(first posted 2/25/2013) What’s the trick to having your shot posted at the Cohort selected for the big stage? Here’s one of them:
Make it one of a full-size, two-door sedan from the later years of its existence, like this shot of a fine 1967 Catalina two-door in the next-to-last year it was available–and in white, no less, with dog dishes and blackwall tires. Yes! The only thing missing is a shot of the interior to see if there’s three-on-the knee. We know it’s got the 400 cu in V8; no sixes for big Pontiacs, not even the OHC six. Wouldn’t be right, somehow. Great find by Hugo90.
Wow, there is a 1968 twin of this car down here is FL, with the 3 speed on the column and the 400, with factory air too, crazy.
I think that car was for sale on ebay awhile ago.
Nice!!!
Another great looking car overlooked by the classic magazines.Thanks Paul keep them coming in.A bit big and thirsty for me but I could get along with a Tempest with a 6 or small block quite well
Parents had the station wagon of this year and model, with electric windows, seats, air, tint glass, AM-FM. Great cruiser, road trip car. I want……BADLY.
Mom was not much for big cars, but she appreciated it when they had to get back from the west coast (Carmel), to the east (Duxbury, MA) in 3.5 days….
It’s always so nice to see more common models survive (especially in such great condition) Looking at movies, tv or your typical car shows you would think Detroit made nothing but 2 door hardtops and convertibles (and usually in the top range of each mfg.)
And all of them red.
My best friend in high school bought one of these in 1982 for $250. He called it ‘the bomb”. Very quick. With bench seats 6 could fit inside easily.
I love the body-colored steel wheels. I wish more classic car owners did this (hell, I’d do it to my Camry if I didn’t have the aluminum wheels already).
+1
I’ve mentioned this before, but my parents briefly had a ’67 Catalina 2-door hardtop (fastback version of this featured car) also in white, bought used but cosmetically in showroom condition, and lord, was it ever gorgeous. Unfortunately the engine blew only a few months after they bought it and that was that. Maybe it was for the best; a couple of years of western PA winters and I’d probably be talking about the rusty POS Pontiac they had rather than the movie-star beauty I remember.
The 2dr post …Very cool, the Canadian version was called a Laurention. Of course it had a Chevy frame, 14 inch wheels and all. However, you could get a six,though equiped with a 283 and three on the tree? Lots of guts.
How about a 427 Strato-Chief instead?
A 427 Strato Chief 2dr post?. For me it would want to be a 66…. In my dreams.
In 1968, Canadian Pontiacs rode on the wheelbase as the US cars, as result of the 1967 Auto-Pact. They did have Chevrolet engines, however.
I don’t think the Canadian cars went to the US platform and wheelbases until the 1971 redesign. The 1969 brochure lists the wheelbase as 119″, same as Chevrolet.
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/Canada/1969%20Pontiac%20Brochure/1969%20Cdn%20Pontiac%20Brochure-k.html
Both Stumack and Canucklehead are both right . . . sort of. Beginning in ’65, Canadian Pontiacs did use a Chevy frame, somewhat wide and comparable to Pontiac (in the U.S.). The wheelbase was a shorter Chevy 119″ as the Auto-Pact wasn’t signed until late 1965. ’71 was when the under-the-skin gap changed between Canada and the U.S. for Pontiacs (although ’71 and up full size Pontiacs built in Canada for the Canadian/Commonwealth trade still used Canadian Chevy Engines). Canadian Pontiacs through 1970 still used a lot of Chevy interior hardware (steering wheels, column, shifters, brake and accelerator pedals, etc.) The “screamer” 2-door U.S. Pontiac “post” would’ve been a 428 Poncho . . . . vis-a-vis Canada’s Chevy 427 (which came from cross the Niagara River in Tonawanda, NY!)
Canadian Pontiacs ran on Chevy platforms long before 1965. The GM 7000 series formula began in 1955 and ended in 1970. As noted above, there were fewer differences starting in 1971, and in Canada both Chevy and Pontiac engines were offered. I had a 1972 LeMans with a Chevy 350
but they also came with Pontiac 350s.
Wasn’t there either a 326 or a 350 below the 400? Also, these dog dishes look different from the ones I am used to seeing on these cars. On closer look, these seem to come from an early 70s car (chime in here, Junqueboy). I think the caps below would be original.
My, but listen to me nitpick what is a really cool old Poncho. I probably saw an odd Catalina 2 door sedan around back in the day, but they faded into the background and I just don’t remember any. This is the kind of car I would love today. A 3 on the tree would make it perfect.
I’m flattered Mr. Cavanaugh but I admit defeat! They look like they could be original but they could be the super-rare ones off a ’71-’76 B-body.
What a beautiful machine. Kudos to the owner for not sticking Rally IIs on it!
Those baby dog-dish Pontiac hubcaps look like they came off of a plain-jane Catalina from ’73-81 – similar poverty caps also found on the LeMans/Grand Prixs (from ’78 on anyway). . . .
