60k Original Miles: 1964 Pontiac Catalina
The Catalina name had an enduring and successful run at Pontiac, initially used as a trim-level designation for the popular Chieftan series in 1950. By 1959, the Catalina earned the status of becoming a stand-alone model, with more than 250,000 finding homes for the 1964 model alone, so buyers apparently liked what the car had to offer. This ’64 Catalina here on Facebook Marketplace is a low-mileage example and remains in excellent condition, so if you’ve been looking for a mid-sixties four-door from GM, this one’s likely worth checking out. The Pontiac is located in the small town of Douglas, Wyoming, and comes at an asking price of $19,500.
We’d like to give another thank you to Barn Finds reader T.J., who sent us the tip here! This one’s another fine-looking automobile where the seller provides very few details, other than the car is stated as being all-original. With only 60k miles on the ticker, it would have been interesting to find out the background here, but the photos seem to speak for the obvious level of care this car has been given through the years. I’m envisioning the possibility that this Catalina may have been in Wyoming most of its life, and perhaps used on or near a ranch, but that’s entirely speculation.
The condition inside seems up to par overall with the outside appearance, with the amount of pedal wear we’re seeing here about what I’d expect for the stated mileage. We only get two photos from the interior, but if that’s still the factory material on the front bench seat, it’s a good testament to the fact that somebody has shown this car a lot of love over the last six decades. I would have probably vacuumed the carpet before a photo shoot, although it’s kind of cool too that this one’s being presented so honestly.
Things under the hood also appear to be in good order, and with no more than this one’s been driven, it wouldn’t surprise me if the engine’s never been out of the bay. Information about the drivetrain is sparse, with the only specific mentioned being that the car runs great, and my hunch here is the motor has been well maintained. It’s also good to see that this one’s got A/C. I’m not spotting much of anything to criticize about this 1964 Pontiac Catalina, just curious how many people out there are willing to shell out nearly twenty grand for a mid-sixties Pontiac sedan. What are your thoughts?
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Comments
And as a bonus, it’s a hardtop! That should put a damper on those pesky “but it’s got 4 doors!” remarks.
Plus a belt on the ac compressor
My family had one of these when I was a kid and I took my driving test in it, 1964 Catalina 4-door hardtop. Ours was navy blue and no AC. Watch out for that Roto-Hydramatic “Slim Jim” transmission!
But it’s got 4 doors ….$12K tops
Yes SIR Mr. AMC, you got it! I have a ’63 Bonneville Safari with the Super-Hydramatic behind the 389. Its a GEM! I do have a “Slim Jim” plate from a Roto-Hydramatic for someone to have, FREE!. Pay shipping & its yours! I’ll end up scrapping it, I know…….:)
A friend’s father had one – his “company car.” Remember those? Perqs that up-and-coming execs and salesmen got, working with a large or prosperous company.
I was about six, seven years old, and discovering how all the GM brands were so different, yet so alike. My own father’s company car was a 1964 Impala. In many ways it was alike, but with different lines – and those stacked headlights! The only other thing with wheels and stacked headlights, was our school bus (1960 International).
It brings back memories, for me. Of discovery, of the fashion side of the auto world. Of childhood in general. The Grand Prix was interesting – had WHITE in the boomerangs on the rear, not red, and the actual tail lights were HIDDEN! A few years later, the headlights were hidden, too! Gee, this car stuff is FUN!
Along with it, I found the difference between boys and girls. Boys were interested in what I saw and could tell them, and they, me. Girls didn’t care, and called us weird.
Yeah…if I were in the market for such a car, I’d be right on it. Someone’s gonna have a nice weekend cruiser…
My old man had a’64 just like this. It was the car I learned how to properly was and wax. I sometimes took it out of the detached garage and quietly went to town to cruise the main drag. I remember charging my buddies a buck each for gas and we cruised for hours on that money. I got a lot of compliments for the way it looked.
Now you could charge your friends a buck each and cruise to the end of the cul-de-sac!
Nice to see power steering and power brakes under the hood.
Very Nice Catalina!
Always nice to see a well preserved, original car. The price is a little ambitious, but if the seller is reasonable, it should find a good home.
Very nice! Grandparents had the station wagon model with the blue interior. It was handed down to us, and it was the first car that I took over 100mph. We nicknamed it the Tank, and it was used for pulling a trailer all over the west coast. It was in the family until about 76 when the wiring caught fire and my parents sold it. Still miss that car.
I cannot imagine this getting nearly $20,000. This looks like the 389 v-8 engine, but others can verify for sure. They came with higher horsepower 421 engines that could drink fuel like a Tab through a straw. I had one, the 4 door version is massive. But they are notorious for a slipping HydroMatic transmission that in the 5 years I owned I could never find someone to fix. And that was in the early 80s when there was some knowledge. I paid $200 for it in 1985, sold it for $300 in 1990. It was a beautiful car, and spacious and comfortable. And fast, oh my it could pin your ears back. But 5 years of tinkering with the transmission was enough.
Bruce, I think our Tank had the bigger engine since it was used to pull travel trailers. But I do remember when my Grandparents took all of us 5 kids to Sequoia and Yosemite, and we were towed twice on steep hills since the transmission was going out. I think they had it rebuilt with a different one afterwards as I don’t remember it ever giving us trouble after that. It made many trips between San Diego to Oregon, Wash. and British Columbia. It was very powerful, and I remember it didn’t take long to hit that 100 when I did it at 16 years old.
My 64, white-on-white Bonneville SportCoupe has 55,000 on the 389. These cars will certainly eat up the highway! But, $20,000?? I can’t see my 2-door fetching anywhere north of $15,000…