Hubba-Hubba was my first response upon spying this spectacular 1965 Pontiac Catalina 2+2! Think about it for a minute, it’s got a big V8 engine, a shift-it-yourself gearbox, a million-dollar smile courtesy of its deep, flaming red paint job, and the top, it goes down! Did I already say that? Yes, it’s a convertible. From the days when we had full-size performance cars (and when we had Pontiac too) comes this perfect Poncho! I have to thank T.J. for tracking down this Los Angeles, California domiciled drop-top. It’s available, here on eBay for a current bid of $18,600 with the reserve not yet met.
When it comes to Pontiac performance for 1965, the sophomore edition of the GTO sucked all of the air out of the room. But prior to the speedy intermediate’s 1964 introduction, full-sized cars ruled and in spite of the goat’s success, the Tin Indian wasn’t ready to give up on a brute-size brawler – enter the Catalina 2+2. First introduced in 1964, the 2+2 started as a Catalina option package, became its own car in ’65 (examine this example closely and you won’t find a Catalina badge), and then went back to option status in ’67 before being discontinued. The origin of the name has to do with cozy carrying capacity – two in front and two in the rear.
Survivor or restored? It’s hard to say as the listing is laconic and gives few details but I’d bet on the latter. The finish is excellent – too excellent and shows more like a modern two-stage application. There are no chips, nicks, scratches, dents, or creases – and certainly no sign of rust. The trim and badging show like new, as does the white convertible top – and I know from experience that they’re a bear to keep clean. GM’s full-size B-body cars all went through an extensive redesign and restyle for ’65 but I believe that Pontiac did it best. Oh, and let’s not forget those fabulous eight-lug wheels – I never saw a set better merchandised than on this big convertible.
The one big error with this listing is the lack of an engine image – how one could skip providing a shot of one of this car’s reigning features, I’ll never know…Anyway, it should be a 338-gross HP 421 CI V8, assuming that it’s breathing through a single four-barrel carburetor as opposed to the optional 3X2 set-up. There’s no word as to driveability or road manners – how unfortunate! Regardless, rowing the gears on a car like this must be a totally satisfying experience.
The interior just oozes mid-sixties GM and Pontiac executed it with aplomb. Black vinyl “Morrokide” upholstery was the order of the day and it all presents beautifully. Of note, ’65 was the last year for standard softback bucket seats in a GM anything as 1966 would introduce the hardback “strato-bucket” design. Looking around, it’s impossible to find fault with the environment be it the door panels, carpet, center console, or dash pad – no gripes to be made.
I always believed that 2+2=4 but now I’m having doubts, there’s some serious synergy going on here and this one’s way beyond just a “4” – oh for those days again! When I see a car like this I want to ask, “Where ya been?” My guess is probably undergoing a full restoration and if that’s the case, the restorer didn’t miss a lick. I really dig this 2+2… where do you think the reserve is set?
Hopefully, nobody pulls the trigger on that “soft” hurricane Mustang for 47.5 large before they see this car. What a beauty, and no new frame, body, or drivetrain needed. And it actually seats four! Design perfection. DeLorean?
Extremely rare and much nicer than Impalas from 65 or 66. If it’s a documented car that was built new like it appears and is correctly restored, it could almost be a six figure car.
Although this is a nice looking car, I totally disagree with you regarding the 65 Impala. My first car was a 65 Impala SS and that car turned heads. A friend of mine had this car (similar) and I parked my car about 10 ft away from it at a local outside eatery. More people looked at my Impala and wanted it. My friend was a bit disappointed that more people liked my Impala. But then I guess “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and this is why we have horse races, isn’t it?
Nice one! I think I would look even better with fender skirts.
yes defiantly
Yes, you would look even better with fender skirts!
YOU might look better w/skirts, but this Pontiac wouldn’t!!!
Touche!!
Very nice! But, no topless shots.
Drive a 68 2+2 and was too cool, rowing through the gears with the big machine. It was the 428 but very similar engine just slightly larger bore. The 421and 428 both used the 4″ stroke and were great engines. Anyway back to this car looks great in red and don’t see them too often. Should have had a couple more pictures.
No Bonneville 2 + 2 only Catalina
Wow, what a beautiful car. Hard to believe the bid price is still so low.
Yes, it’s very pretty in the photos.
But let’s see… no pictures showing the VIN or trim tags, no shots of the engine, no description of the chassis / drivetrain condition (or even driveability of the car), no history of repairs = no high bids without a personal inspection.
