The Catalina was Pontiac’s entry-level full-size car from the 1950s through the 1970s. But it was anything but a basic automobile. A redesign came in 1965, so the cars received just a facelift in 1967, and the standard engine was upgraded from a 389 to a 400 cubic inch V8. Though it carries an older repaint, the seller’s 1967 Catalina is a survivor-quality vehicle that needs a new home because the seller is moving. Located in Dunwoody, Georgia, this car demonstrates that four doors aren’t necessarily too many. It’s available here on craigslist for $8,950. A nod to Barn Finder Barney for this great tip!
New for 1967 were concealed windshield wipers, the first time this was offered by any U.S. automaker. The base 400 engine in the Catalina came with a 2-barrel carburetor and was rated at 265 horsepower. The advantage over the 4-barrel option was that the engine could run on regular gasoline (back in the days before unleaded fuel). While a 3-speed manual transmission was standard, most of these automobiles left the factory with a Turbo-Hydramatic. So, in keeping with Pontiac’s performance image, no Catalina was a slouch when you romped down on the accelerator.
The seller’s Catalina is one of 80,000 4-door sedans assembled in 1967, so the original supply was ample. The seller has tweaked this edition by adding a 4-barrel carb, aluminum radiator, and an upgrade to the camshaft. All of the original parts were saved, should you want to reinstall them, but we’re told the car runs well. And the odometer reading of 70,000 seems logical.
Its Silverglaze Poly paint was redone in 2003 and still looks good. The interior is fine, but the front seat could stand some new upholstery, so a blanket covers things. The seller bought the car off the original owners (when?) and has added some aftermarket wheels and tires, though you can have the factory pieces as well. There is some emotional attachment to the car, so the seller wants to be sure it goes to a home that will honor it as he/she has.
Now wait a minute, I thought that
the executive was Pontiac ‘s cheapest car. Even so, these base 4-doors are nothing to sneeze at. You got a fair deal if you were wise enough to buy one. You got a good size engine
that actually moved the car at a fair clip as you floated down the
Interstate. And you also got an
interior with acres of room and two really cushy seats front and rear. It was like someone took two sofas and put them in the car. And then there’s that trunk!
Big enough to sneak three of your
buddies into your friendly neighborhood drive-in if cash was
short. Or, if organized crime was
your thing, you could rub out two
of your enemies, stuff them in the
trunk, and fageddanout it! And that’s why you don’t see these much in either Joisey or Chicago.
This is the car the mob would use
to take you for a ride. But for the rest of us, that trunk could hold everyone’s suitcases, souvenirs,
or anything else you might accumulate while rolling down Route 66 on your way to California on that marvelously blissful thing called your Summer
Vacation. Want more? You could
take this car down to Farm & Fleet, Western Auto, or Sears to have a very stout hitch attached
to the rear of the car to tow your
boat, a U-Haul, or your camper and transport the entire clan in fine style. As you’ve probably figured out by now, I want this car
with a passion. These are a very
rare commodity along with their
Wagon siblings as many of them
were crushed after they gave up
their drive trains for someone’s
street rod. And best of all, it’s
reasonably priced. And if you’re
gonna fly in and drive it home, get
a rear hitch installed, and grab yourself a U-Haul to tote all that
original equipment that comes along with the car.
The Catalina was the base full-size. The Executive was designed to be a not quite as rich man’s Bonneville. It was between the Catalina and Bonneville and somewhat short-lived as far as models go.
That’s a steal at 9k. Very little needed to make it a fantastic head turner.
I mean, whatever you buy today is going to be a 4-door or a wagon anyway. She wears those wheels good. I’d drive it and smile.