Big Bargin? 1963 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible

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OK, back to big convertibles! A 1963 Pontiac Bonneville convertible with a 123″ wheelbase and 219″ over-all length qualifies it for Whammer-Jammer status. This big beast of a ragtop is located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, and is available here on craigslist for $3,800. Thanks to Jamie B. for this tip!

In 1963, Bonneville was the pinnacle Pontiac with body styles covering two and four-door hardtops, a station wagon, and a convertible, such as this subject. Lesser models included the Star Chief and Catalina while the Grand Prix covered the luxury coupe segment. In all cases, Pontiac’s “Wide Track” claim was still in force if no longer the central theme of their marketing plan.

The significant stretch of this Pontiac’s immense expanse appears to be pretty straight. There is no visible sign of rust-through or crash damage thought white is a pretty forgiving color when it comes to hiding mishaps. The finish is still sporting a reasonably good shine though the hood appears to have had a mishap of some kind. It is unlikely that the paint is original though, and that’s based upon this Bonneville’s trimless status (and that’s a lot of trim to remove!) – something that the seller fails to mention in the listing. The door handles have been shaved too; hopefully, there is a back-up plan in place for opening the doors from the outside. The windshield wipers are MIA though that doesn’t appear to be a permanent situation. The canvas top looks fair though the rear window is either missing or has been unzipped.

Power is in the form of a 389 CI V8, with a go rating of 303 gross HP though it appears a buyer could order a down-graded 230 HP 389″E” motor if that was their choice. Whatever the case, this is the first orange Pontiac engine that I have encountered…Either engine would be attached to a “dual-coupling” Hydramatic automatic transmission which is the case with this example. The seller believes that this is the original, 85K mile motor and it does run but, according to him, will need some work. Assuming proper maintenance and a lack of abuse, 85K miles is minor use for a Pontiac V8.

The interior, which is covered in black “Morrokide” (heavy-duty vinyl), needs help with splits, scrapes and tears; the back seat, in particular, which is the reverse of what one usually encounters. Interestingly, bucket seats are present but there is no center console; the gear selector is column mounted. Again, keeping with tradition for ’60s convertibles, there is no A/C, though it would not be surprising to find that option on a top dog model like a Bonneville. It’s difficult to make a value judgment regarding the interior’s overall condition because there is no worded description and the two included images are not terribly revealing.

This Bonneville is a bit of a conundrum as it looks quite stock other than the de-trimming that has occurred; it seems like there may be more to the story than is revealed by the listing. But while chewing on that thought, one can’t lose sight of the asking price, it’s pretty reasonable and this is a lot of car for the money, don’t you think?

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Comments

  1. Moparman MoparmanMember

    I was just thinking before I read the posting that this had to be the PLAINEST Bonneville I’d ever seen. (IMO) looks a giant Frigidaire on wheels, LOL!! GLWTS!! :-)

    Like 18
  2. craig

    what a beast!! I love it. I wish we got more like this in New England. But winter has something to do with that.

    Like 3
  3. Rex Kahrs Rex KahrsMember

    It definitely needs more bling, and definitely needs some whitewalls and more upscale OEM hubcaps (no Cragars, please!).

    Maybe the trim was removed, all holes filled, and the car was then painted? Not the brightest idea I’ve ever heard, but it happens. But for 3800 you can’t complain.

    Like 5
    • John King

      Yes, the HUGE front fender and door trim was removed and that makes it look more like a Catalina, which had very small trim by comparison. Also, I believe that the factory seats on the convertible were leather as standard equipment. Morrokide came on the non-convertible models, with leather as an option. My mother had a 1963 Bonneville convertible that she factory ordered new. Also white, but with a gold leather interior.

      Like 1
  4. Weasel

    👍

    Like 0
  5. doone

    Worth 3800, but the removal of the trim is a downer. Doubt its the original mill. Pontiac mills were blue.

    Like 5
  6. Redwagon

    If it’s solid, and that’s a big if, I would put on redlines, redo the interior seats in red, keep the carpets black and put a new red convertible top on it. It would help to have some trim too but I could live without it.

    Like 1
    • Redwagon

      O yes, and add a wooden steering wheel too.

      Like 0
  7. CCFisher

    It’s difficult to improve upon the 1963 Pontiac’s styling, and this car is proof. Perhaps it’s the color or the humble wheel covers, but it looks more “unfinished” than “customized.”

