In 1959, Pontiac introduced two themes that its styling and marketing departments would mine for five decades into the future: the “Wide-Track” advertising slogan (sometimes based in fact) and the split grille. The success of both is plain in hindsight, but the 1960 model’s styling was already frozen when sales numbers on the ’59s began stacking up; therefore, there’s a gap year for the split grille, and that year is 1960. No matter. The 1960 looks just as wide as its immediate forebear, and a Bonneville Convertible (with air conditioning, no less) is about the most collectible 1960 Pontiac you can buy, short of “Mr. Stock Eliminator” Jim Wangers’ Catalina. No big 1960s convertible is cheap, however, even when it’s a project, and the seller of this Bonneville is asking $17,900 on eBay in Harbor City, California. It probably deserves a restoration, but you’ll need to bring some deep pockets. Is it also a clean-it-up-and-drive candidate?
First off, it’s not west-coast rust-free, because it’s not from California; the seller picked it up in Oklahoma. That’s still a fairly dry area for old cars, as you can see by the pristine rocker panels; however, the car will need floors: front, rear, and trunk. Other bad news? It has a cracked windshield.
Aside from those wet blankets, the Bonneville is complete and fairly solid. It runs and drives, although the seller has only taken it around the proverbial block and recommends a carburetor rebuild. The odometer reads 67,504, which may or may not mean anything. The Bonneville came standard with a 303-horsepower 389 four barrel (as long as you ordered the four-speed Hydramatic, which this car has). Interestingly, this Pontiac has air conditioning, which was a $430 option that couldn’t have been too common on convertibles. The seller says that the system is “factory untouched,” so all the parts and pieces are there, one less thing to worry about.
The interior, with its distinctive original (it matches the brochure, at least) fabric, appears to be in decent condition, so decent that one may be tempted to clean it up and leave it alone. In fact, in my little world, I’d be tempted to repair the rust, clean up the whole car, and drive it as-is. It’s certainly looks solid and complete enough to try (although there is some rust on the passenger quarter and lower fender).
But I think I might feel a little guilty in doing so. It’s clearly a perfect candidate for a no-expense-spared restoration, but it certainly would be cheaper to clean up the fuel system, replace/rebuild the brake hydraulics, and enjoy it with the top down (by the way, the seller says that the top, pump, and lines are new). I like my cars to wear their 60+ years with pride, but not everyone is wired like that. What would you do with this flashy Bonneville?
I would love to have this follow me home, but I already have a 64 and there’d be an obit. Lol
I would be tempted to leave it the way it is and drive it. It looks decent and bound to attract attention wherever you go, almost nineteen large isn’t exactly beater price.
Interesting comment on the AC as “factory untouched.’ I suppose that’s an interesting way to say, of course it doesn’t work, it’s been neglected and probably needs every single component replaced before it does!
Those “Custom Finned Wheel Covers” look pretty good on this car. I ordered my 1974 Firebird Formula with them. But, nobody had ever ordered them on a Formula with it’s 15 inch size wheels ( there were not any 15 inch in the entire factory ) so it came through with the 14 inch size – including the entire 14 inch suspension items. ( the only one made like it )
I’m not usually an Oldsmobile fan, but love this drop top with AC. I’d rebuild the carb and brakes, buff it out and drive it like it is for awhile, before doing a respray.
Um HC this clearly is a Pontiac NOt and Oldsmobile
Pretty cool old car but on the high $ side for as much work it needs I don’t think “leaves it as is and drive” is an option with the floors and trunk rotted out
Pick, pick, pick, the listing said it was an Oldsmobile I understood that they got that wrong, and thanks for clearly, pointing out their error. Regardless, I’d still make the same upgrades to this one
This is a CAR—not like the cheap material built pieces of junk you see asking out rageous prices–plus no looks. I really like this PONTIAC -BONNIEVILE—-as someone mis-named it a OLDSMOBILE. Evan though they were great cars too. I,d drive it and work on it as time and money permitted. i LOVE IT.
A real CLASSY CAR.
The pictures don’t really give you a sense of how long this car actually is. The Bonnevilles from 59-64 were enormous. You could have a family picnic in the trunk alone. I prefer the slightly smaller Catalina design (although it is by no means a small car). Ma’s 59 powder blue Cat convert is still my heart throb.
Castle blue, I have one too but HT.
Great Bonnie, on that wide track the Canadian Priesiane Pontiacs from 59 to 64 used Chevrolet chassis therefore weren’t wide track Pontiacs. This A/C Bonnie I would like to have this car for this feature. I suppose you drop the top, no need for A/C, I like this on all cars. Jump forward my mom’s last car was a 75 Grandville A/C drop-top, I don’t think she ever put it down.
Looking at all the pics on eBay, the crud on the speedometer glass and other crud on the dash and interior is tell-tale of this car being left with the top down for quite a while in the weather at some time. Not sure how much it would cost to get that back to a presentable condition, but I doubt it would be cheap. The paint has sure taken a beating – showing it’s spent a lot of time out in the freezing icy winters and blistering heat of Oklahoma weather too. The convertible roof cover behind the back seat is missing, which would have to be fabricated as I doubt you could find one now. — The engine compartment appears to have not been touched by anyone for a very long time, so that’s another task for the new owner to make it a keeper. There’s a sizeable long dent in the passenger door as well.
If someone has the money to tackle the rust-through problems and all the other problems this rare car has, it will could be easily become worth several times more than the asking price. So, I hope it goes to someone with those deep pockets, as this rare classic gem deserves a second chance at life on the road — and in classic car shows — and hopefully from now on, it will get the privilege of being kept in a garage to preserve it.
My parent’s had a coral red ’59 Pontiac Star Chief, which was an awesome car. As huge as it was, when Dad drove it and stepped on the gas, the fuel gauge visibly moved, while the front end set up proud as the tail tucked and took off like it was running from the crusher. I don’t know what it’s 0 to 60 time was, but it must have been impressive for such a large car. – The ’60 Pontiac was interesting as the body appeared to be a totally different car. I always saw the tail end as a rather humorous design. Whereas the ’59 had nice long tail lights, with the round backup lights tucked into the dual-mini-fins rear fenders, the ’60 had no fins and four taillights the size of the ’59’s backup lights with backup lights you could see from a mile away. You may not instantly notice the ’60 braking, but you definitely noticed it when it was backing up. :-) — I really hope this ’60 Pontiac finds a home that can fully restore it to it’s former beauty and glory.
Again, thank God its all the way on the West Coast. She’s a real beauty. Love the 389s that Olds and Pontiac shared. Definitely go to an upgraded Edelbrock 4 barrel with Lokar throttle cable, if I got it.
Oh well, I called it as an Oldsmobile Instead of a Pontiac. Both had the same, or similar 389s and transmissions. Only thing I had close to this one was a 66 Catalina with same engine and factory AC
HC: not same engine, olds had an Olds engine, a 394.
Interesting, generator, air-conditioning, power steering. manual brakes on an expensive convertible. Not too bad condition for a 65 year old car.
I did a little checking: this car sold new at Claude Cooper’s Oldsmobile dealership in Yukon Oklahoma….the place is still in business and still owned by the same family since 1946!
I did not know Pontiac an Olds shared the same 389 ci Oldsmoible was a 394 c.i correct ?
My second car was a ’60 Catalina, 4D, 389 & a 4 speed Hydramatic. It was fast, but it only drank GOOD quality high test gasoline-Shell, Esso, etc.