This 1963 Pontiac Bonneville will provide its next owner with a world of possibilities as to how they eventually choose to configure and present the car. I really have to thank Barn Finder local_sheriff for referring a pretty impressive classic car to us to feature. If you would like to park the Pontiac in your driveway, you will find it located in Magnolia, Texas, and listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN of $12,200, but the option is available to make an offer. It sounds like he is pretty motivated to sell, so it might be worth the effort to make an offer.
The Bonneville is finished in Silvermist Gray, and it does present nicely. It underwent a repaint back in 2004, and this has survived quite well. The owner does note that it has a few minor nicks in the paint, but there is nothing major. He also states that there is some rust present in the trunk pan. This was treated in 2004, and it doesn’t sound like it hasn’t deteriorated any further. The owner says that the pan is still solid, and rather reassuringly, he is more than happy to supply additional photos of this area of the car to potential buyers. There are photos provided of the Pontiac’s floors, and these appear to be clean and solid. There are no signs of any external rust, while the external trim and chrome is in first-class condition. Obviously, the wheels that are fitted to the car aren’t original. However, the original hubcaps are included if the next owner wants to return the car to stock appearance.
The interior of the Bonneville is just as impressive as the exterior, with the only issue being a small tear in the driver’s seat. The carpet has been replaced at some point, but the remaining trim is as it was when the car left the showroom. There is an aftermarket stereo fitted to the car, with speakers in the doors and rear parcel tray. The rest of it is stock and includes air conditioning, a power seat, and a tilt wheel. I said that this was a car that offered some potential options to the next owner, and the majority of these revolve around the interior. Included with the car is a pair of bucket seats and a rear bench seat that have all been freshly upholstered to match the interior. There is also a floor console included, and these could be installed to give the interior a more sporty feel. That would be a decision for the next owner to make, and I am glad that it is them rather than me facing that one. Leaving it original has its merits, but so does changing the interior. I guess that the saving grace is that these are changes that could easily be reversed if the owner has a change of heart at some point down the track.
The engine photos aren’t anything flash, but we do know that the Pontiac is powered by its original 389ci V8, which sports a 4-Barrel Carter carburetor. This engine, along with the 3-speed Hydramatic transmission, have never been rebuilt. The Bonneville also features power steering, and the owner says that the car runs and drives perfectly. Apparently, it will happily sit on 75mph on the open road all day. It has received some recent work that should ensure that the car remains safe and reliable. There is a new master cylinder and brake booster, along with new wheel cylinders, new radiator, new rear wheel bearings, a new fuel pump, a new sender unit, and the fuel tank has been cleaned and lined. Also included is a fresh water pump for future use. Making the Pontiac all the more tempting is the fact that it has only accumulated 76,000 genuine miles, and it appears that the owner is able to verify this.
Decisions, decisions. The next owner of this Bonneville is going to face a few, but I envy them those choices. It would be very easy to return the car to its original state, but the potential modifications are all of the type that could be easily reversed. Whatever the next owner decides to do, the results should still be something special. Is it a car that really tempts you?
The perfect classic cruiser, the stacked headlights are the bomb. I love these big Detroit 2-doors with the long decks, big V8s, and 4-barrels. The interior color is killer.
Don’t do the floor shift conversion, and lose those dorky wheels for some steelies and hub caps, and take the wife to dinner. Love it.
All it needs is a set of clear plastic seat covers and it’s perfect!
Speaking of seats, I can’t believe they’d install a turquoise interior in a silver car. And the engine compartment confirms this. Should have left it original – awful combination…
I like it. But then my first car in my name was a 63 Bonneville 4 door in 1978.
PNDSLR transmission shift before the PRND21 became the standard shift sequence.
Cool, man.
Bob
I have a feeling the AC is missing. The pictures are framed as to not show that portion of the engine. Too me, that’s borderline dishonest. I’d be wary of the sellers description.
Steve R
Yeah, they say that it’s an AC car but don’t mention that is operational, or indeed fitted. A phone call should clear that up. Beautiful car, apart from the fairground carousel wheels that is.
Pep Boys called. They want their wheels back.
