The family went to the local Pontiac dealer and my Dad said, “We’ll take that one”. He proceeded to lay down 33 $100 bills, and we drove home a green, ‘66 Catalina with a black vinyl top with a “reverberator” radio …. We ALL loved the car …. As a 17 year old, I couldn’t be happier …. it was FAST!! 👍
That is one of the most beautiful cars ever... and it belongs to the master of detail. Your narration is impeccable your wealth of knowledge is incredible you just really have an amazing presentation.
@@RareClassicCars I live in Saginaw but it's amazing how many clean classic cars you find in Chicago. There are a lot of collectors there. My 71 Torino 428scj came out of Elk Grove village of all places and he was all set to sell it to Vanguard classic cars so I gave him 200 dollars more than they did so I got the car.
@@RareClassicCars Bill's definitely telling the truth, you're an excellent explainer and definitely know your cars...makes for very enjoyable and interesting viewing!
@@mikesamra9126 My buddy in HS. Drove his dad's Torino with "428 Super Cobra Jet Police Interceptor" on air cleaner. Was absolutely the fastest car I ever rode in. Faster than 350 Vega I think !
That car is stunning. Such a quintessential 1960's color, too - and the interior is very striking in quality and color, too. Thanks for doing one for us GM fans.
My thoughts exactly. My father had the station wagon version in the similar color. It wasn't new when he had it but strangely this car had the 283 SBC V8 with a 2 speed Powerglide transmission. It was a very strong well made car built like a tank. I learned to drive on this car back in the '70's. Those were fun times. Thanks for the memories of the good old days in the '66 Pontiac Catalina. I'll miss them forever. Stay safe and have a God blessed day.
@@paulkirkland1535 hi; Canadian built Pontiacs had Chevy power trains. 283 power glide, but model would have been Strato Chief, Laurentian or Parisienne. Also, the Grande Parisienne was introduced for 66 but not in wagon till 67.
My father started working at Pontiac in 1934 in 1965-67 he ran the block line at the Pontiac Foundry so it is possible that he was part of this car. He died in Feb 1967 three months prior to his retirement date and is buried in Pontiac Michigan
my dad had a burgundy ‘65 Pontiac Starchief… was the first family car I have memories of! Pretty similar, but the catalina was a model up in the lineup I believe.
I went with my dad to pick up a brand new '66 4 door Catalina from Brownell Pontiac in Birmingham. I was 4 but I remember it well. It was the same color outside and in as the one in this video except ours was 4 door. We even had the same hub caps as this one. Brings back a lot of memories. I even remember the unique sound of the turn signals - THIS CAR STILL HAS THAT ORIGINAL SOUND.
The base model is well equipped because Pontiac was a premium brand. My parents had a 66 Catalina wagon in dark blue. They factory ordered overload springs that made it a good hauler. With the rear seat laid down, we could haul sheets of plywood. Best of all, it was a reliable car. It was the first car we ever owned that we could drive from Portland to Wisconsin and back without mechanical problems. Kudos to Pontiac.
There were other GM models equally wonderful in those days. My parents would only buy Chevrolets. Why pay. Otr for the same car? Our 66 was an ImpalaSS sport coupe samebright interior moldings. Ermine White, same aqua interior, inyl bucket seats. Beautiful!Today there is no GM car I wojld consider
What a gorgeous survivor you have there ! Makes me homesick for my old `66 Grand Prix, which had the 421 Tri-Power H.O. (376 HP), 4-speed, and 3.42 Posi, with those beautiful finned aluminum wheels. It was impressively fast for such a big car. I still kick myself for letting that one go, I`ll never find another one like that.
Thanks, great Pontiac & HO,** etc.!! Interestingly, I had a ****1966 FORD GALAXIE **500XL/ 4 *speed/ *Burgandy & BLACK INT/ ps/ PB 362/4 BBL( moderate engine ,at least FAIRLY EXONOMICALfor College Kid & beyond):: Anyways after a little fixing ( MOTORCRAFT STUFF, special,metallic Brakes/ tires/ shocks,etc) was nice CRUISER for many miles!! Interestingly,also, bought the GALAXIE XL @ DODGE DEALERS “LOT “fairly cheap( forgotten now) IN 1967…..my 66:had the EMERGENCEY FLASHERS IN glovebox,NO CoolantnRecovery System( had to use MOTORCRAFT *KIT, only before AUTO PARTS had it, NO AIR CONDITIONING,no Disc brakes, no Cruise). Oddly good &/Solid Caen to,cruise all,over INDIANA/to Pharmacy School ( Purdue):,:……..
Hi from the UK. When I lived in the US from 1964 to 70 I initially drove a '59 T-Bird and then moved to a '63 Pontiac Grand Prix. Wonderful cars as is your Catalina, unfortunately those days are gone. When you look at the modern cars parked in your road it says a lot about modern car design. Your video brought back some wonderful memories. Thank you so much
Mark of Excellence is a Lincoln tag line. GM was large an in charge back in the day, 50s to real early 70s before quality took a dive, too bad GM was asleep as imports invaded. If they stayed on their game, Imports wouldn't have credibility.
,hes, you aee exactly right. This was right at the beginning of the end of the glory days of GM. And 30 years later the brand was dead and the corporation was bankrupt. The worst mksmanagement in history.
In 1977 got a job as a lot boy drove so many of the now a days classic cars i still remember loving to drive the Pontiacs. My dad was the Mechanic he had me start them up and go around a little to warm them up the 400s were so strong. thanks for the flashback!
My father had a 1967 Pontiac Catalina convertible in Tyrol blue. He loved that car so much. Always loved the Pontiac front ends with the headlights stacked vertically. Thought it looked so elegant compared to other GM cars. Gorgeous color.
I, too, have always been attracted to the Poncho's mid-'60s stacked headlights, and the front end in general. Too bad the attraction of that front end was only skin deep. The parts that beauty concealed may as well have been cast from pot metal for all the durability they held. I know; I replaced most of them at one time or another. The rest of the car was moderately artillery-proof. I bought a '65 Catalina for $300 in 1985 and used it as a driver/family car until 1994...60 miles round trip to work each day; road trips from Central Cali to San Diego, Tijuana, Ensenada; from Central Cali to Seattle; to Yosemite twice. My only regret is not getting my money's worth out of it.
@@budlewis721 You should have seen the road testing we gave my dad's '65. As teenagers, we did things that would have made crash test dummies run and hide.
@@dansmusic5749 The folly of youth. If you were anything like me, you _were_ a crash test dummy. A high school friend (still, actually) had a beautiful, fully operational '55 Packard Clipper Custom that we'd take on "death cruises", but we were careful to do it only when safely drunk. Little dents, scrapes, lost hubcaps, broken parts ignored - you know the drill. It was 1970, so even if we hadn't been morons we wouldn't have appreciated a car only 15 years old. That car didn't deserve the slow, painful death we gave it.
