In the automotive world, size matters, and it was especially important in the late seventies and early eighties when fuel efficiency was on everybody’s mind. One trick the Pontiac team had up its sleeve was to switch the Bonneville moniker from a previous full-size offering to the already existing mid-size LeMans body, which they did for the seventh generation in 1982, hoping it would improve sales. However, not all buyers embraced the smaller footprint, so the brand introduced its larger Parisienne in 1983, giving Poncho customers plenty of luxury to enjoy in whichever size they preferred. This 1986 Bonneville here on Craigslist is said to have covered only 19,000 miles over the past four decades, and we’d like to thank reader Jack M. for the tip here! This sedan is priced at $12,500, and it’s located in Lakeland, Florida.
We don’t get much of a backstory here about how this Pontiac has managed to travel such a short distance over all this time, but the paint is claimed to be 100% original, and to still look this good is quite a feat. Storage conditions must have been favorable, as my mom had a 1985 Bonneville, and the thin factory paint began to fade significantly in just a couple of years after sitting outside. Even the vinyl top on this car has aged well, and the seller points out that all of the weatherstripping is in exactly the condition you’d expect on a 40-year-old car with less than 20k miles.
Perhaps the biggest downside here is the engine, as it’s a 231-cubic-inch V6 with a factory horsepower rating of only 110. A 305 was also available as an option in ’86, and while it wasn’t exactly spirited either, the V8 did up that number to 150. However, with the exceptionally low mileage, there are probably thousands of miles of happy motoring left under the hood. The seller also mentions that the automatic transmission still performs as it should, and he’s confident enough in the dependability to believe that you could drive this one home wherever you happen to live.
It’s often the interior that debunks some ultra-low-mileage claims, but most of the components in here look almost like new. Besides the power antenna, all other accessories are reported to work properly, and it’s noteworthy that the spare tire is stated to have never been used. I’m not sure how many buyers out there are actively competing for a 1986 Pontiac Bonneville, but for those who appreciate the GM mid-size luxury offerings from the mid-eighties, this one might be hard to beat. What do you think?
I would buy this car so it would have something to drag race my grandmawith!
This car was just reviewed 3 days ago.