1966 Pontiac Catalina Reviews, Pricing & Specs

I bought this car just before going into the Army in 1981 for $550. A week after I bought it a man from a local car dealer offered me $3,000 for it and it was only a 15 year old car at the time. Since then I have been offered $3,000-$6,000, even severely rusted as it sits ( well not more than $4,000 in the last 10 years ). I plan to keep it till I die, but being on disability now I doubt it will ever see the road again, or get restored.Oct 12, 2011

Performance: The 66 Catalina was built during the era of Pontiac Domination of Nascar. The base model came with a 389 V8, which is what I have. The acceleration is incredible for such a big car. It has no problem smoking most modern mid-range performance cars, and some newer sports cars off the line and down the quarter mile. In a straight line this car can handle most anything on the street. When it comes to handling, the age really shows. There is significant body roll, and the back end can easily slide out of control if corners are not taken with care. The steering is responsive but the car is so big you have to plan high speed turns with care, but with normal street driving the car can be turned with one finger. With stock suspension the car rides really smooth, the suspension is not very stiff and makes for a comfortable ride, but if you plan on hitting the track you will need a major upgrade. Build Quality: This car is built to last, I have owned two Catalinas, with proper care this car will last forever. With Catalinas that have not been maintained the rubber seals that keep the water out will deteriorate, crack and let the water in, which will lead to rust in the trunk and passenger compartment. The engine, as long it has received regular maintenance will last as long as you need. The odometer on these cars only goes up to 5 digits, so it is amost impossible to know if the car has 29,000 miles or 329,000 miles. But as long as you maintain it properly, the engine will keep on going. One of the best things about cars of this era is that you can easily perform the maintenance and engine work you need without taking apart 3/4 of the engine. Appearance: This car is a head turner, it has beautiful lines. The Double grille and stacked headlights look beautiful. People often mistake it for a GTO or Bonneville. Whether completely restored or looking a little shabby, like mine, people still turn heads and give you a thumbs up when you drive by. People love the 60's muscle cars, and this one brings back great memories for so many people. The interior is luxurious as well as beautiful. The Dash has chrome accents, the lettering on the emblems has that quintessential 60's slant. All the knobs are Chrome, the interior brings you back in time, and makes driving the car so much fun, at night the streetlights hit the chrome accents just right help you really appreciate the beauty of the car. Cost of ownership: Routine maintenance is a must, oil changes and fluid changes are a must, if you do them on your own you can save a lot, and with a car like this, it is not difficult. Everything is easy to reach and you do not have to be a contortionist, or take apart your entire engine to do your basic work. The biggest cost you will face is gas. This car does not get great mileage, maybe 12-15mpg, the biggest cost you will face is gassing your Catalina up. One cost you must seriously consider, is upgrading the seat belts, this car only comes equipped with lap belts, after breaking my back in a auto collision last year I really want to get shoulder belts on mine. Fun Factor: This car is so much fun to drive that it is totally worth the cost, or any other headache that comes with a 45 year old car. Its a head turner, people love to see the classics on the road, just going to the store is fun when people are giving you thumbs up or swooning over your ride. It is fast, even faster with the plethora of modifications available on 60's Pontiacs. You can hit the strip one day, a car show the next and have more fun than you can with any modern "muscle car" I highly recommend buying any Catalina you find.Apr 16, 2011

You could think of this as a large 4 dr. G.T.O. from the sixties,or at least I did. This car either had a 421 c.i. v-8 or the smaller 389. It kind of was hard to tell because most of the parts of the engine were interchangable. I do know it did have the turbo hydramatic 3 spd auto transmission that was completely bulletproof. Regardless it was fast, as long as you didn't want to turn. The car had just about every bolt on item you could put on a car of the time. I loved it.Jul 26, 2009