What a gorgeous car and great narration. The interior is a work of art. The whole car is. GM at the height of its power and just going the extra distance on quality.
When I was growing up my next door neighbor had a shared driveway with his brother, so they lived side by side. They both bought brand new maroon with black Interior 65 Pontiac Catalina 2 doors. I think they were the 2+2 cars.They were beautiful and I always thought that was so cool as a kid. I have always loved cars though. Your 66 is also beautiful. Those Pontiacs of the 60’s were always very stylish. Great video.
My dad bought a 66 bonneville station wagon with basic options like power steering and brakes, am radio, roof rack and 3rd seat. But it did have the 421 tri-power and automatic. It took our family all over the US. Loved seeing this video. Thanks
In the fall of 1965 my father brought home a brand new Pontiac Catalina station wagon (in Reef Turquoise) from Totem Pontiac in Seattle. I thought it was the most beautiful car I'd ever seen (I was 8 years old at the time). Years later, it was the first car I ever drove.
It's absolutely gorgeous. I remember when I was a kid in the 60s and 70s my family had Chevies which were good cars but our next door neighbors and neighbors across the street had Pontiacs. I was envious. They were just a notch above Dad's Chevies. The first car I bought back in 1982 was a 69 Pontiac Firebird. After that I had a 66 Tempest, a 70 Tempest, a 68 GTO and a 70 LeMans Sport and I loved them all. Hopefully I'll get my hands on some more old Pontiacs before I die.
My dad had one and we drove it to see his family. Boston to Kansas City ,with me in the back seat glued to the window. One of my best childhood memories.
I love mid-sixties Pontiacs. It's amazing that you are able to find all your cars such great shape. They don't tend to be collectible models originally purchased by enthusiasts which begs the question: who took such good care of them, and why?
Apart from everything else what a fantastic colour!
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I rode in those Pontiacs all my life up in the Fresno area. I still see some on the road. The weather is hot and dry so they have survived. My first car in 1981 was a 1967 Pontiac 2-door Lemans coupe with only 21 thousand miles. I drove for many years! Love them Pontiacs.
I took my road test in my mom's white 66 catalina back in 1974. It was powerful and drove like you said in the video. We had it till around 1984. It was sold for it's 389 engine. Rip. Mom.
This is one of the most beautiful cars GM ever produced! Incredible grille, roofline, skirts - the whole deal. Reliable - smooth, bulletproof design. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your well justified enthusiasm for this gorgeous Pontiac!
I currently own a '67 Bonneville convertible with the same paint and interior color, 400/4bl. You're dead on regarding the smooth ride of these cars as well as the power from the engine. It's like a boat on the water. I can use my index finger on the inside of the lucite steering wheel to turn the vehicle absolutely effortlessly. Drove my Dad's '66 4dr Bonneville in high school on weekends which eventually became my car. He asked why my friends and I didn't take their parent's cars out cruising on Fri/Sat nights. Three words. Three-Eighty-Nine. It got up and went. Fun note, in my senior year I had 13 people in that car one night. Two of my buddies and 10 girls we picked up while cruising. Snug fit but nobody was complaining. Thx for sharing.
Beautiful Catalina & the color is awesome. What I remember so fondly in these cars is their neat articulated wiper system and how they wiped & cleared the whole windshield to the end. Thanks for posting !!!
Gorgeous Catalina. Absolutely pristine, and a car I would be so proud to own. I have been wanting to find a well cared for Pontiac like this for a long time. You are truly fortunate to have come across a gem such as this. Great video. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful car, Adam! The front-end of your Catalina is classic. GM's full-size sedans in the 60's were incredible...stylish, smooth riding, great powertrains.
These beautiful Catalinas were all over the place when I was a kid growing up near Detroit in the 1960’s. I remember riding in my friends’s Dad’s car and how smoothly it rode and how the engine purred.
For me growing up in Flint there were so many GM cars back in the day. That Turquois/Green color was so common to me anyways. Seeing the new model year after year was a treat to a 10-11 year old kid like me (and my friends). Getting a new car was a big deal. All the neighbors would come out and 'see' what new car was in the neighborhood. Also by living in a 'Car Town' most of the people worked either in the shop or were affiliated with the shop somehow someway. Thank you for your time & effort producing these videos...
This car brings back many fond memories. My grandpa had a '65 Catalina 4 door hardtop. It had a few more options than this one, but yours is in impeccable condition and it reminds me of what a beautiful car this generation of Pontiacs were. I can still recall sitting in the driver's seat in Grandpa's garage and thinking how cool those center mounted gauges that were angled toward the driver were. Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane.
Beautiful car and color. Love these hardtops. Where I grew up a guy had shipped a 1965 Catalina Hardtop Coupe over from Canada. It was metallic blue. They hardly ever drove it, because gasoline went up to $5.5-6 per gallon back in 1979 when I got my license. When they put it up for sale in 1985, I was not ready. I still was going to school and drove a 1965 Buick Skylark. The car still "lives", but the owner, who bought it back then, changed the color. A shame. The 1966 Coupe was for me the "Matchbox" car for many years. It was not untill after the turn of the century, these cars started to appear at car meets here. Saw a convertible two weeks ago. Absolutely love them low, long, and wide as they are. Amazing how much space there is around the engine. You can practically sit there and work on it. Things have changed here since the 1960's.
I bought a 1963 Pontiac Star Chief when I was in the service. It came factory 389 with 3 deuces on it. I removed the triple set up and installed a factory 4 bbrl carb and intake. Freshened up the paint job and drove her from California back home to West Virginia. 52 hours of smooth "wide tracking" bliss. This was in 1972. Excellent old ride for a cross country trip. She performed perfectly
I had a 63 for the family car back in 74. We put our playpen in the back for our daughter. It had to be 4' square and 3' or so feet tall. Slid right in the back seat. What a great car with plenty of power. It was 421 Super Duty, great motor. Road like you were in a Cadillac, very smooth and handled great.
When I got out of High School in1980 I had a 1968 Catalina convertible in bright yellow, very similar to the one in the brochure you were flipping through at 7:10 in your video. Smoothest driving vehicle I've ever had. Back when American cars were truly craftsman built quality!
Adam where do you find these mint cars? Do you keep them all or re-sell? This Catalina was one of my favorite designs, Pontiac really was special! Beautiful GM color. The illustrations and Ads were done by Art Fitzpatrick, I got to meet him and pick his brain in Carmel Ca - he said he'd work from photos, and cut them up and stretch them to be wider and longer than they even were in real life, which was enormous already! As a kid I saved all the car ads so it was amazing meeting him. I believe he was working till he passed at age 96. Delorean the GM of Pontiac, only wanted illustrations done by Fitz and Van Kaufman for the advertising. Pontiac went from 7th- to third in sales, outpacing Chrysler, so the imagining worked. I enjoy your videos sooo much!!!
