In 1970, the Pontiac Catalina received a facelift. It had radiator grilles inspired by Grand Prix, hoods with wider and flatter center bulges, taillights set into bumpers, wrapover front fender tips, and hidden radio antennas. They had plain body sill molding and had "Catalina" lettering or "Ventura" lettering to show that it was equipped with the Ventura package, behind the front wheel openings. Catalinas also had untrimmed taillights, horizontal blade grilles, no fender skirts, and "Pontiac" centered on the edge of rear deck. Carpeting, upper level trim ventilation, Endura side, moldings, walnut-grained vinyl inserts, padded dashboards, and fiberglass black sidewall tires as standard equipment. Station wagons featured Morrokide upholstery and a power tailgate window on the nine passenger model.
1970 Pontiac Catalina Production Numbers and Specifications
Model Number
Body/Style Number
Body Type & Seating
Factory Price
Shipping Weight
Total Production
Catalina Series 252
252
69
4d Sedan - 6P
$3,164
3,997 lbs
84,795
252
39
4d Hardtop - 6P
$3,319
4,042 lbs
35,155
252
37
2d Hardtop - 6P
$3,249
3,952 lbs
70,350
252
67
2d Convertible - 5P
$3,604
4,027 lbs
3,686
252
46
4d Station Wagon - 9P
$3,791
4,607 lbs
12,450
252
36
4d Station Wagon - 6P
$3,646
4,517 lbs
16,944
Notes
193,986 Catalinas were built
579 had Synchromesh and 193,407 had Hydra-Matic
29,394 Catalina Station Wagons were built
113 had Synchromesh and 29,281 had Hydra-Matic
Model Series Identification
25269 - 4d Sedan - 6P
25267 - 2d Convertible - 5P
25239 - 4d Hardtop - 6P
25246 - 4d Station Wagon - 9P
25237 - 2d Hardtop - 6P
25236 - 4d Station Wagon - 6P
Chassis Data
Model
Wheelbase
Overall Length
Front Tread
Rear Tread
Tires
Catalina
122 in
217.9 in
63 in
64 in
Not Available
Catalina Station Wagon
122 in
220.9 in
63 in
64 in
Not Available
VIN Decoding
First Symbol - Manufacturer
2 = Pontiac
Second & Third Symbol - Series
23 = Firebird
39 = Safari
24 = Firebird Espirit
42 = GTO
26 = Firebird Formula 400
52 = Catalina & Ventura
28 = Trans Am
56 = Executive
33 = Standard Tempest
62 = Bonneville
35 = Custom "S"
76 = Grand Prix
37 = LeMans
Fourth & Fifth Symbol - Body Style
27 = two-door sedan
46 = station wagon three seat
35 = station wagon two seat single action tailgate
57 = two-door hardtop (Grand Prix)
36 = station wagon two seat dual action tailgate
67 = convertible
37 = two-door hardtop (exc. Firebird, Grand Prix)
69 = four-door sedan
39 = four-door hardtop
87 = two-door hardtop (Firebird)
Sixth Symbol - Last Digit Of The Model Year
0 = 1970
Seventh Symbol - Assembly Plant
(A) Atlanta, Georgia
(P) Pontiac, Michigan
(B) Baltimore, Maryland
(R) Arlington, Texas
(C) Southgate, California
(X) Kansas City, Kansas
(E) Linden, New Jersey
(Z) Fremont, California
(G) Framingham, Massachusetts
(1) Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
(L) Van Nuys, California
(2) St. Therese, Quebec, Canada
(N) Norwood, Ohio
Last Six Symbols - Production Sequence
Started at 100001
1970 Pontiac Catalina Options & Accessories
Description
Description
Air Conditioning
Leather Trim (Grand Prix)
Automatic Level Control
Rally II Wheels
Auxiliary Panel Gauges
Brougham Trim (Bonneville)
Cruise Control
"SJ" Group (Grand Prix)
Rear Window Defroster
Turnpike Cruise Package
Tinted Windshield
3-Speed Manual Transmission
Luggage Carrier (station wagons)
3-Speed Heavy-Duty Manual Transmission
Left Remote Control Outside Mirror
Turbo Hydra-Matic Transmission
Power Brakes
4-Speed Manual Transmission (wide-ratio)
Remote Control Deck Lid
4-Speed Manual Transmission (close-ratio)
Power Bucket Seat (Grand Prix)
400-cid 2-Barrel Regular Fuel V-8
AM/FM Stereo
400-cid 4-Barrel V-8
Rally Gauge Cluster w/ Tachometer (Grand Prix)
400-cid Premium Fuel V-8
Safeguard Speedometer
455-cid/360-hp V-8
Fender Skirts (Catalina)
455-cid/370-hp V-8
1970 Pontiac Catalina Engine Options
Location Of Engine Code: Beneath the engine sequence number on machined pad on right hand bank of engine block.
Letter Code
Engine
Horsepower
Torque
Transmission
Carburetor
W7
8-350
255
355
Manual
2 BC
WE
8-400
290
428
Manual
2 BC
WG
8-455
370
500
Manual
4 BC
WX
8-400
350
445
Manual
4 BC
X7
8-350
255
355
Automatic
2 BC
XF
8-455
370
500
Automatic
4 BC
XH
8-400
350
445
Automatic
4 BC
XZ
8-400
330
430
Automatic
4 BC
YB
8-400
265
397
Automatic
2 BC
YD
8-400
290
428
Automatic
2 BC
YH
8-455
360
500
Automatic
4 BC
Transmission Codes
Transmission
Location
Turbo Hydra-Matic 350
Stamped on servo cover on right side of transmission.
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400
On metal tag fastened to right side of transmission case & on some models on the left side of converter housing.
3-Speed
Painted or stamped on the transmission case.
4-Speed
Painted or stamped on the transmission case.
Plant and Type Designation Prefix
Transmission Type
DC
3-Speed (column)
DE
3-Speed
DG
3-Speed
DG
4-Speed (close-ratio)
DJ
4-Speed (wide-ratio)
DP
4-Speed (close-ratio)
DL
4-Speed (close-ratio)
R3
3-Speed
R4
3-Speed
WB
4-Speed (wide-ratio)
JE
Turbo Hydra-Matic 350
JF
Turbo Hydra-Matic 350
JU
Turbo Hydra-Matic 350
PA
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400
PB
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400
PC
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400
PD
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400
PF
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400
PH
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400
PR
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400
PT
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400
PW
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400
PX
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400
PY
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400
Axle Codes
Location Of Axle Codes: Letter codes are on axle tube near carrier
NOTES: The first letter of a two-letter paint code identifies the body color. The second letter identifies the roof color. (For example, the combination 28-10 on a Pontiac would indicate the body finished in Atoll Blue Metallic and the roof area in Polar White.) General Motors paint code plate for all models is located on the "horizontal" or "vertical" surface of the shroud upper panel on the left side of the body.
Paint Codes - Interior Colors
Color Name / Code
Color Image
Color Name / Code
Color Image
Ivory
Lucite® Code - 9715L (semi-gloss)
Dark Green Metallic
Lucite® Code - 9708LH (semi-gloss)
Lucite® Code - 9697LH (flat)
Medium Gold Metallic
Lucite® Code - 9707LH (semi-gloss)
NOTE: Unpolished LUCITE® will generally produce a gloss comparable to original interior semi-gloss finishes. If lower gloss is required, use 1/2 oz. DuPont #4528S flattening compound to a pint of unreduced color.
