- Seller: Matt S (Contact)
- Location: Rochester, New York
- Mileage: 28,827 Shown
- Chassis #: 25237
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 389 cui V8 4-Barrel
- Transmission: Automatic
Listed exclusively on Barn Finds Auctions, this 1965 Pontiac Catalina is exactly the kind of car enthusiasts love to find—an honest, well-loved driver with decades of memories attached. The seller, located in Rochester, New York, has owned the car since 2008 and describes it as a “20-footer, local cruise-in, take the kids for ice cream driver.” It’s running, registered, and New York State inspected, making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
Under the hood is a 389-cubic-inch V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor, believed to be original to the car. The previous owner reportedly added a performance camshaft, giving it that distinctive “lumpy” Pontiac idle so many enthusiasts appreciate. Power is sent through a TH400 automatic transmission, and the car is equipped with power steering and power drum brakes.
The seller notes that the Catalina still starts easily—usually firing on the first turn of the key, except after sitting for long periods, when it might need a couple of pumps of the pedal. Once running, it’s described as a dependable cruiser that’s been driven only a few hundred miles in recent years. It rides on 15-inch Rally II wheels and features auxiliary gauges for amps, temperature, and oil pressure.
This Pontiac wears a two-tone paint job applied by the previous owner in Atlanta. While it presents well from a distance, it does show its age up close with some dings, scratches, and light imperfections. There’s even a bit of family history in one of them—a slight crease in the trunk lid, left there intentionally after a curious three-year-old grandson accidentally rolled the car into a mailbox. That story alone says plenty about how this Catalina has been enjoyed rather than hidden away.
A few mechanical quirks are noted, including a small transmission leak when stored for long periods and a probable rear main seal drip, which the seller calls a “notorious Pontiac trait.” The radio and clock are inoperative, and there’s minor rust in the lower door area, along with pinholes in the trunk pan. Still, the car runs, drives, and has clearly been cared for by an owner who values transparency.
If you’re looking for a fun, usable classic that you can enjoy immediately—and maybe improve as you go—this Catalina checks every box. It’s got history, heart, and plenty of character left to share with the next caretaker. Would you keep the Catalina as-is for weekend drives or give it a full refresh over time?
Bid On This Auction
Big_Block426 bid $6,500.00 2025-11-06 10:49:01
1 ole man bid $6,100.00 2025-11-05 08:34:11
RainmanMemphis bid $3,750.00 2025-11-03 14:38:02
Roverray bid $3,500.00 2025-11-02 09:20:07
Tom bid $3,100.00 2025-10-31 10:39:54
chieftbird bid $500.00 2025-10-30 09:36:12
This is a New York car, so don’t worry about the rust you can see, worry about the rust you don’t see, here. It’s a nice looking car but the white roof is not stock. No Catalina was two-toned, they were offered with a vinyl roof and likely so was this one. It does have the higher compression 389 though and that’s a big upgrade over the standard 2-barrel engine.
Yes – it’s obvious this ’65 once had a vinyl roof on it – most likely white. The tell-tale sign is there is no trim where the white meets the body color, as it would have with a factory two tone paint scheme.
you could get a cat with a painted roof as well as a v/top. my grandfather bought this same color cat new off the showroom floor in 1965 with a white painted roof. wish i had it now
Yes, the two-tone was available, but it’s done wrong on this car. On a factory two-tone, there is a piece of molding that runs from under the drip rail around the back about two inches or so below the back glass, just like on a vinyl top car. It gives it a well-defined, finished look.
Color aside, this was very much like my Uncle Marvs car. Got a chuckle out of “couple pumps of the pedal”, there’s another anti-theft device, what does that do, gramps? No “Safety Sentinel” either? I read this car cost Marvie about $2871, minus his trade in, a ’61 Ventura bubbletop, they probably gave him $500 for. There were much fancier Chiefs, but they all came off a similar platform, and they all rolled like thunder. Marv had a heavy foot, unlike his brother( my dad) and was always a treat riding with him. It was left lane on Hy. 41( the only divided highway at the time) all the way.
Not sure about the cam thing, we used to get that “lumpy” idle by pulling a vacuum line off, and surely 128K, but should not be a concern provided the frame is okay. Some of the best cars GM ever made right here.
The ’65 and ’66 were “Peak Pontiac” styling IMHO. The man responsible for the great Pontiac style of the 1960s was Jack Humbert, truly one of the great unsung heroes of automotive design. I’ll add a link to an article if I can find one.
