UPDATE 03/22/2025: We’ve recently seen a few classics crossing our desks at Barn Finds where the seller hasn’t tasted success on their attempt to send their pride and joy to a new home. This 1962 Pontiac Bonneville is a perfect example of that trend, and it seems that little has changed since we first saw it in January. The seller has listed the Bonneville here on Craigslist in Loveland, Colorado. They set their price at $19,000, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Mike F. for spotting the car originally, and for letting us know that it is back on the market.
01/13/2025: This 1962 Pontiac Bonneville Sports Coupe was recently unearthed in a Wyoming estate. The seller states that it isn’t a $50,000 trailer queen, but is a tidy and solid classic offering the new owner scope for personalization. It is a turnkey proposition with a V8 that should provide excellent performance.
The Bonneville badge first broke cover in 1957 as the Convertible version of Pontiac’s Star Chief range. It attained standalone model status in 1958, with the Third Generation Bonneville available in showrooms from 1961 until 1964. The Sport Coupe joined the party in 1962, with our feature car a first-year example finished in what the seller terms “Shelltone White.” This is a Code C shade that became known as Cameo Ivory the year this car rolled off the line. It was recently located in a Wyoming estate sale and is a striking vehicle. The close-up shots reveal plenty of minor chips and marks, which may prompt some enthusiasts to contemplate a repaint. However, with straight panels and a lack of anything beyond a few minor rust spots, that decision can be made at their leisure. The trim and glass look acceptable for a vehicle of this vintage, but it is almost guaranteed that the 15″ chrome wheels won’t be met with universal acclaim. Still, swapping them for something more appropriate would be easy. I am slightly biased on the subject, but I would find a sparkling set of the company’s beautiful 8-lug wheels irresistible.
Pontiac is often considered the performance arm of the General Motors empire, and checking this Bonneville’s specifications suggests that such beliefs are well-founded. The engine bay houses a 389ci V8 which, according to Pontiac’s 1962 Sales Brochure, develops 303hp and 425 ft/lbs of torque. A Hydramatic transmission feeds the power to a 3.08 Safe-T-Track rear end, with the driver’s load lightened by power-assisted steering and brakes. The mechanical specifications promise respectable acceleration off the mark and excellent long-distance cruising ability. It is unclear whether this classic is numbers-matching, although there are no indications in the listing to suggest that it isn’t. The Pontiac recently received a new aluminum radiator and a long list of maintenance work. The results justified the effort and expense, with this Bonneville a turnkey car that the seller states they would drive anywhere.
The Bonneville’s interior continues the “tidy driver” theme, with no faults or issues that might cause the buyer embarrassment. The seller indicates that the pad is cracked beneath the aftermarket mat, with the same true of the wheel. The seatcovers aren’t original or correct, and there are underdash gauges and a newer stereo with speakers. Reversing these changes would be relatively easy because the correct seatcovers and pad are readily available. As with the panel and paint shortcomings, the new owner could take their time about such decisions, because the inside of this classic is serviceable and presentable in its current form.
Choosing an appropriate classic to park in your garage can be challenging. The current market offers a wealth of possibilities, and it is often a matter of weeding out the non-starters. I wouldn’t discount this 1962 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe lightly, because the seller’s willingness to accommodate inspections and test drives suggests they have nothing to hide. It isn’t perfect, but that is reflected in the asking price. The buyer could enjoy the car as-is while they plan its future. What would you do if it found its way into your garage? Would you leave it untouched, or would placing your mark upon this classic prove irresistible?
One of the greatest taillight designs ever!
The candy canes!
Oh, I do declare,,,none better. Those tail lights, as a kid, a neighbor kids dad worked in GM somehow, and got us draw’rings of those tail lights. I suppose I wouldn’t have such a following for 60s Ponchos if it wasn’t for my uncle. He was a “Catalina Joe”, but the cars were similar, and good enough for us.
Being a Colorado car, I’m fully confident, plenty of places to “let this thing go”, however, I still think the LEO Charger mit phone/radio is faster. While 1/4 mile times weren’t this cars forte’, it would go 118 mph, aka, bury the needle. On bias-plys, that was a dangerous idea. Not in ’62 though, I bet this car was King of the highway. Out run those old Plymouths with crackly side band radios with ease, it would. The ’62 Poncho was no stranger to the winners circle either. Some awful big names drove Pontiacs, most famous, Fireball Roberts. He was killed in a ’64 Ford, however, as Pontiac lost its NASCAR fan base, and concentrated on drag racing. An awesome find.
Looks good from every angle š Howard. Beautiful Poncho.
Ole Fireball should have stuck to Pontiacs.
Howard, GM pulled out of racing officially in 1963, so Robert’s and other racing heroes changed brands. Pontiac didn’t willingly ‘lose its NASCAR fan base’, it supplemented that fan base with the onset of the MuscleCar era courtesy of the GTO. Pontiac won.
Nice car. Don’t mind aftermarket wheels but I’ve got better looking wheels on my trailers.
Arenāt these wheels the ones where you put baskets on to look like you have wire wheels?
Those wheels are awful. They littered the local Pick Your Part wrecking yards in the late-80ās and early-90ās, rarely having the fake wire insert. The center cap used on these wheels helps, but theyād need to go. This car would look good with a set of period correct mags.
Steve R
All I know, from experience, is that the trunk is big enough to carry a sixties vintage console color TV.
And have a square dance in the trunk.
Howard, GM pulled out of racing officially in 1963, so Robert’s and other racing heroes changed brands. Pontiac didn’t willingly ‘lose its NASCAR fan base’, it supplemented that fan base with the onset of the MuscleCar era courtesy of the GTO. Pontiac won.
