Tri-Power Terrific! 1959 Pontiac Bonneville
If you had to pick an automobile that was most representative of 1959, I guess it would be hard to one-up a Cadillac Coupe de Ville. Of course, lowly Chevrolet would get an honorable mention for its batwing/cat eye derriere. When it comes to interiors, however, a Pontiac Bonneville, such as this example’s inside digs would be serious competition for all comers – not that the exterior is any shrinking violet of course. Stay tuned and I’ll show you what I mean. This 1959 Bonneville is available, here on eBay for a BIN price of $60,000 and is located in Phoenix, Arizona.
Bonneville was the top zoot-suit Pontiac in 1959 and it made hay advertising its new “wide-track” stance that claimed an additional five inches between the front wheels vs. the previous model year. With the condition referred to as “excellent” by the seller, he further states that this is “One of the most highly optioned 59 Pontiacs you will ever see” and it is still wearing its original “Sunset Glow” body hue topped with a “Cameo Ivory” roof. It certainly looks quite fine but it has a lot going on visually considering the amount of stainless trim and the gewgaws affixed to the quarters. On a subjective note, I’d remove the fender skirts but that’s just me. Rounding out the ’59 era presentation overload are the spinner wheel covers and wide-white wall tires.
Under the Montana-sized hood is a 314 gross HP, 389 CI V8 engine topped with triple two-barrel carburetors. The carbs have been professionally rebuilt and the seller tells us that, “the Engine starts up and runs very smoothly which is unusual for cars with Tripower“. In addition to a rebuilt starter and generator, along with a new fuel pump and regulator, the Hydramatic automatic transmission has been “rebuilt by previous owner (a USAF jet engine mechanic) who spared no expense“. Honestly, I think I’d rather have an automatic transmission guy rebuild my transmission. Having a jet mechanic undertake the rebuild is sort of like having a proctologist service your exhaust system.
OK, ready for it? Get a load of that interior! This bucket seat environment features upholstery described by Pontiac as “Jeweltone Maroon and Ivory top-grain deep dyed leathers, accentuated with Mahogony Morrokide“. The carpet is referenced as “new Trinidad carpet with Lurex silver thread (impossible to find at any price)“. The silver flecks are pretty eye-catching! Positioned in the opulent dash is an “Ultra mega- ultra-rare Sportable radio” but apparently, it’s disconnected to have made way for a glove-box mounted FM unit. Mum’s the word if this rarity will work if reconnected. Vintage Air A/C has been installed, and in this case, it actually works but it needs a new diaphragm to be installed – it’s included in the sale. The seller also has a rare rear power radio antenna that is part of the sale but has not been installed. It is suggested that “This correct power antenna with correct 59-50 dashboard switch bezel is easily worth a minimum of $1,000 if you decided to sell it separately and leave the existing manual antenna on the car“. Among the Sportable radio, the silver-flecked carpet, the no expense spared transmission, and this antenna, it’s beginning to sound as if the seller is making a case for parting this Pontiac out…
Yes, I’ll have to bestow the title of “Whammer-jammer” on this big Bonneville. It has it all going on and is a perfect representative for that concluding year of the ’50s decade. It’s hard to fathom sometimes how much automobiles have changed in 63 years but that sentiment was the same in ’59 if you compared this Pontiac then to a turn of the century automotive anything – the beat goes on. We just don’t always like where it goes, right?
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Comments
Lovin’ me some Poncho Bubble Top…
When cars were art. Gorgeous !
I like fender skirts on certain cars, but any car that has a wheel well lip should not have skirts, they just don’t look right unless they sit flat.
Besides that easily fixable complaint, this is gorgeous!
The Pontiac parts dept. offered them, but they were not GM items; same goes for those on ANY `59 GM car, save the Cadillacs. I don’t like them either, and they take away from the good looks. Just like continental kits.
I agree about the skirts. Most look exactly like what they are..add-ons. I file them along with add-on Continental kits.
The minute I saw this one it tripped a memory from back in the day of my friend’s “outlaw” brylcreem infested uncle, only his Pontiac was bright red, and the fender skirts were chrome.
That is a great looking car. Got that wide track stance, I am not a fan of the skirts but that’s just me.
My uncle had one very similar. His was green in and out, bench seat, same engine but no A/C (was in Chicago). He had a lead foot, big time. I still remember the howl from that engine.
Well a proctologist could use his expertise putting that garden hose up the tailpipe. I recall when he shoved that 30′ garden hose …
Loved the 59 wide tracks. As a senior in high school, this was Ma’s 2nd convertible (identical colors but ours was a Catalina, not a Bonneville) and I got to drive it a lot. Loved that car. I did a ride share from college (Chicago to New York) in a 59 Bonneville convertible. Got my first ticket for speeding at the Indiana/Ohio border (Steubenville)…80 in a 70 (but slowed down from 95 to talk with a pretty passenger). Trooper took us to the JP since we were out of state. Murial Mertz – she was cooking dinner and none to happy to see me. $1 per 5 miles over plus $18.25 in court costs. Isn’t that a hoot.
BTW, the instance vehicle, a beauty no doubt, is hardly a barn find, if there is a nit to be picked.
$60k for a car with rust?
and all those parts that don’t work..and where’s the air cleaner?
It is beautiful. At 60K, I would want the top to go down. But that’s just me.
It is beautiful. At 60K, I would want the top to go down. But that’s just me.
I have a few 59/80’s and one 59 was owned by this gentleman. He also used to sell 1959 production line video stuff, very cool. Seems a little pricey but to each his own
You could always use the trunk for a helicopter landing pad 😁
Remove the fender skirts? Yeah, and while you’re at it, take off those unsightly fins from the ’59 Cadillac.
When I was a kid we had a neighbor who had a Bonneville like this, same color but was a Vista hardtop. They also had a Kaiser as their second vehicle.
In 1966 my brother needed another car, and we went to a GM dealership with my dad. There was a 1959 Pontiac Bonneville 2 door hardtop for sale. It was identical to this feature car with the exception of bucket seats. Coral with a white top, and tri-colored Naugahyde interior. It had power windows that didn’t work, one seam separation on the drivers seat, and a rust spot on the left front fender. Asking price was $500. My dad got it down to $350. I don’t think it had fender skirts. We found one of the rear power window motors in the trunk (which my dad tested, and it worked). The wiring harness was cut at the entry to the drivers door. My dad soldered, and taped the wiring for the power windows, and we got them operational in one afternoon. We took the car to an upholsterer, and he resewed the seat with a U shaped needle. It looked brand new. My mom suggested I clean the seats with baking soda, and a wet sponge. After I was done the interior looked mint. It was a great bonding experience working on that car with my dad.