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.
Lead trim: Catalina 350 V8 (150 hp, 1973) · up to 255 hp
Pontiac Catalina1971–1976
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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.
Fact1975 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.
For 1971 the Catalina and other full-size Pontiacs were completely redesigned and restyled with long hood/short deck proportions and fuselage styling, on a 123.5 in wheelbase (1971–72), 124 in (1973–74) and 123.4 in (1975–76), with wagons an inch longer at 127 in. New for 1971 was the Catalina Brougham series (dropped in 1973 after 1972), and 1972 was the last year of the Catalina convertible; the Catalina Safari wagon became simply the Pontiac Safari for 1971 with a new clamshell tailgate. The standard engine in 1971 Catalina sedans and coupes was a 255 hp "350" (actually 355 cid) V8 with a two-barrel carburetor; Broughams and Safari wagons had a 400 cubic-inch V8 at 265 gross hp, with a 455 (285 hp two-barrel or 325 hp four-barrel) optional, and power front disc brakes became standard for the first time. For 1972 the two-barrel 400 was standard on all Catalina/Brougham/Safari models at 175 net hp (compared with 265 gross in 1971 thanks to a switch in power measurements), and for 1973 the standard 350 was rated at 150 hp with a 170 hp 400 two-barrel optional and standard on Safari wagons; for 1974 the 170 hp 400 became the standard engine with a 225 hp 400 four-barrel and 250 hp 455 four-barrel as options, and the 1975 400 and 455 ratings ran from 170 to 200 hp with catalytic converters. Sales were affected by the 1973–75 recession and the 1973 oil crisis.
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 350 V8 (150 hp, 1973) | 1973–1973 | 5.7 L V8 | 150 hp | 270 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Catalina 350 V8 (255 hp gross, 2-barrel, 1971) | 1971–1971 | 5.7 L V8 | 255 hp | 355 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Catalina 400 V8 (175 hp net, 2-barrel, 1972) | 1972–1972 | 6.6 L V8 | 175 hp | 310 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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