For 1966, Pontiac gave the Catalina a minor facelift and supposedly they dropped the 389 Tri-Power option. Well, this 1966 Pontiac Catalina Convertible has a 389 V8 with three two-barrel carburetors, so either it got built just under the wire or someone added the intake and carbs along the line at some point. This fantastic looking car is on Craigslist with an asking price of $14,750 and it’s in White Lake, Michigan. Thanks to Clarke B. for sending in this tip!
I was somewhat surprised at the seemingly low, or at least reasonable, price for this car. It has an automatic transmission, otherwise it seems to check almost every box. The seller doesn’t mention the condition of the body at all, but from what is shown in the two blurry photos (sigh..), things look as crisp as Don Draper’s shirt. They say that it’s freshly out of long-term storage, but does that mean that it’s a Michigan car that may have been driven in the winter? Who knows, a personal inspection is the only way to know for sure. I’m definitely on board with the black steel rims and would even prefer black wall tires, but that’s just a personal preference.
Like the exterior, the interior appears to be almost flawless. Hagerty doesn’t list a 389 tri-power option for a 1966 Pontiac Catalina Convertible, but their 389 4-barrel car has a value of $15,300 in #3 “good” condition. This could be a heck of a buy right here if it checks out, rust-wise. Even the trunk looks spotless. This car has “power steering, power brakes. New exhaust, radiator, tires, alternator, brakes, shocks. Fresh tune-up and trans service.”
Is that a factory setup with those air cleaners? I’m usually a keep-things-stock sort of person (I’ve been called boring more than once), but who doesn’t love a six-pack!? The engine looks as tidy as the rest of this car does. This engine in factory-spec would have had 338 hp in 1965, that’s more than enough power for me, but I know that when it comes to non-daily-driver classics, the more power the better. What do you think of this one? I think it looks like a great car at a very fair price. Nice find, Clarke!
Wow, great find. Someone may get a deal on that one.
I thought tri power set ups were available through 66. I’d leave it as is, and enjoy cruising with a 2 bbl and having the other 2 bbls available when I get into it. I’d love to have this in my garage, but I gotta get a garage first! lol
If that ad is real and the car is close to the pictures and description it’s well worth it.
Had a chance to purchase a 66 Bonneville convertible 389 4bbl for $1000 back in the day. Passed on it bc I was set on a firebird. Eventually found a 68 fbird convertible w the 400 4bbl option for $1200. My cousins family now owns that one. Beautiful cars, from an era of beautiful design.
Those were the days.. !
I rather drive this than a boring GTO.
Tri-power wasn’t dropped til 1967, at least for GTOs…
Man, love this Big Daddy Poncho! If the body checks out, it is a awesome buy and I would love to own it even though I am more of a Hardtop guy. My money says that it is not a factory tri-power car. That intake manifold is awful shiny. Love dog dish on classic cars. Great find!
Craigslist ad is still up. Why doesn’t someone buy this and put me out of my misery!!!???
Love the Pontiac of that time and into the early 70’s.
This 66 looks, n sounds like it’s been taken good care of
Dang! I hate seeing beautiful 69’s Pontiacs at great prices when I can’t buy another one. This one seems to be really clean and such a great price. I’d buy it in a minute if I could!
If this isn’t a scam it’s a steal…
My spidey sense is tingling though. I’m betting scam
That aside, this is about as beautiful as 60’s iron can be
It has a 65 3×2 on the car. See the choke tubes.
According to “Old Ride.com”:
1966 Pontiac Options
Description Description
Brougham Option (Bonneville 26239) Tilt Steering Wheel
Bucket Seats (Bonneville 26237, 26267) Heavy-Duty Clutch (Catalina)
Console Safe-T-Track Differential
Remote Control Deck Lid Dual Exhaust
Electro-Cruise & Fuel Warning 389-cid w/ 4-Barrel & Heavy-Duty Clutch
Tinted Glass 389-cid/338-hp Tri-Power
Tinted Windshield 421-cid/338-hp 4-Barrel
Instrument Gauge Cluster 421-cid/356-hp Tri-Power
Luggage Carrier (Safari) 421-cid/376-hp Tri-Power H.O.
