In the 1960s, if you were a Pontiac fan and wanted the biggest and best they had to offer, you bought yourself a Bonneville. I had an uncle who drove nothing, but Pontiacs and I remember a couple of the impressive Bonneville hardtops that he once owned. This 4th-generation beauty is from 1966 and is said to be an unrestored original, including wearing its original Martinique Bronze Poly paint. This two-owner vehicle is in Smithtown, New York, and is available here on craigslist for $22,000 OBO. Another of the great tips brought to us by Mitchell G.!
Named after the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the Bonneville was a Pontiac staple from 1957 to 2005. Known as the Parisienne in Canada, the Bonneville was top-of-the-line stuff until the Grand Ville came along later in its life. These were some of the biggest and heaviest cars ever made by Pontiac and General Motors, regularly clocking in at more than 5,000 lbs. All of Pontiac’s full-size cars got a redesign in 1965, so the changes for 1966 would be minimal.
Pontiac had a good sales year in 1966, building more than 866,000 automobiles. Of those, 136,000 were Bonnevilles, and – of those – 68,000 were 4-door hardtops like the seller’s car. While this is a super nice auto, it wasn’t loaded with options when new, i.e., no power windows or factory air conditioning. But it’s still a sweet ride with 77,000 well-maintained miles to show for the past 57 years. Although no engine compartment photos are provided, this Pontiac is said to have a 325 hp, 389 cubic inch V8 with an automatic transmission and we’re told it drives like a dream.
If this car has been in New York all its life, it must have been kept under wraps during the winter as there is no visible rust, a by-product of the use of rock salt. The original paint shines up nicely and the contrasting vinyl top looks nice, though we don’t get any close-ups to compare. The interior looks barely lived in, a testament to the care its two owners have given it over the decades. To keep you company while cruising, we’re told the radio comes with a reverberator. If you have room in your garage, would this Pontiac be a nice addition to your harem?
That dash is gorgeous.
@normadesmond. So true, but the whole car is a beauty. I’m glad this era of GM styling existed. No surprise that they sold so many.
Kudos to this owner for not putting dog dish hubcaos on it to make it look fast or sinister or whatever. Somebody give this individual a gold star! Beautiful car.
8-lug rims would rock this!
Another beautiful Poncho I wouldn’t mind owning. No wonder Pontiac did so well in the ’60s looking at this.
I had a 1968 Pontiac Ventura the base line from Catalina and Bonneville. Two-door fastback hardtop red with white vinyl top and white interior and that famous Pontiac beak nose It was a beauty. Had the 400 cubic inch Pontiac motor which you can always tell cuz the water pump stuck out from the block with a gap, unlike the other GM divisions V8s.
I had one of these about 25 years ago, a dark maroon Brougham edition. I used the car as a daily commuter. I loved it, no issues even at 160,000 miles. ran like new, didn’t give me a lick of trouble. Unfortunately one day in traffic on the beltway a tour bus rear ended me. The front seat bent backwards, the rear bumper was about a foot from the rear wheels, so that was that. I salvaged everything as it was heavily optioned for a Bonneville convertible I still have. I actually like the 4ht better than the convertible. Wonderful copy here.
The 65 and 66 dashes are some of my favorites. The real wood Pontiac used was a nice touch too. My dad bought a brand new 66 Bonnevile 2 door hardtop, burgundy with a black vinyl top, i always thought it was one of the nicest cars he ever owned.
@Driveinstile, I have almost your dad’s car in my driveway: a 1965 Bonnie 2-door, in maroon but no vinyl top. These are great cars!
Had a 68 Bonnie 2 dr 400 2bbl. in 1972 when I joined the USAF. Lasted 1 month before the nylon timing chain (at the REAR of the engine) slipped a sprocket. Remedied by advancing the spark plug wires 1 space on distributor and d/c’d vac. advance. Also, the drum brakes were quick to fade and that made for some scary panic stops approaching toll booths on the PA turnpike. Sold it for a 69 Charger and never looked back on a GM product.
The timing chain and gears are at the front of the engine. The nylon coated timing gear was allegedly used to reduce engine noise, GM used them pretty much across the product line, Chrysler used them, Ford used them. Working in a service station as a kid in the late 60’s I replaced quite a few, Pontiacs seemed to eat them more than the other brands.
A HS pal had a 2 door… 389, bench seat with a factory four speed.
Well, this proves the 60’s was the decade of customization of cars. Evidently you could get whatever you want – or not – on a car. This is a perfect example: A Pontiac Bonneville – the top of the line – with NO air conditioning???!!! WHAT?! ….And with vinyl seats???!!!! — That’s not leather – no texture – that’s smooth sticky vinyl – the cheap stuff you got with the stripped-down stock Catalina. — WHAT?! — My parents were Pontiac people – their ’59 Pontiac Star Chief, which they traded in on their ’66 Pontiac Star Chief – both had factory air conditioning and premium cloth seats – (the kind us kids loved to fall asleep on in the wide back seat on a long trip), and every other option except power windows and power front seat – power steering and power brakes. The ’66 Star Chief also had auto-dimming head lights – remote trunk release, AM/FM power-search radio with 3 speakers – one in the dash and two in the rear deck, etc, etc. It didn’t have the long Bonneville tail lights and the Bonneville name on the side, which made it less expensive, but yet highly preferable to this “stripped-down” version of a Bonneville. Really Weird!
I had a red 66 2 door Bonneville. That car on the highway was a dream. Mine had the 389 and 8 lug rims on it. I bet that would confuse the tire shop guys today. This one is a beautiful Bonneville for being an unrestored original, it’s just got a couple to many doors for my taste, but it’s still a wonderful car.
Owned a ’67 Bonneville wagon, vinyl roof, claimed to have been ordered for dealer’s wife, with all the options, including A/C, power front seat. 9 passenger. Ate a water pump every 40,000 miles. Frame crossmember that held up back end of transmission/engine broke under mild acceleration, metal fatigue not rust, gas tank (located up inside left rear back fender dropped to the ground one day, It was VERY low (but more clearance than a Tesla),hit a rock with oil pan just under flywheel, so ticked with every rpm, heater/A/C controls were electric/hydraulic and when you really needed heat, at 0 degrees, they did not work. But we drove it for years until the rust was beyond repair, and bought a ’59 Ford Ranch wagon, bottom of the line, very used, other than automatic transmission, no frills to go wrong. Not loved, but did me no wrongs. Would love this 4 door hardtop.
I always thought of the 1966 Pontiac as the ‘big daddy’ of the 1964 model year. 1966 was the first year for standard emergency flashers on all vehicles. 1967 was the first year for the collapsible steering column…1968 for side marker lights…1969 for head restraints, and shoulder belts (seat belts were officially required safety equipment too).
The four-way flasher feature became mandatory on all 1967 car models.
Prior to that, a few car makers jumped the gun on the legislation and installed them a couple of years early.
They were mandatory in all new vehicles by the late 1960’s. You are probably correct. I was aware of most cars having them by 1966 when I was 17. Every year I would be at the car dealerships checking out the new cars. I had free reign, because my dad fixed their office business machines, and everyone knew me (take your kid to work day had its advantages back then). Dual front airbags were mandatory by 1997. Most vehicles had them installed by 1994, or 1995. Jumping the gun on installing safety equipment is usually a good thing.