Pontiac Catalina Convertible, 1959
Pontiac Catalina I
Pontiac Catalina I•
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Chassis No.: 159P10618
Auction: Kissimmee 2016
Auction date: January 24, 2016
Lot No.: T202
$41,000 | Sold
- Transmission: Automatic
- Exterior: White
- Interior: Red/white
- Body: Convertible
- Original and unrestored 45,200 mile car
- 389 CI V-8 engine
- Hydra-Matic transmission
- Power steering
- Power brakes
- Spinner hubcaps
- Push button radio
- Original owner brought the car to Cuba while he was stationed there
- The owner later escaped Castro’s invasion and brought the car home see the “Republic De Cuba” sticker in the windshield
- Second owner bought car 20 years ago and installed a new top, carpet and detailed the engine
- Car has gone from East coast to Woodward Ave Dream Cruise more than once
Original and unrestored with 45,200 miles, this remarkable and rare 1959 Pontiac Catalina Convertible enjoyed an adventurous youth. Its first owner so loved his car that he took it with him to Cuba when he was stationed there in the military in the days preceding Fidel Castro’s Communist revolution and subsequent takeover of the tiny Caribbean island nation. Incredibly, both the owner and his beloved Catalina escaped Castro’s revolution unscathed. That short time in Cuba has not been forgotten as the Pontiac still wears a “Republic De Cuba” windshield sticker as a reminder of its brief time in the country.
It’s hard to beat surviving a Communist takeover of an island nation as a story starter when discussing a majestic car. A second owner purchased the Catalina 20 years ago, after which he installed a new top and carpet, rebuilt the engine and detailed under the hood. Motivated by a powerful 389 CI V-8 engine introduced that year, the Catalina features a Hydra-Matic transmission and is equipped with power steering and brakes, spinner wheel covers, wide whitewall tires and a pushbutton radio. With a 122-inch wheelbase and a curb weight of more than 3,900 pounds, this is certainly one grandiose Pontiac.
One can only imagine that the Catalina must have looked especially sharp cruising around Havana in its sunny combination of Cameo Ivory paint, white soft top and flashy red interior. In recent years the big drop top has also proven to be well suited to making the trip from the East Coast to the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise in Michigan, a journey it has happily made on more than one occasion. More significantly, the preservation of the car’s original lacquer paint and seat upholstery is a true testament to the care it has received over the past 55 years.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL16-227309/1959-pontiac-catalina-convertible/
