With its stacked headlights, new squarish styling, and those upward curving taillights, I always thought the 1963 Pontiac was an extremely good-looking car. Here’s something you don’t see every day: a 63-year-old car still in the possession of its original owner. It’s been in a barn gathering dust the past 40 years (after last being run in a parade back in 1986). The engine hasn’t been started in 40 years and is currently locked, but this old Poncho is has its original paint and interior and looks like a solid car with potential. As the seller says, “it could be a great project for the right buyer!” This ’63 Bonnie is currently located in Shellsburg, Iowa, and is for sale here on eBay. As I’m writing this article, 10 bids have been submitted with the highest sitting at $1,125.
I bet this was one gorgeous car when new. The Code C Aquamarine Poly paint and Saddle interior is an attractive, classy combination. It looks like the seller had just hosed off the Bonnie before snapping a few photos. The original paint is thin in some places but is decent overall for its age. The chrome and glass look good and all of the trim and Bonneville badging is there. I’m not spotting any rust or accident damage but both back tires, which are 40+ years old, are flat. It’s also missing one of the round backup lights from the rear bumper.
There’s only one photo of the car’s original interior, and it obviously needs a good old-fashioned cleaning. I’m not seeing rips or tears on the front bench seat (Bonneville Sports Coupes could also be ordered with optional bucket seats) and there are no photos of the rear seat. The seats appear to be upholstered in Morrokide Vinyl, a durable, high-grade synthetic leather material used widely on full-size Pontiacs. The original black carpet is very worn and there are aftermarket gauges added underneath the instrument panel and on the steering column. This Poncho has a three-on-the-tree manual transmission that was standard on full-size ’63 Pontiacs.
The Bonneville’s engine bay is dusty and dirty as well from 40 years of barn sleeping. I’m guessing it has the standard 389-cubic-inch, 4-barrel carb, Trophy V8 engine that generated 303 horses at 4600 RPM when new. Mileage is listed at 119,000 (which equates to about 5,170 average miles a year before being barn parked in 1986). Based on the limited photos supplied by the seller (there are no trunk or undercarriage photos), this ’63 Pontiac Bonneville Sports Coupe appears to have a lot of promise for the right buyer. I agree with the seller who says, “Imagine rebuilding this gem and cruising around your town on a Sunday afternoon!” I hope this old Poncho can be made roadworthy again sooner rather than later. Interested in taking it on?
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