The Catalina was introduced in 1950 as a Pontiac 2-door hardtop trim option. Nine years later, it reached series status across multiple body styles, becoming the GM division’s entry-level full-size product. Riding on GM’s B-body platform, the 1965-70 generation generated the greatest interest, including this low-mileage survivor from 1969. It seems to be original in all important respects and is available here on craigslist for $23,000. You can visit in person in Jefferson City, Missouri, and is a tip brought to us by T.J.!
Trim-wise, the Catalina was on a par with the Chevy Impala (which was also a B-body car). 1969 brought a major restyle and a more pronounced protruding snoot, made of “Endura”. Vent windows were gone (except on wagons), which disappointed me as a youth. Headrests and locking steering columns were new safety features that year. The Catalina was not lacking for power with a standard 400 cubic inch V8.
The seller’s car is one of 84,000 2-door hardtop Catalinas produced in ’69. This Catalina appears typical in terms of equipment – power steering (variable-ratio?), power brakes (front disc?), automatic transmission (TH-400?), and factory air conditioning. The odometer reads 57,500 and is said to be legit.
Said to be without rust, the paint and vinyl roof are nice, but perhaps not “excellent” as the seller suggests. But the interior with factory upholstery is as tidy as you’re likely to find at 56 years of age. If you’re into unrestored survivors in good shape, could this be one of the nicer Ponchos left?
Beautiful car. Looks like there might be some rust bubbling under the vinyl top? 🤷♂️
Yes, and the vinyl has pulled up from the chrome in the back under the rear window.
Powerful cars. Love the Catalina model. Catalina, also a likeable salad 🥗 dressing. 😋 Thanks again Dixon.
clean piece but a lot of coin.
These seemed to be everywhere when I was a kid. Maybe the beak just made an impression on me.
Wow & wow! Cool car & like that interior.
Beautiful car! My areas of concern other than the possible rust under the vinyl top are the age of the tires and the timing set. I had a 1967 Catalina convertible about twenty years ago. This was the era of plastic timing gears at GM. It was a moderately big job made worse when it broke on me. Ford did something similar so the PO of my current Ford LTD swapped the timing set on it prior to me buying it. Anyway, this is a great car. I think the owner is about $8k too high on his asking price. Land yacht weirdos like me are fairly rare and it’s a thin market.
I might be more willing to pony up if it was a 370 or 390hp 428, a 350hp 400 is ok but, $23,000 is equally clean A body money.