The 1959 Catalina's split grille wasn't planned — designers cut a conventional oval grille in half and swapped the pieces while experimenting, and the accident became iconic.
Lead trim: Catalina 389 V8 (235 hp, 2-barrel, manual) · up to 345 hp
Pontiac Catalina1959–1960
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Pontiac Catalina yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactThe 1959 Catalina's split grille wasn't planned — designers cut a conventional oval grille in half and swapped the pieces while experimenting, and the accident became iconic.
The Pontiac Catalina is a full-size automobile produced by Pontiac from 1950 to 1981; the name began as a trim line on hardtop body styles (1950–1958) and in 1959 it became a separate model as the entry-level full-size Pontiac. For 1959 Pontiac dropped the Chieftain and Super Chief names for its junior-level series and renamed it Catalina, demoting the Star Chief to intermediate status and expanding the Bonneville to a senior series. The first generation (1959–1960) was completely restyled on a new GM B-body with a 122 in wheelbase (213.7 in long and 80 in wide), twin tailfins (1959 only), a split grille (1959; a full-width horizontal bar grille replaced it for 1960) and a 5 in wider chassis that gave rise to the "wide track" ride and handling. All Pontiacs were powered by renditions of the 389 cubic-inch V8: Catalinas came standard with a 235 hp version with a two-barrel carburetor and 8.6 to 1 compression and a three-speed manual; with the optional four-speed Hydramatic the standard engine was a 280 hp version with 10.5 to 1 compression, and a no-cost 215 hp "Economy V8" burned regular gasoline. Extra-cost 389s ranged from 283 hp and 303 hp four-barrels to a 318 hp four-barrel and Tri-Power versions of 330 hp and 345 hp. Production was 231,561 in 1959 and 210,934 in 1960.
Collectors Spotted in the Pontiac Catalina Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Pontiac Catalina yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
3 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 389 V8 (235 hp, 2-barrel, manual) | 1959–1960 | 6.4 L V8 | 235 hp | 402 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Catalina 389 V8 (280 hp, 10.5:1, Hydramatic) | 1959–1960 | 6.4 L V8 | 280 hp | 408 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Catalina 389 V8 Tri-Power (345 hp) | 1959–1960 | 6.4 L V8 | 345 hp | 420 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
California banned Pontiac's own V8s the very year this generation launched — so every Catalina sold there ran a Chevy, Buick, or Olds engine instead.
1975 marked the end of an era for Pontiac -- the Grand Ville Brougham was the brand's last full-size convertible, and Pontiac wouldn't build another until 1982.
When the 2+2 went from trim package to full performance model in 1965, Pontiac didn't mess around — the 421-cubic-inch V8 became the BASE engine, with up to 376 hp on tap.
Did you know the 1967 Catalina hid an industry first behind its windshield? Its concealed windshield wipers were the first of their kind on any car.
Bucket seats, heavy-duty suspension, and real performance intent — the 1964 2+2 package cost just $291 on top of a base Catalina.
A 1963 Catalina convertible, hot-rodded by Californian Bill Straub, became NASA's tow vehicle for the M2-F1 — the ungainly lifting-body aircraft that helped pioneer the Space Shuttle's landing technique.
The 1959 Catalina's split grille wasn't planned — designers cut a conventional oval grille in half and swapped the pieces while experimenting, and the accident became iconic.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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