    Like 4
  8. Redwagon

    O yes, and add a wooden steering wheel too.

    Like 0
  9. local_sheriff

    If seller is right it has a solid body this could possibly be a great buy. And any prospective owner is darn lucky it’s the combination ’63+ Bonnie+ vert; all interior soft goods are available from Opgi in 4 colors not costing a fortune – normally Pontiac fullsizers are not well supported by the aftermarket except the GP…

    You also get the 4spd Hydramatic transmission instead of the not-so-popular Roto-Problematic found in Cats and GPs. If you’re even more lucky it has a newer engine too offering the mounting ‘ears’ for the starter when the DC Hydro decides to throw in the towel…

    I’m 99% confident that its clear steering wheel is yellowed and/or cracked – a wooden wheel as mentioned above would be the easiest not to mention cheapest way out; repop clear steering wheel? Forget it. Only solution is a professional restoration costing close to 2k!

    Great land yacht in payable price range! But please put the trim and handles back on…

    Like 1
  10. H5mind

    Another reason for missing trim could be previous accident damage. Instead of trying to replace one or two pieces, they just removed everything.

    Like 1
  11. Charles A Simons Jr

    No text or emails calls only. And then when getting contact info…an error has occured.

    3800 for this year convertible? Smethings not right

    Like 3
  12. Mike

    Look at this boat! You could park a VW Bug in the trunk…I love it!

    Like 3
  13. Maestro1

    Read the local_sheriff. It’s what you need to know.
    I don’t like big white cars because they look like refrigerators going down the road and black interiors won’t fly in my territory because of high summer temperatures. And A/C would be mandatory, although that can be mitigated with Vintage Air and Heat. If you truly love the car, buy it and put it back together. With 8 lug wheels.

    Like 3
  14. Tom Bell

    64’s had a very similar profile but no side trim. Maybe that’s what he was shooting for.

    Like 1
    • local_sheriff

      Partly true – ’64 Bonnies wore lightly curvaceous moldings attached to the lower body to show the world you drove Pontiac’s top dog. I’m thinking this is more an attempt to create some GP ‘vert appearance – GPs only had a tiny rocker strip. Or the Bonnie trim on hand was simply beyond restoration and therefore omitted…

      Anyway; IMO not a clever idea. On such a long vehicle some kind of trim is mandatory to accentuate its profile…

      Like 2
  15. DETROIT LAND YACHT

    Plenty of tasteful restomod potential here.
    I like it.

    Like 3
  16. Dusty Stalz

    Looking at the condition of the interior and just what I can see in the pics I’d definitely bring a magnet if I went to check this out.

    Like 2
  17. TimM

    A clean looking ragtop for $3800!! Is I the filled with bondo or some other problem we don’t know or can’t see???? If she is solid it’s a good buy!!!

    Like 5
  18. TimM

    Something didn’t look right to me and I finally realized that there’s no door handles or locks on the outside of the car!!! I googled 63 bonneville and then I noticed right away!! Then I called the guy and he told me a little more!! I’m just a little concerned the moldings and handles weren’t welded up and just filled with filler!!!

    Like 3
  19. Michael Ferrino Jr.

    Sounds like a great deal for the money. Maybe a lot we don’t see or know about?

    Like 4
  20. Johnmloghry Johnmloghry

    Where’s the beef( ah I mean door handle? Someone removed all the trim and the door handle lots of body filler which makes it look very strange. A custom job gone bad.
    God bless America

    Like 1
  21. Burt

    I didn’t realize Pontiac styling was a couple years ahead of others at this time. Looks very different than a ‘63 Chevy or Ford.

    Like 2
  22. Vince H

    I live in PA and wonder how much rust may be hiding.

    Like 1
  23. skody54Member

    Sorry guys I’ll keep my 64 Cat convertible over this one. Lol

    Like 1
  24. Kenn

    In the late 50’s cars were “leaded” – ie: door handles, trim taken off and an electric switch installed to unlock. Many 50’s Fords were customized in that fashion. A customizing fact of which no one here seems to be aware. It seems that that is what was done here. Top down, no trim, a better color – blue or red maybe? – and this boat would be an eye-catcher.

    Like 1

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