This 1961 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible is more than a pretty face. The first owner loaded it with factory options, a fact confirmed by the inclusion of the appropriate PHS documentation. It appears to need nothing, and with summer on our doorstep, it could be ideal for a spot of relaxed weekend cruising. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Sam61 for spotting the Bonneville listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The price of admission to a classic of this caliber is rarely cheap, and someone must be prepared to hand over $49,000 to take this Pontiac home.
Pontiac introduced its Third Generation Bonneville range for the 1961 model year, with cars remaining on sale until 1964. The latest offering brought a significant styling update that gave every version a more modern appearance. The Convertible proved a popular choice, with 18,264 buyers taking one home in 1961. Our feature Bonneville is one of those vehicles, finished in stunning Bamboo Cream. Its presentation is first-rate, with no significant panel or paint imperfections. The White power top fits beautifully, with no evidence of wear or other problems. The trim looks exceptional for its age, and the tinted glass is crystal clear. The 8-lug wheels are the first of a long list of factory options selected by the first owner, and they receive my seal of approval. I have said it before and will stand by my belief that the 8-lugs are the most attractive factory wheels fitted to any American production car.
John DeLorean always believed that Pontiac should function as the performance arm of the General Motors empire, and this Bonneville perfectly demonstrates that approach. Its engine bay houses a 389ci V8 producing 303hp and 402 ft/lbs of torque. Shifting duties fall to a three-speed Hydramatic, while the first owner’s decision to include power-assisted steering and brakes guarantees an effortless driving experience. This Bonneville will comfortably top 4,000 lbs if driven onto the scales, but with so much power and torque on tap, its performance would surprise many. There are a reasonable number of modern family sedans that would show this Pontiac a clean set of heels today, but its performance was considered quite impressive in 1961. The seller supplies no information regarding the car’s mechanical health, although their emphasis on the overall condition suggests that the news should be positive.
Okay, let’s draw a deep breath and work through the list of options selected by the first owner when they ordered this Bonneville. I am surprised that they didn’t tick the box beside air conditioning, but the buyer will receive power windows, an Autronic Eye, a Wonderbar AM radio with a power antenna, a remote driver’s mirror, a clock, and the “Magi-Cruise” speed control. The interior is trimmed in Tri-Tone Gold and Cream which gives it a classy air that most current vehicles would fail to emulate. There is no evidence of wear or other issues, and the carpet and the beautiful wheel look excellent. The dash appears flawless, and the only aftermarket addition is a modern radio/CD player mounted below the dash.
The seller’s price for this 1961 Bonneville Convertible isn’t pocket-change, which may help to explain why it hasn’t found a new home after sixteen weeks on the market. However, the figure isn’t unprecedented, especially when you factor the options into the equation. I give the seller full marks for persistence because dropping the price would be the easiest way to secure a sale. Of course, that also might be a bonus for potential buyers who might be willing to raise the subject of negotiating. It doesn’t cost a dime to ask, and the response might be positive. Is that an approach you might consider?
In my 61 years on this earth..i can honestly say this is the first early 60’s Bonny i’ve ever seen with fender skirts..and..i like it!! (closet fender skirt fan here :P ) this is a stunner.
Agree w you Thunder. Beautiful Bonny. 😍
Totally agree about the skirts. They look great on this Bonnie.
Great looking car, but I think the skirts are hideous. I’d take them off before leaving the seller’s driveway.
Jerry, those skirts aren’t factory, they’re aftermarket & don’t belong on a `61 GM ANYTHING except Cadillacs. I wouldn’t want them either.
I’m with you but they are unique!
Again, it is nice but not 49k nice. Lower the price of admission to a more reasonable 30 to 35k and maybe it’ll sell more easily. The yellow paint is kinda weird and I agree with TunderRob the fender skirts look pretty good on this car. Fender skirts and continental kits on most cars look overdone but not on this one.
Negotiate
I dare anyone to show us a nicer car, no wonder my uncle fell in love with one. While there were plenty of early 60s Ponchos, never a ragtop in my neck of the woods. Convertibles weren’t a big sell in the North Pole, but regular Bonnes, and the lesser Venturas( like my uncles) were very popular. Got to be just as tough parting with this car as it was saying goodbye to the owner. This was without question grandpas baby. Younguns don’t collect ragtop ’61 Bonnevilles like this, and why it’s probably for sale now. I tell you what, I’d spend $49gs for this rather than that rattly door Jeep YJ a while back. Nicest of the “pre-stacked headlight” Ponchos,,,EVER!
