The General Motors downsizing program was in full swing by 1978 and the Pontiac Bonneville was no exception, with the auto shedding some 14 inches in length and a diet that resulted in a weight loss of 800 pounds when the sixth-generation model was introduced a year earlier. Still, the car provided plenty of comfort, just in smaller proportions than before, and while the interiors were luxurious the styling was typically somewhat conservative. This 1978 Pontiac Bonneville here on Facebook Marketplace breaks that mold and features something completely unexpected inside, so get out your dancing shoes and head on over to Drums, Pennsylvania, and bring along $4,500 in cash if you want to take this untraditional Pontiac home.
We’d like to tip our hats to Barn Finds reader Dennis House, who spotted this one and provided the tip here! My first notion was there’s no way this Bonneville came from the factory looking like this, but a little research proved me quite wrong, as Pontiac had introduced their optional Valencia interior package a year before, although you had to step up to the Brougham trim level to get it. Either the striped velour was a success, or the company had plenty of the material left over because it also became available on the base model car for ’78. In addition to the red, white, and black theme found here, Pontiac offered at least one other set of stripes that included a combo of black, white, and tan, but if you’re gonna go all out, give me the louder variant like this car has any day!
The seller doesn’t provide us with a whole lot of detailed information about the exterior, but he does say the paint is original, and although it’s showing some fading on the top areas I’m not spotting any significant body blunders, other than the rear bumper sagging on one side and some of the body side moldings missing. There’s good news on the latter, as new side strip trim will be included, and more importantly, the owner also assures us that no rust is present. Zero photos are provided from under the hood, but this one’s got the largest engine available in ’78, a 400 cubic-inch V8 producing 180 horsepower. Few specifics are given regarding the mechanics, but at minimum, a new battery will be required before you attempt to turn the key.
Saturday Night Fever was in full swing when this one came out, and the disco threads continue into the rear area so the back seat passengers don’t feel left out, with some mohawk vibes here of business on the outside and party on the inside. Even without the syncopated interior, I kind of like this car overall, as it’s a rust-free 2-door example with the best engine, so with all those things in its favor the funky upholstery is sort of a bonus in my book. It’s also noteworthy that the Pontiac has been seeking a new owner for 10 weeks now, with a price drop of $1,500 already, so the seller may be ready to listen to offers. What are your thoughts on this 1978 Bonneville?
Love that interior 👌. Back when interiors were OTT. Now interiors and bland and basic! 🤮. Favorites were 89 Fleetwood Brougham deElegance and 83 and 85 Fifth Avenues with deeply tufted velour seats. Love my current Town Car, but the leather seats are not what I would like. As for this Bonneville, prefer my 80 Bonneville Brougham which looked longer.
Outstanding upholstery.
A true ” luxury ” car ! They sure don’t make ’em like that anymore in this world of imports . For long road trips I can see it , as it would literally float down the highway , but for in town driving , it could be costly . Oh Well ! Still somebody might want an older luxury car . In the past , I knew people that wouldn’t even want an import car parked in their driveway , so maybe one of those will be the next owner of this ’78 Bonneville ? Happy Motoring !
Absolutely! Dad worked 45 years at Inland Steel. Anything imported was a POS. Lover of the GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHT, I refuse to have a foreign car (even if built in this country) within 10 feet of my trash 🗑 can! Unfortunately NO manufacturer builds a real Luxury Sedan, flooding the market with melted jelly beans and Glorified trucks masquerading as Luxury vehicles. 🤮.
❤️ your comments! My feelings exactly.
Does it come with a Disco Ball and Platform Shoe’s???? Total Studio 54 Auto!!
🎵 OH OH OH 🎶 it’s 🎵 Staying 🎶 ALIVE 🎵 Staying 🎶 ALIVE! 🎵 on it’s own Platform! 🕺💃! 😉 😜 😘
Those Pontiacs took well to the downsizing and were helped by GM giving each two door its own roofline. The regular vinyl roof seemed to be more common on the Catalina with Bonneville being two tone or Landau. As for the interior I think it is a good look. I’m sure I would have been crazy Uncle Nelson driving this car.
Now that’s interesting. But not sure I could handle driving that without having a seizure.
At least if you’re in it looking out, you won’t see as much of it
Was just up in PA last month…2 hrs away from here. I was in Dillsburg. I live in Florida..tell you what. Pennsylvania is full of these cars from the 80s and in decent shape still on the road…I was amazed…like going back in time. This is a nice car…Pontiac stood out from the rest. It’s a shame they went the way of the dinosaur.
My first new car was a 1978 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham 2 door coupe. I agree that the 400 cubic inch V8 would be the most desirable engine. Mine had the 350 cubic inch Buick V8. It was slow and the gas mileage was nothing to write home about. The MSRP as I ordered it was $9,280. Fairly expensive in those days.
i have a black 79 bonneville 2 dr brougham black vinyl half top camel tan bucket seat console with snowflakes factory stock with dealer window sticker and build sheet….i bought it out of a garage from the original owner who ordered it in 78….had it shipped from michigan to kansas….301 gutless as can be…but great original car i absolutely love……and this 78 would be great addition to my pontiac tribe thats currently almost 25…..my 79 being the newest….but that pretty far to have it shipped….have as much in transportation as the car….
Ah, just rent a car one way to get there and drive it home. Much cheaper
since i own a car transport company, I can tell you that it would be $7-$800 to ship it if it starts and can drive onto a carrier.
Love that tufted interior as well…I prefer leather as opposed to the velour, however, I can appreciate that movie theatre muffled silence that comes with the velour. Check out the 79 5th ave interior…
I worked at an Oldsmobile dealership from 1977 to 1981. In 1980, they had an optional hideous interior that resembled an American Indian blanket for lack of better words. It was just unreal. We had one in a tan Cutlass on the showroom floor. It sold fairly quickly from what I remember. I never saw a Pontiac with this package. One thing is for sure, Legendary Interiors is likely not reproducing this. That’s the great thing about good old American cars, plenty of neat options. Today, I work at a Dodge Ram Jeep dealer. NOTHING but boring black interior. And every POS looks the same. Very boring times. I have three vehicles in my fleet, the newest is my 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis I’ve owned since July 2008. Still better looking and more reliable than ANYTHING made today.
I think that upholstery would look better in a beach cruiser, maybe the wagon version of the Bonneville, did they still have vinyl wood sides?
Yes, they called it “woodgrain safari siding”. Back in the day I loved a wagon with woodgrain even though it wasn’t particularly durable.
I just love this car. A 400 Pontiac to boot yet. It could well be worth spending the money on and restoring, as a driver of course. My sister had a white 77 brougham 4 dr with the Olds 350. Blue velour interior and full instrumentation. It’s the only one I ever saw with full instrumentation. Still, the 400 inch, should move smartly.
Have a ’78 Bonneville Coupe very much like this without the Valencia interior – just “plain” red carmine velour. These are wonderful cars – Pontiac infused them with more style than the other divisions which favored more boxy slab-sided profiles. Mine has the full vinyl roof which means the rear side windows have more of any angle (and glass) than the Landau. Mine has the 301 which gets all kinds of criticism but really does the job in my opinion, even if it would not win a drag race. The 400 would have more oomph, but none of these engines would be comparable to any modern vehicle. It’s more a matter of degree – these cars were cruising vehicles and can easily do 70-75 all day (even though 55 was the speed limit at the time). Lots to love here.
Last of the mohoacans.Well built quality cars faded fast in the 80’s.Good smooth ride,sorry ass pics.