Road Trip Dream Car

Right at the top of my retirement bucket list was my long-held desire to explore Route 66, the Southwestern National Parks and American Indian Country in style: behind the wheel of a classic American automobile.

But first, I had to find the perfect road trip candidate. Only a convertible would do. Since we'd be three travellers, the car had to come with a bench seat so we could all sit up front to ensure minimal wind draft and maximum viewing pleasure. Lastly, since I am not a mechanic and didn't want to spend my precious time on the road looking for one, the car had to be dead nuts reliable.
After a good six months of searching, I finally found the right specimen for my adventure: a 1966 Pontiac Catalina Convertible, cherished all its life, fully sorted, and a pleasure to drive.

To really appreciate the car, let me tell you a bit about our road trip. You may skip this section if you're in a hurry.
We left Santa Barbara early on a Saturday morning, stopping in Santa Margarita to take in the "RPM Nationals" Hot Rod races, and then hit Hwy 58 toward Bakersfield. Temperatures in the Central Valley exceeded 110 degrees that day, and the car passed its first big test with flying colors. It never overheated, not once on our entire trip! From Lake Isabella, we headed North toward Bishop, stopping at numerous attractions - and ice cream parlors - on the way. Then Tonopah ("Home of the Muckers") and via America's Loneliest Highway to Wendover, Utah, for a quick peek at the Bonneville salt flats. On to Moab, exploring Arches NP, Canyonlands NP - all on my "America The Beautiful" Senior Lifetime Pass - for a one-time $80 fee you can visit any National Park for the remainder of your life for free, and that includes every person in your vehicle. What a deal!
From Utah, we drove all the way to Durango, Colo., since we bought tickets for a day trip on the famous Durango & Silverton narrow gauge steam train - an adventure not to be missed!

500 miles a day is no biggie, neither for the big Poncho nor for its passengers - it is a supremely comfortable automobile that feels right at home on the open road. 70 to 75mph was our cruising speed, with more in the tank. Speaking of tank, we achieved an astonishingly good 16MPG on our trip, fully loaded with three adults, luggage and ice chests!
From Colorado, we headed to Mesa Verde NP in New Mexico. The highlights were coming fast and furious now - Monument Valley, the trippy Antelope Canyon, Page, Kanab, Bryce Canyon NP, Zion NP, Grand Canyon NP, old Route 66 with Kingman, Oatman and its Burros, Lake Havasu. Via Hoover Dam to Las Vegas. Red Rock to Death Valley and Pinnacles, then back to Santa Barbara.
3,700 miles of smiles, with zero time lost to mechanical issues or any other calamities.

OK, let's talk about this 57-year old road warrior a bit. Born in 1966 as one of 14,837 Catalina convertibles, the Pontiac presented here, VIN *252676E192339*, was a two-owner car when I found it. The - late - second owner lived on an island near Vancouver and drove the car exclusively on sunny summer Sundays. Interestingly, he had been given the Martinique Bronze beauty as a Valentine's Day present from his loving wife, back in 1992.

Sold new at Blanton Pontiac-Cadillac in Shelby, New Jersey, this Catalina comes equipped with the final iteration of the vaunted 389ci engine, producing 256 horses and a whopping 388ft.lbs. of torque (@ 2,000 rpm!), backed by a Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission. Power steering, power brakes and power top, as well as the - working - AM radio with optional rear speaker complete the creature comforts. The car has been decoded by Pontiac Historical Services (PHS) and appears to be all numbers matching original.

Apart from the aforementioned PHS documentation, this Catalina comes with an array of books and manuals - including the original owners manual and convertible top booklet. A large binder with 100+ receipts for maintenance and parts purchases, dating back to 1992, all neatly sorted by date in clear sheet protectors, accompanies the car.

I purchased the car with 85,253 actual miles on the odometer. Mileage today is 89,869. Odometer has NOT rolled over.
Just a bit of trivia: note Pontiac's famous "Indian Head" silhouette above odometer; it serves as the high beam indicator and was the only place where you'd find it on a 1966.

