here a moment.  Having a 1961 Impala 2 door sedan, I needed to replace the front harnesses (both headlight and engine harnesses) and wellingtonclassics! had and still lists (as eBay 252444607179) a slick set of harnesses for 61 to 64 Impalas that not only has the front light harness but a cool (but simple) harness that allows you to lose either your generator or early alternator and go to a later model (70 on-up) GM built-regulator alternator AND a high energy ignition (HEI)  You can do away with the troublesome voltage regulators we mostly get now from China AND you get away from troublesome points AND it is built into a factory looking harness right from the get go.  OK, so I ordered  one of these sets from a friend of mine.

A bit of my history here.  I owned my own automotive electrical shop Las Vegas, NV from 1979 until I left Las Vegas in 1985. I had employees and rebuilt starters, alternators, sold 1,000’s of batteries and did tons of electrical work on everything from cars to Wayne Newton’s helicopter.

Since I am VERY FAMILIAR with both 61-64 Chevrolets and 61-64 Pontiacs and KNOW that outside of the firewall plugs (and a small variation whee the voltage regulators are mounted), these harnesses are the same damn harness. After a couple of calls to American Autowire, they agreed and made a “new style” harness for my Catalina incorporating both new features.  As with ALL 61-66 Pontiac front harnesses, they need your firewall plugs.  They un-clip your old wiring from the plugs and use new clips.  Chevy plugs are being made.  Anyway, I got my new harness and am about to install.  I had my good friend Doug Pauschert in Hernando Beach, FL call Josh and try to order a harness just like mine.  He refused saying they would not make the same harness as they thought it might burn his car down.  My harness did NOT have the HEI wire in the main harness they built.  It came with a separate 12 gauge wire to go from the pink wire terminal on the back of my ignition switch straight to my HEI.  For those of you of there, HEI systems require 12 volts AND a 12 gauge wire.  Your factory wiring is a ni-chrome wire that drops to 9 volts to run with a points system(like an old ballast resistor). You cannot run a HEI system off factory wiring to the coil.

I called American Autowire and spoke to Josh and then Ray in their Tech Department. Neither were able to explain to my satisfaction, their grounds or not making the new new harness for Doug.  Also, about the time, work was started on my former 65 2+2 convertible with Comfortron Air Conditioning for the new owner.  The car was going to need every piece of wiring new.  I requested pricing, lead times and whether or not they needed any of the weird plugs to do the job.  I gave them all the information needed.  I waited and called FIVE TIMES, and to this day, a year later, still have heard nothing.  I decided to call Lectric Limited in Bedford Park, IL (866-624-1850) to inquire about the 65 2+2 wiring.  Within 7 minutes, I had all the specs, costs and delivery times in hand.

I called American Autowire and spoke to Josh’s supervisor Dan.  I told him about how Josh had failed all the way around.  He promised me he would look into this and true to form, I have never heard from anybody ever again.  However I did hear from a person who still deals with them last week and I have been BLACK-BALLED from ever dealing with American Autowire. I was already done even when I was dealing with them!  It should be noted that Ames Performance deals with Lectric for all the wiring they sell.  I strongly suggest you consider all the above when you are considering choosing a supplier for your wiring.  Again, this is in my opinion.  Les Kasten 4/3/2017

The new address for PontiacParadise.com will be 14050 Pilot Knob Rd, Suite 140, Apple Valley, MN 55124. All other information will remain the same. Thanks! LK 8-21-2016

Are you looking for door panels for your car?  2 or 4 door, wagon or convertible?  Chances of finding 50 year old decent panels are slim to none.  Same for clear steering wheels and dash pads.  Here is where you need to go to obtain these items:

-Door Panels:  Ames and OPG have a very limited selection of PUI panels for generic models only.  In generic colors only.  They are OK.  But what if you have a 2 door sedan or a wagon or maybe a color that wasn’t the norm?  The solution is SMS in Canby, OR (505-263-3535).  They specialize in new Pontiac door panels done in the correct heat seamed material with or without the correct Mylar.  They can also provide any fabric or material you may need including Ventura and GP emblems into the vinyl.  Is it cheap?  No.  Are they quick to get it done?  No.  They can make your door panels by just having the curved metal pieces from the tops of your old panels. You do not have to send them your entire panels. They do not have the metal trim that may be on your panels.  That you have to provide and possibly re-install. One issue……DO NOT allow them to install the door panel nails on your panels.  Tell them to leave the nails out and leave the sides and bottom of the new panels un-glued.  Let your interior person install as they DO NOT have any idea where they belong.  Current cost for all four panels runs around $850. They are busy and SLOW.

-Steering Wheels:  If you are looking for a good 50 year old clear steering wheel, good luck!  Who isn’t?  You have two options…..go to a wood wheel or send yours off and have it redone.  There are two companies that offer this service:  Quality Restorations (858-271-7374)  and D & D Automobilla in North Carolina (704-748-3447) ask for Bob.  Plan on at least $1,350 and 90 days.

-Dash Pads:  The ago old problem….my dash pad is cracked, now what?  There is only one company that has stood the test of time.  Just Dashes, Inc. (800-247-3274) in California.  Catalina non air dashes are cheaper than Bonneville/Grand Prix and air conditioned dash pads.  They will need your core AND the both A-Pillar moldings from your car.  They can do any color and they stand behind their work.  Plan on a minimum of $650 thru $900 at this time.

Please tell these companies you were directed to them by PontiacParadise.com  LK  4-19-2016

Les Kasten was recently elected to the Pontiac-Oakland Club’s Board of Directors, Midwest Division.  The term is 3 years.  Les says “I am proud to accept this position and hope I can really help the members of the Pontiac community.”  This was the second time Les was nominated.  LK 4-19-2016

After doing this for years, it has now become time to state purchasing, shipping and return policies.  If you purchase something new or reproduction and it’s wrong (never happens), we will refund your money once the product is returned.  There must be a viable reason for returning the product. Everything we reproduce is an exact fit and we inspect EVERY part before it leaves here.  We do not pay return postage however we also do not charge a restocking fee.  If PontiacParadise.com did not reproduce or make the part, such as trunk floors, quarter panels, floor pans, there is no warranty.  You will need to take up any issues with the manufacture.  We will be more than happy to get you in touch with whoever that may be, however that is the end of our responsibility.

Used parts:  We are not WalMart.  The used parts we sell are carefully checked and described. However, these parts are 50 years old.  We cannot see thru metal.  There is no warranty on used parts whatsoever.  There are also NO REFUNDS.  Unless stated, we are not responsible for postage, shipping or loading of your parts.  We will assist if you are having something picked up within reason.  This includes frames.  We will assist in helping you find a shipper, but that’s it.  A recent frame sale resulted in a lot of extra work and expense as the person was told the frame did not come with wheels or tires.  Now, he apparently HAS to have it on wheels and tires.  Thus the reason for stating policy.

We have had very little returns over the years, mainly parts others have made and we’ve sold.  We want to keep it this way.  We do hope you understand.  LK  1/29/2016