The Bonneville was Pontiac’s top-of-the-line car for much of its longevity from 1957-05. Along with its Canadian variant, the Parisienne, it would be one of the largest Pontiacs ever built. So much so that they would serve as the basis for specialty vehicles like ambulances and hearses. This ’69 Bonneville is a one-owner, driver-quality car that may need some work on its big-block 428 cubic-inch engine. It’s being offered in Los Angeles, California by a dealer and here on eBay where the no reserve auction has reached $2,850.
Fourth-generation Bonneville’s were built between 1965–70, based on the B-body platform shared with other GM divisions for their biggest automobiles. For 1969, the cars’ styling was updated with a greater emphasis on the Endura snout out front and the rear end had wider taillights with a color-coded bumper insert. Bonneville’s standard motor was a 360 hp version of the 428 powerplants. Out of 772,100 Pontiacs built that year, 89,300 were Bonneville’s of which 27,700 were 2-door hardtops like the seller’s car.
At 97,000 miles, this ’70 Pontiac runs and drives, but the seller tells us there is a rod knock in the engine that needs to be investigated. For more than 52 years, this has been a one-owner car that’s now ready to move to a new home. The body and paint look to be in decent, presentable condition, although the vinyl top may be headed toward a replacement. One of the hood hinges may need replacing as that area doesn’t close properly. Everything you see that’s green may be original to the car.
As you would expect of a Bonneville, it has plenty of power accessories along with factory air conditioning, but you’ll have to roll the windows up and down yourself. If you’re in the market for a big 1960s era car and are okay with some possible engine work, this Pontiac could be a nice find. According to Hagerty, in good condition, they’re not likely to top out much past $6,000, so it’s a car that won’t break the bank to at least acquire.
The Endura section of the front bumper needs repair/replacing and the back bumper color section also needs help. I wonder how hard it would be to find the lenses for the cool side marker lights, integrated into the body side moldings, as well as a source for repair of the one piece molded door panel/armrests? This is a big cruiser that (IMO) would look best with whitewalls and Rallye II’s all around! GLWTA!! :-)
I really want to like this car, but the Craigslist quality photos are killing it. Some aspiring photographer help this poor guy get maximum value! Also, Moparman nailed it about the wheels and tires.
Get that vinyl top of before the tin worm get any worse. You can see the bubbles starting, The rest of the car looks pretty solid and would make a great CARS and COFFEE Cruiser. Not many of the Big Girls left. Someone needs to give her some love.
Unfortunately, the aftermarket has ignored big 60s Pontiacs, especially Bonnies. My aunt had a brand new blue 69 Bonneville conv. with white top and interior. I rode in it many times as a car crazy 13 year old in 1969. I would love to have this, as most were four door hardtops. Who cares about a few dings in the front, it is going on 53 years young. And for this money, you can rebuild the 428 and smoke the tires 100 feet in front of punks in stupid import buzz cars. Nothing with more quality than a 69 Pontiac, in contrast to rust bucket Mopars of the same vintage.
Yeah, Pontiacs never rust … Do you think you’ll ever get over your hatred for Mopars ?
I would say he got his doors removed a few times by Mopars. There’s a reason Mopar prices are high and even rusted ones go for big money- in contrast to slow Pontacs which get dragged by punks in stupid import buzz cars.
True story. ALLL cars rust, some more than others, but rust they do. The problem with this car is, it just doesn´t yank my chain it lacks eye appeal, the color is , well whatever. I love the GP´s, but that´s about it wheb it comes to Pontiacs
I ran across a Pontiac 2+2 in a salvage yard a few years back. It was all there. Long swoopy fastback Bonerville with a 428, 4 speed, hood tach, and a crunched quarterpanel. Never seen one before that.
If it was a 69, Melton, the reason you never saw it before is that it was a Canadian-market only model. It wasn’t a Bonnelville, it was a 2+2 – they were different. Built on a Chev chassis, with shorter rear fenders than a Bonneville, and the “shark gills” behind the rear doors.
They are thin on the ground. Was one for sale up here near me in Toronto this year, for $35k but it was not particularly good. Its on my list of cars to have (was 4 in 1969, when Dad and I went to the Pontiac dealer to buy our first new family car. Verdero green Laurentian base model…..)
Saw one a few years ago with a broken firewall. As in, cracked all the way across!
cheers,
BT
Pretty sure 2+2 was based off the Catalina.
That is correct, the 2+2 was on the (shorter) Catalina platform.
Yeah, Pontiacs never rust … Do you think you’ll ever get over your hatred for Mopars ?
In the late 70s early 80s the 68-70 Pontiacs were the kings of the demo derbies at our local track; it wasn’t until the mid 70s cars started hitting the circuit they finally met their match. My buddy in high school had his parents 70 Catalina given to him ,we cruised all over – what a smooth ride it had.
Ive seen the canadian built, with 427 chevy factory
That’s because CDN Pontiacs were Chevys under the skin–chassis, drivetrain, etc.
I worked at a Pontiac dealership in the early ’70s. The ’68-’72 cars were known as bullet proof. (discounting the plastic cam gear) Whenever you received mail from the Pontiac home office up until about 1974. The postage stamp (machine applied) had a picture of a 1968 Catalina with “Zero Defects” written below. As for the top of the line, Rus Dixon, what about the Grandville 1973 and later???
My mom bought a 68 Oldsmobile Delta 88 from my dad’s sister. A mechanic friend of dad’s stated that the 67 to 69 Delta 88’s were considered bullet proof too.
Had a ’67 Bonneville wagon, vynal top, sat 9 in comfort, went over 140,000 miles before tin worm got it, 400 hp (or so it said), 11 mpg around town, 19 on the highway, fast, comfortable, ate a water pump every 40,000 miles, frame member that went side to side and held up rear of transmission broke from metal fatique at 140,000, gas tank strap broke and dropped tank (was located inside rear fender) due to rust at about the same time, frame was rusting, sheet metal rusted through in many places, engine and transmission were still in excellent shape. Too long for my 1920’s garage so Camaro went in and this sat outside. Heater/AC controls were connected from dash to valves and vanes by air tubes and did not work in cold weather when you really need them. Had to remember to set heater on high and defroster on when you parked it in cold weather. One of the great cars.
Bonneville wagon with a vinyl roof??
I was a spectator at a demolition derby back in 1979 in Logan, UT. There were close to 50 or more cars in the derby. After all the cars were disabled only two cars were still running. Both were 1969 Pontiac Bonnevilles. They kept ramming each other but kept going. Finally they both hooked rear bumpers and couldn’t break loose. Eventually you could hear what sounded like fire crackers as one of them stripped the gears in the differential. None of today’s cars could perform like those did!
Is that a vacuum reservoir mounted to the side of the A/C compressor?
It’s an accumulator. Keeps liquid refrigerant out of the compressor. Compressors can only compress vapor.
Tim W, I think that is the drier for the A/C system. My dad’s 67 GTO had that on there, too. The Bonneville is at $3500 with a day to go. I would bid on this if it wasn’t so far away. It’s complete and looks to have minimal rust. I would pull the 428, have the crank machined and install new rod & main bearings. This could be a nice low-budget daily driver that shade-tree mechanics can actually tinker on with a basic tool box. Nice!
The disadvantage of some delux doorpanels(such as the one above) was that you could not replace just the armrests, like you could on many std door panels.
Looks a lot better with whitewalls …
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YhcAAOSwnjlhvlV7/s-l500.jpg
Damn have had a 1969 Bonneville Convertible 428 HO since 1981 or 2 did restores several times and LOVE car and performance especially highway! Would love parts to redo again.