1962 Pontiac XP-400C

Starting in 1959, the Pontiac Division of General Motors started a four-year run of constructing as many production-based convertible 'concept cars' intended to spark the imagination and buying passion of the American Public. Starting with the 1959 Bonneville X-400, moving onto the 1960 Pontiac X-400, then to the epochal 1962 X-400 Grand Prix and ending with the 1963 X-400 Grand Prix, these cars were wonderful examples of restrained styling that improved with each iteration.  The 1963 X-400 is maybe the only one to survive; it is reputedly owned by an architect in Arizona.

That's all well and good. But what if Pontiac had created another 1962 X-400, this time the only coupe in the entire run? And what if Pontiac stylists had decided to do more body work with this iteration than they did with the other dream cars? What if they installed a '62 Chevy bubbletop roof onto a convertible? Well, just what if? 

You know, not all custom body work must involve the traditional 'chop and channel' routine of the customizing tradition. The replication of a famous concept car, or the design and construction of a phantom dream vehicle, can also as challenging as any other custom project.

Here are a couple photos of that project: 

The replacement of the original roof by that from a '62 Chevy Belair required substantial bodywork. A genuine, inscale peacock metalflake paint job was applied.  Photos: Mark S. Gustavson Photo Archives.

Recently, the Custom Clinic headquarters has received a letter concerning this project – the '62 Pontiac Grand Prix. Here's that letter: 

I have read and enjoyed your clinic since 1996; so I had a pretty good leg up. Other than the occasional paragraph in a new car review, not much attention is given to the art of car design and asthetics in mainstream automotive media. Even then, it is usually a simple thumbs up or thumbs down analysis without a detailed explanation of why certain elements of a car's design do or don't work. Your clinic has given me a better understanding and appreciation of automotive design. I also agree with your idea of a unifying theme in design so that it has both flow and balance. Some of 1:1 and scale customizing I have seen is disjointed or addon design; it seems to lose sight of the objective of improving rather then merely  altering a design for the sake of being unique. Eventually, I will put my putty where my keyboard is and submit an entry myself, though it certainly is not a requirement to thoroughly enjoy your Custom Clinic

In addition to your clinic, I loved your '62 Catalina project. It was an excellent primer on subtle customizing, and an exemplification of the minimalist motto that less is more. It was only when it was side by side with a factory stock version could you truly appreciate what you had done to yours.

Thanks for the kind words and all you have done to further the hobby of car modeling.

                     Yours truly,

                     Jason Rothgeb

Apparently, someone some time ago built two bubble top 1962 Catalina coupes. The eBay auction hinted, but did not expressly claim, that the cars enjoyed almost a kind of "official" factory provenance. As I did when I styled the model almost a decade ago, I again checked my very extensive factory concept car library and I didn't find anything on such a car.

Regardless, this is a very interesting car. This is a car that should have been built because the "convertible-esque" Pontiac and Chevy roof is clunky and adds too much bulk to the back of the roof. About this car: I hate the stupid high-school hood scoop and I would have converted the car to Grand Prix livery matched to phantom factory brochures, photos and the like but look: this car is really neat. Check out two important differences between my version and this "real" car: The B pillar doesn't smoothly resolve in the tulip panel as mine does (I detest the "hip" at the base of all of Chevy's bubble top roof lines), and the factory lower fenders/door/rear quarter character lines remain. Though apparently accurate, too, what's up with the carnival-like, goof-ball tri-colored interior? Yecch. Think about a deep, deep grey leather interior with black dash, carpets and dash with subtle chrome highlights? Why not choose elegance?

Interested viewers might want to compare my '62 Grand Prix with Winfield's version for Richard Zoochi shown below.