Top of the heap is where Pontiac positioned its Bonneville and today, we have a member of the third-gen (’61-’64) and it’s a convertible! Designed to give the aura of size, power, and speed, the Bonneville cachet also spread across hardtops, sedans, and station wagons but it’s the early two-door hardtops and convertibles that always capture the imagination. Our subject car is located in Ocoee, Florida (near Orlando) and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $7,600 with the reserve not yet met.
I have an old friend who used to always refer to a Bonneville as a Bo-nev-a-lee – I never knew whether he was serious or it was just the lexicon that he picked up living and working near D.C. But by the time that nonsense had started with him (early ’80s), the Bonneville’s star had started to fade into the morass of what was becoming Roger Smith’s destruction of Alfred Sloan’s GM product/brand positioning and hierarchy – A.K.A. just another GM sedan. In ’63, Bonneville’s four-body styles were popular and put up sales of approximately 110K units – not bad for a top model that had to share marketing space with the Catalina, Star Chief, and Grand Prix.
The information in the listing isn’t completely accurate, the engine is actually a 303 gross HP 389 CI V8 (the 235 HP version referenced was used with the three-speed manual transmission). The seller tells us that the engine has not been rebuilt (at least 103K miles of use) but has had the top end cosmetically restored – no word on how it runs. The transmission is referenced as a two-speed Hydramatic but that’s doubtful too. I’d suggest that it’s likely either a three-speed Roto-Hydramatic, also known as a “Slim-Jim” or a four-speed Hydramatic that Pontiac employed in its longer wheelbase cars. There are several underside images presented but I can’t visually identify an R.H. vs. a Hydramatic though I know the R.H. has a rather checkered reputation. Feel free to comment if you’re informed on the matter.
Speaking of wheelbase, the Bonneville had the longest Pontiac stretch in ’63, riding with a 123″ between the front and rear wheels. The underside images, which reveal lots of scale and a leaky engine, trans, and differential, show the real differences between a Pontiac and a Chevrolet from that era. Where Pontiac used a perimeter frame with a suspension similar to what ’64’s new A-body intermediate would bring to the table, Chevrolet was employing an X-frame with suspension that was specific to the full-size Bowtie and not shared with other GM divisions. The body of this Bonneville is said to be a repaint in the original Aquamarine shade and it presents well but that passenger side belt-line shows as wavey. There’s no sign of existing panel rust and both the stainless trim and chrome are very presentable. Ditto the convertible top, there’s no sign of distress.
Pontiac marketing material from the day states that leather was the standard upholstery utilized in the convertible but the bucket seat/center console combo was optional. I’d suggest that the front seats have been reupholstered in matching vinyl but I may have that wrong – regardless they just don’t show and wrinkle the way the rear seat does. The carpet is definitely a replacement but beyond that, it seems that originality abounds. Unfortunately, someone has cut the dash and installed a more modern DIN radio receiver – but that cool vacuum gauge is still perched on the console, right where it belongs.
I was surprised to see that this car is being listed by Past & Present Motor Car, they’re a central Florida classic car dealership that specializes in Chevies, ’69 and ’70 Chevelle SSs in particular. Regardless, this Bonneville is a very note-worthy convertible and is likely to find a buyer. The only question is the price, this is an auction but the dealership’s website shows a $27,963 ask. What’s your thought, priced right, or not quite?
Checking out the pics on eBag, this thing is kind of a fright pig.
The front bumper is misaligned, but doesn’t look like it’s been hit. The floorpans look pretty OK, but the frame and suspension components look pretty crusty. The exhaust is falling apart, which is fixable, but suspension pickup points might be another issue entirely.
It was a neat trick to polish the car and shoot it facing the sun on both sides to reflect the horizon and mask the soft paint, but the lead shot you and the dealer picked show the patina’d left side of the car. I kind like that, but a lot of folks may not. And as you said, the right side rockers are kinda wavy. That repaint could be hiding a lot of ills, little and large.
This is not a car I’d want to buy without an in-person inspection, on a lift. Something tells me that I may not want to buy into this poke for a pig. Even at $28 grand.
Snow tire spare is very telling .
Hey, you never know when you might be driving around Orlando in a snowstorm and have a flat. .
Gorgeous car! Love the 63 Bonneville since it first appeared. This car needs work to make it respectable even for local shows and cruise ins. Definitely inspect in person. The dash pad would worry me. But definitely worth the effort. Price seems way high to me…
Lot of cars listed seem to be in Florida lately.
These were a terrific car back in the day. I had a 62 Catalina and after that a 63 Catalina convert. Both were a pleasure to drive. Only sold the convert so I could take advantage of a great deal on a split window Corvette.
Looked at the ‘full size” photos. $15K tops for my money, between suspension and possibly floor pans, along with a lot of additional body work, including hours of block sanding, along with paint and materials, you would be all in around $35K for, at most a $30K car when done. Just my opinion. I estimating a low 3 or high 4 as far as condition going by the “full size” photos.
BTW check my screen name
Transmission in this car is the 4 speed Hydramatic – aka Jetaway, Strato-Flight, Controlled Coupling Hydramatic, et al. The Bonnie and the Star Chief used the big bulky 4 speed while the junior cars used the Slim Jim. Oil pan on the D/C Hydro has that big square shape, while the Roto has an oil pan shaped like the state of Arkansas.
The reference to being a “2 speed” is fairly common on these ’56-’64 Hydramatics because you could only feel one of the three shifts – the 2-3. The 1-2 and 3-4 changes involved filling and emptying the controlled coupling and were heard but rarely felt.
Perfect!
Thx,
JO
Correct, I have a ‘63 Cat convertible. After rebuilding the slim Jim four times in 20k miles, I upgraded to a turbo 400. Required cutting out the floor pan and welding in a Grand Prix floor pan. A lot of work, but well worth it. Also, I installed front disc brakes- another upgrade that is well worth doing.