Attention classic car shoppers holding out for a green car with a brown interior; this is your lucky day! Reader Jack M. spotted this 389-powered, four-speed 1964 Pontiac Catalina Ventura here on Tuscon, Arizona craigslist. While the ’64 GTO may have stolen most Pontiac entries in the muscle car history books for that year, this entry-level full-size offers similar styling with plenty of room, and certainly represents something different than the array of ’60s “Goats.” The seller claims to have pinned the $14,500 asking price just below the car’s $15,000 value.
Plenty of chrome trim and the starship thruster-like tail lights compliment the Catalina Sport Coupe’s rear.
The Catalina buyer could chose from no fewer than eight 389 cid and three 421 cid engines ranging from 283 to 370 HP, depending on transmission choice. Thanks to lov2xlr8.no for some details.
While the “2+2” version would have included a fancy polished center console, this Catalina offers room for six, though the driver should warn anyone taking the front center space that they’re about to get closely acquainted when he or she shifts into Second and Fourth. What do you think of this GTO alternative?
That is some Poncho! I wish I was closer to have a look. I doubt if it will last long at that price.
That is sweet. Nice V8, 4 speed, special wheels and looks to be in good shape.
If internals and body are as good as it looks in the photos, that’s one Poncho someone will appreciate. Looks to be in buy and drive condition.
I’m not in love with the color combination, but I really like everything else. I always liked those GM hardtops with the roof designed to look like a convertible. The 8-lug wheels, factory air and the 389 with a 4-speed should get the money the seller is looking for.
We know this car will never have front disc brakes.
Grrrrrrrrreat car! LOL
If it was closer to me I think I’d jump on it!
Actually (not to pick nits, but…) the “other hot `64 Pontiac” besides the GTO was the “2+2” option on the Catalina; not the ventura pkg. Ventura’s were nice, but not marketed at the time as being hi-performance. The “2+2” was.
Actually, ‘Ventura’ was but an interior trim package on ’64 Catalina’s…unlike a separate model as it was in other years.
Wow. I love green and Pontiacs. Ticks a lot of boxes. Would have to be an auto for me but this would make a wonderful third car.
I love Pontiacs. And fwiw, I’d have this sleeper over a GTO any day of the week. Love it!
Love the body style. My dad had a 64 Pontiac Catalina with the Ventura interior option. 389/automatic.
He bought it in December 67 when his friend traded it for a new 68 Bonneville.
Friend was a true Pontiac man. His cars were all silver 2 doors with black interior and black top. 62 Catalina, 64 Catalina, 66 LeMans, 68 Bonneville, 69 Grand Prix, 71 Grand Ville, 73 Grand Prix and a 75 Grand Ville.
He was driving his 75 with the new rectangular headlights 3 weeks before official intro day. The local Pontiac dealer loved him. Your new car came in you might as well be driving it.
Great memories. My dad had the 64 for about 4 1/2 years. He sold it to the neighbor kid who promptly totalled it.
Yeah Mark, my late FIL had one of these
before he passed away in 2003. His was
that gorgeous Gold color with a White top
and the fancy Gold interior. His was a true barn find car when he bought it in
’99 or 2000. Pop was a gifted mechanic
who got it running and driving in no time
flat. That 389 V-8 purred like a kitten and
the Hydramatic trans shifted as smooth
as fresh churned butter! Tried to buy it
from him several times, but he wouldn’t
have any of it. Sold it to someone outside our family to avoid any hard feelings between us. Sure wished he’d
sold it to me, I’d still be enjoying it today.
Man, that’s quite a car. Shame that there’s no room in the garage for another car, as this one would be a nice complement to my ’64 Wildcat coupe.
Add a factory Tri-Power set up for a bit more go…
I grew up in the late 50s. Our family was all Pontiac. They were far superior to any Chevy or Ford of that time. My aunt had a new Bonneville every year. My dad drove them as company cars. Interior quality surpassed all others. This is a steal and look at real truth. It can’t be a replica. Love it.
Seems like the book value may be a bit low for that car. I think it’s a bargain at the ask.
