This ’64 Bonnie Convertible brings back childhood memories. The closest I got to owning one came courtesy of an AMT scale model kit. I received a ’64 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible model for my ninth birthday (the colorful box had large type reading “3 IN 1: STOCK – CUSTOM – RACING). I went with the customized option and was so eager to put it together, that I didn’t even bother painting it. My white ’64 Bonnie drop top model sat atop by bedroom dresser for years before meeting its fate from Mr. Lighter Fluid. Here’s a nice, two-owner daily driver submitted by super-spotter, T. J., that would be a fun car to drive and enjoy. Especially with warmer weather on its way.
The seller purchased the car a few years ago from the original owner’s family. It’s been taken care of and garaged given its overall condition and is a great example of a well kept, driver-quality convertible (one of 22,016 top-of-the-line ’64 Bonneville Convertibles produced). The original Code C Cameo White paint looks presentable and shows off the Pontiac’s tasteful styling and trim. Split grilles, Wide-Track, and performance were still a winning formula for Pontiac which saw strong sales keep them again in third place. The stacked headlights continue from the ’63 restyling and the rear end now features those distinctive “boomerang” taillights which I always thought were cool. I’m not spotting any rust or body dents and bruises, and the chrome, glass, Bonneville badging, and black convertible top all look good.
To me, Pontiac had the most colorful, visually-appealing interiors on their flagship Bonneville line. The multi-toned leather seats, door panels, and the right balance of chrome, color, woodgrain trim, and tasteful instrument panel styling made for one impressive cockpit. As to be expected in an original, sixty-one year old convertible, there is some visible fading and front seat wear. The front leather bench seat (sporty bucket seats with a console were also available as an option) is showing its age as there are some cracks visible on the seat backs. I’m assuming the color-coordinated blanket on the front seat bottom is there to cover up some leather “imperfections.”
Under the Bonnie’s bonnet is a 389-cubic inch, 303-horsepower Trophy V8 that’s mated to a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. The mileage on the odometer shows 91,546 which I’m assuming is the car’s original mileage. The seller shares that mechanically, the Poncho runs, drives, and stops very well. The gas tank has been flushed, the original Carter carb rebuilt, and a new fuel pump and aluminum radiator have been installed. As a bonus, the cars build sheet is included and shows that this Pontiac was built for summertime fun in July of 1964 at GM’s Linden, New Jersey plant. This nice old Pontiac calls Madison, Connecticut home and is currently listed for sale here on craigslist for $11,500. I’m a softy for bone stock, driver-quality “survivors” like this one. Pontiac was on top of their game in 1964. This attractive full-size Bonneville Convertible shows why.
Ha! I too made many a model of a ’64 Pontiac, just not the convertible. I see they want on eBay $45 JUST FOR THE EMPTY BOX!!! What when we were kids, $1.99? And at that, it was STILL a month of grass cutting. As with all these wonderful cars, it’s always a darned shame, the original owners passion usually dies with them. Very nice cars.
Geez, Howard, 2 bucks for a month of grass cutting? I dunno, maybe you had a lot of competition, but I would try to get at least a buck per yard and maybe more if it required a lot of work with the hand clippers. And there was a rich guy down at the end of the road who would pay my brother and me five bucks each to Simoniz his car. That was hot stuff for a couple of young kids.
Todd when I first started to mow lawns at age 8 in 1961, the standard fee in Coeur d’Alene was 65 cents. With your mower. My first was push actuated. I graduated to a gas when we moved to a larger home. I could go to Playland Pier all day Saturday with that amount. They had the best mechanical baseball machine I ever played. Five cents. My children always assumed me to be exaggerating, like walking in five feet of snow five miles to school.
Howard, I remember most of them at $1.49.
My gig at the time was picking weeds out of bean fields, usually for $1.00 an hour. I built a lot of models and by saving a little by the time I was 14 had enough to pay $200.00 for my first 55 Chevy (real size) even though I couldn’t legally drive it for a year and a half.
A good older gentleman friend has a nice clean mate to this car, color and all. His does have the fancier factory spinner wheel covers. I know he’d be disappointed at seeing the price on this one, I know he values his quite a bit higher.
Looks like a bargain from here. Probably warrants an inspection.
I bought my models from the Bonanza 88¢ Store. 👍🏻
Sweet! I’d gladly sell my Jetta and use the funds to buy this beauty!
Thanks for the memories. My Dad bought a 1964 Bonneville Brougham 4-door hardtop new and it would be my daily driver from 1970-76. Wonderful car albeit thirsty.
Awesome car. Growing up our neighbors had one. It was black with the same red interior. Carpools were always fun in the convertible. I especially loved the clear part of the steering wheel. In the groovy early 1970s, while the husband was on a business trip, the wife had the car repainted purple. It was an eyesore, but somehow even cooler. Eventually the car went to college with two of the sons and was repainted black. Much to disappointment of the sons, the father sold the car in the late 1980s.
I bought my Dad’s red Hardtop in ’89 he’d had for about 10 years. Flew up to Illinois and drove back to Ft Polk. My First Sergeant flipped as he had a badass ’64 Impala Hardtop he drove into work everyday. Though I’m primarily a Mopar man I still miss that Poncho. The ol’ Man had converts, too, so this has me thinking.
Oh, the very tragic tale of a visit from Mr. Lighter Fluid! With my evil assistant little brother we charcoaled the backyard. We also lived on a lake in central Florida and one of our favorites was to put a model car on a piece of flat wood, have a visit from Mr. L.F. and give it a Viking send off.’Cheers!
Hey Todd,thanks for visual reminder for the hand trimmers!I haven’t thought about those for many years. Nice looking Bonnie too!
I want to buy this car,who do i contact?