1959 Pontiac Catalina Safari

VIN: 159P56488

$247,500

Sold

Seller details

  • Auction

    Barrett-Jackson

  • Location

    Scottsdale, AZ; US

  • Event date

    Jan 20 - Jan 25, 2008

  • Lot

    1314

Vehicle specs

  • Chassis/VIN

    159P56488

  • Body style

    Convertible Coupe

  • Odometer

    57526 M

  • Interior Color

    Pink, White leather

  • Exterior Color

    Pink

  • Generation

    1959-1960 Pontiac Catalina

Vehicle details

Notes and observations recorded by Hagerty staff.

Equipment

389 348hp, Tri Power, automatic, factory A C, P S, P B, P W, bucket seats, (no console), pushbutton Sportable radio, rear antenna, spinner wheel covers, wide whitewalls. Reportedly built for Harley Earl as his wifes personal driver, a Catalina with Bonneville trim. Air suspension replaced but air pump retained in restoration. 1984 AACA National First Prize and 2005 AACA Grand National winner; re restored in between. Still nearly show quality. Documented with letters from Bunkie Knudsen, GM designer E.A Bachle and Pontiac historian John Sawruk. No Reserve.

Market commentary

Saturday Prime Time. This is a very sweet and very unusual car. Its hard to imagine how much trouble a GM senior executive would get in today having a one off car like this built for his wife. Everyone from the mayor of Detroit to the head of the SEC would come down on his head like a load of bricks. If only for what it says about the decline of the Motor Citys power and influence this is a signally important automobile that brought a rich but realistic price.

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