This is absolutely beautiful. I don’t remember the last time I saw this color on any early 60’s Pontiac, but it sure looks great on this one!!! The interior looks great too. You wouldn’t be able to restore one this nicely, unless you did all the work yourself, and even then it wouldn’t be cheap for the asking price of this one. I completely agree with Adam about the Pontiac 8 lugs, they were the most beautifully designed wheels GM had during the 60’s ( With the Buick Riviera factory mags a close second). Very nice.
My first exposure to the 8-lugs were in 1970 when I bought a mint condition 60 Bonneville coupe off the turnstile in our local Pontiac dealer showroom. I would go by every night just to stare at it prior to my purchase! It was loaded with EVERY option available, as it was reportedly a company executive car. I agree about these rims and the Buick road wheels! I wish I had my car back!
My first exposure to the 8-lugs were in 1970 when I bought a mint condition 60 Bonneville coupe off the turnstile in our local Pontiac dealer showroom. I would go by every night just to stare at it prior to my purchase! It was loaded with EVERY option available, as it was reportedly a company executive car. I agree about these rims and the Buick road wheels! I wish I had my car back!
My first exposure to the 8-lugs were in 1970 when I bought a mint condition 60 Bonneville coupe off the turnstile in our local Pontiac dealer showroom. I would go by every night just to stare at it prior to my purchase! It was loaded with EVERY option available, as it was reportedly a company executive car. I agree about these rims and the Buick road wheels! I wish I had my car back!
SO sorry! No idea why the triple posting!
The asking price is way too much money for this Pontiac. That type of money will buy much better cars. The skirts are certainly different. They actually follow the body surfaces. I’ve never seen that with an add-on skirt. This Pontiac was meant to be sporty and not a Cadillac. I’m not sure that I like the skirts. Good luck!
I would like to see the front of the car. I am not on Facebook
@John Love
Beautiful car. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Question, asking for a friend, was the block letter logo on the trunk always painted body color or was this a shortcut on a repaint?
Question, asking for a friend, was the block letter logo on the trunk always painted body color or was this a shortcut on a repaint or were they gold-tone? Hard to tell in photo I’d like to see a pic with and without the skirts.
The “Bonneville” on the trunk was originally chrome. Apparently the “Bonneville” has been painted over.
nice car but lose the skirts. they look hideous.
I always loved the GM interiors around this time.
Skirts are out of place bigtime. Yuk
My aunt had a new ’61 Cat SW which of course, has nothing on this Bonneville or convertible. Just thought I’d mention they traded in their 1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville for the ’61 Catalina statio wagon because of another mouth to feed. It was a nice car. Big, stylish, roomy, powerful enough & comfortable. That got totalled on a grocery getting trip and replaced with a new 1963 Catalina Station wagon.
My aunt had a new ’61 Cat SW which of course, has nothing on this Bonneville or convertible. Just thought I’d mention they traded in their 1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville for the ’61 Catalina statio wagon because of another mouth to feed. It was a nice car. Big, stylish, roomy, powerful enough & comfortable. That got totalled on a grocery getting trip and replaced with a new 1963 Catalina Station wagon.
This Bonneville is gorgeous! I am a fan of yellow cars with white convertible tops & interiors. The wide whitewalls compliment the car as do the skirts. This car looks good with or without skirts. It looks sportier without but I prefer the skirts. I researched 1961 Pontiac Bonneville skirts and these are factory not aftermarket.
I usually dislike skirts, unless they were factory. I thought these skirts looked factory, and now you have proved it. Probably the nicest ’61 Bonneville I’ve ever seen!
I completely agree with you. These skirts are well made and fit this Bonneville very well. And yes, they’re sporty without them, but on this particular drop top Bonneville, I like them.
While I concur with the widespread admiration for the 8-lugs, I would never have them installed on a Pontiac I owned. When refurbishing my older car projects, the first upgrade is calipers, pads and discs. Unless my memory is worse than usual, I don’t recall a method to have anything but drums with those wheels. Please educate me if the opposite is true. Still, a stunning example of a 64 year old car.
You are correct: the 8-lug wheel *is* a drum. Can’t have 8-lug discs (unless some madman out there has made a kit!).