1973 Pontiac Catalina Safari

Otherwise known as the Forrester.

But looks nice and loaded up for the price. $13,500.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/antioch-1973-pontiac-catalina-forrester/7167651334.html

 

It may be a nice car, but the photos are mostly awful with sun glare in many of them.

More importantly, the driver's side remote mirror control knob is missing, and the passenger side mirror is broken right off. No mention of either of these issues in the listing. I would think that, for $13K, these kinds of problems should not be there.

I'm guessing that those are aftermarket mirrors that are not remote-control, so the driver's side cable was not needed.

In the second photo you can also see, especially on the passenger side, that a significant part of the filler between the bumper and the grille is missing. On the driver's side, it's cracked right below the outboard headlight.

 

Those pictures are downright terrible. It's a very nicely equipped car and appears to be in decent shape, not that you'd know from the photos.

The mirrors are sport mirrors and optional that year. The passenger side should definitely be fixed, the driver's side cable likely lost its retainer and fell in the door (or it got tangled in the power window regulator and yanked out) and rather than fix it the guy left it as-is.

 

Well optioned for a Catalina. The top-of—the-line Grand Safari carried the Grand Ville interior trim and is usually seen fully optioned. Most Catalina Safaris are seen without the woodgrain. It’s hard to tell from the poor photos, but the original di-noc may have been replaced. The surrounding trim has definitely been painted white; it should be light colored woodgrain. This Poncho is at the top of the price range for its condition, but clean rust free clams have really appreciated recently. 1973 was the peak year for Pontiac clam shell production.

 

I’d be leery about the “all original claim”. The spare tire well on passengers side is painted body color and it should be black. Also, where the passenger side fender meets the headlight assembly looks off. That gap is huge.

Paint work on a 73 is not a bad thing. But don’t claim all original if it’s not, especially coming from original owner who does know the history.

 

It is a nice color combo and high option for Safari(Catalina). I hate picking cars apart, but “honest ads” are a must. Just be up front in the ad. Seller doesn’t mention any flaws.....

 

Looks like it sold, as for the woodgrain I don't think it is original, in fact most years (from the early 1970's and later) you could not get woodgrain on a non "Grand Safari" The "gap" on the passenger side bumper to fender is caused by the bumper filler missing.

 

Jeff,
The gap I’m seeing is on the top “eyebrow” of the passenger side headlight bezel where it meets the front of fender and hood lip. Above the headlights, not the bumper filler. Compared to the driver side, it’s off a good half inch.

In 73, a regular Safari could be ordered with woodgrain. All Grand Safari’s had woodgrain I believe, but on Safari you had to check the box.

 

Correct that wood grain was an option on Catalina Safari.

 

I stand corrected on the woodgrain, I see what you are talking about on the hood to headlights, from the one bad picture I now suspect the right front bumper is pushed back some, may explain the missing bumper filler.

 

Grand Safari’s could do a woodgrain delete if you wanted too

I have owned a few that were ordered that way

 

Price dropped to $11,500.

Has the factory gauges cluster.

 

Sold?

Ad deleted.

 

It's back. Or is it?

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/san-ramon-1973-pontiac-catalina-wagon/7233047150.html