Bonneville was one of Pontiac’s longest-running nameplates, having a place in the fold between 1957 and 2005. During the 1960s, it mixed luxury with performance to produce some very desirable automobiles, like this near-cherry 1964 edition. Four doors never looked better than on these pillarless Bonnevilles which were popular with Pontiac buyers. As a dealer appears to be involved, not a lot of history is known about this survivor-quality car. It doesn’t seem any worse for the wear for its 97,000 reported miles. Located in Caldwell, Idaho, this Poncho is available here on eBay where the bidding is surprisingly low at $4,900.
As most already know, the car’s name came from the Bonneville Salt Flats that are in Utah, the home of many auto racing land speed records. The third generation of the Pontiac Bonneville left the factories from 1961 through 1964. They gained stacked headlights in 1963, which would remain a Pontiac hallmark for several years. The ’64 models were a styling refinement of the ’63, but easily identifiable when parked side by side. Equipped with a potent 389 cubic inch V8, these third-gen Bonnevilles came with the Hydra-Matic transmission as standard equipment.
Plenty of these 4-door hardtop Bonnevilles were running around in the 1960s as 57,630 of them were built in 1964 alone. No mention is made of the burgundy paint or matching interior ever having been touched up, and only minor little imperfections can be seen when inspecting the many photos supplied by the seller. Since the seller says the car has never been restored, we assume everything but consumables like tires and belts and fluids are as they left the assembly line 59 years ago. We’re told the drivetrain is numbers-matching.
This Bonneville is well equipped with lots of power accessories but was not maxed out when ordered. The windows are of the roll-up variety and there is no air conditioning. But the lack of these items doesn’t detract from the overall coolness that this land yacht oozes are every turn. This would be an awesome car to cruise around in on the weekends and seems to need nothing more than a new home.
Only 3 hours and 42 minutes left. Someone is going to get a good deal on a nice car. My garage is overflowing, otherwise I would be bidding.
My garage packed or I also would be bidding. Pontiac was the best division of GM. EVER.
My family had the lower-line 1964 Catalina 4-door hardtop back in the day. That came with the problematical Roto-Hydramatic transmission though I don’t recall us ever having trouble with it. Took my driver’s test in that beast. Would love to have it today, too bad that like most everyday cars it just got used up and tossed away.
The Roto Hydramatic appears to be in this car ( PNDSLR). I believe the Star Chief retained the original 4 speed Hydramatic for this final year.
Bob, you are correct about the Star Chief, but Bonnevilles also had the Hydramatic. Only the shorter wheelbase full-size Pontiacs(Catalina and Grand Prix) were saddled with the Roto-Matic. Both automatics had the same “P NDSL R” pattern in 1964.
BTW, the standard transmission was “three on the tree” in full-size Pontiacs throughout the ’60s, with floor or console shifted 4-speed optional, though production was low. An automatic transmission wasn’t standard until March of 1971.
Gorgeous. I am biased. I’ve had a couple burgundy vehicles.
Auction ended at $5,400. If someone really got it for that, they are loving life.
It’s been relisted.
Love 4 door hardtops and love this car! Interiors are awesome and the wheelcovers almost conjur up the fab 8-lug rims! Too late as usual… Congrats to the winner!
The Bonnevilles and Star Chiefs had the four speed Hydramatics. The shorter wheelbase Catalina’s, etc., had the dreadful Roto-Hydramatics.
THEY ALL HAD THE SAME GEAR DISPLAY ON THE DASH. The ‘65’s had the newer three speed Hydramatics with REVERSE next to PARK.
looks like rust bubbling up at the leading edge of the hood, and lower right corner of back glass. catch it before it get inside. Trim piece missing from the deck lid, too. I would say a “pseudo” survivor, as the paint on inside of deck lid is not quite the same as the outside. A good detailer would have had it buffed out with less notable color disparity. A very good buy at the $5400 winning bid, not to be a wet blanket, but depending on where it has to be transported to could be upwards to $2500 or possibly more.
If it’s as good as it looks, that’s a deal. And if you have to have four doors, a hardtop is the way to go.