Black Plate Bonneville Stretch Sighting!
From Bluebird – I really enjoy the sightings posts and thought I’d send mine in. I pass this car often and thought that maybe my fellow Barn Finders would like to see pictures of a long car that probably had a short production run! It is a 1962 Pontiac Bonneville “stretch” with aftermarket wheels. Not very pleasing to the eye. I do not know any of the details; such as why the car was produced and what it was used for. The current color is wrong for funeral service, so maybe an airport limo car?
We’ve seen some really interesting stretched cars recently, but Bluebird’s sighting is definitely one of the more peculiar ones. The proportions are, well, odd. It appears to be a Superior built limo, which means it should be riding on a 150-inch wheelbase with a 303 horsepower engine. The custom rims suggest that the car has been modified, so perhaps it was repainted to the current color. It’s hard to know for sure what the story is without a much closer look. That being said, I want to thank Bluebird for sending his sighting in!
If you’ve spotted something interesting, please take some photos and send them to us via email!
Comments
It’s a 1964, not a 62
Could have been a stretch for funerals with a flower carrier back ?
Perfect opportunity to put up my late lamented 1961 Pontiac limo. Its proportions were very pleasing. Because of the grey interior I assume it was originally an airport limo. It may still be in Rifle, Colorado where the guy I sold it to moved after Breckenridge. If anyone haunts any junkyards that are there I would not be surprised if ended up in one, though it ran perfectly when I owned it.
I had it going on when I was a youngun :)
Buick, not a Pontiac …
Yeah of course. I had Pontiac on the brain.Thanks :)
And a LeSabre at that.
As I just weeks ago aquired my very first non-Chevy vintage car; a 64 Bonneville Safari; and also following everything classic professional car , I find this a cool sighting indeed!
It also illustrates the more-than-usual sad fate for most professional cars after retirement from their intended usage. It has probably spent years as a rolling party shack already, and being somewhat corroded and dull it seems to be awaiting vandals to break something but after all; it’s still alive!
In bone stock Bonneville form this would come with a 303hp 389 and the 4spd ‘Controlled Coupling’ Hydramatic. It’s a vehicle well worth preserving and I’d love to learn more about it’s history and wherabouts!
Sheriff, can you post a picture of your wagon?
Here is a picture of one I want to buy, if I can get to the capital to get it.
I hate the flames on the tailgate.
Here you go Miguel! I’ve yet to receive it from the shipper so you’ll have to make do with seller’s own pics.
Really like the one you’re looking at(maybe apart from the flames); just remember as it’s a Catalina chances are it has the Roto-Hydramatic…
Here you go Miguel! I’ve yet to receive it from the shipper so you’ll have to make do with seller’s own pics.
I really like the one you’re looking at(maybe apart from the flames); just remember as it’s a Catalina chances are it still has the Roto-Hydramatic…
Es mas caliente!
Hey Bluebird, as you have been driving by it for a while have you noticed if it is has been driven or always in the same spot? Looks like the window is down. Makes me think of the Monkey Mobile. Thanks for the sighting pic. @Mountainwoodie, cool car. I think you still have it going on!
Thanks Mike.
How I ended up with the Buick is lost to my diminishing memory. In the early Seventies…like real early…bumping into interesting cars was a daily occurrence for me. I went out to Colorado with a high school friend in a almost brand new ’72 240Z and once there ended up with, sequentially, a number of 5 window Chevy trucks and finally … a ’56 canary yellow 4 door Chevy with black tuck and roll interior :), in between was the ’61 Buick limo and a ’47 De Soto.
The Guru Maharishi, a 15 yr old scam artist religious nut had taken over the mind of one of my cabin mates and he procured a huge round door applique of the Guru’s face.
I slapped it on the front door and we used to drive to Tulagis in Boulder to see Hot Tuna, Papa John Creach and Dan Hicks etc.
I had a ball banging nails and ultimately sleeping on switchbacks in the Buick when things weren’t working out! Its great to be young!
This was a funeral car. Send it back to the Crypt where it belongs
leiniedude, the car has to be driven. If a car is parked on the street for three days, it will get towed away.
Thanks Miguel, it works different here in Wisconsin. As long as you are registered you are safe. I have been driving by an old Ford truck for about 3 months now, flat tire and all. On a main road also. Best of luck on snagging that wagon!
Perhaps this was used to pick up the Beatles from the airport pre Beatlemania.
I’m thinking the ’64 Pontiac is probably a Cotner-Bevington creation, to be sold along side their line of Funeral Coaches. All their mid 1960s limousines had those wide aluminum window surrounds, and a short rear 1/4 window. I’m enclosing a similar version on an Oldsmobile.
I have to say this Poncho is super cool. Its already starting to look like a ’60s Kustom creation with that Kolor and Cragars! Drop and Dress up a 455… I dig it!
Hey peeps. Reviving this thread as I just happened to stumble across it and guess what!? That’s my car! So cool to see it like this and read the comments 😊👍