1962 Pontiac 421 S/D Catalina
Arnie Beswick Racing Series

Larry Johnson`s 421 S/DCatalina
Larry Johnson was an Iowa farmer and later a car salesman who also loved driving fast cars. He was also the friend of Arnie Beswick`s, having met the fellow farmer and performance car enthusiast at an Iowa cattle sale barn. It was widely accepted in Eastern Iowa, and particularly the Low Moor community, that Johnson had the fastest car in the area.

Courting the blacktop...
Beswick, upon learning this from the group at the sale barn, developed an uncontrollable itch. Somehow he had to find out just how fast that Johnson machine really was. One thing led to another with both men thinking they each had something to prove. It was suggested that they find out once and for all on the Low Moor blacktop. After about three tries, Beswick`s street `54 Olds annihilated Johnson`s `57 Tri-Power without even breathing hard. Johnson thought someting went wrong with his new mount and he needed to take it back for a tune-up. thus began a long-time friendship between Johnson and Beswick.

In the years that followed, the Beswick and Johnson families began attending racing events together, with both the men`s wives even racing in several powder puff shootouts. As it became tougher and tougher to make ends meet farming, Beswick and Johnson began working part-time at the Clinton Pontiac dealership. Johnson eventually rented the farming operation to his brother and bought half of the dealership, which he later purchased outright.

Passionate Poncho, the machine to beat...
Come 1962, Johnson caught wind of some new aluminum front end 421 Super Duty Catalinas being built, but was having problems getting one through the proper Pontiac ordering channels. Beswick called on some of his Pontiac contacts and the bright red 421 S/D Catalina was delivered to the Johnson delaership. The two quickly set the car up for competition and began campaigning it at drag strips throughout the Midwest. The car was christened the Pasionate Poncho, and it soonestablished itself as one of the machines tobeat. The name was feared and revered in the Super Stock ranks across the country.

Today, Jason Crawford, the car`s present owner, is havingit restored in a shop in the westernIllinois, not very far from the very trackswhere it earned its illustrious reputation.

Model Features

• Opening Hood
• Opening Trunk
• Opening Doors
• Detailed Interior
• Detailed Chassis
• Steerable Front Wheels
• Driven by Larry Johnson
• Official Logos and Insignias
• NUMBERED Limited Edition Model
• Detailed and Wired 405 H.P. Engine
• Precision Engineered Diecast Replica
• Factory Baked Gloss Enamel Finish
• 1:18 Scale Model
• 11 Inches Long