Pontiac Catalina

Pontiac Catalina
1970 Pontiac Catalina hardtop coupe
Overview
ManufacturerPontiac (General Motors)
Production1950–1981
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size
LayoutFR layout
PlatformGM B platform
Chronology
PredecessorPontiac Chieftain
SuccessorPontiac Bonneville

The Pontiac Catalina is a full-size, junior series automobile produced by Pontiac from 1950 to 1981. Initially, the name was a trim line on hardtop body styles, first appearing in the 1950 Chieftain Eight and DeLuxe Eight lines. In 1959, it became a separate model as the "entry-level" full-size Pontiac.[1]

The Catalina was Pontiac's most popular model, available in multiple body styles, and served as the donor platform for the popular Pontiac Grand Prix, Pontiac 2+2, Pontiac Ventura, and the Pontiac Safari station wagon.

When the Pontiac Tempest was introduced in 1964, lessons learned from the Catalina's introduction of the Grand Prix led to the introduction of the Pontiac GTO, to include the 389 cu in (6.4 L) Pontiac V8.

  1. ^ Gunnell, John, ed. (1987). The Standard Catalogue of American Cars 1946–1975. Kraus Publications. ISBN 0-87341-096-3.