The Bonneville was one of Pontiac’s most tenured nameplates. With the redesign of 1992 (ninth generation), the SSE became the mid-range product offering using a transversely mounted 3.8-liter V6 engine. This one-owner edition from 1993 is said to have less than 4,000 miles, likely making it one of the least-used cars of its era. Located in Lockport, Illinois, this Poncho is available here on eBay where $12,100 hasn’t cracked the reserve on this time capsule piece.
SSE models used fuel injection for the delivery of fuel. A turbocharger was reserved for the SSEi editions. But all of the ’93 Bonnevilles came with a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. The SSEs were treated to anti-lock disc brakes and traction control, and dual airbags were just around the corner (but the driver got one with these new GM cars). Production numbers for 1993 hovered around 80,000 copies of the SE, 13,000 of the SSE, and just 6,000 of the SSEi.
As the story goes, this Bonneville was purchased new at a local dealership in the area where the automobile resides today. Its owner has maintained a ton of paperwork that has been collected over the years and will follow the auto to its next home. It was babied from the start and never driven during winter weather, staying inside a climate-controlled garage. The car has been listed for sale by a friend of the seller (we assume the owner is not familiar with the interworking of eBay).
As best we can tell, this Pontiac sports beautiful green paint and a tan leather interior which looks as you would expect for less than 4,000 miles. The seller/owner must have gone all out when ordering this beauty as it also sports a moon roof as one of its many features. How a car like this only accumulates an average of 130 miles per year isn’t known, but we’re glad that it has. The big question is would you put it back inside its time capsule or start putting some miles on it (on hopefully newer tires)?
I think it’s already over the drive it price. I’m really not sure where this fits in the collector world. It is just a rather basic people mover. I’d think the value would be in keeping em really low. Nice and all but not sure it’s worth 12 large. Lots of options out here when you star spending that much cash. Sorry, didn’t mean to be so long winded. Interested to see what BF community thinks about this one.
KC, I feel the same way. I had a’99 that retired at 240,000 miles from rust. The engine was still great. However the SSEI was supercharged not turbocharged.
I seem to remember sseing a tv ad selling these where the driver seat swiveled out like the colonade coupes of the mid 1970s but that does seem like all the money for it like a I do not want to really sell it badly price.
A coworker had one of these that was a nice, comfortable ride. I think it should be driven but conserved as a middle ground between museum piece and beater, because nobody saved these. Using it as a third car could justify a 5 digit price.
Sort of looks like a Caprice that was the runt of the litter. 1993? wasn’t that when they were phasing out Freon? wonder if the AC works
I do not recall the year it changed to r134a, but it looks to me that it has the r12 service ports on the A/C lines.
R-12 was used in GM cars through the ’95 model year. Probably has leaked down from lack of use, but R-12 is still readily available on the secondary market. I’d rather pay a little more for refrigerant than pay to convert everything to R-134a (which is going to be phased out soon also). My ’92 LeSabre still has its original R-12 system working great at 175K miles.
I purchased a new 1994 Pontiac Trans Am in September, 1993. It came with R-134a refrigerant in the ac system.
Frank, not disputing your claim. I think as they introduced new models they may have converted early. The C/H bodies, to my knowledge, made the switch in 1996. I have an ’95 LSS that was originally an R-12 system
My neighbor Joe had one of these back in the day. We would have dinner as couples and he would often drive. Very comfortable- I liked the car but Joe not so much
Do you mean that you didn’t like Joe “so much” or Joe didn’t like the car “so much?” Glenn
You never see these with no miles on them, because they just ate miles. These are quite comfortable with decent fuel economy. The choice of road warriors around here.
I don’t like front driven US cars at all. Even an 66 Olds Tornado or Cadillac Eldorado isn’t on my wish list. Maybe i am too old fashioned?
Or maybe you haven’t spent enough time behind the wheel of one. Take a road trip in this or any other ’90s GM C/H body and you will change your tune.
Well the bidders on this are drunken bidding at 2:30 am or they see something I don’t I think bidding has go $6k over value but it still hasn’t hit the reserve
Maybe the bidder stays in Europe or Asia?
My father bought one new, and my brother got it in 2002. I got it in 2012, and spent a lot of time doing some important repairs.
A few issues sidelined it several years ago, with 150K, and it sat…
An unfortunate leak in the sunroof allowed in water, and the ensuing interior problems were terminal for the car.
I have a TON of experience and knowledge about this generation of SSE, happy to share if there are any questions.
There are certainly common problems, things to watch out for, and preventive maintenance things to do which help a lot!
Oh, and Russ, JACKinNWPA is correct: Supercharged SSEi, not turbo’d.
I can attest to the sunroof leak. But it wasn’t the end of the car for us. Just a drain tube loose or something, as I recall.
How do you have a ton of paperwork on a 4,000-mile car?
All those oil changes and tire rotations every 6 months!
Dunno; maybe it was more form over function, but I really liked this car and esp. this color combo back in the day. And still even today it sends vibes…rented an SE for a wedding and it was a solid ride.
