1966 Pontiac Catalina Coupé

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Completely original & unrestored
  • Original owner until 2016
  • Just 33k miles from new
  • Copy of original US DMV certificate
  • Lots of recent expenditure
  • Working belt driven air conditioning 

THE APPEAL

With its vertically stacked headlights and wide split grille, the 1964-67 “full-size” Pontiac was one of the most recognisable American cars of the 1960s, with deep-set grilles and a pronounced bonnet bulge. 

In Coupé form the model also had a beautiful, swooping profile and a vast rear end, with a gigantic boot. 

Over 92,000 were built, with the option of any V8 from the GM Pontiac line-up. This one is a base trim, but with the biggest engine of the lot – a 389ci (6.4-litre) GM big block V8. 

It’s also a car with an amazing story to tell, having had just one owner until it was imported to the UK in 2016.

It’s completely original, has never been restored, and has covered a genuine 33,119 miles from new.

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THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK

  • Stack of recent invoices
  • All import documents complete and fully UK registered
  • Copy of original US registration papers
  • Pontiac VIN-tag
  • Original handbook and service book

This car is astonishing, as despite being 56 years of age it has never been painted or retrimmed. It’s exactly as it left the Pontiac production line in Flint, Michigan, in June 1966. 

In July 1966, it was sold to Mr Randy Truman of Charlestown, West Virginia, who bought the car for his wife, Jerie. She used the car infrequently – mostly for running errands and local shopping, with Mr Truman’s car being the family’s main means of transport. By 2012, it had covered just 17,000 miles. The 2nd owner had it until 2016 when it was imported into the UK, at which time it had covered 26,900 miles.

In the past six years, a further 7,000 miles have been added, most of them by the vendor who has owned it for five years and is selling it because he wants to buy a muscle car. 

It has a copy of the US registration document showing Mr Truman as the owner, its original service book, a handbook and a Pontiac VIN-tag, which matched the metal one on the car and was used by Pontiac dealers to make impressions in the car’s paperwork to prove it genuine.

There’s also all of the import documents, lots of recent invoices and a parts book from Ames Engineering, which is one of the USA’s best-known Pontiac specialists and will export parts to the UK. Useful stuff…

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THE INTERIOR

  • Valve radio
  • Air conditioning
  • Colour-coded turquoise trim
  • Six-seater

Inside, the seats, carpets, doors and dash are as turquoise as the exterior – a real nod to an era of total excess in car design, and one that is a major part of US car culture. 

It’s in great condition and is totally original, so yes, there are a couple of small nicks in the seat fabric and some minor signs of wear, but nothing to put you off. Indeed, the gentle patina of the car is all part of its charm. It’s a car that needs to remain as original as possible and is absolutely beautiful as it is. 

It has its original valve radio and also a belt-driven air conditioning unit, which is still in working order.

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THE EXTERIOR

  • All original metallic paint
  • Never painted or restored
  • All original chrome
  • No visible rust

The paint on this car is 66 years old so you can’t really expect it to be perfect, but it’s in mightily good condition overall and has no evidence of any visible rust or corrosion. 

There are areas where the paint is a little faded and patchy, but only if you look closely. At first glance, it’s stunning and it has incredible presence. 

The chrome, the wheel centres and the trim are all in good order, too, and need to be preserved exactly as they are by the car’s next owner.

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THE MECHANICS 

  • 6.4-litre V8
  • GM ‘Hydramatic’ auto
  • New distributor
  • Brake system overhauled
  • Recent full service with new leads and plugs

The great news with GM’s 6.4-litre V8 engine is that the OHV unit has been in continuous production for over 70 years and while the latest iterations of the engine are somewhat evolved from the cast-iron powerplant in this one, it means that parts availability is second-to-none and even with import charges they’re not expensive. 

It’s also a straightforward and easy-to-maintain engine, renowned for its durability.

This one is hooked up to a GM Hydramatic automatic transmission and the owner reports that it drives without fault.

It has received plenty of maintenance and annual servicing in his care and has recently received a brake system overhaul, a new distributor and new HT leads.

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SUMMARY

If you buy this car, you’re not just buying a glorious slice of Americana (although it is…), you’re also buying a mobile piece of 20th century history. 

A car that has a story of its own to tell and has survived completely preserved in its own little time capsule. It’s a remarkable thing.


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Vehicle specification
  • Year 1966
  • Make Pontiac
  • Model Catalina Coupé
  • Colour Turquoise
  • Odometer 33,119 Miles
  • Engine size 6375
Auction Details
  • Seller Type Private
  • Location Worcestershire
  • Country United Kingdom
Bidding history
22 bids
  • Di•••• £16,000 06/07/22
  • xj•••• £15,250 06/07/22
  • Pa•••• £15,000 06/07/22
  • xj•••• £14,750 06/07/22
  • An•••• £14,500 06/07/22
  • MJ•••• £14,000 05/07/22
  • jd•••• £9,900 05/07/22
  • ra•••• £8,500 05/07/22
  • xj•••• £8,000 05/07/22
  • ch•••• £7,200 05/07/22
Message C&C Auction Team

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