1962 Pontiac Catalina Hardtop Kansas City Auction Bound

For the 1950 model year, Pontiac debuted a new trim level for the Chieftain hardtop. The Pontiac Catalina was the Chieftain’s top-of-the-line trim, with a name in line with the tradition of naming cars for beach towns such as Malibu, Ventura, and Bel Air. The Catalina name would also be given to Pontiac’s version of the Chevy Bel Air, the 1954 Pontiac Star Chief. These corporate cousins with “hardtop convertible” styling had a pillarless design, lending itself to an open, airy feeling with top self-appointments.

Pontiac dropped the Chieftain and Super Chief monikers for the 1959 model year, choosing to make the Pontiac Catalina its own model. Built on GM’s new B-Body platform, the Catalina sported thin A-pillars, a wraparound windshield, and excellent visibility. The Catalina had Pontiac’s trademark split grille, with two horizontally arranged headlights per side. The Catalina also featured a substantial list of standard and available equipment, particularly as Pontiac’s most affordable full-size car. Standard luxurious Morrokide vinyl with cloth inserts covered the seats. Dual ashtrays, cigar lighter, glovebox snackbar with cup indentions on the inside of the glovebox door were all standard fare. The floor was covered with rubber mats, but full carpeting was available.

The Pontiac Catalina received a refresh for the 1961 model year, bringing with it a Torque Box perimeter chassis that added side impact protection and improved interior space, a flatter windshield, and sharper body creases. The Catalina was markedly wider than its corporate cousins, but three inches shorter in both overall length and wheelbase.

Styling changes were made to the Pontiac Catalina for 1962, with new roofline and softened styling. The wheelbase increased by an inch for both the two-door hardtop and sedan. The standard 389 cubic-inch V8 could be had in 215-, 230-, 235-, 267-, 283-, 305-, 318-, 333-, or 348-horsepower variants, depending upon carburetion and compression ratios. The 389 could be paired with three-speed or four-speed manual gearboxes, or a Hydramatic automatic.

Our feature 1962 Pontiac Catalina is finished in a glossy, ceramic-coated Starlight Black paint over a fawn Tri-Color Morrokide interior. It is equipped with the special order Ventura Decor group, Deluxe steering wheel, full carpet, and a Delco AM Transistor radio. Powering the Catalina is the 348-horsepower 389 V8 with its factory Tri-Power carburetion, backed by a four-speed manual transmission. The Catalina rolls on eight-lug Pontiac wheels shod in blackwall radial rubber.

This 1962 Pontiac Catalina with cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Kansas City, Missouri event taking place December 5^th through the 7^th.