I think these would be the poverty caps for a late 60’s/early 70’s midsize or F-body Pontiac, the 400 was the base engine in a big car, the 326/350 was the small V8 in the midsize/F-bodies at this point too, with the option of a 400.
I wondered, as my grandmother’s 69 Catalina (that did not have many options) came with a 350.
Really? Was it Canadian? I still show a 400cid engine as the base motor for a Catalina in 1969, 1970 was the first time that a 350 became the base motor on a big Pontiac as far as I can tell. Though I have never seen one, most of them still had the 400-455 engine.
I always think of my friend Jim, who passed away last year, when I think of this car–and vice versa.This was his very first car, but in a dark gold, and I was at his house when his uncle delivered the “Brown Bomb.” I never liked the frowny taillights and Jim never liked the fact that it broke down every other day on the way to classes at college.
Wow! What a beautiful looking Pontiac…I had no idea Pontiac built 2 dr sedans in 1967.
The last 2dr Catalina sedans I saw were in 1966 and I never saw many of them; I always thought 1966 was the last year of the Poncho 2 dr sedans. This one looks to be in really immaculate condition, it’s nice to see it in stock condition and not hot-rodded out of existence.
There is one of these around where I live. I see it every once in awhile, the most recently was probably last summer. I saw it up close one time. It has the full wheel covers and automatic transmission. I, too have always liked these big two door sedans.
Back in the mid seventies I had a ’69 Chrysler Newport 2 door hardtop that only had one option; power steering. 383 with a two barrel, 3 speed on the column, manual brakes, no radio, white with a blue interior. It was quite a road car. I took it on a long road trip once and averaged 18 miles to the gallon.
Plain, large cars did not sell very well back in the sixties. That is a big part of why they don’t exist anymore. I’m glad there are others besides me that enjoy the diversity of the old days.
I used to think such cars were never ever built. The Internet gave me an education on that.
That’s the best looking ’67 I have ever seen.
Well we know it’s a radio delete, anyway. No antenna.
Original owner must’ve sprung for a (dealer installed?) right hand (manual) mirror, anyway. I would leave this one “as is”, although for a daily driver or semi daily driver, would find a ’75-on electronic ignition, add dual exhuasts (factory style) and some 21st Century type brakes anyway (shit-can the dog drums that were common Pontiac fare in those days).
Leave it mostly as is for sure!
I agree with billy though. Factory style duals that kick up a little before they dump down.
The only other thing I would do would add a 4 barrel to give that Poncho more punch-o!
Without the torque-robbing auto, this would be a snappy little m0nStEr.
Mr. Cavanaugh may be on to something regarding the hub caps. I think they are newer, and the one in the pic may be correct. Good eyes mister-man!
And it does look like the right hand mirror is probably the only option. Although at second glance, I think it looks like it has chrome around the side windows. I wonder if that’s an option???
White even. The plain-iest of Janie-est!
I’m a would-be Bonneville fan myself, but I just might chose this over that! I think the only Pontiac I’ve had was a ’70 Catalina 4dr SEE-dan. Kinda rough. Very much a Raunch0 Ponch0 !
GREAT great find. Perhaps an uncommon sight even in the ’60s?
I remember that car. I persued it as hard as I could, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be.
Those dog-dish caps look like they are off either a 79-80 catalina. I just purchased a 67 catalina 2-dr sedan in central California and only 5633 were produced. Yes they are hard to find but are still around.
Trying to determine rear-end ratio on my 67 Catalina 2-dr. Previous owner put in a 10-bolt posi unit, but did not know the ratio. Casting #’s I saw were 9787883 and another # of L076. Anyone know what were talking about, thanks.
Glenn, you can jack up the ass-end of the big bad bitch and spin the wheel and the ratio between how many times the tire spins to how many times the drive shaft spins is your ratio. As to tell you the actual math, I am a total math-o-phobe/dumb-ass, so I’m not the man for that job!
Now that I “think” about it, it might be something like…if your driveshaft spins almost 4 times with one spin of the wheel, you have a 3.90 ratio? Yeah, that’s the ticket. Maybe.
I again talked to the previous owner who replaced the original rear-end. He said he put in a 10-bolt posi with either the 3.08 or 3.23 ratio.
That’s my 67 Post. Sorry but it,s a turbo 400. 55, 000 original miles.
Ok….read the posts after I posted. I will try to answer the questions. It’s a 400 2bbl high compression. Yes the caps are 73 Firebird. I use 15 inch wheels and the correct caps (pictured) will not fit. The 73s are aluminum and flex just enough to snap them on. It does have duals. .Magniflows and an X tube. Yes radio delete. I added the right side mirror. Has 2:21 gears and gets 18 mpg on the highway. Mostly the original laquer with a few minor Granny dents repaired. Replaced rugs and front seat inserts and windlace. Kybs and large front sway bar and Kumhos make it a super driver. Thanks for your interest. U
Nice, but a little too ‘low end’ for me. Maybe if it had air, power windows, and a decent stereo……….The dog dishes are OK though.
Ah…IMHO the ’67 Pontiacs had one of the most beautiful grilles in all of auto-dom!!