At this point the ideal buyer is a drunk old man at the B-J auction in Scottsdale. He would then give this car to his “niece” who can’t drive a stick either.
It could be a wonderful car, or it could be a re-constructed “tribute” car. How the hell would you know from the eBay ad?
It may be low now but just give it some time. This one will not go cheap by any means!
I really love this big tin Indian! More pics would have been better, but other than that it’s a Grand Slam!
The styling on these inside and out is so cool. Super cruiser with a stick shift. And love the wild 8 lug wheels. Nick
Superb Poncho
Manual & Convertible 😃🏁
What an awesome car. Full size, 4 speed drop top?! Does it get any better? Sadly this car being a ’65, great as it is, won’t bring the money like a ’62 or ’63.
Where is the reserve set? Waaay above what I’ve got to throw down. As far as pics go, give him a call and ask for a couple. The worst he can say is no. My grandfather had a 1963 Catalina and I remember it fondly. A 2+2, though, it was not. Man, I miss my Paw-Paw.
My first car was a white 63 Catalina with red interior. Loved that car.
If memory serves, Pontiac also offered a Bonneville 2+2 that year. I remember seeing a hardtop Bonnie complete with 421 and 2+2 badges.
Terry,
While the ’65 Bonneville 2-door (124-inch wheelbase) was available with several 421 C.I.D. engine variants as optional equipment, the 2+2 performance model was exclusive to the shorter (121-inch wheelbase) Catalina 2-door.
Unlike the Catalina/Ventura/2+2 models, a 421-equipped ’65 Bonneville or Grand Prix would not have left the factory with 421 fender callouts. Yes, I’ve also seen several Bonnies out there with 421 fender emblems. (and they look great!)
No Bonneville 2 + 2 only Catalina
Love the ’65 full size Pontiacs. Had a ’65 GP but it was a 389 4 speed car. I remember I went to look at it I had to go home and measure my garage, and then went back and bought it. It’s a big car! This one is $45k or more I would guess.
Did anyone else notice the Kaiser Darrin seen through the windshield in the upper right of the interior pic?
I always thought 2+2 meant 2 buckets in front and 2 buckets in back, so you could take 4 people in the car. By that definition, this could be considered a 2+3.
Is my definition incorrect?
You are incorrect. The 2+2 never had buckets in the back.
Then, what is it supposed to mean? What about a 2+2 makes it different than any other car?
Like GTO, the 2+2 name was a dig at Ferrari. Ferrari used the “2+2” designation on models with a small back seat suitable for children. This 2+2 is a 5-passenger car with a rear seat suitable for adults, so the name was nothing but a thumb of the nose to Ferrari.
CCFisher: Thanks for the explanation. Makes sense.
This one has been around the block a few times in the past 18 months; BaT and GAA most recently and it’s traveled from one coast to the other. Add in no underwood pics, no top down shots and no trunk shots along with some negative feedback on the seller and I’m gonna pass on this one.
That makes sense. Why would you sell with so little info and so few pics. Doubt a magnet would stick to it. A nice example would rightfully be stratosphere expensive.
These were really fast cars.I know a guy who has one (’66)
sitting in his garage,in really nice shape.I always wanted to get
a ride in it,but that never happened.
Evan as a kid, I liked the instrument cluster arrangement of the ’65 and ’66 Bonneville and Catalinas. At 70, I still do! Just a glance to see them. Evan with an auto, they were hauling buggy cars. I looks sharp. I actually like it without the fender skirts. It seems most of these big Ponchos came with skirts. Looks nice without them. Your going to get your hands dirty changing a time, that is a given. But they really get dirty fast when there are “skirts” to deal with. Personal experience I know from.
Only Bonnes and GPs had skirts std. Opt on all others.
Correct. Had a ’65 GP with skirts. It made the car look 3’longer, took them off.
beautiful
Wow, this car is gorgeous.
If you search the Bringatrailer archives the car sold for $50K in Oct, 2021.
There is more info and over 100 pictures to look at.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1965-pontiac-catalina-3/
The comments are kinda ugly.
Thanks for finding this. It’s peculiar that there is no eBay image of the engine or a mention that it has a 3X2 carb. set-up – a big selling feature.
JO
Very nice-might be a good buy-There is nothing say a bad word.I had a 66 2+2 convert that was very rough,missing 421 and buckets. I was red/in and out and white top.Paid $2200 and the best i could pull out of it was $800. I usually i make a far amount-not loose. I had to laugh at the young guy that bought it. He was sure the didn’t make a 2+2 in 66. I just told him do do some homework and ley me know i,m right. Got that call about a week later me was so amazed it was real 2+2 then says hes going to build it so i hope he does.My job was to just save it and i did.