Glare Proof Tilt Mirror 389-cid w/ 2-Barrel
Remote Control Rearview Mirror Transistor Ignition
Power Brakes Transistorized Regulator
Power Door Locks Sports Option 2+2 Package (Catalina 25237, 25267)
Six-Way Power Seat White Sidewall Tires
Power Windows Tachometer
Power Steering Cordova Top
Power Tilt Bucket Seat (driver’s side) Air Conditioning
AM/FM Manual Radio Cordova Top (Safari)
Push-Button AM Radio Ventura Trim Package (Catalina 25237, 25239, 25269)
Manual AM Radio Wire Wheel Discs
Split Back Seat (Safari) Aluminum Hubs & Drums
Front Bucket Seats (Catalina 2537, 2567) 3-Speed Manual Transmission
Super-Lift Shock Absorbers Turbo Hydra-Matic Transmission
Heavy Duty Suspension 4-Speed Manual Transmission
In the 60’s you actually could order almost exactly what you wanted at the dealer’s and it came in 6 weeks later. If it was really odd (as was my ’68 Chevelle wagon) the dealer wanted more cash down $500 on a $3800 car. Had heavy duty everything to tow horse trailer, sat up high, but economy rear axel ratio. Now, Audi says you can do that today, but dealer can’t be bothered, found one “close” to what we wanted. Told us 6 months for a special order (wanted a red, supercharged V6 with ordinary rims and tires – came with “cool” 21″ wheels which, with tires, weigh 75 pounds each and you feel every bump in the road).
The only engine available with tri power in 1966 full sized Pontiacs was the 421 in both non HO (with single large air cleaner) and HO (with individual GTO style air cleaners) forms. Never mind it also being from a 65. The upholstery is also not correct. Depending on the rust it might be a decent deal but almost in any case not a great deal . . .
A family member was close friends with W. Lawson King, the owner of one of the biggest Pontiac dealerships in the world, King Pontiac of Gaithersburg. Mr King used to order his demo cars with every available option, and he had a 66 Bonny with Tri-Power.
I remember when my father was looking at buying a new wagon and when we were talking with the sales manager at King Pontiac, I tried to get dear ‘ol dad to order an Executive wagon with 389 and Tri-Power, and the manager said o problem, it was an available option.
Instead, dad bought a Plymouth Fury III wagon with 383 4bbl carb & dual exhausts.
I did end up with Mr. King’s 1968 Bonneville wagon, it was so loaded with options that it took 3 pages of window stickers on the right rear wagon window.
Cylinder heads are not #093 ’66 tripower heads or #77 ’65 tripower heads, meaning its made up, which is very common. The block could even be originally a 200hp 389 2bbl for all we know. It does look like a clean job though :-)
What makes you sure that the heads are wrong? Is there a mark like the dome on Power Pack heads for 265/283?
I’ve owned so many convertibles over the years I can’t even list them all here, I’ve had everything from Mustangs to Eldorados. My personal favorite was a 1973 Buick Centurion 455ci. and it was loaded. The big GM’s were smooth, quite, and powerful. This would be a great cruiser, and this price seems more than fair to me. Great find guys.
I really like these cars. I had 66 Ventura. You don’t see too many of these. 389 2bbl. That car would almost break your neck when floored from a stand still. I outran the cops with that car. Unfortunately, you can’t out run a radio. Even the factory clock kept accurate time ! Full gauge package. Her name was Mavis. I miss her…
What a Beautiful car ! Very good price for today’s market …A look back at how beautiful and unique cars use to be . Love the Pontiac line .
It’s the nice’st Pontiac ever not a soft top guy
A 65 Impala convertible is on my bucket list, but I do believe this one could satisfy me. It pushes all the right buttons. Personally, I don’t really care if the engine is not original to the car, it’s at least a correct era Poncho & has great eye appeal when you open the hood.
Looks like it would make a good driver at a realistic price. If I didn’t already have 6 projects going on, I’d pull the trigger on this.
This ’66 is probably already “out of the barn” so it’s a little late to be second guessing, but I see a couple of things that concern me about this Poncho ragtop. First, as another reader already pointed out, the upholstery is not ’66 correct for a Catalina. Trust me, I’ve owned one for 52 years, & looked at a ton more. The other thing is the engine not being the factory correct “Pontiac Blue”. Would also mention that every ’66 Catalina tri-power I’ve ever seen, was atop a 421. This is a nice looking ride, but I really hope nobody got “stung” by it.
TKX045
I did not buy this car, but have one almost identical, except the hub caps and engine. Mine came from Lake City, Michigan. It is mint undercoated and not shown for almost 15 years. It was primarily shown at car shows for the 10 or 15 years before that. I saw it in a garage years back while driving west on M-55. I stopped and talked to the owner. I sent him some catalogs he needed for parts and stopped a few more times just to talk.
This was the car (different color) I had to give back to the dealer when I was drafted in 1967. Barry (the owner) an I talked about this and I asked him if he ever wanted to sell it to let me know. I would like first rights, if I could afford it?
He died in October 2018 and his daughter called me in October 2019. I drove it home two weeks later. I named the car Barry!
I have some pictures and could take more if you would like,