A 1962 Pontiac Bonneville sitting for nearly two decades is now looking for a new home with a package that petrolheads will hardly ignore. The 1962 model year was part of the third-generation Bonneville, available in the United States in five different body styles. The 2-door versions included convertibles and hardtops, whereas the 4-door configurations included hardtops, sedans, and station wagons.
The Bonneville was a relatively expensive car. In 1962, Pontiac sold the hardtop at $3,349, with the convertible pushing the price even higher. The engine lineup for the second-generation Bonneville included options that were more powerful than on the other Pontiac models. The first offering was the 389 (6.4-liter), and the carmakers allowed customers to upgrade it with the addition of a Tri-Power setup. The top choice was the 421 (6.9-liter) V8, also available with three two-barrel carburetors.
The Bonneville posted on eBay by seller mista_magloo rolled off the assembly lines with a 389 under the hood, but the more impressive part is its current condition. The car still comes with the original engine, and what’s more, the V8 continues to start, run, and drive properly.
The all-original Bonneville, which the owner says received the Superior Coach conversion when new, has just around 50,000 miles (a little over 80,000 km) on the clock. It spent the last two decades in a garage.
Its condition is impressive, and you’ve got to check out the interior. The seats and the dash look really good, and I can’t see any rips or cracks. The original headliner is still in place and doesn’t exhibit heavy damage. The radio still turns on.
Regarding the rust, we no longer have the usual suspects. The undersides look clean, so no floorwork is required on this Bonneville. The trunk exhibits surface rust but nothing too concerning. There’s some rot in the rear body mounts, but dealing with it should be pretty easy, especially as part of a professional restoration.
I’ve always been a big fan of patinas on original cars, and this Bonneville has a unique look that you shouldn’t cover with a new coat of paint. Of course, given it’s still original, a restoration to factory specifications makes perfect sense, in which case preserving the patina isn’t exactly everybody’s cup of tea.
The 389 under the hood starts, runs, and drives with only minor leaks that don’t sound very concerning. I’d still inspect it thoroughly before a purchase, but on paper, it doesn’t look like you’re getting any bad news on this front.