1971 Pontiac Catalina Safari Wagon *45,000 Original miles / 1 Owner* - $5000

http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/3537105016.html

1971 Pontiac Catalina Safari Wagon 45,000 original miles 1 owner. All options, ice cold A/C, 400cid engine / auto 400 trans, and nice tread on all 4 tires. Engine is strong, runs and drives smooth. $5000.00... For more information or to see in person call five_six_1-three_0_five-two_6_one_six...

 

Interesting car, this. The base Catalina Safari, well optioned, but some questions. What is wrong with the front seat? The second and third rows are the original vinyl. Is the front a seat cover (very well done) or is it recovered, or is it a replacement seat? Plus, the right rear spring seems to be weak. With the front wheel off the driveway it is hard to tell, but that right rear does seem low, and the give away is the whitewall on the rear tires. I also wonder about that paint. It looks almost too good to be true. What do you other clam shell lovers think?

 

It has been painted or atleast touched up. Clean car and for $5,000 it looks like a decent buy. The 71 is my least favorite of the 71-76 Pontiac front ends

 

This wagon looks real nice but it looks like some of the interior pieces are going to need some work.

 

Appears the front seat has been reupholstered. I don't think these were known for having really great seats. I remember riding in my B-I-L's '72 Bonneville 4-door hardtop and seeming I was sitting on the floor the cushions were so flat. And this was in '78 when the car wasn't that old.....

Wagon has PW, but no tilt or cruise.

 

That's a very nice and attractive wagon. Replacing the front seat with an original seat cover may be impossibly expensive given the heat pressed pleats. Plus that steering column gives me the impression of a whole lot more miles than just 45K. Either way, the price seems fair for a nice wagon like this, as long as there isn't anything hiding under the shiny paint.

Chris

 

I noticed the stearing colum also, and look at the door arm rest....



apears to be some interiour damage to the rear cargo area also, top left corner above the rear seat at tailgate...


It does look real decent, but it does have re-paint look. It 'may' be a honest car but IMO at the millage claimed I'm just not believing it has not rolled over millage wise.......

 

Is it possible someones had a little play with no eye for detail

 

its a nice wagon, and no car is perfect. This car has 145K mile, and has been treated well. I think in the warm florida climate, cloth seat is much more comfy. It has been done nice, and if they give so much care on that seat, the rest has gotten the same care. an honest car, with a price to sell.

 

I just got off the phone with the guy who is selling this. He is selling it for someone. Original owner is in his nineties, has paperwork from when he bought it new in Ft Lauderdale. It has been in So Fla ever since. Has been repainted in the original color but that was 20+ years ago. The front seat was recovered when the vinyl wore out. There is some rust around the roof. The guy listing it had the muffler replaced and says it is solid underneath. The clamshell works but the tailgate runs slow, not sure what problems that might indicate - it has those 1971 only vents in the tailgate. This is only about 40 miles from me and I'm planning on going to see it on Sunday. I really don't have the time(or money) for a 'fun' car but I've always liked the '71 Pontiacs, my parents had a '71 sedan.

 

So that's what my car would have looked like if it weren't all faded... except for the lack of woodgrain of course.

One thing I look for on these cars is the color of the spare tire cavity at the bottom of the passenger fender. When people paint these cars they never bother to go back and paint the bottom of the spare tire carrier black. These '71s are pretty rare from my experience compared to the other years. It was funny because when I read it was a Florida car I instantly thought the roof will be rusted, and then I read about the roof having some rust.

I don't see it mentioned what engine it has. I love the 71s. They're by far my favorite year, but of course I am very biased having grown up with a '71 Catalina in the family. It may be a car from the lower line, but you would be hard pressed to find one in as good of condition for this price that a lesser conditioned car wouldn't cost twice as much to get to this point, provided that this car truly isn't rusted and is as solid as it is depicted.

Brandon

 

I sent this link to my dad. He sold these cars back in the day. He said that the Catalina wagons used to come with cloth up front and vinyl in the back.


Brandon