In the 1960s, if you wanted to buy a really big car to impress your friends, the Pontiac Bonneville had to be on your shortlist. With a 124-inch wheelbase, it was on par with its GM cousins, the Buick Electra, and the Oldsmobile 98. This 1965 edition of the “hardtop sedan” is a real beauty and looks like a lot of automobile for the money at about $3.11 per pound! Located in Los Angeles, California, this Poncho beauty is available here on craigslist for $13,000 OBO. More tip sleuthing from our pal, Rocco B.!
The fourth generation of the Bonneville arrived in 1965 (and continued through 1970). Pontiac had a good sales year, building just shy of 774,000 vehicles. Of those, 17% or 134,000 were Bonneville’s, and the pillarless sedan like this one was the most popular at 62,500 units (46% of BV production). One of my uncles was a big Pontiac man and he owned several Bonneville’s over the years. I recall him having a 1960 edition in this same body style and color and it was an awesome automobile! At 223 inches in length, it’s just about as long as the Electra 225.
This Pontiac is about to change hands for the third time in two years. The previous owner bought the Bonneville at auction in 2023 for about what the seller is asking for the car now. He/she bought it last year and — between the seller and previous ownership – have done a fair amount of work on what otherwise looks to be an exceptional automobile. That includes new paint, partial interior, and wheel covers, plus some mechanical updates.
We’re told the mileage is 13,000, but we’re guessing it’s more like 113,000 as the 389 cubic inch V8 was rebuilt 12,000 miles ago. It’s the same version used in the hot GTO muscle car (YS code) paired with the TH-400 automatic transmission. The stunning vehicle has been on the dyno and puts out a solid 310 horses. The radiator is new, and we assume it’s in the car as the photos say otherwise, though the seller assures us this is not a project. All-in-all, the Pontiac looks like one solid cruiser that could be hard to beat for the money.
Almost 20 feet of Bonne.
Pontiac offered the 2bbl 389, 4bbl 389 like this one, tri-power 389 and the 421.
Most could be had w 3 or 4 spd stick, or the autobox. Nice value choice here. The 4bbl came w 325hp rating 429lb/ft.
A 69hp and 41lb/ft gain over the standard 2bbl🏁
It will need an upper radiator hose.
Honestly, the fake shi$ on the internet has gotten out of control.
Curious,what do you mean by “fake”?
It just seems fake that a car this nice with an advertised 13K miles with new paint should be offered at $13,000, and with an OBO. Hell, you’d be lucky to get a decent paint job on a car like this for $13000.
Factor in the engine shot with no upper radiator hose, and the whole thing just doesn’t pass the smell test, as I smell it.
I have to agree with Rex on this one.Something ain’t right here. Beauty of a car, but comps go for $20000+.This one is in too good a shape and has had too much “love” to go for only $13000. Could be a great deal, more likely something smells.
I agree, that car is way too nice to be only $13k. Ad says, “text me to arrange a meeting time”. If you do arrange it, don’t bring any cash. Instead tell them any transactions will be done at the nearest bank.
In fairness, I think the pic with the missing upper hose looks to have been taken when the radiator was out of the vehicle, supposedly having been recored. That being said though, yeah, for a car of this size, and assuming absolutely zero body work needed, a decent paint job would cost at least as much as what is being asked for the car. There’s so many scams on the ‘net regarding car sales, some are blatantly obvious, but then there are others, like this ad, that can sometimes be difficult to determine sincere ads from the fraudulent. Not sure which category this listing falls in, but the cynic in me would say tread carefully.
These are my favorite years, ’65 and ’66. My Dad bought a 64 Catalina and traded it in on a ’66 Bonneville. These cars looked long and wide. Mid ’60s Pontiacs are my absolute favorites. And a 4 door hardtop looks really nice too, long beautiful lines. Its such a shame Pontiac ( and Oldsmobile) aren’t here any more. They had such great cars back then. I like the Bonneville looks a bit more than Olds and Buick from the same years. This one is phenomenal, especially that its a 4 door and in such beautiful condition. 421 was an awesome motor, but quite frankly both of my Dads Pontiacs had 389s in them and they were plenty healthy. I hope the radiator and hose is in it.
I seriously doubt that if Pontiac and/or Oldsmobile were still around today that their vehicles would look anything like this one. They would look like every other SUV/CUV that is being built today that the consumer feels that they should be driving. Just look at the new Chevrolet and Buicks.
Call and see.
I bought a Ford project car late last year for 25 cents on the dollar to what was invested in it. Sometimes people get deep into a project and then decide it’s not for them, or they see that it’s going to take more than they’re willing to finish it.
Maybe the car’s in Pacific Palisades?
What a beauty! Thanks for sharing this classic with us
Even a nobody can be somebody driving a car like this. The fender detail of the exposed headlamp barrel gives the look of speed as if the metal is peeling away. No one ever made a better looking car than this era of GM.
13K is a come buy it price. Its a 4 door and he priced it to sell quickly instead of some fantasy price. Refreshing to see.
Looks identical to the one Brett Butler drove in the 90’s show Grace Under Fire.
For 13K you can fix anything that’s wrong and still be in a good price range. My 65 Catalina had the same engine I think and it was a super great car. Got good mileage and was very comfortable to ride. Wish I could go take a look at this one.
Typical firing order for lot of motors. 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
My mother had a 65 2+2 convertible, burgundy with black top and interior. Same basic styling as the Bonneville but on a shorter Catalina wheelbase. I learned to drive in it. My father had me buy two new rear tires from my summer job money after I toaster them. Ready to do with loads of torque and relatively heavy car.
My mother had a 65 2+2 convertible, burgundy with black top and interior. Same basic styling as the Bonneville but on a shorter Catalina wheelbase. I learned to drive in it. My father had me buy two new rear tires from my summer job money after I toasted them over the summer. Real easy to do with loads of torque and relatively heavy car.
The ’65 Pontiacs might just be the best styled car line of all time. Jack Holbert, the late Pontiac styling master, doesn’t get the acclaim he so clearly deserves.
We had four Bonnevilles in period, ’64 and ’70 Brougham 4-door hardtops and ’61 and ’67 Safaris, and they were each wonderful and memorable cars. My folks bought 26 new Pontiacs from 1931 to 2009 and I was able to own many of them after my parents(including the ’58 Star Chief 4-door hardtop that I courted my wife in), and several of their cars(1937, 1946, 1949, and 1952) have remained in the family since new. I also had a ’70 Bonneville convertible for about a year until he(I named him Maximilian) was lost to Hurricane Ian. But grief turned to elation when Dennis, my parents’ long lost ’40 woody wagon, serendipitously came back into my life, and then into my garage.
If this is the real deal at $13K I hope it gives entry to the hobby for a family and provides many years of enjoyment and memories.
this is one of the few cars that I think fender skirts actually look good and fit perfectly
I thought the same thing. When I got my 65 Catalina convertible I had the dealer put Bonny skirts on it and it looked great,especially with the top down. Loved that car.
Beautiful car in excellent condition except needing top rad hose. Personally I would of picked another colour. I HATE blue, but that’s my personal choice.
My Catalina was Teal and white top. It just blew me away when I saw it.
It’s! Beautiful car,nothing wrong with personally looking at it, bring a certified mechanic with you, you might just get a good car,better than the garbage big 3 is selling for today, 1/4% of a home
It does seem too good to be true…one of the images on the listing is a screenshot from a car auction site that says that this car sold in 2023 for: $13,000.
hmmm.
Deffinitley worth checking out, but stay incognito & keep your hand firmly wrapped around your wallet. And take a couple friends with you.