n 1977, Pontiac and other GM divisions their full-size cars in an effort to facilitate weight and improve gas mileage decreases. The Catalina continued as entry-level full-size Pontiac-Buick-built car with a 231 cubic-inch V6 now standard in sedans and coupes (Safari wagons came standard with V8) and optional 301 CID V8, 350 CID and 400 CID shifts, each built Pontiac motors, and offered in all states except California. The Pontiac 350 was offered in 1977, but was replaced by Buick and Olds 350 V8 1978-1980, and the Pontiac 400, available until 1978, was replaced by an Oldsmobile 403 V8 in 1979 only. A-Built 350 Olds diesel V8 was optional for 1980 and 1981, together with another stripped-Pontiac V8 265 CID.
With the reduced model, the Catalina Safari In 1977 a new two-way tailgate that could be opened on the side of a door or lowered as a hatchback, which replaces complex 1971-76 Clamshell tailgate design. The car shared the same full-suspension coil spring than their sedan counterparts, rather than the multi-leaf springs found on 1971-76 safaris.
As the Pontiac V8 was completely banned from the state of California beginning in 1977 take on the inability of the state, more stringent emission standards, Catalinas (and Bonnevilles) sold in California were equipped with engines from other GM divisions by 1981. These included the Buick 231 V6 and a range of V8 engines with the Chevrolet 305 Oldsmobile 307, Buick and Olds 350 and 403 Olds V8.
The Catalina was tried after the 1981 model year with the more luxurious Bonneville as Pontiac, the full-size passenger car market in the course of further job cuts GM to abandon the program set. The 1982 Bonneville was introduced as a mid-size car. When production of the Catalina label ended in 1981, had over 3.8 million Catalinas been sold since 1959.
With the reduced model, the Catalina Safari In 1977 a new two-way tailgate that could be opened on the side of a door or lowered as a hatchback, which replaces complex 1971-76 Clamshell tailgate design. The car shared the same full-suspension coil spring than their sedan counterparts, rather than the multi-leaf springs found on 1971-76 safaris.
As the Pontiac V8 was completely banned from the state of California beginning in 1977 take on the inability of the state, more stringent emission standards, Catalinas (and Bonnevilles) sold in California were equipped with engines from other GM divisions by 1981. These included the Buick 231 V6 and a range of V8 engines with the Chevrolet 305 Oldsmobile 307, Buick and Olds 350 and 403 Olds V8.
The Catalina was tried after the 1981 model year with the more luxurious Bonneville as Pontiac, the full-size passenger car market in the course of further job cuts GM to abandon the program set. The 1982 Bonneville was introduced as a mid-size car. When production of the Catalina label ended in 1981, had over 3.8 million Catalinas been sold since 1959.
