If you were a Pontiac man in the 1960s and you wanted the best, you bought a Bonneville. The biggest and most luxo cars that the division produced, they were a symbol for success. The third generation cars are some of our favorites and this 1961 model fits right at the beginning of the third-gen. Of course with Speed Week going on, you knew there was a Bonneville item coming (it is tradition after all) but we’re not sure you could have predicted how good this particular car is.
Whoever bought this car in 1961 had a plan. They wanted the biggest, fastest convertible in America and we think they got it. No AC, no power steering, no power steering, the hot 389 Tri-Power engine and a four speed! The stick shift transmissions are exceedingly rare in these early cars and this one came with one right out of the box. We’re interested as to why the guy would go to all these lengths to order the stripper model with the good motor, the light wheels, the four speed, and then opt for a heavier convertible. It makes sense for cruising fun, just not for the drags.
We’d never take a car this nice onto the salt but boy it would look good out there cruising around the pits or hauling a racer into the standing lanes, wouldn’t it.
So what was going through the head of the guy that bought this car. He got a status symbol minus the kinds of options that people envied back in the day. We love the performance aspect of the car more than anything but it is a bit curious.
eBay Link: This 1961 Pontiac Bonneville was optioned to fly
I LOVE the 61’s over all others. Odd options (or lack of options) but way cool.
Dan
Well, in the late ’50s and early ’60s, convertibles were all the rage with Nascar allowing them to race. Everybody wanted one. The original owner probably wanted one bad and the Bonny was around four grand new, so maybe he cut out the options to try to keep it a little more affordable or keep the wife from driving it.
I disagree. This is exactly what I would have ordered if I had been able to in 1961. Young guys were NOT looking for luxury. They were looking for most bang for the buck and a stick shift non power convert was right up their alley.
When I was a teenager, I saw a few stick shift non power everything Oldsmobiles and Ponchos full size because that’s what young guys were used to.
Well if you wanted most bang for the buck, you would have ordered a Catalina not a Bonny. As the OP stated, why order a top of the line luxury car and then strip it of the options. Bragging rights I suppose.