I loved the foot vent, when I was a kid I would lank that knob back a forth in Mom's 67 Catalina...And the coolest "none politicly correct" accent was the Indian Headress as the HighBeam indicator
Let me add, My mom now 88 would holler at me while I messed with the foot vent knob and every other switch or button, AND we never wore a seatbelt..As a matter of fact, pop would grumble if we messed with the shoulder straps that were tucked NEATLY away...
@@dennisadorno6721 Our new '62 Catalina was the first car we had with front seat belts - an option at the time. Color coded, but no retractors. They just lay there, or if you didn't put them on, dangled out the car door. My dad forced this bratty 7-year old to wear them. I have been in the habit ever since.
@@dmiller1000 Seat belts??? I was about 5 years old at the time, I remember being in my moms first car, a Pontiac from the mid-50s..I probably didn't latch the front passenger door very well, so when mom made a left I was about 2" from the asphalt before she grabbed me....Thanks Mom...
@@dennisadorno6721 In our other cars without belts, when I rode shotgun my mom's hand would go out across my lap every time she made what she thought was a short stop. Parents knew instinctively what they had to do before belts were common.
@@dmiller1000 And it wouldn't have done a bit of good in a collision. My mom used to do the same thing, and with such force we probably sustained greater injury than if we'd hit the dash. _THUD!_ A straightarm across the chest and _"WHO-O-O-F!"_ a sharp expulsion of a perfectly good breath we were just about to use. But we were safe - more or less.
My Mom had one just like it and if she had it her way she would have kept it for life. It was sold in 1982 for something more economical. Totally enjoyed your video. Brought me right back to family trips to Cape Cod and Virginia Beach. !👍👍
Beautiful car! Your knowledge is so very impressive - and you are one of the few people that know how to properly close the hood on a car of this period!
My father was the original owner of a 1966 GTO in Marina Turquoise. It’s car car I can home from the hospital when I was born. My first every car ride. This is a beautiful Catalina. I’d love to have a ‘66 Grand Prix, GTO or Catalina 2+2. Best of luck with it.
In '65, the T400 trans was a God-send & a huge performance boost for GM's larger-engined cars! I prefer the '65 model which had a straight-across (not tapered) grill design. Pontiac, as an entire Division of GM, was Motor Trend Magazine's choice, as "Car of The Year" in 1965!
Mom had a 66 base model..came w/o ps! Dad installed so it'd be easier to drive... SHE LOVED THAT CAR!! Years later I had a 63 Galaxie XL notchback sold it to a friend so I could buy a 66 Ventura Coupe. Love the style and it had fender skirts. It was a POS, wish I had my Ford back!!!
I bought a used '65 sedan back in the early '70's. Paid $300 for it, drove the snot out of it for over a year, then sold it for $300. Great riding land yacht.
That's what mine cost, too. I had a '65 Catalina from 1985 to about 1994; it had well over 100, 000 miles when I bought it, so I pulled a valve cover when I got it home. It seems the 389ci engine had a pushrod that had leaned to one side and worn a long groove in the head. From California I called Nunzo the Pontiac Man in Brooklyn, whose ad I saw in a _National Lampoon,_ of all places. He said it wasn't uncommon, and the wear would continue until the rod fell out from underneath the rocker arm and start loudly reshaping things until you shut off the engine. He told me how GM had solved the problem, but, and I quote, "You notta gonna findadoze. Maybe you make-a summa, but I no hava dem." I swear to God! Right out of Central Casting, 1935. When GM switched to the 400ci a year or 2 later, they installed sheet metal rod guides on the rocker studs. I went to our little wrecking yard and pulled a set. They were ⅛" too wide (or narrow?) between stud holes to work on the 389ci, so I decided to make one. If it worked I would make 7 more just to prevent it from happening to the other cylinders. After spending too much time using the wrong tools I managed to crank one out in a little less than forever. It looked rough but it worked. I wasn't gonna go through that again, so I had a local machine shop make the rest for $12 each, and never had a problem with them again.
My neighbor, Myra, had one of these in the same color. She hardly ever drove it. She said gas was too expensive. She had everyone in my family doing charity work for her. I cut her grass. Mom did her laundry and bought her underwear. My Dad was her handy man. Everybody thought she had very little as she had been a school teacher and never married or had kids. Guess What? When she died, we had all been fooled! She left over a Million Dollars in stocks and bonds and real estate to her niece and nephew who barely even knew her!
Wow! My father bought one of these in 1966 this exact color but it was a convertible. That car was like sailing the ocean in the Queen Mary on a sunny day back then.
As a kid my family had a 64 bonneville that was about that color (Gulf Stream blue in 64). Your car makes me think of that one. Similar front end, but vertical tail lights in 64 instead of the horizontal ones they had after that. Also with real wood trim in the dash aboard, steering wheel and door panels. There was a light in the trunk you could remove and the retractable cord would let you take it out if you needed light after dark for a flat tire. Good idea and I’ve never seen another car with that feature. We got a 68 bonneville and the wood trim had turned to plastic by that time. I really enjoy your channel.
Beautiful car. And just by how you can name all the little details show how passionate you are about these cars. Well done! Just one small request for upcoming videos: When you got the engine running, please take us to the rear and let us hear how she sounds. No stupid revving, just calm idling for a few seconds. I would really appreciate it!
My brother bought the same color and model to use as a winter beater back in 1975 . He didn't want to drive his new Olds 442 in the snow and salt . It had a black convertible top and black vinyl seats with a 400 CID 2 barrel carb . Man , that car was HUGE !
My Uncle Tony had a '66 Catalina in a gold color, that he kept in a separate garage out behind his house. I was a young kid, but I remember how solid and composed that car felt, like it was almost permanent. He kept that car for a long time.
For awhile right after we married,my (then) wifes' grandparents' original owner '66 Catalina 4 door,same color as yours,was our first transportation. A wedding present was a new set of tires (in 1989). When the originals were dismounted,the inner tubes were red color ! Fine car.
Adam, I agree, these mid-60s Pontiacs looked great. At 5:23 we see the customer had 15 paint color choices as well as numerous interior hues to choose from when ordering their car. If you get more than 6 color choices on a mainstream car today you are lucky.
And most of the colors are grey, black, and white, with a red or occasional blue thrown in. I've owned a car since 1974 and I so far have avoided ever owning one that's grey, black or white. All have been either blue or green.
@@rightlanehog3151 Part of it is the domination of leasing, which means they have to guess the resale value of the car coming off lease. If you have yellow, orange, or purple cars, it is assumed they tend to be worth less as a resale. Cars have become more of a tool and less of a work of art. Hopefully the worm will turn, but who know?