The first time I ever experienced what might be called aesthetic revulsion was when I had my first look at a ’68 full-size Pontiac; my parents owned two beautiful ’65 Bonnevilles at the time (they had a friend who was a sales manager), a convertible and a wagon, and I was also wowed by the ’67s. When they decided to trade in the ’65 wagon for one with three rows of seats, they had a choice of a new ’68 or a slightly used dealer demonstrator ’67 Executive, and they thankfully chose the ’67.
My great uncle bought one of these, only in a four door. OHC six. I think it had an automatic but don’t recall. It was a stripper all the way – no radio, no AC, no cigarette lighter, no nuthin’. Dark green, I think, but I never saw it out of his garage, so I’m not sure of the actual color!
This begs the question: Why did GM/Pontiac allow this, when a Biscayne or Bel Air was already available from Chevy? Makes no sense to me.
But as noted in the main post, every full-size Pontiac in ’67 came with a 400ci V8 standard (and before that a 389, for 1959-66); the 428 (421 before 1967) was optional on most and standard on the 2+2. If the car had a six, perhaps it was a Canadian car or a Tempest-series car.
Pontiac and Dodge wanted some of their ‘cheaper’ sister division’s buyers. Back then, Big 3 car Divisions were like fiefdoms thinking they were the ‘most important’.
I agree that stripped Catalina’s overlapped BelAir/Biscayne, but then Caprice Classic Brougham overlapped BOP’s well trimmed cars.
Keep in mind, though, that (starting in 1965) every full-size automatic Pontiac used the THM 400, whereas if you wanted an automatic 1967 Caprice with the standard 283 engine, you had to be contented with a Powerglide.
Wow, I don’t ever recall seeing a ’67 Pontiac 2-door POST!
My dad bought a ’73 Mercury Monterey with dog-dish hubcaps, though. And if one had been available, I think he probably would have ordered it with a manual transmission.
Had a next door neighbor from 1960 through 1970.Engineer, worked for power company at the power plant. Always, and i mean ALWAYS had a Chevy station wagon every two years starting with a 1960. Nothin’ fancy, Heater, radio, no a/c. no power anything. and always had a three speed manual on the column. Also ordered it with biggest motor available. Very Old School. Last car he had though just prior to a sudden and fatal Heart Attack was a 72 Impala Sedan with an automatic. Never did know why he changed but was getting older and guess he felt it was time for change. Remember when people went to their favorite dealer, and ORDERED the car the wanted, the way they wanted it?
If I recall correctly, 1972 was the last year a 3-on-the-tree was offered in the large Chevy, and only with the 250 6-cylinder. Both engine and tranny choices were dropped for 1973.
Speaking of ordering cars, my brother and I helped my mother special-order a Monte Carlo in 1973. We specified some oddball combinations like A/C without tinted glass and bumper guards without bumper rub strips (we didn’t know “deluxe bumpers” meant rub strips). And that’s exactly what we got!
Growing up, my families 1st “2nd car” was a 65 Catalina 2dr sedan. The overwhelming memory I have of it is based on it’s lack of power steering. Resulting in my mom hating driving it. It didn’t last long.
1969 was the last year for any full-size 2-door sedan, right?
Yup.
When I was 16 and learning to drive my dad had a 67 two door but it was the Fastback. It was not an easy car to learn in due to the steep slope of the rear window, you had no idea where it’s huge rear end stopped and it felt as big as a Winnebago
Base series, two door coupe or sedan, check, appliance white, check, black-wall tires, check, dog-dish hubcaps, check, stick shift, check: a fleet car or skinflint special! We had a local Pontiac dealer whose clientele still included many loyal customers from the straight eight era, the base Catalinas were their cars, forget high performance!
Aside from paint color and body style, those other items didn’t need to be ‘checked’. They were base, no extra cost standard.
If one wanted white wall tires, full wheel covers etc., then yes, CHECK the box.
I am the current owner of this car. My father was the fleet sales manager for 30+ years at Bud Meadows Pontiac in Portland Oregon, where this car first rolled off the showroom. As a “fleet” car, it has no comfort options. Less than 6000 of these built in 67.
Fleet cars typically were driven by people that didn’t own the vehicle, and treated them like rental cars. This car went to a private party (cheapskate) but was very well cared for. I doubt another one like it exists today. The rest….car crusher.
My brother-in-law actually has one of these, he bought it when it had just been imported to Sweden back in 2017.
Light blue with blue interior. 80000 original miles. 400 2-bbl, TH400 tranny with column shift, and a very highway-friendly rear axle.
I like the hardtops, but the 2-door post is unique. Also the fact that this was the last year for the vertical headlights makes it just that much more special.
The car in the pictures are in a lot nicer shape, though.
I have a 1967 Catalina Convertible, 400 4bbl numbers matching, with a three on the tree. Car has no A/c, AM radio and really no other options outside of P/S. The trans is the GM “Dearborn” which was actually made by Ford and used by GM is certain full size Pontiac models in the late 60’s.
Had PHS run the history and this was the way it came from the factory.
Always gets a lot of looks at shows or driving around!