Pretty car
Bob
1st of all, love the Pontiac theme. They sure were nice cars for anyone that grew up around them. Nice freakin’ car, the silver and teal clash, so who knows what nice color it might have been, I wish these folks would get past the “silver and blaaaaack” thing. Apparently, an a/c equipped car did away with those dash gauges. My uncles Pontiac had those, and was a heck of a road car.
Is the circus in town with those wheels
Looks like a ‘buy and drive’ to me. Not crazy about the rims on it but that’s something that could be changed at some point in the future. Get it and take the family our for some ice cream and enjoy the drive.
Are their TWO radios in the dash?
The one just to the right of the steering is the heater control. It looked just like a radio.
First thing I’d do would be to book a flight
to Magnolia, Texas, plop some cash in the seller’s hand, and then enjoy riding in
this beauty all the way to my home in
Winter Haven. She’d look awesome sitting under my carport too as my house
was built in 1964. Finally, a turn key car that needs nothing but a good home.
It don’t get much better than that!
Beautiful car at a price that seems more than fair. I’d swap in the console and buckets; they’d look great in this car. Just save the original bench seat for the next owner. Those wheels would definitely go as they just don’t look right on this car. Get some stock steel wheels and put the original wheel covers on to complete the period look. Pretty much a turn key driver with the recent mechanical work a big plus. I’m sure the seller will have no problems getting his price on this gem.
Should be a four-speed Hydramatic in this car. The three-speed Roto Hydramatic was for short-wheelbase cars.
As mentioned, the transmission should be a 4-speed Hydramatic 315. That was the automatic in the Bonneville and Star Chiefs through 1964. The Roto-Hydramatic 3-speed, AKA “Slim Jim”, was in the Catalina and Gran Prix cars.
Really nice car. To me these cars would have looked better if the designers would have cut two feet off the trunk, but that’s the way they designed them I guess to match the long front clip. One of the reasons I chose my Riviera over other G.M cars of the same generation.
God bless America
Sweet ride needs tri-power and eight lugs. Lots of potential.
I’m with you ACZ on the tri-power and eight lugs but my tri-power would have to be sitting on top of a 421.
Just telling s friend the other day that being in my early seventies a nice 59 through mid 60’s Pontiac or Oldsmobile has become more appealing than my 55 Chevy with a four speed sitting in my garage. Thinking about heading for Texas!
I don’t care what anyone says, I like those wheels on the car! I would want the original ones and wheel covers for taking it to some of the local car shows. They typically aren’t elitist mindset people here at the shows so even the ones currently on it would work but I’d go original for the shows. It’s about mindset and many times age is a factor. My 85 year-old uncle still insists on white walls when he buys tires for his Cutlass he bought new in 1979. Lol
Whitewalls, absolutely, but those wheels are atrocious
Didn’t an early 60s Bonneville hold the 0-60 record for a long time…like well into the 90s? I’m sure it wasn’t outfitted like this one, but just had a flashback of that fact from many years ago.
Great looking car very reasonable price. Like others have said lose the wheels go back to original
Am I missing something? Does no one else think that this horrible color change looks abominable with the turquoise interior?? Who cares about the wheels, for mercy’s sake? Those can be changed in 10 minutes. This whole thread is just weird…
The interior looks more Blue to me then anything else and a Silver exterior with a Blue interior isnt weird to me. The wheels, yes they need to be changed out to 8 lugs which would be rather pricey, but worth it appearance wise.
I’m pretty sure it’s turquoise – the valve covers, and the engine compartment (the picture of which seller removed – must have seen these comments) are also. Just a bad repaint, but the car seems to be sold, or at least not for sale anymore…
This is one beautiful car. All it needs is the correct wheels. This is a really good price. I have a 63 Grand Prix that I would not sell for twice the asking price of this. Someone is going to get a really good deal.
Looks like it has been SOLD!
Longest trunk I ever did see!!! Would be great for a gang member to own or maybe the mafia cause you could get ten bodies in that trunk!!!
Hey Tim, check out the deck on my ’67 Newport. I can actually lie side-to-side in this trunk with room to spare. Granted, I’m only 5’8″, but still that is a wide trunk!
That car is sweet Rex!!! Love that color!! Those dog dish wheels too!! Bet it turns some heads!!