One of the beautiful lines of the front is the visor metalwork above and below the headlights. It really set the style off well. Cadillac in 65 I think did the same thing and it was a beautiful touch.
I couldn't agree more! Love those pontoon front fenders and the stacked headlights. Very classy. The rear valance treatment and the taillights were classy touches as well. They don't style cars like that anymore.
Beautiful car! I always liked those late 60's, early 70's Pontiacs. A friend of mine had one when I was in high school. He had it backed up against a wall at work one day (the foundation of the building) and put it in reverse. The car was such a heavy, powerful car that it collapsed the wall!
Beautiful car!!! Pontiac V8's were known torque monsters -- I remember a late 70's magazine article singing the praises of the Pontiac engine's Peterbilt-like torque curve: "if it's running, it's making torque!" IMO, GM was at its height in the 60's, and Pontiac was the height of GM. I'm not surprised that your Catalina rides and drives better than other 60's GM's you've had.
Thank you for posting this video. My first car was a two-door 66 Star Chief Executive, which is very similar, that I purchased when I was 15 years old in 1973.
We had couple of Catalinas growing up in the 70s ( both used 389s ,67 and 68 ) they were great cars my dad loved them. One he drove well into the 1980s.
when I was a kid my dad bought a 66 Catalina station wagon it was great we deove from L.A. to Mexico city for the 1970 World Cup soccer. A great road trip.
mid to late 60's Pontiacs were absolutely works of art. Wish I could own real one. I have quite a few original issue 1:24/1:25 plastic models of these classics including promos and built kits.
Well done ! Thank you for that excellent walk thru on an outstanding classic machine ! The '66 Pontiac Catalina was my first car in 1972 @ 15 1/2 yrs old, green/black int. 2 dr . I just got my first drivers license in N. Dakota, (No picture on license). My H.S. sweetheart and I wanted to 'run away' and elope in that car. Everything you said about this car is spot on ! I rebuilt the 389 engine and transmission in it also with my grandfather. I also have a black/white picture of my '66. Today @ 65 yrs old, I am still driving and rebuilding classic cars. Wanna trade for my restored '69 Roadrunner?
That ol' Catalina is a beauty.! And he even has the sales brochure from 1966! Yeah, baby! I love the Grand Prix for '66 and some day I will own me one. Ride on, dude!
My Dad had a1963 Catalina in a chestnut brown color tone. One of the nicest cars he ever owned. Awesome styling, great ride, just an overall quality car for its time. I wish I had it parked in my garage now!
A little story; a few years back I started learning to make 3D models using computer software, and, because I wanted to make a car (way beyond my skill level at the time), I found some simple drawings of different models, front, back, side and top images. Started with a Mini Cooper, total disaster, then tried a Porsche 911, not a very good result. Then I took a long break from cars and built my skills with easier stuff. Then when I came back to the car drawings I couldn't figure out the model of one particular car from the drawings. So I spent a few weeks searching; and finally stumbled on the Pontiac Bonneville 66; wow, what a beautiful car, definitely became one of my favourites in terms of looks - collected loads of photos of every angle of the car and sometimes I go through them purely to admire the car's beauty. I must say, this 66 Catalina is gorgeous as well; So beautiful to look at and has got me salivating. One of my bucket list items is to get to see some of these Pontiacs (especially the Bonneville 66) in real life. I only started to go to car shows back in 2019 here in London UK, but the old pandemic sort of put a halt to that habit. I'm looking to start visiting car shows again and would die happy if I got to see any of these Pontiacs. Not sure how feasible that is in the UK.
the catalina was made and sold only in the u.s. the canadian pontiac parisienne, was pretty much a chevy impala, with chevy drivetrains, built in oshawa, ont. the catalina in 1966 had a 389 c.i.d, with a thm 400 trans. impala/ parisiennes had a 283 c.i.d with a 2 speed (powerglide) auto. with a 3:36 to 1 axle ratio.
The family went to the local Pontiac dealer and my Dad said, “We’ll take that one”. He proceeded to lay down 33 $100 bills, and we drove home a green, ‘66 Catalina with a black vinyl top with a “reverberator” radio …. We ALL loved the car …. As a 17 year old, I couldn’t be happier …. it was FAST!! 👍
what happened to it then? did your parents drive it to dea th and got rid of it?
Wait $3300 ?
65 through 67 were the best looking Pontiacs ever. Love them!
That is one of the most beautiful cars ever... and it belongs to the master of detail. Your narration is impeccable your wealth of knowledge is incredible you just really have an amazing presentation.
Wow, thank you!
@@RareClassicCars I live in Saginaw but it's amazing how many clean classic cars you find in Chicago. There are a lot of collectors there. My 71 Torino 428scj came out of Elk Grove village of all places and he was all set to sell it to Vanguard classic cars so I gave him 200 dollars more than they did so I got the car.
It is Bill!!!!
@@RareClassicCars Bill's definitely telling the truth, you're an excellent explainer and definitely know your cars...makes for very enjoyable and interesting viewing!
@@mikesamra9126 My buddy in HS. Drove his dad's Torino with "428 Super Cobra Jet Police Interceptor" on air cleaner. Was absolutely the fastest car I ever rode in. Faster than 350 Vega I think !
I remember these cars from back in the day; just getting inside and going somewhere (anywhere for that fact) put me in a good mood.
That car is stunning. Such a quintessential 1960's color, too - and the interior is very striking in quality and color, too. Thanks for doing one for us GM fans.
Will be more. Have plenty of classic GMs; just happened to get more Fords out first this year.
My thoughts exactly. My father had the station wagon version in the similar color. It wasn't new when he had it but strangely this car had the 283 SBC V8 with a 2 speed Powerglide transmission. It was a very strong well made car built like a tank. I learned to drive on this car back in the '70's. Those were fun times. Thanks for the memories of the good old days in the '66 Pontiac Catalina. I'll miss them forever. Stay safe and have a God blessed day.
Blue light...
@@paulkirkland1535 hi; Canadian built Pontiacs had Chevy power trains. 283 power glide, but model would have been Strato Chief, Laurentian or Parisienne. Also, the Grande Parisienne was introduced for 66 but not in wagon till 67.
I agree it couldn’t be a more 1960s color
My father started working at Pontiac in 1934 in 1965-67 he ran the block line at the Pontiac Foundry so it is possible that he was part of this car. He died in Feb 1967 three months prior to his retirement date and is buried in Pontiac Michigan
Motor City Warrior he was..
RIP Larry’s dad
Sorry to hear. Those foundries killed many men before their time. Ventilation and PPE were non existent.
My condolences he was part of a noble and great period in us automotive history
@@michaelorlando6159 Thank you all for your kind words.
