I feel guilty writing about this 2000 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi. Not because I don’t want it, which I do, but because our senior writer, Jeff Lavery, has written up all five of the Bonneville SSEis that we’ve seen here on Barn Finds until now. This beautiful example is posted here on craigslist in the Dickson, Tennessee area, and they’re asking $12,900. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Barney for the tip!
An even weirder thing about the Bonneville SSEis seen here on Barn Finds, is that the first one was featured just three and a half years ago, in April of 2023. A somewhat unusual thing about this gorgeous and supercharged luxury sedan is that the seller says it was originally owned by an “elderly lady,” and since owning it, they’ve only put 500 miles on it. I’d have a hard time selling this one if I owned it. This car has the optional 17″ high-polished multi-spoke wheels in Bright Chrome.
The tenth-generation Bonneville was made from early 1999 for the 2000 model year until the end of 2005. My hair was still dark brown back then. Damn you, Father Time! This is the last generation of the venerable Bonneville, and it was only a handful of years before the whole company went away (Taps playing in the distance, dabbing at the corners of my eyes with a Kleenex). This is the only photo showing the rear of this big sedan, but I love the embossed Pontiac name on the right side of the rear bumper. The trunk looks as clean as the rest of the car does.
The top-of-the-line SSEi Supercharged sedan (there hadn’t been a two-door Bonneville since 1981) has almost every feature available. Here is a brochure spec sheet showing the letter “S” for Standard in almost every category. A sunroof was optional, and a couple of other things, but this Galaxie Silver SSEi is almost loaded. This isn’t Naugahyde; these are nice perforated “Connolly” leather seats both front and rear. The odometer shows 76,071 miles.
The big deal here is the Supercharged 3.8-liter OHV V6, which was rated at a healthy 240 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent through a 4T65-E four-speed Turbo-Hydramatic transmission to the front wheels, and the seller says it “runs smooth and drives great.” It has new tires, new front brakes, new plugs and wires, a new valve cover gasket and oil pan gaskets, and a new oil change. The AC needs attention, as a charge doesn’t last more than a few weeks, but otherwise, this looks like a very nice example, although with a strong asking price. Have any of you owned a Bonneville SSEi?
I always thought that these were nice looking Bonneville’s at the time. I guess Pontiac decided the name had ran it’s course, when they brought in the G8 as the replacement model. They also had the smaller G6. It didn’t last long before GM cut Pontiac out of their portfolio.
Sadly, late-era Pontiac had decided any names at all had run their course, turning every model into a G-something including the G2 (Chevy Spark clone), G3 (Chevy Aveo clone) and G4/G5 (Chevy Cobalt clone) along with the aforementioned G6 and G8.
As a C-body owner (1995 Park Avenue Ultra), I approve of this G-body. 13k is way more than what these usually bring but it’s an extraordinarily nice example and the top spec for these. Watch out for rust on or around the front subframe mounting points behind the front wheels. That’s a known trouble spot with these cars. Even though this is a TN car that was lightly used I’d still check that. They also like to rust on the underside of the rockers.
Parts are plentiful and cheap, though some modules and soft trim are NLA. But enough were built and there’s enough GM interchangeability so eBay is an easy source for most things. ZZ Performance offers several mods for these Series II L67 supercharged motors that can make them surprisingly powerful. Series I L67 owners like me are SOL on that, lol!
I have a Series 1 L67 in my ’95 LSS. About the only mod I’ve heard of for that engine is higher ratio rocker arms. I’ve been tempted find the slightly smaller SC pulley from the ’92-’93 engines, but not sure if that’s asking for trouble. The car really scoots as it is and don’t want to screw it up. I like the Bonnevilles, but they are a bit too “styled” for me. I’ll take an Ultra or Regal GS over these any day.
I wasn’t aware of the frame rust issues up front, but I’ll add the rear window regulators were also an issue. The cable would get twisted on the spool & the window won’t stay up. If you’ve ever seen one of these (or a Buick LeSabre, which we had 2) with duct tape holding the back window up, you know what happened.
Rocker rust was also common on ’92-’99 full-size Pontiacs & Buicks. I know and our esteemed author, Scotty, does too!
This is one of those cars you want from a warm state! Very few cars can survive road salt! Even if the car is garaged , unless it’s covered, the salt in the air can cause rust issues! Best storage is up on blocks in the northeast!!
Y2K Bonneville!! I had the Car and Driver magazine with this car (in Silver) featured with that headline! Great last full size FWD sedan from Pontiac!!
Fast and Comfortable 👍
My aunt Joanne had the twin to that car, but hers was a 2003. She bought it new on May 20th, 2003 at Faulkner Pontiac in Trevose Pennsylvania. She had it for 13 years before trading it in for a 2016 Buick Lacrosse CXS AWD. What a great car that the Bonneville was!! You rarely see them, but the motor will definitely outlive you!!
My aunt Joanne had the twin to that car, but hers was a 2003. She bought it new on May 20th, 2003 at Faulkner Pontiac in Trevose Pennsylvania. She had it for 13 years before trading it in for a 2016 Buick Lacrosse CXS AWD. What a great car that the Bonneville was!! You rarely see them, but the motor will definitely outlive you!!
Rumor has it that Pontiac had decided to take on BMW at the time and this was another volley shot-and one of their best in the eyes of the automotive press. Impressive performance for its class, it was an expensive option for its day from an American manufacturer yet in context to its competitors more than capable while serving as a flagship of the line.
This one looks to be well loved and as Bru67 correctly pointed out the parts are plentiful and aftermarket upgrades are well sorted out by now. A close going-over would be a wise move but this would be a good start for those wanting to get their toe on the “old car” waters (26 yrs old? And it’s in the ‘Classic Car” group? Wow!).
Thank you Barney, and one more unsung 4 wheeled hero chosen by SG-nicely done.
Although I appreciate its cleanliness. It’s still an overpriced used car.
It’s farfetched to think that BMW was sweating over this when introduced. Numbers are impressive until you realize it’s a GM.
As history goes anything GM was over advertised and promoted but like everything poor quality and interior materials. Clear coat issues soon follow the mechanicals. Followed by rusty subframes and rockers. Other divisions at GM had the supercharger so nothing exclusive to Pontiac.
By 2010 Pontiac was no more.
I do recall reading that Holden had set the BMW 5-series as their benchmark standard to meet or beat for their Commodore VE, which became the basis for the Pontiac G8 that replaced these Bonnevilles.
I’m sorry but that’s hideous. Don’t miss Pontiac’s plastic last handful of years cladded era at all. G8 and GTO aside, their lineup was ghastly.
great drivetrains lousy bodies. had 2 and they were electrical nightmares with all the modules and other crap they went when they came out with this body. just total junk not to mention the rust. i will take a 99 on back in any H body. way better car.
Tremendous cars. Had a 96, 250,000 miles. Still running new, but floors rusted out. Lived in the salt mine known as upstate NY, northeast of Albany six miles from Vermont. Never an engine issue. These are getting hard to find. The newest one is pushing 22 years old.
Price has been reduced to $10,500 already.
Sounds like a greedy flipper who basically stole it off the previous elderly owner & slapped an overinflated price on it. Yet, he couldn’t fix the leaking AC? Reality already setting in as the price has dropped. Hope he loses his @ss on it ! 🤣
There’s a black one here in town that I lust after every time I see it.