It isn’t often that I stop in at a dealership’s lot for one specific car in the used lot. Normally I will just swing in and take a look around, annoy the sales staff, maybe even test-drive something, but when I saw something low, long and bright red, I had to go out of my way to take a look. Even in a place like Bowling Green, seeing a Montero Red Pontiac Catalina convertible anywhere is a rare occurrence, and finding one amongst the Fusions, Explorers, and F-150s at the Ford dealership in town was beyond words.
It’s not that it was an old Pontiac convertible that really got me, though. This thing is cleaner than the pictures will ever describe. I don’t quite know how to explain it…the 389 under the hood had been worked on…the water pump, at least, had been changed…and the paint had tiny imperfections everywhere, but overall, it was gorgeous, and if original, in stunning shape. Opening the door to the interior was the same way…not restoration perfect, but close enough. And it had a smell…not “new car smell”, but a particular scent that I have only encountered in stuff from the 1960s-1970s that was taken care of. Shutting the door encountered just a solid “thunk”…no rattle, no sagging hinge, no nothing. Just solid metal doing exactly what it was meant to do.
So how in the hell did it wind up on the Ford lot anyways? This Catalina was someone’s baby, their pride and joy…surely they didn’t trade it in on a Taurus? Nope…the story is that the owner did fawn over this car, and took meticulous care of it until he passed away earlier this year. The dealership owner, a friend of that family, offered to sell it for his widow. I don’t know the likelihood that the Catalina will find another household that will be as loving, but I certainly hope it does. It is sitting with a price tag of $22,500, and isn’t on the website, for which I’m grateful. You should at least see the car in person to appreciate what it is.
You didn’t mention this Pontiac has the hard to find 8 lug wheels. Only thing I would change is get rid of those hideous fuzzy dice.
Top down, fuzzy dice out the back and cruise in style!