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The Pontiac Catalina was part of Pontiac's full-sized automobile line. Initially, the name was used strictly to denote hardtop body styles, first appearing in the 1950 Chieftan Eight and DeLuxe Eight lines. In 1959, the Catalina became a separate model, as the 'entry-level' full-size Pontiac.
1950-1958
The name Catalina was first used on the 1950 Chieftain (Series 25/27) Hardtop, Pontiac's top of the line model at the time. Originally referred to as 'hard-top convertibles', these vehicles offered pillarless design in the door and window areas, along with the top-grade convertible appointments. The advantage that these fixed-roof designs offered consumers was in its sporty, airy feeling without the expense and drawbacks normally associated with convertible top vehicles. With the exception of the 1958 Bonneville hardtop, all Pontiac hardtops were designated "Catalina" from 1950 to 1958. Powered by a straight-8 "flathead" engine at the time of its debut, it would receive Pontiac's new V8, the 287 in³ OHV four years later.
1959-1981
For 1959, Pontiac dropped the name Chieftain for its entry level model and renamed it Catalina. At the same time, Pontiac advertising placed higher emphasis on top trimmed Catalina models such as the two and four door hardtops, convertible and station wagon instead of its base two and four door sedan variants.
The Catalina, though it was the lowest-priced full-sized Pontiac, was still a step up from the Chevrolet Impala in trim and appointments. Catalinas also came standard with more amenities than Chevrolet models and included the larger and more powerful V8. Pontiacs also benefited from a much better automatic transmission - the Hydra-Matic or Turbo Hydra-Matic.
For much of its life, the Catalina was considered the high-volume model for Pontiac, and in the 1960s could be considered a performance car when properly equipped. Anticipating this, Pontiac offered the Catalina 2+2 from 1964 to 1967, with performance options as "standard" equipment. As was the custom at Pontiac, nearly every engine and drive train combination was available on all models.
In 1971 the mid-level Executive was discontinued and replaced with the Catalina Brougham, which offered a somewhat more luxurious interior trim than the regular Catalina. The Brougham was dropped in 1973 after its sales failed to meet expectations. 1972 also marked the final appearance of the Catalina convertible. All 1973 full-sized Pontiacs including the Catalina rode on a common 124 in wheelbase for the first time since the 1953, with the exception of Safari wagons which continued on a 127 in wheelbase shared by other GM divisions.
In 1977, Pontiac and other GM divisions downsized their full-sized cars in an effort to lighten weight and improve gas mileage. The Catalina continued as Pontiac's entry-level full-size automobile with a V6 now standard in sedans and coupes (Safari wagons came standard with V8 power) and optional V8s of 301 in³, 350 in³ and 400 in³ displacements.
The Catalina was discontinued after the 1981 model year along with the more luxurious Bonneville as Pontiac sought to abandon the full-sized car market as part of GM's continued downsizing program. When production of the Catalina nameplate ended in 1981, over 3.8 million Catalinas had been sold since 1959.
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Pontiac vehicles | Rear wheel drive vehicles | Full-size vehicles | Coupes | Convertibles | Sedans | Station wagons | 1950s automobiles | 1960s automobiles | 1970s automobiles | 1980s automobiles
"Pontiac Catalina"