This 1966 Pontiac Bonneville is in Ramsey, New Jersey and is listed on eBay. The bidding is up to $6,000 and the reserve hasn’t been reached yet! The seller doesn’t mention if it’s original or if it has been restored; maybe it’s a little of both.
This car is loaded, and I mean loaded. I’m usually surprised to see these big luxury cars from the 1960s and 1970s without even the “basics” that any Hyundai or Kia buyer knows today: power windows and AC. This car has all of that, and more.
The hint to this car being original is this part of the ad by the seller: “Extremely nice well maintained car. Always garaged and never driven in any bad weather. Paint is outstanding with no scratches, dents etc. Paint shows no signs of wear. Absolutely no rust at all.” If it is original it’s amazing to find a car in this like-new condition! No wonder the reserve isn’t met.
The interior may be in even more amazing condition than the exterior is. I would expect to see at least some wear on the driver’s seat or arm rest or anywhere, but I don’t see any wear or anything jumping out that says that this car was even used, even though it has 80,000+ miles on it.
The seller says that “This has the 389 engine and runs perfectly. No leaks and does not use oil.” This is a 6.4L 389 with 325 hp, which is more than enough to smoke the tires on this two-ton car, not that you would ever want to do such a thing… The seller says this this “car car has no issues.” I just have to believe that in looking at this gorgeous, well-preserved work of art. I’m guessing that this Bonneville is just that, a well-preserved original; what do you think?
So classic, so clean and beautiful!
What a beautiful old Pontiac! Looks like it was a real classy ride when new and still classy today!
It’s not totally original. Black is the normal color on the engine side of the hood. Over spray present on fender wells and radiator / shroud hold down plate. Front bumper has been kicked to the drivers side a hair. Those bumpers are miserable to make straight once hit! Ask me how I know …. Regardless, very nice job preserving it! the best original looking steering wheel I’ve seen, with slight amber color correct patina and only 1 crack i can see, with no spider veins!! I question those seats though.
I love this car! These “Coke bottle” mid-sixties Pontiacs are easily the most beautiful of GM’s full-sized cars from that era IMHO.
The only one I think is better are would be the Catalina 2+2 two-door versions.
I’d love to own that boat. B E A utiful!
I owned a ’67 for several years in the ’70’s. A great car BUT the frame member that holds up the rear end of the transmission/engine is subject to metal fatigue, and you put your foot down, some day, and it breaks off, and the back end of the engine/transmission sinks to the pavement. You get it welded back together until you can get a replacement, don’t know where you would find a good one in 2016, since they were all weak and the dealer said “we see this all the time on the BOP cars of this vintage.. And it was not a rust issue. When hot the starter motor gets so hot that metal expands and it won’t turn over the engine. You just open the hood and wait a while, the metal contracts and off you go. The vacuum controls from the HVAC on the dash to the heater door, and the compressor, eventually give out, not too hard to replace, but until you do, no heat or no A/C. Very little ground clearance, I eventually put Chevy wagon wheels, as I remember 15″ rather then the 14” it came with, and bigger tires on mine to avoid scraping the ground so often with the undercarriage, new water pump every 40,000 miles, but easy to replace. I can believe the vinyl is that good, mine was still perfect at over 189,000 miles, plus lots of kids, a true 9 passenger vehicle, plenty of power. It eventually went to junk yard due to terminal rust – at the end the gas tank straps and gas tank fell onto the road behind me, after a big bump, and of course, it was full. No fire despite the gas and sparks.
These big Ponchos are great cars….a really great ride…not handling but ride
And so much tourqe And power down low. These cars would really haze the hides.
Looks like it has overspray in the frame. Still, very nice old boat.
My first car that I bought with my own money (circa 1986) was a ’66 Bonneville 2-door (yes, with only one door per side those rear flanks were HUGE). Bought it running on 7 cylinders with thoughts of having the engine rebuilt. But soon after it arrived my Dad was underneath checking something out and saw that the rear frame was practically rusted through. A north Jersey car that spent its whole life parked on the streets of Belleville explains it. One good bump with a load in the trunk and the entire trunk section would have bent near off. Would up having to part it out. Ah, youth.
…at over 80 grand mileage, the pedals would show much more wear yes,,unless they re popped them,,,,,I had this car, it was a beast,,,,,fully loaded with 9 buddies I could hit 90 mph and have plenty of pedal left,,,bought this car for 400 bucks,,,smashed it one day, motor mounts went slight front end damage,,,sold it for scrap,,,,,stupid,,stupid stupid,,,,,,,
As every one should admit to themself’s. All of these large American car would start to bottem out after about three year’s of driving. Many a trans were damage because of a minor dip in the roadway.
Owned one just like this, all options but the power seats and power windows. Paid $650 in early 70s, sold late 70s for $650. Despite comments here, and lotsa driving in Midwest (salt, snow, etc), had apparently no rust, and immaculate original interior. AC always worked fine with R12, no cracks in plastic dash, steering wheel in fine shape, too. If I had kept it, would have put on 15 inch wheels, as car did sit quite low to ground. Also had positraction differential. Best and prettiest car I ever owned, wish I had kept it.
I had a ’67 wagon, vinyl roof, 9 passenger, 400 cubic engine, I did put 15″ Chevy wheels on it, got me a little more ground clearance, fenders rusted out early on, water pumps went 40,000 miles each, frame member that held up rear of engine/transmission broke due to metal fatigue, but went over 200,000 miles, engine was still fine, body just eventually rusted beyond repair. 11 mpg around town, 18 mpg on the highway. Fast.