1967 was a year of contrasts for Pontiac’s Catalina. Despite significant changes, including new engines and plenty of miscellaneous upgrades, Catalina’s sales continued to decline, a trend that started in 1966, shortly after the debut of this series.
Pontiac sold over 271,000 units in 1965 when the appetite for full-size cars was at record levels. The yearly performance dropped to 247,000 units in 1966 before declining to 211,000 units a year later.
Pontiac’s changes reached their maturity with a one-year delay, so in 1968, Catalina’s sales rebounded, increasing to 240,000 units. The ascension slowed down fast, so the GM brand couldn’t sell more than 193,000 units by the end of the decade.
One of the most significant changes introduced in 1967 concerned the available engines. The company dropped the 389 and the 421 V8s to replace them with 400 and 428 units sporting substantial performance upgrades. Tri-Power engine options waved goodbye to the Catalina too.
The 1967 example posted on eBay by seller gtopartsareus comes with a 400 V8 under the hood, but you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out its condition isn’t the best. This Catalina has been sitting for many years, and despite the seller not sharing such information, the car exhibits very concerning rust, undoubtedly due to a long tenure on the side of the road.
The vehicle is equipped with power steering and power doors, but at one point during its lifetime, it also served as a donor for another project. Its taillights and headlights are missing, and the seller says these are the only parts you won’t get as part of the deal.
The frame still sports a solid condition, so if you don’t mind the rust damage, which made its way to the typical places, this Catalina could become a solid restoration candidate.
The engine no longer starts and runs, but the vehicle rolls and steers easily, so you can get it on a trailer quickly. The factory red paint doesn’t look good but isn’t wrecked. A complete restoration must include a full respray, though.
The best news is the Catalina sells at no reserve. The rules of the game are simple: the highest bid can take the car home, as the owner did not enable a reserve. The auction started a few hours ago, but nobody entered the race to buy the car. The starting bid is $2,295; at first glance, the seller’s expectations are pretty high.
This Catalina exhibits a rough shape with a non-working engine and missing parts, so getting that much as part of an auction is challenging. The owner parked the Catalina in State Road, North Carolina, so you’ll have to go there to see the car in person.