Cars > Challenges > “Land Shark” Vs “Das Boot”

Stu_Norman

M–50
Hortonville, Wisconsin
United States

view full garage

ncwitte

M–47
Lansing, Michigan
United States

view full garage

1963 Pontiac Grand Prix

“Land Shark”

1963 Oldsmobile 98 Holiday Sports Sedan

“Das Boot”

Head to Head

About “Land Shark”

My wife (BigBlueBonnie) gave me this car for a Christmas present. She is awesome.

It is a 1963 Grand Prix with a 421 HO engine, with tripower and a 4 speed.

Many car enthusiasts today didn't know Pontiac made a 421 CID engine and what that engine really was. In 1963, there weren't any GTOs, Camaros, Mustangs or Chargers prowling the streets. If you wanted a muscle car, you got a full size car with a monster engine. The 409 Chevy, 413 Mopar and 421 Pontiacs ruled the streets. The 421 HO Pontiac engine with the tripower was one of the best back then. It was the first of the large journal Pontiac V-8s, the grandfather of the 455.

It isn't a big block. Pontiac never made small blocks and big blocks. Every Pontiac V-8 from the first 287 in 1955 to the last 455 had the same external dimensions.

Yes, Land Shark is big, loud and fast. I stomped a first generation Camaro in some stop light drag racing during the test drive.....twice! The Camaro passenger kept looking over at the Grand Prix and asking the driver "What the h*ll is in that thing?"

The car features power steering, power brakes, power antenna, a Deluxe AM radio with rear speaker and 8 lug wheels.

The name (Land Shark) was bestowed upon her by WildWIlliam, who I was following one evening after a car show. He had his top down and said it was like a Land Shark following a minnow.

About “Das Boot”

Purchased: 1993

This car is a 98 Holiday Sports Sedan, model 63-3839, one of three four door 98s Olds offered in 1963. Olds built 22,330 of this model. Base price was $4,332. Factory options on this car include power windows, air conditioning, Safety Sentinel, tilt steering column, four way power seat, remote trunk release, and Wonderbar radio. The color is Pacific Mist with a Platinum interior.

Prior to my owning it, this car was from New Mexico, and it shows in the condition of the car. This car is all original including the paint, which is tired. Virtually rust free and the trim is near perfect. Everything works. The interior is pretty much original and very nice.

My plan for this car is To begin restoration work this fall. We are building a new home and I hope to be able to have a chassis hoist in my new garage, so this would be the first project at the new place. I am going to be adding factory cruise, power vent windows and upgrading the current four way power seat to a six-way unit. Eventually I want to get a mid-sixties Airstream Overlander to tow behind it;
This car now has its own web page and blog:

http://www.wi.../personal/98/

Specs for “Land Shark”

421 CID HO engine
Tripower
4 speed
Loud dual exhaust

Specs for “Das Boot”

394 cubic inch V-8
HP: 330 hp at 4,600 rpm
Torque: 440 ft. lbs at 2,800 rpm
Compression ratio: 10.25 to 1
Wheelbase: 126.0"
Over-all length: 221.4"
Over-all width: 77.9"
Over-all height: 55.6"
Curb weight (approx): 4,411 lbs.

Factory Options for “Land Shark”

Power Steering
Power Brake
AM radio
8 lug wheels
4 speed
421 HO
Tripower
Power antenna
Rear speaker

Factory Options for “Das Boot”

Air, power windows, tilt column, power seat, trunk popper, power antenna, Safety Sentinel, Wonderbar, and it all works. Heavy duty chassis. I added the factory deluxe wheel covers. They are spring-loaded and cover the valve stems. Neat, huh?