Low Mileage Luxury: 1966 Pontiac Bonneville
The car my parents owned about the time I entered the world was a 1966 Bonneville, even though I don’t remember a whole lot about it since they traded it on another Pontiac in 1970. But a couple of things I do recall are it was huge, burgundy, and our neighbors down in the cul-de-sac had a white one. But more than anything, I can almost still hear my late father talking about it over the years as his favorite among all the cars he’d owned, whenever the subject of automobiles came up. Dad’s was a sedan, but a stylish 2-door model was also offered, such as this 1966 Pontiac Bonneville here on eBay. This one’s got low miles and seems like a fun driver, so if you’re in the market for a mid-sixties B-Body and happen to live near Bolingbrook, Illinois it’s probably worth checking out. So far, 17 bids have taken the full-size Pontiac up to $7,600, but you’ll have to be more optimistic than that as the reserve has not yet been reached.
The car appears to be Reef Turquoise in color, with the seller stating that some of the older paintwork on the sides isn’t blending together quite right and there are a few imperfections, but overall it doesn’t really look all that bad plus the body is in such nice shape I’d probably just drive it and be thankful the finish looks as good as it does. Of course, we can’t see underneath the lower moldings but I’m not suspecting that rust isn’t much of an issue, though there is a small area of surface corrosion around some lettering on the driver’s side fender.
The turquoise theme continues inside, with an interior condition that seems to back up the seller’s claim that the Bonneville has only been driven 56,000 miles. The dashboard, instrument panel, seats, and even the steering wheel are all in nicely preserved shape, and I’m appreciative of the under-dash photo that shows how well this area has survived too. On the other hand, some water has crept in around the back and stained the package tray, but this may have occurred years ago and hopefully, the problem has already been addressed.
Under the hood is Pontiac’s 389 V8 which is said to have gotten new gaskets a couple of years ago along with the Turbo 400 transmission, and both components are stated not to leak. The owner says his Pontiac runs and drives great and gets lots of attention, plus being eighteen and a half feet long it’s probably pretty hard to miss going down the road. I can certainly understand the appeal of this one and hope it finds a good home, but I’m curious how much farther upward the price has to go before the car can exchange hands. What are your thoughts on this 1966 Pontiac Bonneville?
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Comments
Looks like the steering wheel horn ring is broken off/missing.
Did it have one? No mention of the skirts.
’65/’66 full-size Pontiacs did not have a horn ring … the 2-spoke steering wheel in this Bonnie is correct.
“Leak around the package tray”. We can only hope it’s the crumbly butyl tape, but I remember how rusty the bottom of the window frame was on my ’66 Biscayne.
I once owned a ’66 Buick LeSabre. My parents had a ’67 Buick Electra 225. Both cars, and most GM cars of that era, leaked water into the package tray/rear shelf/back seat speakers.
Yep, including my Dad’s 68 Impala.
Great car. And my vote for barn(s) of the week.
Seconding: the horn button does not have a ring.
Missing the skirts.
Fairly low-optioned for a Bonneville.
I’d like to see the underside especially from the axle back/inside the trunk. Doubly suspicious since the photographic documentation is so thorough elsewhere.
It may be fine – appears to have been garage-kept.
Lovely car. Make sure you can source a set of factory style fender skirts. They look great on this car.
I grew up in a 66 Bonneville convertible. Silver with white interior, remember coming back from the Jersey shore, top down, sunburned and loving life – despite sharing the back seat with my older brother.
Can’t believe it’s a Bonneville w no options, my dad has a 65 Catalina w no A/C that was one hot car
Hey Mike, I have a maroon Bonneville coupe (albeit a 1965) in my driveway right now. Come visit it any time!
Luxury without A/C isn’t really luxury after this past summer unless your almost in Canada then this is the best time of year high of 75 low of 55 degrees but unfortunately I’m in the Tommy cooker part !
Nice just PLAIN nice but nice. Why did all the full optioned ones die young. Even my 65 Catalina 2 door post has ac and power windows.
I’d put an after market AC unit in it and drive it during the weekends if I was a bidder and won. As for the roll down windows, I’m good with them. All my early chevy’s have roll down windows and no AC- 66,69 and a 70 all SS cars.The 69 is now being restored to original condition. the 66 and 70 are done. At 71 yrs old the 66 will be my last car to restore.
Does it look like the drivers door opens too far in the one picture. Like the stop is bent or broken?
I remember wiping the water off the package tray if you ran with the window down at highway speeds on my 67. But as pointed out, maybe it’s a crusty rusty leak
My neighbor dated, then married a guy who owned a brand new 69 Bonneville, with a 428, and every option under the sun, including am/Fm factory stereo, and factory 8 track mounted on the transmission tunnel, car had duals, Pontiac wheels, A/C and power windows, it was a 428/ 370 or 390, it was fast, I was a kid, he wiped the streets with a lot of local muscle, no one saw it coming, only passing
A high school friends parents had a ’66 Executive, same color & top, did NOT have skirts from new either. Great running car! Went to see the Poseidon Adventure in Tri County, miniature golf all the time, bowling, many fun rides in it.
It looks like a 2 bbl carb too!
I have always felt that the 1965 and 1966 full-size Pontiacs were some of the finest cars the division ever made. The peak of Pontiac styling, surprisingly luxurious interiors, powerful engines, smooth ride.
I always had second-hand full-size Pontiacs from my parents from the time I was 16, starting with a ’55 wagon and alternating between wagons and 4-door sedans every 3 years. Sadly I never had either a ’65 or ’66, but rather ’64 and ’70 Bonneville Brougham 4-door hardtops and ’61 and ’67 Bonneville wagons. They were all really good cars for us.