Pontiac Catalina

Pontiac Catalina
1970 Pontiac Catalina hardtop coupe
Overview
Manufacturer	Pontiac (General Motors)
Production	1950–1981
Assembly	Pontiac, Michigan, US South Gate, California, US Wilmington, Delaware, US Doraville, Georgia, US Kansas City, Kansas, US Framingham, Massachusetts, US Linden, New Jersey, US Oshawa, Ontario, Canada (Laurentian) Australia (Laurentian)
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Layout	FR layout
Platform	GM B platform
Related	Pontiac Bonneville
Chronology
Predecessor	Pontiac Chieftain
Successor	Pontiac Parisienne (U.S. Only)

First generation
1959 Pontiac Catalina Vista HT sedan
Overview
Model years	1959–1960
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 2-door convertible 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon
Layout	FR layout
Related	Chevrolet Biscayne Oldsmobile 88 Buick LeSabre
Powertrain
Engine	389 cu in (6.4 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	122 in (3,099 mm)
Length	213.7 in (5,428 mm)
Width	80 in (2,032 mm)

Second generation
1961 Pontiac Catalina 4-door sedan
Overview
Model years	1961–1964
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door Hardtop 2-door convertible 2-door sedan 4-door sedan 4-door Hardtop 4-door station wagon
Related	Chevrolet Biscayne Oldsmobile 88 Buick LeSabre
Powertrain
Engine	389 cu in (6.4 L) V8 421 cu in (6.9 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 3-speed Roto-Hydramatic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	119.0 in (3,023 mm) (1961) 120.0 in (3,048 mm) (1962–64)
Length	210 in (5,334 mm)
Width	78.2 in (1,986 mm)

Third generation
Overview
Model years	1965–1970
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door sedan 2-door coupe 2-door convertible 4-door sedan 4-door hardtop 4-door station wagon
Powertrain
Engine	389 cu in (6.4 L) V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 421 cu in (6.9 L) V8 428 cu in (7.0 L) V8 455 cu in (7.5 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 2-speed THM 300 automatic 3-speed THM 400 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	1965–68: 121 in (3,073 mm) 1969–70: 122 in (3,099 mm)
Length	214.6 in (5,451 mm)

Fourth generation
Overview
Production	1971–1976
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door hardtop 2-door hardtop 2-door convertible 4-door station wagon
Powertrain
Engine	355 cu in (5.8 L) "350" V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 455 cu in (7.5 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed THM400 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	123.4 in (3,134 mm)

Fifth generation
Overview
Production	1977–1981
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon
Powertrain
Engine	231 cu in (3.8 L) Buick V6 250 cu in (4.1 L) Chevrolet Straight-6 265 cu in (4.3 L) Pontiac V8 301 cu in (4.9 L) Pontiac V8 350 cu in (5.7 L) Oldsmobile Diesel V8 350 cu in (5.7 L) Pontiac V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) Pontiac V8 403 cu in (6.6) Oldsmobile V8
Transmission	3-speed THM200 automatic 4-speed THM200-4R automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	116 in (2,946 mm)

The Pontiac Catalina is an automobile which was part of Pontiac's full-sized line from 1950 to 1981. Initially, the name was used strictly to denote hardtop body styles, first appearing in the 1950 Chieftain Eight and DeLuxe Eight lines. In 1959, the Catalina became a separate model, as the "entry-level" full-size Pontiac.

The name "Catalina" was first used on the 1950 Chieftain Series 25/27 hardtop, Pontiac's top of the line model at the time, and later added to the Star Chief in 1954. 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 this fixed-roof design offered is its sporty, airy feeling without the expense and drawbacks normally associated with convertibles. With the exception of the 1958 Bonneville, all Pontiac hardtops are designated "Catalinas" from 1950 to 1958. Powered by a flathead straight-eight engine at the time of its debut, it would receive Pontiac's new 287 CID OHV V8 four years later. A one-piece windshield was new for 1954. A padded safety dash became available in 1956.

1953 Pontiac Chieftain Catalina hardtop coupe

1954 Pontiac Star Chief Catalina hardtop coupe

For 1959, Pontiac dropped the name "Chieftain" for its entry level model and renamed it "Catalina", while demoting the former top-line Star Chief to mid-line status and expanding the Bonneville nameplate to a full flagship series that included sedans, coupes, convertibles and Safari station wagons.

In the lower-priced Catalina line, Pontiac division advertising placed higher emphasis on the top trimmed two- and four-door hardtops, convertible and Safari station wagons instead of the pillared two- and four-door sedan variants despite the fact that the four-door sedan was the best seller in this line.