Located in the Nottingham, New Hampshire area but with an Iowa title, this 1979 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham is said to have 59,786 miles. It appears to be a low-mile car, at least as far as can be determined by the seller’s photos. The seller has this formal luxury sedan posted here on craigslist and they’re asking $9,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Zen for the tip!
GM downsized their full-sized cars, or most of them, for the 1977 model year, and this sixth-generation Bonneville would have been around a foot shorter and 800 pounds lighter than the previous generation Bonnevilles were. This smaller but still at least as roomy sixth-gen Bonneville was made for a handful of years, 1977 through 1981, and came in either two-door or four-door sedans. A convertible would have been nice; here’s a quick Photoshop version.
This car has it all as far as 1970s vehicles went: wire wheel covers, a vinyl top, velour seats, big bumpers, etc. All things that not many of us would ever want to experience again unless it was for our vintage vehicles. Not to mention, a sedan that gets 15 mpg. That being said, if it were 1979 and your family had a new Bonneville Brougham, you were doing well. As expected, the trunk looks clean as a whistle, as nobody who wasn’t around in 1979 has ever said. The underside looks solid, I think? It’s hard to tell.
Standard fare for seating was a 60/40 split front bench seat in front and a bench seat in back, all with velour fabric. There isn’t much bolstering on the front seats, but you aren’t going to be taking corners too sharply in this car anyway; it’s meant for cruising, and the more highway miles the better. We don’t get to see the back seat at all, but it looks nice inside otherwise. The only wear that I see is on the faux wood on the steering wheel.
The engine is GM’s 350-cu.in. OHV V8 with 155 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque when new. Backed by a Turbo Hydromatic sending power to the rear wheels, the seller says it’s a solid car and a great driver. It has new tires, new fluids, new rear shocks, and all belts and hoses have been replaced for maintenance. Have any of you owned a sixth-generation Bonneville?
What a time capsule!!! You know, I had alway thought ( and was wrong) that the Bonneville was the same wheelbase as the Olds Ninety Eight and Buick Electra. But actually, these are the same size as the Olds Eighty Eight or Buick Lesabre. Those fender skirts ( which I love) threw me off for decades. The 350 is nice to have, I drove one from the early 80’s with the 301, it did the job, but the 350 I’m sure is better. These GM full size cars really would have looked good if GM made them in a drop top version as well ( again, thanks Scotty for showing us that). Very nice Pontiac Bonneville here Scotty. Great write up too.
I’ve had and still have several Bonneville’s like this, For some reason many of them came with the Buick 350. The next step up, the Olds 403. I agree about the weak Pontiac 301, but at least that engine has a proper oil pump, unlike the Buick.
Distributor is in the front making this a Buick 350
Yes! Excellent, thanks, Will! I had that written down but then I deleted it, just in case I was wrong and looked like a buffoon, aaaaaagain… Thanks for that info, sir.
A Buick engine in a Pontiac. Now thats something we never had in Canada. Its a nice find
Thank GOD the ordering personnel checked off a 350 V8 .
The 301 is a piece of crap. Had a 79 Coupe and Safari with those anemic engines – could kill someone in today’s world . So slow .
Nice ride here
I’d like the 350-4 in that convertible SG. What a looker, the skirts really fit in nicely bigtime. 😎
Well Doc, I don’t know about that. The old man had a Pontiac very similar to this, maybe a 2 door. He liked his big Caddys so this didn’t work for him, BUT, his car had the 301, and I swear, that car got the most amazing gas mileage, mid to high 20s. I thought there was something wrong with it, some experimental job? Besides, this was not the Pontiac of yore, and performance left the scene years before.
Very nice Pontiac that looks like it is well maintained and kept clean.
Hopefully no stains on the seat under that magazine! 🫣🤣
I had an 81,white with dark blue top n same color interior, still one of my favorite all time cars… Drive as smooth as my Caddy or Lincolns.. Miss that one
That convertible rendition is STUNNING!