Beautiful car in a beautiful color. I miss car colors other than Mouse colors.
my dad had a burgundy ‘65 Pontiac Starchief… was the first family car I have memories of! Pretty similar, but the catalina was a model up in the lineup I believe.
@@ronleece6893 , my Dad had a '64 Star Chief and then a '66 Catalina (both sedans). Loved both as a kid, but am partial to the '65 and '66 models.
I went with my dad to pick up a brand new '66 4 door Catalina from Brownell Pontiac in Birmingham. I was 4 but I remember it well. It was the same color outside and in as the one in this video except ours was 4 door. We even had the same hub caps as this one. Brings back a lot of memories. I even remember the unique sound of the turn signals - THIS CAR STILL HAS THAT ORIGINAL SOUND.
The base model is well equipped because Pontiac was a premium brand. My parents had a 66 Catalina wagon in dark blue. They factory ordered overload springs that made it a good hauler. With the rear seat laid down, we could haul sheets of plywood. Best of all, it was a reliable car. It was the first car we ever owned that we could drive from Portland to Wisconsin and back without mechanical problems. Kudos to Pontiac.
There were other GM models equally wonderful in those days. My parents would only buy Chevrolets. Why pay. Otr for the same car? Our 66 was an ImpalaSS sport coupe samebright interior moldings. Ermine White, same aqua interior, inyl bucket seats. Beautiful!Today there is no GM car I wojld consider
What a gorgeous survivor you have there ! Makes me homesick for my old `66 Grand Prix, which had the 421 Tri-Power H.O. (376 HP), 4-speed, and 3.42 Posi, with those beautiful finned aluminum wheels. It was impressively fast for such a big car. I still kick myself for letting that one go, I`ll never find another one like that.
Thanks, great Pontiac & HO,** etc.!! Interestingly, I had a ****1966 FORD GALAXIE **500XL/ 4 *speed/ *Burgandy & BLACK INT/ ps/ PB 362/4 BBL( moderate engine ,at least FAIRLY EXONOMICALfor College Kid & beyond):: Anyways after a little fixing ( MOTORCRAFT STUFF, special,metallic Brakes/ tires/ shocks,etc) was nice CRUISER for many miles!! Interestingly,also, bought the GALAXIE XL @ DODGE DEALERS “LOT “fairly cheap( forgotten now) IN 1967…..my 66:had the EMERGENCEY FLASHERS IN glovebox,NO CoolantnRecovery System( had to use MOTORCRAFT *KIT, only before AUTO PARTS had it, NO AIR CONDITIONING,no Disc brakes, no Cruise). Oddly good &/Solid Caen to,cruise all,over INDIANA/to Pharmacy School ( Purdue):,:……..
Hi from the UK. When I lived in the US from 1964 to 70 I initially drove a '59 T-Bird and then moved to a '63 Pontiac Grand Prix. Wonderful cars as is your Catalina, unfortunately those days are gone. When you look at the modern cars parked in your road it says a lot about modern car design. Your video brought back some wonderful memories. Thank you so much
This car was produced when GM really was the Mark of Excellence.
Excellence 🤣ours sucked.
Mark of Excellence is a Lincoln tag line. GM was large an in charge back in the day, 50s to real early 70s before quality took a dive, too bad GM was asleep as imports invaded. If they stayed on their game, Imports wouldn't have credibility.
@@patcurrie9888 Perhaps it was a Lincoln tag line. But GM has used it for years. gm-techlink.com/?p=14074
I would say after the firebird and Camaro ended they lost it but when the LS2 GTO ended they really lost their touch
,hes, you aee exactly right. This was right at the beginning of the end of the glory days of GM. And 30 years later the brand was dead and the corporation was bankrupt. The worst mksmanagement in history.
In 1977 got a job as a lot boy drove so many of the now a days classic cars i still remember loving to drive the Pontiacs. My dad was the Mechanic he had me start them up and go around a little to warm them up the 400s were so strong. thanks for the flashback!
Lucky kid
My father had a 1967 Pontiac Catalina convertible in Tyrol blue. He loved that car so much. Always loved the Pontiac front ends with the headlights stacked vertically. Thought it looked so elegant compared to other GM cars. Gorgeous color.
I agree the front end is gorgeous
I, too, have always been attracted to the Poncho's mid-'60s stacked headlights, and the front end in general. Too bad the attraction of that front end was only skin deep. The parts that beauty concealed may as well have been cast from pot metal for all the durability they held. I know; I replaced most of them at one time or another. The rest of the car was moderately artillery-proof. I bought a '65 Catalina for $300 in 1985 and used it as a driver/family car until 1994...60 miles round trip to work each day; road trips from Central Cali to San Diego, Tijuana, Ensenada; from Central Cali to Seattle; to Yosemite twice. My only regret is not getting my money's worth out of it.
@@budlewis721 Lol, yup a couple more years and you might’ve broke even.
@@budlewis721 You should have seen the road testing we gave my dad's '65. As teenagers, we did things that would have made crash test dummies run and hide.
@@dansmusic5749 The folly of youth. If you were anything like me, you _were_ a crash test dummy. A high school friend (still, actually) had a beautiful, fully operational '55 Packard Clipper Custom that we'd take on "death cruises", but we were careful to do it only when safely drunk. Little dents, scrapes, lost hubcaps, broken parts ignored - you know the drill. It was 1970, so even if we hadn't been morons we wouldn't have appreciated a car only 15 years old. That car didn't deserve the slow, painful death we gave it.
Dude I don't know how old you are but I applaud your taste in cars and a standing ovation on the car itself!!!!!!
Adam, that lucite steering wheel is AWESOME & flawless. I haven't seen one of those since I was a kid & I'm 55 now.
My family had a 1965 4 door in a similar color when I was a little kid. Thanks for the memories. 💓
The way you talk about cars is wonderful - everything from the technical specs to the visual details.
What a gorgeous car and great narration. The interior is a work of art. The whole car is. GM at the height of its power and just going the extra distance on quality.
Iam 71 your videos are so wonderful to watch
When I was growing up my next door neighbor had a shared driveway with his brother, so they lived side by side. They both bought brand new maroon with black Interior 65 Pontiac Catalina 2 doors. I think they were the 2+2 cars.They were beautiful and I always thought that was so cool as a kid. I have always loved cars though. Your 66 is also beautiful. Those Pontiacs of the 60’s were always very stylish. Great video.
Great car and great narration! I grew up with these mid 60s Pontiacs. They were wonderful. First car I drove.
My parents had a burgundy one without the fender skirts. Same engine and bench seat, no cruise, good memories.
My dad bought a 66 bonneville station wagon with basic options like power steering and brakes, am radio, roof rack and 3rd seat. But it did have the 421 tri-power and automatic.
It took our family all over the US.