Here is a good one: https://www.deansgarage.com/pontiacs-chief-designer-jack-humbert/
My folks bought a new Pontiac every three years, 26 in all, and typically it was a big 4-door for my Dad and then next a wagon for Mom. Sadly we didn’t have either a ’65 or ’66, but Dad’s ’64 Bonneville Brougham and Mom’s ’67 Bonnie wagon were pretty stylish and awesome cars, and I got them handed down to me when they replaced them in 1970 and 1973 respectively. This was the heyday of Pontiac and these were wonderful beasts.
GLWTA!!
I was just a youngster but I have a vivid recollection of my brother coming home with a new ’65 Catalina. Beige with a white two tone roof and gold interior. Sharp looking car and a favorite ever since.
Ok, I’ll ask the dumb question. Why does the dash look like it has His and Hers radios? I’m assuming the heater controls were made to look similar to the radio?
Yes
Pretty car, though WAY too performance-oriented for me! I like enough power to run a car at modern highway speeds, and that’s it. The minute I see custom wheels, letter tyres, and auxiliary gauges, please count me OUT. If this were a straightforward family sedan or hardtop with the base V-8, automatic shift, two-barrel carburator, AIR-CONDITIONING, just a straight “driver” looking for someone new behind the wheel, then it might interest me. But I don’t like a car that “growls” when it idles, and leaves rubber on the road when taking-off from a stop.
Well then – a Nash Rambler would suit you just fine. A comfortable car with their inline six-cylinder, that was a nice bullet-proof engine, but it look the length of a jumbo jet air strip to go from 0 to 60 in it. Why even bother commenting on anything more powerful? That just seems rather foolish IMO.
For one, I don’t find little cars comfortable. And I like the LOOK of these Pontiacs. But this same car with an entry-level V-8, automatic transmission with steeering colmn shifter, and factory air-conditioning, would suit me just fine.
Why is it that it seems only the Catalina’s survive in the Pontiac line? The lowest priced car Pontiac offered, and you see a lot of them on here and elsewhere, but not the Bonneville’s and Star Chief’s. This one is kind of strange as it has the Bonneville grab bar above the glove compartment. With all the chrome pitting inside and out, this Cat has seen some really rough weather and a lot of sitting in the direct sun. The front bumper has hit a thing or two as it’s pushed in slightly, which has pushed the grill’s center nose back toward the radiator. Being a New York car, it’s probably hiding a lot of other body “challenges”, so any prospective buyer should perform a thorough onsite inspection before plopping down any cash for it.
When I was a teen, a good friend’s parents bought a new Catalina 2+2′, Red with red interior, 421 with tri-power! I was jealous! When my friend got his license, he drove the 2+2 up to my house to show me. This was his first solo experience. On the way home, he did a burn out around a corner and put it it in the ditch! No real damage but his father was NOT HAPPY!!!
Thiss really looks like one sweet Catalina. My father bought his first new car, a ’64 Catalina, silver, black interior, and then traded it in on his burgundy ’66 Bonneville which I’ve showed a picture of before. I remember my Dad saying that these Wide Tracks handled so well back then. I’ve probably mentioned this 158 times before on here, so I’ll go right ahead for 159…. GM really had some of the most handsome full size cars in the 60’s. Just look at those body lines!!! If there isn’t any rust issues this ones a real winner.
For one, Al Dee, I don’t find little cars comfortable. And I like the LOOK of these Pontiacs. But this same car with an entry-level V-8, automatic transmission with steering column shifter, and factory air-conditioning, would suit me just fine.
For one, Al Dee, I don’t find little cars comfortable. And I do like the LOOK of these Pontiacs. But this same car with an entry-level V-8, automatic transmission with steering column shifter, and factory air-conditioning, would suit me just fine. I like the sorts of cars that others chop-up for parts to fix a convertable or sporty edition — essentially a comfortable family sedan or commuter’s automobile.
sorry Harrison, could you please post what car woul please you. Not sure I undertood the first 3 times you mentioned it. :- )
To Brad: SMILES — you GOT me!!! I guess I just get tired of everyone wanting a sporty coupe or convertible muscle car with manual shift on a centre-console: it’s as if the late 1960s “muscle car” era was the pinacle of American automobile manufacturing! I like practical and comfortable cruisers that are roomy and have enough power to navigate modern roads at legal speeds. I like to RELAX when I am driving, and I hold NO desire to look like a southern California hot-rodder. — neither to have a “slleeper” capable of laying rubber in front of unsuspecting other motorists.
the 389 is the standard engine – and it is a column shift . and this car , like many cars in the 1960s was not equipped with a/c
Beautiful ride. Wish it wasnt so far away