24 cars blue sky: Junkyard Find: 1972 Pontiac Catalina

07 - 1972 Pontiac Catalina Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin 20 years ago, when junkyard parking lots were full of forward-control vans, full-sized GM sedans were as commonplace in self-serve wrecking yards as are Ford Tempos and Dodge Intrepids today. It seemed like the flow of Crusher-bound Impalas, 98s, and Electras would never stop… but that's just what has happened, save for the occasional appearance of a car such as today's Junkyard Find.
01 - 1972 Pontiac Catalina Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin This car, which I photographed a couple months back in Northern California, has the look of a machine that sat forgotten for decades, maybe behind a plumbing shop in Union City, before being hauled off for scrap.
03 - 1972 Pontiac Catalina Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin You don't see many Pontiac 400s in wrecking yards these days. This was one of the better V8s to come out of Detroit, though its sickly 301-cubic-inch cousin sort of ruined its image.
02 - 1972 Pontiac Catalina Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin This car wasn't worth restoring when it was only half this thrashed, but it still has some good parts to offer.
11 - 1972 Pontiac Catalina Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin For example, these taillights. Somehow, they've remained intact for 31 years.