Loved seeing this video. Thanks
In the fall of 1965 my father brought home a brand new Pontiac Catalina station wagon (in Reef Turquoise) from Totem Pontiac in Seattle. I thought it was the most beautiful car I'd ever seen (I was 8 years old at the time). Years later, it was the first car I ever drove.
Beautiful. My friend's parents had a 1962 Ventura and a 1963 Grand Prix. I loved those cars and the design. Thanks
It's absolutely gorgeous. I remember when I was a kid in the 60s and 70s my family had Chevies which were good cars but our next door neighbors and neighbors across the street had Pontiacs. I was envious. They were just a notch above Dad's Chevies. The first car I bought back in 1982 was a 69 Pontiac Firebird. After that I had a 66 Tempest, a 70 Tempest, a 68 GTO and a 70 LeMans Sport and I loved them all. Hopefully I'll get my hands on some more old Pontiacs before I die.
My dad had one and we drove it to see his family. Boston to Kansas City ,with me in the back seat glued to the window. One of my best childhood memories.
I love mid-sixties Pontiacs. It's amazing that you are able to find all your cars such great shape. They don't tend to be collectible models originally purchased by enthusiasts which begs the question: who took such good care of them, and why?
Apart from everything else what a fantastic colour!
I rode in those Pontiacs all my life up in the Fresno area. I still see some on the road. The weather is hot and dry so they have survived. My first car in 1981 was a 1967 Pontiac 2-door Lemans coupe with only 21 thousand miles. I drove for many years! Love them Pontiacs.
I took my road test in my mom's white 66 catalina back in 1974. It was powerful and drove like you said in the video. We had it till around 1984. It was sold for it's 389 engine. Rip. Mom.
This is one of the most beautiful cars GM ever produced! Incredible grille, roofline, skirts - the whole deal. Reliable - smooth, bulletproof design. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your well justified enthusiasm for this gorgeous Pontiac!
I currently own a '67 Bonneville convertible with the same paint and interior color, 400/4bl. You're dead on regarding the smooth ride of these cars as well as the power from the engine. It's like a boat on the water. I can use my index finger on the inside of the lucite steering wheel to turn the vehicle absolutely effortlessly. Drove my Dad's '66 4dr Bonneville in high school on weekends which eventually became my car. He asked why my friends and I didn't take their parent's cars out cruising on Fri/Sat nights. Three words. Three-Eighty-Nine. It got up and went. Fun note, in my senior year I had 13 people in that car one night. Two of my buddies and 10 girls we picked up while cruising. Snug fit but nobody was complaining. Thx for sharing.
Beautiful Catalina & the color is awesome. What I remember so fondly in these cars is their neat articulated wiper system and how they wiped & cleared the whole windshield to the end. Thanks for posting !!!
Gorgeous Catalina. Absolutely pristine, and a car I would be so proud to own. I have been wanting to find a well cared for Pontiac like this for a long time. You are truly fortunate to have come across a gem such as this. Great video. Thank you for sharing.
Took me a long time to find!
Beautiful car, Adam! The front-end of your Catalina is classic. GM's full-size sedans in the 60's were incredible...stylish, smooth riding, great powertrains.
These beautiful Catalinas were all over the place when I was a kid growing up near Detroit in the 1960’s. I remember riding in my friends’s Dad’s car and how smoothly it rode and how the engine purred.
For me growing up in Flint there were so many GM cars back in the day.
That Turquois/Green color was so common to me anyways.
Seeing the new model year after year was a treat to a 10-11 year old kid like me (and my friends).
Getting a new car was a big deal. All the neighbors would come out and 'see' what new car was in the neighborhood.
Also by living in a 'Car Town' most of the people worked either in the shop or were affiliated with the shop somehow someway.
Thank you for your time & effort producing these videos...
We had a '66 Grand Prix in Palmetto Green. It had the 389 engine with four barrel carburetor. Beautiful car.
I am really enjoying your description of your vehicles
This car brings back many fond memories. My grandpa had a '65 Catalina 4 door hardtop. It had a few more options than this one, but yours is in impeccable condition and it reminds me of what a beautiful car this generation of Pontiacs were. I can still recall sitting in the driver's seat in Grandpa's garage and thinking how cool those center mounted gauges that were angled toward the driver were. Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane.
Beautiful ride, bring back memories of the mid 70 when they were plentiful.
Beautiful car and color. Love these hardtops.
Where I grew up a guy had shipped a 1965 Catalina Hardtop Coupe over from Canada. It was metallic blue.
They hardly ever drove it, because gasoline went up to $5.5-6 per gallon back in 1979 when I got my license.
When they put it up for sale in 1985, I was not ready. I still was going to school and drove a 1965 Buick Skylark.
The car still "lives", but the owner, who bought it back then, changed the color. A shame.
The 1966 Coupe was for me the "Matchbox" car for many years. It was not untill after the turn of the century,
these cars started to appear at car meets here. Saw a convertible two weeks ago. Absolutely love them
low, long, and wide as they are.
Amazing how much space there is around the engine. You can practically sit there and work on it.
Things have changed here since the 1960's.
I bought a 1963 Pontiac Star Chief when I was in the service. It came factory 389 with 3 deuces on it. I removed the triple set up and installed a factory 4 bbrl carb and intake. Freshened up the paint job and drove her from California back home to West Virginia. 52 hours of smooth "wide tracking" bliss. This was in 1972. Excellent old ride for a cross country trip. She performed perfectly
For those of us who are past sixty, these cars bring back memories. I sometimes think I wouldn't mind having a 1962 Pontiac, but this is a beauty.
I love the '62 GP and Bonneville too
I had a 63 for the family car back in 74. We put our playpen in the back for our daughter. It had to be 4' square and 3' or so feet tall. Slid right in the back seat. What a great car with plenty of power. It was 421 Super Duty, great motor. Road like you were in a Cadillac, very smooth and handled great.
Man...Pontiac was def in their stride at the time. This is a real beauty.
As a kid growing up our family had a 1963 Catalina in gold and then a 67 Catalina in blue. Great cars. Your 66 is very nice!
Absolutely stunning. Man the colors are wonderful, inside and out. Thank you.
When I got out of High School in1980 I had a 1968 Catalina convertible in bright yellow, very similar to the one in the brochure you were flipping through at 7:10 in your video. Smoothest driving vehicle I've ever had. Back when American cars were truly craftsman built quality!
Adam where do you find these mint cars? Do you keep them all or re-sell? This Catalina was one of my favorite designs, Pontiac really was special! Beautiful GM color. The illustrations and Ads were done by Art Fitzpatrick, I got to meet him and pick his brain in Carmel Ca - he said he'd work from photos, and cut them up and stretch them to be wider and longer than they even were in real life, which was enormous already! As a kid I saved all the car ads so it was amazing meeting him. I believe he was working till he passed at age 96. Delorean the GM of Pontiac, only wanted illustrations done by Fitz and Van Kaufman for the advertising. Pontiac went from 7th- to third in sales, outpacing Chrysler, so the imagining worked. I enjoy your videos sooo much!!!
