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?
She’s a little chewed on under the hood
Holy Toledo, how old is the owner? 107? Pretty amazing story, if that’s true, and it’s one owner. Car looks like it needs a lot of TLC though. And I do mean a lot.
This looks like its a nice solid Bonneville. Of course you’d need to get a good look underneath, but it looks like it’s all there. The head scratcher is the 3 speed. I would have thought a 4 speed with that 389, but I’d leave it right there where it is if it were mine. It would be interesting to see how well that paint and the seats could clean up with some care and time.
I have never before seen a Pontiac of that era with a 3 on the tree. That is odd for sure.
The car looks to be complete and usable but under the hood sure looks bare.
I do love those old Pontiacs. The finest ever.
The 3 speed was standard in even the GTO.
I never saw a radiator hose get shredded like the one pictured in the ad. Maybe that’s why it got parked. I do like these cars though, agree a four speed would make more sense.
It’s not shredded, it’s a rats buffet…
Know the wires were on the same buffet.
Man oh man. Three speed on the column, manual steering and manual brakes, 3500 pound car. You’ll be getting your workout on driving her around.
I thought a Bonneville came standard with PS and PB but I see you could cheap out even on the top-of-line.
Along up upper hose munched on, were the heater hoses and spark plug wires on the menu also? Looks like the party moved to under the dash for desert. Yikes.
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I agree – bet this car was absolutely gorgeous when new with that color combo and cool dashboard. I actually love the entire set up – 3 speed and all.
If one does a little expostulating with an assumption of the seller’s age when they bought the car; I’d guess that they are in the mid eighties to mid nineties. I wonder why this car was sidelined for forty years and why now the owner wants to sell. From my perspective, this car could really have potential especially if you can buy it for a price around what it’s currently bid. Any vehicle that sits as long as this one has is guaranteed to have lots of needs. Locked engines are a crapshoot. But hopefully the seller does find the right person who can bring this Vice Grip special back to life. GLWTS.
be a good buy if it’s as solid as they say. but a nice 421,428,455 in clean it up and you got a cool cruiser. great colors. swap it out to a 4spd on the floor or for an automatic with o/d.
While there is no visible rust, this is a car in Iowa with ~120K miles. Hard to believe it was never driven in the winter snow and salt of that region…i.e., let’s see the undercarriage. I love that era of Pontiacs from 59 to 64, excepting the 60 which went away from the split grill. Those engines were pretty durable so 40 years of sitting with a bunch of Kroil and some ‘encouragement’ might break the lock. Derek Bieri are you listening? Wish it was a lot closer to me.
Buy this one for your kid’s first car. They would be too busy driving it to be able to touch their cell phone.
Gotta watch out for them corn fed rats in Iowa , There vicious ! Looks like a very nice unscrewed with car. Good beginning’s for a restoration .
Yep this is a can of worms just waiting for someone to open. It would turn into a full frame on restore. Back in the mid 70’s I went to look at a 65 Pontiac Catalina with a 421 tri power that had a 3 speed on the coluum. The linkage was so badly worn that you couldn’t hardly shift it from first to second.