Colin Chapman promoted the idea of simplifying designs and reducing weight to achieve greater speed, a concept embraced by Pontiac engineers. They applied this approach to prepare the sizable and hefty Catalina for professional drag racing by perforating its steel frame to lower overall mass.

The Swiss Cheese Catalina received its name after the team created roughly 120 to 130 openings in the frame structure. These were sizable holes rather than small ones, as seen in images of the car. The perforations helped shed between 270 and 400 pounds depending on the baseline, with the lighter version weighing 3,308 pounds versus 3,725 for a standard model. While effective for weight reduction, the changes sometimes led to higher repair costs and downtime due to frame stress, even as the body helped share loads. The holes formed just one element of a broader weight reduction effort similar to strategies used by other manufacturers.

Placing the Pontiac Catalina on a Strict Weight Reduction Plan

Pontiac had prior experience with aluminum panels and applied even thinner versions for the fenders and hood on this model. Additional components including inner panels, the radiator support, and splash shields used the same lightweight aluminum. Notably, aluminum exhaust manifolds replaced steel ones to remove 45 pounds, though their lower melting point limited long-term durability beyond short sprints. The differential housing and brake drums also switched to aluminum construction.

Numerous items were eliminated altogether, such as the radio, heater, body sealant, and insulation. With its emphasis on straight-line acceleration, the car omitted the front anti-roll bar to save more weight. The Swiss Cheese Catalina proved capable of quarter-mile times around 12.3 seconds at 115 mph, yet it appeared in the same year GM exited racing activities. Only 14 examples received this treatment, rendering them scarce and valuable, with one selling for $742,500 at auction in 2025.