1959 Pontiac Catalina

The origins of the Catalina name within Pontiac began during the 1950 model year and was used to represent the all-new hardtop roofline on the Chieftain Super DeLuxe Coupe. All Pontiac hardtops from 1950 to 1958 were designated Catalinas. For 1959, the Catalina became a standalone model and helped the Pontaic brand earn Motor Trend magazine's 'Car of the Year' award (awarded to the entire Pontiac division). This award was in recognition of the company's metamorphosis of styling and marketing, replacing its former conservative reputation with a youthful, performance-oriented persona with upscale elements and styling. The styling was complemented by equally impressive performance, including numerous victories in NASCAR stock car competition including at Darlington and Daytona. Buyer's agreed with the styling direction, performance upgrades, and long list of standard features and amenities, resulting in sales jumping 77% over 1958 models. Pontiac took fourth in industry sales, outpacing its GM stablemates at Oldsmobile and Buick.

After dropping the Chieftain name, the Catalina with its 'Strato-Star' styling became the entry-level Pontiac. Its arrival coincided with General Manager Bunkie Knudsen's creation of the Super Duty engineering group, whose mandate was to follow Knudsen's lead in ignoring the AMA restrictions against factory participation in sanctioned racing, especially NASCAR. Additionally, it was to create a full range of over-the-counter performance parts for Pontiac owners.

Specifications
Among the 47 engineering advances that Pontiac claimed for its new models was the 'Wide-Track' tag line used in the brand's advertising, referring to Pontiac's 4 1/2-inch wider front track that improved handling and roadability. The 389 cubic-inch V8 engine was the biggest engine in its class, and when it was equipped with the rare optional Tri-Power carburetion setup with three Rochester two-barrel carburetors, output was rated at 345 horsepower. It had a special high nickel content cast-iron block with four-bolt mains, overhead valves, hydraulic valve lifters, and five main bearings. In standard guise, with a Rochester two-barrel carburetor and 8.6:1 compression (10.0:1 compression with the Hydra-Matic), the engine offered 245 horsepower at 4,200 RPM. The standard transmission was a three-speed manual unit with synchromesh. The four-speed Super Hydra-Matic (Strato-Flight) transmission added $180 to the base price.

The 1959 Pontiac Catalina was a lineup of multiple body styles, including new sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Safari wagons. The wheelbase measured 122-inches and carried new experimental designs featuring a conventional, full-width oval grille, containing horizontal quad headlights divided into two pieces of transposed halves. The lights positioned at the extremities gave birth to the new split center, open-ended look. 1959 was the first year for the company's split grille, which was to become a trademark of the brand until its passing some six decades later.

Styling elements included the Catalina script on the rear fins, 'sweep spear' moldings on the bodyside, and plain deck lids.

Body Styles, Price, and Production
The Pontiac Catalina body styles included a sedan priced at $2,700, a hardtop at $2,770, a sport sedan at $2,630, a Vista hardtop at $2,845, and a convertible at $3,080. The six-passenger station wagon listed at $3,100 and the nine-passenger version at $3,200. The sedan was the most popular body style with 72,377 examples built, followed by 45,012 of the Vista hardtop, 38,309 of the hardtop, 26,102 of the Sport Sedan, and14,515 of the convertible. The six-passenger station wagon was more popular than the nine, with 21,162 and 14,084 examples respectively.

Standard Amenities
The list of standard amenities bestowed upon the Catalina in 1959 included front and rear ashtrays, coat hooks, direction signals, electric wipers, dome lamps, cigarette lighter, dual headlamps, dual sun visors, tubeless tires, bumper jack, wheel lug wrench, and instrument panel Snak Bar.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2022