1958 Pontiac Bonneville

Description

For Pontiac guys, the 1958 Bonneville is a pretty big deal. Add in Tri-Power, a stunning color combination, and the fact that only 9144 Bonneville hardtops like this were built, and you have an incredible collectable that always blows the crowd away at shows.

Finished in its original Patina Ivory, this awesome Bonneville is the spitting image of the Indianapolis pace car, particularly with the bright red spear running down its side. Restored several years ago, it still looks imposing, thanks to the one-year-only design that made all GM cars look expensive and very upscale. Paint and bodywork are impressive, with laser-straight flanks that clearly show a ton of labor went into the restoration, and with a known history and just three owners, there's no question that it was a well-maintained car all its life. And as with any car of the 1950s, never mind Pontiac's top-of-the-line model, it's literally drenched in chrome, with incredible details on the cast grille and beautifully polished stainless trim along its flanks. And unlike, say, the Buick or Oldsmobile models, the big Bonneville wears it well without looking like an afterthought. This is a really impressive car.

The interior is no less dramatic, with contrasting red and white upholstery with a very 1950s glow. The seats show only minimal wear that amounts to some minor stretching in the driver's seat area, and the door panels are simply works of art all by themselves. The dash and instrument panel are as ornate as the exterior trim, with textured stainless steel surfaces framing the round gauges and secondary controls. An original AM radio remains in place, complete with rear speaker, and the gauges themselves show crisp markings and wonderfully ornate needles. And dig the sparkling carpets, which are pure 1950s kitsch. The steering wheel is color-matched to the rest of the car and reinforces the 1950's fascination with jet propulsion and the shifter for the 3-speed automatic transmission is the most delicately sculpted piece of machinery we've seen. The trunk is, of course, absolutely massive and comes complete with a full-sized spare, correct mat, and a set of manuals.

All Pontiacs used the 370 cubic inch V8 introduced the year before, but the one you really wanted was the Tri-Power, which includes a trio of Rochester 2-barrel carbs. Rated at 300 horsepower, it was far less finicky than the fuel injected models and was more than $400 cheaper, too. Nicely detailed, including the rather rare original air cleaner, the engine bay offers a lot of satin black offset by Pontiac Turquoise on the engine block and some properly plated detail pieces. Dual exhaust gives the muscular V8 the right soundtrack to attract a younger set of buyers (this was Pontiac's first foray into the youth market) and the undercarriage is tidy and neat with just the right amount of undercoating to protect everything without hiding the details. Coil springs in back were new for the Bonneville, too, so this big coupe rides and handles surprisingly well, particularly with a recent set of tubular shocks. Nice-looking wide whitewall radials fitted to bright red wheels with spinner hubcaps give it the right vibe and really improve performance in a big way.

Fast, rare, and highly desirable, this Bonneville hardtop is the car you've been seeking for years. Don't let another one slip by, put this awesome cruiser in your garage today. Call now!