And now that I am function over form, this car has appeal…
Always liked these Bonnies. The 3.8 is virtually bulletproof and I’m in the camp that likes the styling. Interior aside, I think it has aged well, unlike some other cars of this era.
As to this one in particular, I don’t know. The one to get is the SSEi with the supercharged 3.8. You can pick those up in the 5-6k range with reasonable miles if you’re patient and look around. An SSE would be a bit less. So at nearly 13k now in the bidding, this is well beyond the drive-it price as KC John says. So I don’t know what you’d do with it, beyond take it to Radwood and local car shows as a conversation piece.
The gentleman has the best approach to this bonnaville,I agree with Mr.Banter on this subject, I used work for a Pontiac Dealership and our customers love the car.
Bought this car’s twin in 93. Liked it enough to buy another in 98 (SSEi). Great cars–good performance, decent mileage, reliable. What’s not to like?
I had an SE model for a short time, it was a former state-owned car. Even with 142k miles it was smooth as silk and the seats were like sitting in an ez chair. Prefer the cloth over leather. If I did buy this car, I would have it thoroughly checked out, new tires and drive it until the wheels fell off. Wouldn’t care about the “value”. Where else can you get a stylish sedan that isn’t overwhelmed with computer EVERYTHING and doesn’t look like EVERY other sedan on the road for the kind of money this car will probably sell for?
My dad was the manager of the paint line where the spoilers on those were produced. That spoiler would have gone right past his office.
I have a little different take on this. I bought one of these as a second car. Never had a bit of problems with it and very comfortable to drive. What can you buy fir this price now? I’d drive the wheels off it
I’ve never thought these were all that special. Nothing wrong with them. Just not more than a used car. I worked at a tire shop in the late 90s that was owned by a retired auto worker and his daughter. It was a less than ideal work environment. They always bought their cars at auctions. The daughter had an 8-10 year old basic equipped Bonneville that she spoke of as if it was a Bentley. When she wanted something done to it, she had to drive it in, etc. One time, I was looking through auto trader and commented that there was a Bonneville just like hers for $3500. That did not go over well.
We had an SSEi like this for years and loved it! But I would not want it without the phenomenally comfortable, multi-point adjustable front seats. It shocked me to see such a nice one without those great adjustments on the console.
I noted that option was missing too.
For the time that I had Dad’s Bonneville, I really enjoyed the comfort of that driver’s seat. Literally anyone could find a way to adjust them so they were extremely well fitted.
I’d also want to see the options sticker.
FE3 was the suspension to have. Self-leveling, and having better sway bars, spring and shock rates, etc.
I purchased a new 1994 Pontiac Trans Am in September, 1993. It came with R-134a refrigerant in the ac system.
Do t underestimate the sse Bonneville . I owned a 93 . Took every bit of punishment I could give it . HUD topped out at 113 then started blinking . I saw it blink 4 days a week on my way to work . Really a nice comfy car . Made me want it back after I traded it in . It was the only car I had long enough to pay it offf .
I had on same options loved it my wife got it in the divorce.
In case anyone cares I think an SSE with 4K miles isn’t that far off @$12,000. These cars were top of the line in that time. The SSEI was one up but this car handles fairly well and peppy off the line. If you’re not paying attention to speed in these you’ll be closing in @80mph climbing without effort.
Worth every penny
Had one exactly like this and it was really a great car. Comfy and reliable. Had to replace the torque converter after maaaaany miles. $10k at a push for this.
The 3800 was one of GM’s best ever engines. I’d take this at 12 or 13 a lot faster than a used high mileage crappy Kia or Hyundai. That’s about all you get today.
92 SE was one of my favorite cars of many great ones! Ride, handling, room, economy, comfort, pep, reliability. Admittedly, when new I thought the look was odd, but they quickly grew on me, in and out. Someone will drive this another 200k+ knowing $13k won’t buy anything today that can touch it. Who cares if no collector ever wants it?!
Beautiful. Most are trashed by now. I bought a used 1995 model in 2003 with about 100,000 miles. Drove that thing for five years adding another 150,000 miles. I drove it snow in the Vermont winters, never got stuck, 27 mpg highway and on my one way 8 hour trips to visit my family in central PA, never had a backache. One of the best cars I ever owned. The gas tank finally rusted out in 2008 and all those Vermont winters really did it in, despite my efforts to clean the undercarriage. Sure, there were little problems, a starter, coil pack, put in a used ECM, and one rear ball joint. Heck, I only paid $1,300 for the car. Have been looking for this generation Bonny for sometime. What a beauty this green one is. That 3.8 engine is the best engine GM ever made, then they went and replace it with the totally horrible 3.6 junk.
I had one of these with a bench seat and a column shifter. Powerful, comfortable, a great all around daily driver. It’s fate was sealed after an encounter with a deer. It still makes me sad that Pontiac is gone. It was GM’s best line in my opinion.
Top bid was $15,600
But the auction ended with the listing showing “Reserve not Met”
Really nice car, but missing a few key features to be the most desirable version. Oh well….