Great cars. Pontiac was riding high. It really was a “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” deal. My uncle had a ’61 Ventura bubbletop and a ’65 Catalina, 2 door, which was kind of the bottom of the line, but still, all Poncho. We had very few A/C cars in the midwest, so I’ve never seen that dash vent and 1 gauge. Even my uncles Catalina had the 3 gauges. While I’m not crazy about the stacked headlights, Pontiac looked the best. Not many cars like the early ’60’s Ponchos.
our teen group (the guys I hung together with) contained a 70 Mach 1 390(Dennis), a 71 Challeger 383 (Charlie) 65 Galaxie 406, (John), and Me with a 67 Chevelle 396. . we had some great street racing times in Queens N.Y…But Tommy got all the babes with his sweet full bodied Poncho 421 2+2, 4 speed, black on black..for a big boat, it was quick too.= oh, the good old days!
I love it!
A 4-gear with 8-lugs and air? Good as it gets for me.
I keep coming back and looking at this. Theres something about the color combo……..maybe because it’s not the usual primary colors…and throw in the 4 speed……….and whoa Nelly………..now for the main problem………………I wish I had planned better in my irresponsible youth. Still………
Wow, she’s a beauty ! Somebody ordered this one right when checking the boxes. I’d love to have this car. Plenty you can do to squeeze more power out of that engine, but really not necessary.
I’ve loved this model since it was new. The only upgrade I’d absolutely have to do is tri-power.
I’m always curious why people would prefer tri-power. What’s your opinion/experience with it? I’ve never had a car with it, so just curious 🤔
The only tri-power setups that I have experience with had progressive linkage. In simple terms, the motors ran on a single carb till the throttle was kicked wide open. When that happened, the effect was roughly similar to what happens today when a turbo kicks in. You felt an immediate urge from the seatback. Lotsa folks experimented with richer jets in the secondaries and other magic. But one of the biggest draws (pun intended) was the sound of all of six throats sucking in air at the same time. There was a howl that sounded to some (especially young boys)like the roar of the banshee. Two four barrels likely provided more power, but three deuces produced a sound like no other. It was glorious.
In my opinion, the best looking Pontiac body of all time. I hope someone buys this car and puts it into absolute white glove condition. I truly wish it could be me.
Loooove the ’64 and this looks nice…not my choice of colors but ya can’t call the used car factory to order what ya want so buy the condition.
Dad ordered his ‘64 Bonneville in early January and it was delivered by the middle of February.
Indiana to California and Florida and New England in that car on vacation when I was about 10-13 years old.. Then Dad gave me driving lessons in it…
Whenever I see a ‘64 Big Poncho my heart melts…
And I’m a “Ford Guy”.
Gonna go buy a couple lottery tickets about now…
Need a bigger car barn.
I love this car but being a pontiac guy i guess im a little partial……although owning a 64 2 dr bonneville ill say the 64s are great cars and really stands out next to all my buddys 63-64 chevys…..and yes tri power would be the only thing id add….4 speed to row the gears and 8 lugs too……if i didnt already have a 64 id be all over it…….i also have a tri power 66 GP wih the 8 lug drums and a 62 4 speed tri power 2 dr cat…..and the sound of those outter 2 carbs openin when you stab er to the floor makes you smile the whole time till you let out and look at your gas gauge…..next project is figuring out how to shove a 389 with 6x2s in a 49 willys wagon…….
I love the car (correct options) and I love the color combo..
And yes Stilbo a bigger car barn would be the first thing when I hit the lottery.
Also from some of your posts. I think we grew up in the same area. I live in Northern Nevada now. But grew up in the Chicago area.
Those wheels and hubs are worth a pretty penny on their own. I was just a youngster in 64 and even then I thought they were pretty fine. The only thing that would trump this would be an equally equipped Grand Prix with the massive vertical backup lamps where the tail lights reside on this one.
My Brother had a 2+2 blue. It had a 421/4speed. That sure could lay down some marks from both rear tires. Loved driving it.