I had a 65 Catalina 2 dr.ht.burgandy.bought it new , then got drafted.my dad sold his 63 and took over the 65. He kept it 5 yrs and loved it !
I loved the foot vent, when I was a kid I would lank that knob back a forth in Mom's 67 Catalina...And the coolest "none politicly correct" accent was the Indian Headress as the HighBeam indicator
Let me add, My mom now 88 would holler at me while I messed with the foot vent knob and every other switch or button, AND we never wore a seatbelt..As a matter of fact, pop would grumble if we messed with the shoulder straps that were tucked NEATLY away...
@@dennisadorno6721 Our new '62 Catalina was the first car we had with front seat belts - an option at the time. Color coded, but no retractors. They just lay there, or if you didn't put them on, dangled out the car door. My dad forced this bratty 7-year old to wear them. I have been in the habit ever since.
@@dmiller1000 Seat belts??? I was about 5 years old at the time, I remember being in my moms first car, a Pontiac from the mid-50s..I probably didn't latch the front passenger door very well, so when mom made a left I was about 2" from the asphalt before she grabbed me....Thanks Mom...
@@dennisadorno6721 In our other cars without belts, when I rode shotgun my mom's hand would go out across my lap every time she made what she thought was a short stop. Parents knew instinctively what they had to do before belts were common.
@@dmiller1000 And it wouldn't have done a bit of good in a collision. My mom used to do the same thing, and with such force we probably sustained greater injury than if we'd hit the dash. _THUD!_ A straightarm across the chest and _"WHO-O-O-F!"_ a sharp expulsion of a perfectly good breath we were just about to use. But we were safe - more or less.
I bought a brons colored 66 Catalina in 75 I was 18 what a fabulous car would love to own another. Thxs for sharing
Great video!!
Such a beautiful car, it is great that you have collected so many great cars
Just happened across this, never heard of the cat before but this is absolutely gorgeous, and sounds as smooth as silk.
God I want one now.
My Mom had one just like it and if she had it her way she would have kept it for life. It was sold in 1982 for something more economical. Totally enjoyed your video. Brought me right back to family trips to Cape Cod and Virginia Beach. !👍👍
Barbara Eden car.
Beautiful car! Your knowledge is so very impressive - and you are one of the few people that know how to properly close the hood on a car of this period!
Wow this Catalina is well preserved. A beautiful car and built back when General Motors had amazing people running the show.
My father was the original owner of a 1966 GTO in Marina Turquoise. It’s car car I can home from the hospital when I was born. My first every car ride.
This is a beautiful Catalina. I’d love to have a ‘66 Grand Prix, GTO or Catalina 2+2. Best of luck with it.
In '65, the T400 trans was a God-send & a huge performance boost for GM's larger-engined cars! I prefer the '65 model which had a straight-across (not tapered) grill design. Pontiac, as an entire Division of GM, was Motor Trend Magazine's choice, as "Car of The Year" in 1965!
Mom had a 66 base model..came w/o ps! Dad installed so it'd be easier to drive... SHE LOVED THAT CAR!! Years later I had a 63 Galaxie XL notchback sold it to a friend so I could buy a 66 Ventura Coupe. Love the style and it had fender skirts. It was a POS, wish I had my Ford back!!!
Just gorgeous, such a gem from a glamorous era.
Missed the colours from the 60s and 70s...Love the Catalina!
Gorgeous example of Pontiac design - that color! Amazing!
I bought a used '65 sedan back in the early '70's. Paid $300 for it, drove the snot out of it for over a year, then sold it for $300. Great riding land yacht.
That's what mine cost, too. I had a '65 Catalina from 1985 to about 1994; it had well over 100, 000 miles when I bought it, so I pulled a valve cover when I got it home. It seems the 389ci engine had a pushrod that had leaned to one side and worn a long groove in the head. From California I called Nunzo the Pontiac Man in Brooklyn, whose ad I saw in a _National Lampoon,_ of all places. He said it wasn't uncommon, and the wear would continue until the rod fell out from underneath the rocker arm and start loudly reshaping things until you shut off the engine. He told me how GM had solved the problem, but, and I quote, "You notta gonna findadoze. Maybe you make-a summa, but I no hava dem." I swear to God! Right out of Central Casting, 1935. When GM switched to the 400ci a year or 2 later, they installed sheet metal rod guides on the rocker studs. I went to our little wrecking yard and pulled a set. They were ⅛" too wide (or narrow?) between stud holes to work on the 389ci, so I decided to make one. If it worked I would make 7 more just to prevent it from happening to the other cylinders. After spending too much time using the wrong tools I managed to crank one out in a little less than forever. It looked rough but it worked. I wasn't gonna go through that again, so I had a local machine shop make the rest for $12 each, and never had a problem with them again.
BEAUIFUL AUTO, thanks for showing it. This is when a car was a CAR !
My neighbor, Myra, had one of these in the same color. She hardly ever drove it. She said gas was too expensive. She had everyone in my family doing charity work for her. I cut her grass. Mom did her laundry and bought her underwear. My Dad was her handy man. Everybody thought she had very little as she had been a school teacher and never married or had kids. Guess What? When she died, we had all been fooled!
She left over a Million Dollars in stocks and bonds and real estate to her niece and nephew who barely even knew her!
Wow! My father bought one of these in 1966 this exact color but it was a convertible. That car was like sailing the ocean in the Queen Mary on a sunny day back then.
As a kid my family had a 64 bonneville that was about that color (Gulf Stream blue in 64). Your car makes me think of that one. Similar front end, but vertical tail lights in 64 instead of the horizontal ones they had after that. Also with real wood trim in the dash aboard, steering wheel and door panels. There was a light in the trunk you could remove and the retractable cord would let you take it out if you needed light after dark for a flat tire. Good idea and I’ve never seen another car with that feature. We got a 68 bonneville and the wood trim had turned to plastic by that time. I really enjoy your channel.
I agree with you on how beautiful these mid-60's Pontiacs are. The color is beautiful as well and is a perfect fit for this cat as well.
Beautiful car. And just by how you can name all the little details show how passionate you are about these cars. Well done!
Just one small request for upcoming videos: When you got the engine running, please take us to the rear and let us hear how she sounds. No stupid revving, just calm idling for a few seconds. I would really appreciate it!
The tailpipe sound is always a good thing to provide
haha i agree.....lou's car story drives me nuts....'''give it a rev.!!!
