Anyone Near Denver NC that could Check out a Wagon for me?

Congrats! That's awesome. Looking forward to some pics of your Pontiacs paired up together.

 

Thanks,

It will be this spring at least before that happens, the Sunbird is put away for the winter 3 hours from home. I may have to test the new Cat's towing ability on the trip to rescue the little Sunbird!

 

I finally remembered I had some pic's of the Impala's engine compartment saved, they show the Factory A/C componates installed under the hood. The parts in the Catalina are very different, and the Catalina does not have Bright Orange A/C wiring harness Diagnostic Port on the Heater/Blower motor Box. If the system works well I may like it better for the extra room on the passenger side of the engine compartment who knows. I know not an apples to apples comparison as it is different Division different engine installation, and the fact that the Impala was Built in Ramos Mexico (that suprized me) and the Catalina looks like it was Made In Kansas City.

The Impala



The Catalina

 

Congratulations on the new car. That Pontiac looks fantastic! That Buick 350 is one sweet engine, so I really don't think you will be disappointed with it. The Buick has lots of low end torque, so that is in its favour. Set up right, even without overdrive, you should be into the mid-20s for gas mileage, which is not too shabby for a car that size. Enjoy her, that is for sure.

 

Jeff,
That Sanden style compressor on the Pontiac is typical of an aftermarket system.

I once had an S-10 truck that had an aftermarket A/C system added.
It looked like they used the OEM control panel in the dash, but it wasn't typical GM stuff under the hood.

I think that's what you have in the Catalina.

 

Well, I made it back, and I will start another thread about Friday as a whole (lets just say I have had better days.) I will limit this thread to the Catalina.

Let Me Start out that with 1 exeption the car was just as descriped, a Highly optioned less than 37,000 mule Survivor. The one thing I an disappointed in id the recently installed head liner, while the appearance is OK, it is not as good as the one I had installed in the Impala wagon 2 years ago. The Main issued I have is the color! It is much to light to match the rest of the interior.

As for the Car it is Beautiful!!!! And actually has 25 individual Options! Highest Optioned Pontiac I have ever owned. It Does have a nice looking aftermarket A/C system and a almost stock looking AM Radio. The Car is Chesterfield Brown, and I think it looks great on the car. As for a list of options it has per the PHS Package is

(1) Body Side Molding
(2) 5.7 Litre (350) 4BBL V-8 Engine
(3) Tires, HR75X15 WSW STL
(4) Battery, Heavy Duty
(5) Cruise Control
(6) Defroster, Electric Rear Window
(7) Gages, Instrument Panel & Fuel Econ IND
(8) Glass: All Window Soft Ray
(9) Insulation, Additional Acoustical
(10) Lamp Group
(11) Luggage Carrier
(12) Mirrors, LH R/Cont Sport. RH Man Adj
(13) Moldings Window Sill
(14) Power Door Locks + Tailgate Release
(15) Power 60/40 Seat, Driver & Passenger
(16) Power Windows
(17) Steering Wheel, Luxury Cushion
(18) Steering Wheel Tilt
(19) Step Pad, Rear Bumper
(20) Wheel Covers, Deluxe
(21) Windshield Wipers, Controlled Cycle
(22) Alternator, Heavy Duty 80 Amps
(23) Firm Ride Option
(24) Radiator, Super Cooling
(25) Custom Trim Group (VINYL)

No Mention of a Trailer Towing Package, A/C, or even any Radio installation. Base price of a Catalina Safari is listed as $4726.40 and the MSRP of the car was a whopping $8237.55. It looks like the original owners paid $6657.84 for the car. That was a lot of $$$$ at the time.

No mention of the cost of the A/C, the AM Radio and Antenna, the extreamly nice trailer hitch with standard 7-Pin trailer connector, with Stabilizer Bars, or electric Brake controller.

Everything works with the possible exeption of the A/C and Cruise Control, just have not had a chance to test them yet. When I picked up the car the Vacuum Gauge was not working, and the seller mentioned the cruise control was intermittent. I found a Vacuum line to the Cruise control controller with a large hole worn in it. Cut and Spliced it, and the Vacuum Gauge now works, and I suspect it may have been the issue with the cruise control.

Overall very pleased with the car, I never knew you could order all the external Grand Safari window trim, or option up to the Base Bonneville interior in the Catalina, the only differences are Badging, and where the Power window switches are located, Door Panel mounted, verses arm rest mounted.

The Car did come with the Original Conn. Title with the original Owners Grandson siging off as POA.

I am happy with the Purchase. Going to bed now. I will Post all the not so good events that occurred Friday at home, and Saturday Morning in Ohio.
But the good news is now one was Hurt in either incident, Damage could have SOOOO MUCH WORSE in both Cases. Going to bed now as I have been up for over 40 hours now.

Base

 

Good deal, Jeff.

I think I can understand what may have happened on the replacement headliner - the original one was gone, and they just guessed on the color. When I had mine done, in the shop, the owner showed me two or three beige tones of fabric. My guess was it was the lightest color. We then went out to the wagon and actually matched it to the original - it turned out to be the darkest tone, even though after being done, it certainly looks 'light' in color.

 

Krash,

I know what you mean, here is the bad picture I took of the miss matched Head liner.



I do think it is Kool that the PHS verifies that the Bonneville style interior was stock as the upgraded interior on this Catalina. I also found a Placard that the A/C is A-R-A brand and they are still around.

Well back to dealing with insurance companies. Joy!!!!