Were you to bring this tastefully modified 1964 Pontiac Catalina Safari to Europe, people would be shocked, especially when you arrived at your destination and had to park… It’s much more of an imposing car than even the latest of fast German wagons can muster, and this particular example also goes as fast as one of those too.
Its owner, who bought in a sorry state after having originally been used for police duty swapped out the rusty old small block it came with and replaced it with a Nelson Racing Engines big-block that reportedly puts out 550 hp. He also cut the springs, gave the car new shocks, new rims and modern tires.
Drive’s Mike Musto had a go in it and he seemed pretty impressed with the final result. It’s not a complicated build that completely reengineers the car, but it’s rated as being actually quite drivable for what it is, on top of feeling like the solid body-on-frame vehicle that it is; the color is pretty nice and suitable too.
By Andrei Nedelea
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