The Bonneville name can be traced back to 1954 when Pontiac used it on a pair of Motorama concept cars. It found its way on a limited-production convertible in 1957 before it became a separate model in 1958. An instant hit at a time when full-size cars were hugely popular, the Bonneville remained in production until 2005.
The Bonneville shared underpinnings with the Chevrolet Bel Air and Impala for over 20 years. That changed in 1982 when Pontiac relegated the model to midsize status. The short-lived intermediate used the G-body platform of the Buick Regal. In 1987, the Bonneville became a full-size car again, this time around on the front-wheel drive H-body platform.
Like most iconic and long-running nameplates, the Bonneville is more desirable in its early iterations. The one-year first-gen car is the rarest and most expensive, while the 1959 to 1964 versions are next in line in terms of desirability. I’m also a fan of the fourth-generation variant. Made from 1965 to 1970, this Bonneville is not only massive but also came with a selection of impressively powerful engines.
They’re also among the toughest and most reliable classic GMs. And it’s not just the owners saying it; this 1968 four-door revived after almost 50 years in a barn also proves it.
Discovered and rescued by YouTube’s “Junkyard Digs,” this 1960s land yacht was parked in 1975 due to mechanical issues. Sadly, the owner didn’t fix it, and the Bonneville remained locked in a barn until 2023. That’s a whopping 48 years off the road and enough time to turn any car into a rust bucket. However, this Poncho took almost five decades of storage like a champ.
The four-door emerged into the light covered in a thick layer of dirt, but its first wash in 48 years revealed a pretty solid exterior. Sure, the paint has faded, and there’s a bit of rust here and there, but all body panels are surprisingly solid and straight. The once-gorgeous red interior is not shabby either, and it looks like it will come back to life with proper detailing.
Things didn’t look all that great under the hood, though. While still there, the original engine was stuck, and our host was a bit skeptical about getting it running again. But he actually did it. It took a few good hours, and the top of the engine had to come off, but the old V8 fired up. He even took it for a drive around the shop. Don’t you love it when that happens?
So what engine does this Bonneville rely on? Well, based on the way it looks underneath all that dust, it appears to be a 400-cubic-inch (6.6-liter) unit. It was the entry-level powerplant in 1968 and came with 265 horses on tap in the two-barrel configuration. Pontiac also offered a four-barrel variant with 340 horsepower. The 400 V8 was joined by an optional 428-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) lump with either 375 or 390 horsepower. But that’s enough specs for today; hit the play button below to see this Bonneville coming back to life.