Comments: 1-15, 16-21
Nothing.
I only owned this car for 3 weeks or so, it was extremely reliable (even though it hadn't been on the road since 1994 previously), had amazing heat, was somewhat fast and could fit four thousand people inside of it.
Its downfall was that it got 6mpg around town (where I drove exclusively) and that it smelled like a butt because it had been sitting out in the rain.
There was some front end damage and a little rust on the rear quarter panels, but nothing too bad. It met its end when a Ford Escort decided to do some custom body work. Ouch... even though the front end was destroyed I was able to sell it to a man who drove it from my house to New Jersey (3 hours) without a cooling fan and with the tranny cooler bypassed and he didn't have a problem with it.
RIP CATALINA. Its parts will live on in a '68 Convertible.
This is not, actually, "the biggest car ever" (that title will always be in debate, what with one-offs and limousines). In 1968, most models offered by Cadillac, Lincoln, & Imperial were significantly larger than this Pontiac, not only in in length, but also width, weight, and engine size.
Dude - you got the year wrong (the guy has a 1970, not a 1968), but pretty much you're right, the Catalina isn't the biggest car ever. For 1970, the biggest car that wasn't a limo was the Cadillac Fleetwood, with a 133" wheelbase (all 1970 Catalinas rode a 122" wheelbase).
I am from Crandon Wi and had a Red 1970 Catalina 4-door all the same. Talk about leaving a burnout for a long ways. I hit a deer going 72 mph and it ran fine after that just a pinhole leak in the radiator. But it took some fiberglass out in the front end. It sucked. I sold it though and regret it. I'd buy another one anyday.C>T>B> Crandon Wi54520.
Didn't have a 1970 Catalina, but had a 1969, which was basically the same car with the exception of body details. The car was the one I remember most fondly, 400CID with the big old Turbo Hydramatic transmission. What a great rumble when you turned the key on... they sure don't make them like that anymore. You knew that engine meant business.
Well, all you people talk about the Catalina you used to have, mine's sitting in the driveway and I drive it just about every day. You'd think a 2-bryl carb would never put out that much power, but it continues to raise eyebrows when the hood gets raised - and 15 mpg to boot, not too bad for that vintage. My friend gets 18mpg out of his '67, but he's got the 10:1 engine, and I think mine's only 8:1.
All the kids love it, my wife loves riding in it, and you just can't beat the old-school front bench seats. Indestructible? Close, but no - the Imperial's old H-frame whomps the Catalina's curved frame - but it is still intimidating, nonetheless.
-Jim
(Layton, UT - 1970 Catalina 4-dr, hardtop, 400ci, 400 Turbo-Hydramatic, 2bb carb, purple ext., original lt. blue int.)
I am 17 years old and from Middletown NJ. I drive a Catalina 4 door hardtop and have never had so much fun in my life. I picked it up from some guy on the highway for 2,500. its now got 58,042 miles on it,and running great.It was somebody's Sunday car, but I drive it every day. its in the shop now... getting the windows replaced and a new paint job. the interior is in excellent condition. I've never been in a greater car. it sure turns heads.
Yah, if it has a blue interior, get it painted purple. eeagh.
Well I didn't pick the colors - the guy I bought it from had it painted purple. FWIW it's not a bad combo, I think, but I'm looking to the next paint job - will probably go dk blue ext against the light blue interior.
Right now my biggest dilemma is whether to just get a rebuilt 2bl or actually install sequential port fuel injection - there's a guy out here that will do it for $2000 and claims that it'll almost double my fuel economy. That'd be great, because then we could take it on some distance trips more than once per year... Even if I got 20mpg out of it, I think that'd be worth it.
I drove a 1970 2-door hardtop Catalina from 1985 to 1990. I inherited it with 39,000 original miles. Best car I ever owned, and I wish I had never sold it. It had power galore, turned heads, and seated about 10 people. I've been searching the Internet to buy it back, or one like it.
I bought a 1969 Catalina brand new and it still sits in my garage with a couple of Mustangs. It has 97,000 miles on it and is completely original including paint. It is white with the blue interior. It has always been a great car to drive and the 400 cu in 290 HP engine is one of Pontiac's finest hours. I don't see any 69's around any more and never hear of any. I see some 68's and 70's at shows, but never a 69. Do I have the last one in existence?
I have a 1970 4-door Catalina with a 400 motor and turbo 400 tranny that I've had for a few years now. I get about 16 mpg! And it has awesome power, I love this car its great. It's a lot of fun to load up a bunch of my friends and cruise it all night-I think I'll keep it for a long time.
I've had my 1970 Pontiac Catalina for 10 years, and It's still going strong (has either 190,000 or 290,000 miles on it). It was a daily driver until about a year ago when the 11 mpg got too expensive. I still drive it weekly - it's always fun to "blow out the carbon". I've been toying with the idea of putting some sort of diesel-electric hybrid set-up into it to cut fuel costs. We'll see.
I got a 1970 Pontiac Catalina 400 with org. white paint and blue inter. 99k org. miles. The thing is a beast and I love its unique grill... MY FAVORITE CAR.
Just saw a 1970 Pontiac Catalina on Fox's new show Kville. Pretty cool. The same model car was driven by Will Ferrell's character, the Anchorman, in the movie "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy." Has anyone seen this car on other movies/TV shows?
1970 Pontiac Catalina.
I bought this car four years ago. I replaced the intake manifold with an "Edelbrock Performer", added a 750 cfm 4bbl in place of the wimpy duce, and added dual exhaust. Flirting with 400 HP and get about 20 mpg with a water vapor injector system. A really fun ride, but not the biggest I have owned. The words Brute Force come to mind.