My brother bought the same color and model to use as a winter beater back in 1975 . He didn't want to drive his new Olds 442 in the snow and salt . It had a black convertible top and black vinyl seats with a 400 CID 2 barrel carb . Man , that car was HUGE !
The "reading light" is correctly called a MAP light. Your car is a treasure and I personally like the heating controls.
The controls on the A/C cars seemed to be more natural.
Had one as teenager.in1970. Very fast after i put a 4 barrel on it. White. Loved it
My Uncle Tony had a '66 Catalina in a gold color, that he kept in a separate garage out behind his house. I was a young kid, but I remember how solid and composed that car felt, like it was almost permanent. He kept that car for a long time.
For awhile right after we married,my (then) wifes' grandparents' original owner '66 Catalina 4 door,same color as yours,was our first transportation. A wedding present was a new set of tires (in 1989). When the originals were dismounted,the inner tubes were red color ! Fine car.
Adam, I agree, these mid-60s Pontiacs looked great. At 5:23 we see the customer had 15 paint color choices as well as numerous interior hues to choose from when ordering their car. If you get more than 6 color choices on a mainstream car today you are lucky.
Yep. Few interior colors today too. It’s a bummer.
And most of the colors are grey, black, and white, with a red or occasional blue thrown in. I've owned a car since 1974 and I so far have avoided ever owning one that's grey, black or white. All have been either blue or green.
@@dmiller1000 Greater automation in the car building process should give us more choices not fewer.
And yet prices continue to climb. Something wrong with this picture.
@@rightlanehog3151 Part of it is the domination of leasing, which means they have to guess the resale value of the car coming off lease. If you have yellow, orange, or purple cars, it is assumed they tend to be worth less as a resale. Cars have become more of a tool and less of a work of art. Hopefully the worm will turn, but who know?
I was 6 years old in 1966 this is a nice car I do miss these types of dashboards with the big numbers.
Another great tour of a wonderful car, Adam. Thank you. (And the lavalier microphone sounds great.)
Glad you enjoyed it!
Stunning body! Really why I've been a Pontiac fan since 1961!
One of the beautiful lines of the front is the visor metalwork above and below the headlights. It really set the style off well. Cadillac in 65 I think did the same thing and it was a beautiful touch.
I couldn't agree more! Love those pontoon front fenders and the stacked headlights. Very classy. The rear valance treatment and the taillights were classy touches as well. They don't style cars like that anymore.
Beautiful car! I always liked those late 60's, early 70's Pontiacs. A friend of mine had one when I was in high school. He had it backed up against a wall at work one day (the foundation of the building) and put it in reverse. The car was such a heavy, powerful car that it collapsed the wall!
Beautiful car!!! Pontiac V8's were known torque monsters -- I remember a late 70's magazine article singing the praises of the Pontiac engine's Peterbilt-like torque curve: "if it's running, it's making torque!" IMO, GM was at its height in the 60's, and Pontiac was the height of GM. I'm not surprised that your Catalina rides and drives better than other 60's GM's you've had.
Thank you for posting this video. My first car was a two-door 66 Star Chief Executive, which is very similar, that I purchased when I was 15 years old in 1973.
GM was top notch in interiors back in the day 🇺🇸
We had couple of Catalinas growing up in the 70s ( both used 389s ,67 and 68 ) they were great cars my dad loved them. One he drove well into the 1980s.
Looks like a really nice car, inside and out!
when I was a kid my dad bought a 66 Catalina station wagon it was great we deove from L.A. to Mexico city for the 1970 World Cup soccer. A great road trip.
mid to late 60's Pontiacs were absolutely works of art. Wish I could own real one. I have quite a few original issue 1:24/1:25 plastic models of these classics including promos and built kits.
Well done ! Thank you for that excellent walk thru on an outstanding classic machine ! The '66 Pontiac Catalina was my first car in 1972 @ 15 1/2 yrs old, green/black int. 2 dr . I just got my first drivers license in N. Dakota, (No picture on license). My H.S. sweetheart and I wanted to 'run away' and elope in that car. Everything you said about this car is spot on ! I rebuilt the 389 engine and transmission in it also with my grandfather. I also have a black/white picture of my '66. Today @ 65 yrs old, I am still driving and rebuilding classic cars. Wanna trade for my restored '69 Roadrunner?
The first car I bought was a well used 64, cost me 300 dollars. What a great car.
Beautiful car! Always loved the Catalinas & 2+2s!!! Thanks for sharing!
That front end though!
That ol' Catalina is a beauty.! And he even has the sales brochure from 1966! Yeah, baby! I love the Grand Prix for '66 and some day I will own me one. Ride on, dude!
We had a black 4-dr Catalina and still think it was one of the most beautiful cars we ever owned.
My Dad had a1963 Catalina in a chestnut brown color tone. One of the nicest cars he ever owned. Awesome styling, great ride, just an overall quality car for its time. I wish I had it parked in my garage now!
Even though I'm a Mopar fan, no body matched GM styling in the 60's.
A little story; a few years back I started learning to make 3D models using computer software, and, because I wanted to make a car (way beyond my skill level at the time), I found some simple drawings of different models, front, back, side and top images. Started with a Mini Cooper, total disaster, then tried a Porsche 911, not a very good result. Then I took a long break from cars and built my skills with easier stuff. Then when I came back to the car drawings I couldn't figure out the model of one particular car from the drawings. So I spent a few weeks searching; and finally stumbled on the Pontiac Bonneville 66; wow, what a beautiful car, definitely became one of my favourites in terms of looks - collected loads of photos of every angle of the car and sometimes I go through them purely to admire the car's beauty.
I must say, this 66 Catalina is gorgeous as well; So beautiful to look at and has got me salivating. One of my bucket list items is to get to see some of these Pontiacs (especially the Bonneville 66) in real life. I only started to go to car shows back in 2019 here in London UK, but the old pandemic sort of put a halt to that habit. I'm looking to start visiting car shows again and would die happy if I got to see any of these Pontiacs. Not sure how feasible that is in the UK.
the catalina was made and sold only in the u.s. the canadian pontiac parisienne, was pretty much a chevy impala, with chevy drivetrains, built in oshawa, ont. the catalina in 1966 had a 389 c.i.d, with a thm 400 trans. impala/ parisiennes had a 283 c.i.d with a 2 speed (powerglide) auto. with a 3:36 to 1 axle ratio.
Catalina=Strato-chief. Bonneville =Parisienne.
@@MrJoedabaker Not really, the Catalina and the longer Bonneville had longer wheelbases than the Chevy based Parisienne.
Remember the Laurentian. Also from that era.
@@MrJoedabaker wrong! catalina was bigger, with pontiac motors and a pontiac interior and wasn't a chevrolet!
@@paulsheehan789 Huh... I thought that was after '66,when bodystyle changed. Oh well,I was a fan, just not so well informed I guess. Lol,and thanks.