Super Rare 1967 Pontiac 2+2 Convertible Neglected for 51 Years Is a Sad Sight

A trim option for the Catalina, the 2+2 was a full-size rig restricted to the two-door coupe and convertible body styles. It came standard with unique door panels and bucket seats, while the heavy-duty springs and sway bar improved handling. The awkwardly-named Poncho was marketed as the "big brother" to the popular GTO.

But despite its unique features and powerful engine options, the 2+2 didn't sell well. The nameplate moved 27,668 units over four model years, which is only 2.8% of the total Catalina production over the same period. For further reference, Pontiac sold 75,342 GTOs in 1965 alone.

The 2+2 is the rarest Pontiac of the mid-1960s, but because it's pretty much unknown, most examples are still rotting away in junkyards. The derelict example you see here is the rarest of the 2+2 bunch. How so? Well, for starters, it's a 1967 version. This was the lowest-production year with only 1,768 cars made. Second, it's a convertible, of which only 280 were ordered.

Unfortunately, this Poncho is a very sad sight. Parked since 1973, the drop-top spent a whopping 51 years off the road as of 2024. Making matters worse, it spent a great deal of those decades outside, under full exposure to the elements.

So not only is the paint weathered and plagued by surface rust, but the soft top is gone, and the interior is pretty much toast. The seats barely have any fabric on them, while the door panels and the carpets are in very poor condition. All told, the interior needs to be replaced entirely to become usable.

However, there's notably less rust than expected on this Pontiac's body. For a vehicle that's been sitting outside for this long, this 2+2 is in surprisingly good condition as far as the sheet metal goes. Not that it doesn't need a complete restoration, but it could have been much worse.

It's difficult to find positives with a yard-found rig like this, but this Poncho is still highly original. Moreover, it still packs the numbers-matching V8 and four-speed manual gearbox. The unit is the company's famous 428-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) lump, which was the only option in 1967.

Pontiac offered two versions, both topped by a Rochester Q-Jet four-barrel carburetor. The regular 428 came with 360 horsepower and 472 pound-feet (640 Nm) of torque on tap, while the HO "Quadra-Power" variant hit the streets with 376 horses and 462 pound-feet (626 Nm) of twist. This 2+2 features the former. Gearbox options included the four-speed manual and a three-speed automatic.

Speaking of which, the transmission makes this 2+2 even scarcer. There's no specific production info based on gearbox choice, but it's safe to say many owners went with the automatic. We could be looking at one of fewer than 150 cars fitted with this drivetrain combo. So, will this Pontiac get the restoration it deserves? Our host doesn't say, but it would be a shame to see this all-original gem go to waste. Check it out in the video below.