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.
Lead trim: Catalina 350 Diesel V8 (Oldsmobile-built, optional 1980–81)
Pontiac Catalina1977–1981
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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.
FactCalifornia banned Pontiac's own V8s the very year this generation launched — so every Catalina sold there ran a Chevy, Buick, or Olds engine instead.
In 1977 Pontiac and the other GM divisions downsized their full-size cars to lighten weight and improve gas mileage. The fifth-generation Catalina (1977–1981) continued as Pontiac's entry-level full-size automobile on a 116 in wheelbase with a Buick-built 231 cubic-inch V6 now standard in sedans and coupes (Safari wagons came standard with V8 power) and optional Pontiac-built V8s of 301, 350 and 400 cubic inches offered in all states except California; the Pontiac 350 was offered in 1977 but replaced by Buick and Oldsmobile 350s from 1978 to 1980, the Pontiac 400 (through 1978) was replaced by an Oldsmobile 403 in 1979 only, and an Oldsmobile-built 350 Diesel V8 was optional for 1980 and 1981 alongside a cut-down 265 cubic-inch Pontiac V8. The Safari wagon got a new two-way tailgate. Because Pontiac V8s were banned in California from 1977, Catalinas sold there used other GM divisions' engines through 1981. The Catalina was discontinued after the 1981 model year as Pontiac sought to abandon the full-size market; over 3.8 million Catalinas were sold since 1959.
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
2 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 231 V6 (Buick-built, standard on sedans and coupes) | 1977–1981 | 3.8 L V6 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
| Catalina 350 Diesel V8 (Oldsmobile-built, optional 1980–81) | 1980–1981 | 5.7 L V8 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
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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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