Occasionally a classic car will appear, and it is difficult to decide what its best feature is. That is the case with this 1965 Pontiac Catalina Convertible. Not only does it present beautifully, but the engine bay houses a Tri-Power V8. Add in the fact that it is being offered for sale with No Reserve, and it is a car that would seem to tick a lot of the right boxes. The Catalina is located in Goleta, California, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $16,800, and you need to remember that there is No Reserve. That means that the winner takes home the chocolates in this case.
The Pontiac is finished in Fontaine Blue, and it presents exceptionally well. The car has received a repaint at some point, but it isn’t clear when this occurred. The paint has a few minor marks, but it shines beautifully, and the panels are as straight as an arrow. The Catalina is kept garaged when not in use, and this factor, combined with life in California, means that the car remains rust-free. Complimenting the Blue paint is a white power top, while the vehicle also features flawless tinted glass. The vehicle is fitted with one of my favorite Pontiac options, which is the awesome 8-lug wheels. These appear to be in excellent condition, with no signs of staining or curb strike. The chrome and trim are as nice as the rest of the exterior, but the “2+2” badges are not original. The owner admits that this Catalina is not a true 2+2, but is a clone.
If the Catalina were a numbers-matching car, what you would find nestled in the engine bay would be a 389ci V8. Since this is a 2+2 clone, you get a 421ci Tri-Power V8, backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. This engine should be good for somewhere in the region of 356hp. At 4,118lbs, the Pontiac is a pretty hefty vehicle. However, the drivetrain combination should see it capable of blitzing the ¼ mile in a flat 15 seconds. That’s some mighty fast wind-in-the-hair motoring. Give it enough room, and it should be able to nudge 125mph. With so much air and fuel making its way into the engine, spent gasses find their way out through a dual exhaust fitted with Glasspacks. As well as the Tri-Power setup, the original intake and carburetor are included in the sale. The Pontiac is currently only used for the occasional weekend cruise, but that doesn’t mean that it has gone to seed. The owner states that it starts easily and runs well. He also says that it has plenty of power, which is a claim that I find easy to believe.
As is the case with the rest of the vehicle, it is pretty hard to find much to criticize about the Catalina’s interior. It is upholstered in Black vinyl, and this appears to be free from rips or tears. The upholstery is stretched on the driver’s seat, but this stretching is only very slight. There is also some wear showing on the colored section of the wheel rim, but it isn’t severe. The carpet and dash look perfect, while there are no issues with the console. The car is fitted with a period-correct AM/FM radio, and apart from the power top, this is the only luxury feature. There is no air conditioning, no power seats, and no power windows. Still, I suspect that the aura of this car and its performance would soon help the owner to forget those potential shortcomings.
If you are searching for a Catalina Convertible that is spotlessly original, then this car probably isn’t for you. However, if the thought of owning a beautifully presented clone appeals to you, then this is a car that has to be worth serious consideration. A genuine 2+2 Convertible in this sort of condition would leave potential buyers with no change from $50,000, while $60,000 is also conceivable. It seems that the buyer might potentially be able to score this Catalina at a fraction of those sorts of prices. That has to make it a tempting proposition.
Nice cruiser and the price seems fair at least at the current bid. I would lose the boy racer glasspacks and otherwise enjoy as is.
I have 30,000 waiting
Same here. Back in the seventies, one of my friends had one of these, green, even a convertible, he used it as his winter beater (Vermont roads) and affectionately referred to it as the “crack”. .
I thought glasspacks were illegal?
Maybe in some States
2+2s were 421 cars 67 was the last year
A lot of no answers on the option list, obviously this was meant for street racing. I would have to add a/c for southeast Texas heat, manual windows are a bit of a pain if you want to run with the top down. You have to get out and go to each window to roll them down, then if it starts raining you must repeat the process in the rain unless you’re agile enough to crawl around inside the car which I’m not. Still I would love to park this car in my garage next to my Riviera for nice Spring, Summer and Fall driving days just cruising around town or out on the farm to markets seldom getting on a Interstate highway for fear of crazies who think they own the highways.
God bless America
Beautiful car and about 3 miles from me! Wish I had more garage space!🤓
She’s a little on the heavy side but these could really move out – check their quarter mile times against the other 1966/67 offerings….nice car !
Car reminded me of the bogus Car and Driver 2+2 road test that had the barge doing 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds, or something close to that.
that was 3.8 seconds, timed with a handheld stopwatch. My friend Jim Wangers arranged those tests and the 2+2 was a ridiculously obvious ringer, probably 450 horses, but it was a fun article and it helped the imnage of the car and the magazine just as the 3/64 ‘GTO v. GTO’ test had the year before.
Ya cant get their MONEY till ya get their ATTENTION.
It was 3.8 seconds IIRC, and the car was a total ringer, probably 450 HP. My friend, Pontiac ad legend Jiom Wangers, managed those tests and they helped make the image for Pontiac and that magazine just as the infamous 3/64 ‘GTO v. GTO’ test did the previous year. Pontiac was on a roll through that decade.
“Ya cant get the customers’ MONEY till you get their ATTENTION…’
Rick I believe that test was done with the rare 421 Super Duty dual quad and tuned by Royal Pontiac. So it was probably a minimum of 450.
Nice ride. Honesty represented and it would be a joy to own.
The only thing that could make it better is if it were a ‘66 because of the cleaner styling. But that’s subjective.
Beautiuful car and since iuts a clone it wont be $60k.
My folkls had a Fontaine Blue ’65 but it was a boring Star Chief 4-door sedan. I took my frivers test in that thing, it was like parallel parking the Forrestal. Better the second time.
Is it just me or is the Front bumper a bit wonky on the passengers side?
Regardless, its good that I can’t afford this right now. Good luck to nthe seller!..
I was also a snob. I would never have been caught in a Camaro or Mustang. Everybody and their mother had them so they held no interest for me.
I was a Cadillac or bigger kid, or teenager.
As long as we’re talking snobbery, a car is not a “classic” unless declared and certified as such by the CCCA. This particular “special interest” beauty is probably worth more (wow factor and enjoyment) as presented than a numbers matching, fully optioned luxoboat. Beautiful car for less than a Prius. Cheaper repairs, sales taxes, insurance and license fees, too.
The 60s Pontiacs were great cars. I had a 64 421HO Bonneville convertible tri-power 370 HP Muncie M21 close ratio 4 speed with a 4:10 rear. Ran 13.9 @ 103.5 at National Speedway. Only mode was mechanical linkage to make sure the outside carbs opened up.
HA! I was one of those Losers. In 75, 76 & 77 I had two 65 Catalinas, and two 65 Bonnevilles. All purchased at different times and for under a hundred dollars each, all with under 85,000 miles A buffer to the lacquer and some wadding polish to what was then, real nice chrome, a detail job to the interior and wash job in the engine bay earned me 7 times the money. While all my friends owned Vettes, Camaros and Chevelles they loved going out at night to George Town in one of my float boats. I then graduated to Cadillacs, Fischer Bodies ruled the lead sleds of the day.
If anyone has driven a large Pontiac without power steering they would have not been happy.
I traded in a white ’58 Pontiac Chieftain conv. With powder blue on the sides. What a tank.
Ordered a red ’65 GTO, in Sept. 64.