Damn This would look better if i was behind the wheel!! LOL
But that’s not happening any time soon….
My kind of car…
Either it had skirts, or the rear wheel opening moldings are missing. Still, great car.
Cars from yesteryear….what style. Pretty much none two were alike. You could name them from 1/2 block away….what it was.
That all started going away in the 1980’s…..with homogenized garbage.
And morphed into the mess you see today ! blah
I’m in the WOW l Love it camp. I’ve previously chimed in about my friend’s Mom’s GP of the same vintage. What a beautiful car that was. Because this one has a manual transmission I’m even more smitten. IMO GM Bill Mitchell and Pontiac in particular had styling nailed with these mid sixties automobiles. I’m thinking that this will sell for a lot more than the current bid. I personally would never offer this kind of money without an intensive inspection. But I’m not currently sporting a bankroll that can afford this and a new roof for my house. So no worries. But I can dream.
Resale Red ?? you would have to decide for yourself. Presents flawlessly. Hard to find one with a factory 421. Would love to rip through the gears one time. As far as the reserve, the old grey hair here has a philosophy- Contact the owner and ask. He might tell you, might not. I feel that giving the reserve would allow a prospective buyer to decide if he can afford it. Some sellers are really touchy about giving the reserve. Sorry this is a tad off topic but whats your opinion. Good luck.
Cheers
GPC
I recently bought a barn find 65 grand prix 389 4bbl. 4spd. Nice bucket seat, console interior with vacuum gauge, factory tach. Tilt wheel. Runs nice, solid floors and straight body. Sadly the frame is rotted. So I will either part it out or sell as I need to finish my cuda project. If anyone would like to save this rare car its listed in the poci club. And western ma. Craigslist. Wish I could afford the 65 2+2 listed here. What a beauty.
That is one nice Pontiac! Can’t speak higher on how well it looks to me.
I’d take it in a heartbeat.
Pontiac had the 2+2 as a trim option on the 1962 Catalina, only it was called Gran Prix Basically the bucket seats and a console and some other chrome accents inside. The Gran Prix (correct original spelling for trim option in 1962, dad worked for Fisher Body Division of GM as an auditor) Ad agency added the d to Gran to avoid having to pay money to France like Pontiac did to the Italian GTO company for use of the name on the Tempest. In 1963 it became a n option on the Catalina, before becoming its’ own model in 1964.
Gorgeous car. I’ve always thought the Pontiac were the best style and performance line GM ever produced, bar none!
Full size American muscle at its best
Pulled from ebay.
WAIT… what? The linked auction ad has completely disappeared from eBay listings.
Was this just a scam auction to get deposits? What just happened here?
Beautiful should sell @2x’s that price. If you’re getting 50 for cars that should be scrapped this is easily worth 30.
Ahh, the one I let slip away. About 15 years ago I had almost this exact car, except mine had an automatic transmission, not the 4-speed. But unlike this car, mine needed *everything*: some welding underneath (gas tank was held on by one strap because the other mounts were gone, same with the radiator) plus floors and trunk plans. Rust/bondo on every quarter, etc. But it started right up every time. I held it for a few years and then sold it, knowing I didn’t have the time or expertise to restore it, nor the money to have it done. Figured one day I would just buy another 2+2, right? In those 15 years, finding one with an actual 421 has become impossible. (Well, apparently only nearly so.)
Appears to be a scam. Copied this from a FB Pontiac site: Please let anyone you know that may be bidding. This is a scam. The car is in Rochester ny and is not for sale. My buddies family owns it. These pics are taken directly from being a trailer add that he bought it from.
I messaged him through eBay and told him he was a thief. It was magically deleted. However it’s also on barnfinds classified add too.
1965 Pontiac Catalina | eBay
EBAY.COM
1965 Pontiac Catalina | eBay
Pontiac Catalina Convertible 2+2. Model: Catalina. Year: 1965. Make: Pontiac. a pretty image. Condition Notes.
Is/Was this posted as a Classified Ad here on BF?
Maybe there is a way to track the scammer……
No! BF did not represent this car! It was listed on eBay and I picked it up off of our tip list.
JO
Thanks for explaining the scam.
A real classy looking car. This one is sure to take a bite out of
someone’s wallet before it sells. Buyer will love taking this beauty home!!!!