I wasn’t looking for anything in particular while searching for this Rough Start find. In fact, the field of finalists that I had located was nice and diverse: a $400 Chevrolet LUV truck that was complete, a very clean Datsun B-210 coupe, and a 1952 Dodge semi tractor and trailer combination that was completely inoperable but was all there. I almost went with the Datsun, because of how clean it was and how reasonably priced it was ($3,000 for at worst, a stock ten-footer) but then I found this 1968 Pontiac Catalina and I fell in lust. 
The worst part of it is, that I really can’t explain why. The rolling stock is tiny, one of the front wheel cylinders is out and needs to be repaired, and being told that the car will move in drive and reverse doesn’t fill me with hope for the transmission…in fact, it makes me more than a little bit apprehensive about what to expect. But that’s being negative…the whole deal is to find a cool car that with a little bit of work and a reasonable amount of pocket change, can be something really cool, and without a doubt, this Catalina fits the bill. As long as the 400 under the hood runs and nothing else is being hidden by the seller, fix the wheel cylinder, get some wheels and tires that don’t look like they were raided from a 1990s mini truck, and if the transmission needs to be repaired or replaced, so be it. You’re still miles ahead from cruising around in a five-year-old Camry, wishing it was anything else…
Craigslist Link: 1968 Pontiac Catalina
if I had a way to get it from that coast to this one. I’d buy it..
I’d leave the ’90’s wheels and spend the money on front disc brakes..
and rock that…
Crappy steering wheel’s gotta go, too.
Also seems to be upside?
Vortec swap with OD trans drive it
Nice find, the wheels look like they came from a lowered S10.
Its more like the 80’s are calling and want their wheels back!
This is a great candidate for a 455 back by a 6MT.
Love Pontiacs , when I was 17 I worked at a Speedy muffler this old fella came in with a ’69 2+2 faded white , blk buckets n console interior n top well worn but clean no rust , the guy supposedly training Me was workin the old guy for like $150 ! I cornered the manager who liked Me and negotiated an advance , I gave the old fella $500 .
First thing ditch the wheels and steering wheel. Black steelies and fat tires and rock it like that.
have 1 in my shed that’s about to get back halved and a big block Chev