Inspecting the Pontiac's tidy engine compartment and reviewing the owner's voluminous service records, along with testimonials by his mechanic and his widow prompted me to seal the deal on the car. The man - a very meticulous electronics tech by profession - spent untold hours in his garage, refreshing any and all wear items on the car over time, from the wetherstripping, to the hood pad, to items like motor mounts, brakes, shocks, springs, dual exhaust - you name it. A few years ago, he even had a brand new, tinted "Soft Ray" windshield installed, a fact that was most appreciated during our road trip!

With its rebuilt carburetor and fresh tune up, the engine ALWAYS starts at the turn of the key. It has the quintessential, healthy, and almost extinct sound of a big American land yacht. At idle, it's not unlike a nice Mercruiser sport boat, burbling softly but authoritatively. Last I checked, there were no pesky fluid leaks of any kind. Oil consumption is also minimal; on our trip, the big 389 was happy with less than 1/2 quart per 1,000 miles.

Factory-finished in the most attractive shade of metallic Martinique Bronze, the big Pontiac was repainted once, back in the 1990s, in its original color. The car looks positively stunning; there are no waves, ripples, dings, dents, bubbles or other issues worth mentioning. Sure, the fascia sports a few tiny rock chips acquired during our travels, however, a vial of matching touch-up paint is included to remedy such minute maladies.

The black convertible top was replaced a few years ago and is in pristine condition, featuring a glass rear window and all new convertible weatherstripping. The power top hydraulics work as they should and the top seals 100% against wind and rain, gratefully noted during a huge, monsoon-like downpour outside Seligman, Arizona, on Route 66.

An easy-to-install, wonderfully tailored to fit perfectly, black tonneau cover is part of the package. We only had to raise the top twice during our trip; usually, we left the top down 24/7, securing the car from prying eyes, dust, dew, and dirt by using an amazing, all-weather car cover, which is also included in this sale.

With the top down, the Catalina turns into the most pleasurable cruiser on the planet. Riding in it, one is even more connected to the sights, smells and sounds of one's environment than on a motorcycle. The panoramic view is truly priceless! In a sea of pickups and SUVs, a 1960s convertible on the open road really stands out. If we'd have gotten a nickel for every honk, wave, or cellphone pic we elicited on our trip, it would have paid for food, gas and lodging!

Moving on to the interior, we notice a perfectly crack-free dashboard. Note a few small splits in the clear part of the steering wheel. It is common practice to restore these mid-century lucite wheels, however, I grew to appreciate the originality.

Fabulous, driver-centered instrument panel is one of the highlights of mid-Sixties Pontiacs, along with the "Coke bottle" design, the "wide track" stance and the vertically stacked headlights. Unmistakably 1960s Pontiac!

Amazingly, all gauges work, even the clock (which was rebuilt). Gauge illumination works as well, as do high and low beams, turn signals, four-way flashers, heater, heater blower and even the factory AM radio. An fact, every gauge, switch and light on this car works as intended, including the trunk and engine compartment lights!

Black loop carpeting was replaced, a few years ago, and presents excellently. In addition to the fuel gauge, an ammeter and a clock are fitted from the factory.

Front bench seats three adults with ease. Black naugahyde upholstery is in excellent condition, free of rips or tears. After our 3,700-mile road trip, we can confirm: yes, this is a very comfortable touring car!

Roomy rear accommodations. Note the rear speaker grille. The optional speaker is in working order. Window channel weatherstripping is like new.

Among collectors, the '65/'66 Pontiacs are prized for their distinctive look. Taking in the Catalina's crisply styled rear featuring vestigial "fins," I wholeheartedly agree!
By the way, should the car remain in California, I will include the set of black-and-yellow license plates shown. They have been cleared by the DMV.

Cavernous trunk is filled with goodies, among them a practical "crook lock" anti-theft device and the aforementioned, custom-fit car cover.

Originality abounds. Underside of deck lid features factory paint as well as original jacking instructions decal. Original trunk floor is free of rust or scale. (Trunk mat, matching cardboard and spare tire cover are high-quality reproductions, sourced from Ames Pontiac.) Factory jacking equipment is present.