Steel wheels with simple hubcaps would satisfy me.
Nice survivor, driver Bonneville. 389s are hard to beat. I had a 66 Catalina with a cracked dash and couldn’t find a replacement anywhere. Maybe the pad on this one is available. Don’t mind the rims as a driver but a set of Cragars would look better.
Just Dashes can refinish/rebuild dash pads. Though they are not inexpensive.
Steve R
JUST DASH,S WILL RIP YOU OFF. They did me. Been about 10 since I dealt with them and I still have not received my refund. The Pontiac is nice,but I change the wheel back to original ones. I have one of the 8 lug wheels(never liked them either. Take all day to change a flat.
Three words; eight lug wheels. I agree with the author, that’d change the entire look of the vehicle and elevate its appearance immensely.
Mike76, Kelsey Hayes Pontiac 14″ 8 lugs are ok, if you’re fine with running on all 4 drum brakes. I’d rather have front disc brakes.
i believe there is a place in canada that not only makes the eight lug but makes it in 15 inch with disc brakes , i remember reading about it but have no info
Interesting ad. Lots of details which is not usually the case. The seller has made it clear that they donāt want texts. I agree with Howard that the taillight design is one of the best ever. Another thing I really like is the roofline. Faux convertible if you will. Another car for my fantasy collection. Iād enjoy the car just as it is although I agree that the Pontiac eight lugs would look great on it. Whoever buys will enjoy āwide trackingā. GLWTS.
ill take all day long ..huge fan of the 62 grand prix , ‘hard to find no adays..i have a 65 gto to sell , it needs to go soon
He did. I believe it was Smokey’s Pontiac that he was in at Charlotte when he had the fire that ultimately killed him?
No 3-speed “slim jim” for that car! 4-speed hydramatic!
I’ve watched many U-Tube videos about the vintage cars in Cuba and I had wanted to go there, literally for decades. Well I finally fulfilled that ”bucket list” vacation destination back in January when my wife and I spent six days in Havana. Among the highlights of the trip (at least for me) were that we got to ride around for six hours over two different days, in a 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 convertible, and then we got a ride back to the airport in a 1956 Ford Fairlane 4 door sedan. But as we rode around in that 58 Ford convertible, where the driver took us to places like Ernest Hemingway’s house, past the “Capital” were many vintage cars are known to gather, a drive along the El Malecon fronting the “GULF OF MEXICO”, Revolution Square (also a known spot where vintage cars gather), The Prado Promenade, well I tried to keep track of the hundreds and hundreds of vintage cars that I saw. And in among the hundreds of early to mid 50’s Chevys and Fords, the oldest car that I saw was a 42 Ford 4 door sedan still being driven as a Taxi while the newest cars I saw among the vantage cars, being a 1960 Chevrolet, 1960 Oldsmobile and 1960 Buick convertibles.That is until I spotted, what I’m sure is the only 1962 Pontiac Bonneville convertible in the country. And while I was able to take well over a hundred photos of the vintage cars (of varying degree of quality-both the cars as well as the photos) I missed taking a photo of that 62 Pontiac Bonneville because I spotted it going the other way out on the road, out in the courtside and by the time I got my camera ready, the car was gone..
I would like to make that trip, too. Say what you will about the economics of Cuba, they have achieved almost universal education and health care for a very literate population. I remember as a kid thinking “who is the loud crazy with the big cigars” and the army uniform? The few documentaries I have seen show many of these beauties in Cuba having Lada powertrains in combo to keep them on the road. Wasn’t this grille the same as the first LeMans based GTO? The scale of this coupe is perfect to the eye of this septagenarian(sp)
Those taillights not only said that this is a ’62 Pontiac but a Bonneville!
Nice car. I’d change the wheels and tires, replace the tacky chrome outside mirrors with OEM style, peel the sticker off the air cleaner, and eventually repair the dash pad. Drive and enjoy,
Iāve never been a fan of those wheels but I have to say for some reason I donāt mind them on this car. One of my favorite early 60ās bodies. Clean lines.
Can you get 15″ Pontiac and larger rims that are 8 lug style for cars with front disc brakes? The 14″ 8 lug rims won’t work on front disc conversions. Requires a 15″ rim minimum for clearance.
What a beautiful car.
I looked into putting 8-lugs on my ’66 Bonneville. It was north of $6000 in 2002 to acquire all of the parts and more to get them refurbished (unless you got really lucky).
Around 2005 Arrowhead Productions offered a complete reproduction set, but I can’t recall if they also offered 15″ and disc. Think it was around $8000 for the whole nine yards.
They are gone, and there is no one else out there reproducing them.
If they don’t reproduce the 8 lugs anymore, and $8k for used ones, I’d get a set of period correct Cragers. Would look way better than the ones on there.
I can see why–$8,000 FOR 4 WHEELS.
this model year in my oppinion was and is the nicest pontiac ever built and not because I had one.if it was here in Canada and close by she’ll e in my garage and the price is fair on his on.nice car. as for the wheels mine had after market what we called spinners fastened on the hubcaps tha I had installed myself and they looked awesome.love these.
cool car but it needs to lose those ghetto package wheels. gives the car a cheap look to it.
If I didn’t have a Garage full of Antique and Classic Harley Davidsons I grab this up , a little work, a refreash on the paint and a great weekender would be born !
Real tired of the I want it original.folks have yourselves a ball with your car make em what you want.enjoy them.who the hell wants a museum car.this car is great just the way it is.want one original? Great go buy one.no problem.but stop whining about the crap.