I ORDERED THIS 1968 BONNEVILLE CONVERTIBLE NEW VERY CAREFULLY. THIS IS INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. WITH SNOW UP TO THE DOOR HANDLES, RUSTED CARS AND DEAD BATTERIES. A CONVERTIBLE HAS A VERY LIMITED SALES SEASON. THE EXCEPTION IS IF YOU ARE AN OPEN CAR LOVER LIKE ME, I’VE BEEN KNOWN TO DRIVE AROUND WITH THE TOP DOWN WHEN IT IS SNOWING. WHEN THE TOP IS DOWN IN FREEZING WEATHER, IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE FACTORY FOR LOGICAL REASONS TO PUT THE TOP UP UNLESS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IS IN A HEATED GARAGE SO AS TO NOT DAMAGE THE NYLON RAYON TOP MATERIAL THAT BECOMES BRITTLE AND CAN CRACK IN FREEZING WEATHER. REMEMBER, IN ROSSFORD OHIO (TOLEDO) MOST EVERYONE HAD THE ATTITUDE THAT AN AIR CONDITIONED CAR BACK IN THE 50’S AND 60’S WAS NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE YOU ONLY NEED AIR CONDITIONING FOR THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR ANYWAY – ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN.
I DECIDED FOR RESALE PURPOSES TO MAKE ONE CHECK MARK ON THE ORDER FORM FOR A BONNEVILLE CONVERTIBLE WITH FACTORY AIR. COLOR WAS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE SO THE AQUA MARINE WITH WHITE INTERIOR AND WHITE TOP CREATES GREAT EXCITEMENT AND ATTRACTS IMPULSIVE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE THRILLING IMAGE OF A CONVERTIBLE. I DID ORDER A TILT STEERING WHEEL. NO DUAL EXHAUSTS? VERY MANY FRUGAL PEOPLE BACK THEN DID NOT WANT THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING MUFFLERS AND TAIL PIPES ON DUAL EXHAUSTS.
YOU WILL ALSO NOTICE THE ABSENCE OF MY FAVORITE 8 LUG WHEELS THAT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE. I DID, HOWEVER, PAINT THE BOTTOM OF THE DASH (SEE PHOTOS) CAREFULLY WITH A SPRAY CAN IN WHITE TO GIVE THE INTERIOR THAT CADILLAC TOUCH. UNFORTUNATELY OUR MOST EXPENSIVE MODELS WERE NOT AVAILABLE IN 1968 WITH MATCHING CARPETS, SEAT BELTS AND THE DASH HARMONIZING WITH THE OUTSIDE COLOR AS YOU SEE IT. THEREFORE THE BOTTOM OF THE DASH IN WHITE WAS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE.
NOTICE MY WHITE ORIGINAL PONTIAC FLOOR MATS WHICH I WOULD CAREFULLY TRANSFER FROM ONE CAR TO ANOTHER. NO ONE WANTED TO CARE FOR THEM WITH OUR BRUTAL WEATHER SO THE ORIGINAL MATS THAT WERE UNTOUCHED WORKED OUT FINE. FOLKS, THE WHITE MATS ARE OF HUGE IMPORTANCE IN TERMS OF STYLING AND ENHANCING THE ENTIRE CAR. IT CREATES AN IMPULSIVE UNCONTROLLED CONDITION TO WANT THAT CAR. YOU WILL SEE MY PRE-LOVED 1970 CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE SAN MATEO RED WITH FACTORY WHITE LEATHER AND FACTORY RED CARPETS AND DASH WERE FURTHER COMPLEMENTED BY MY PERSONAL WHITE FACTORY CADILLAC FLOOR MATS WITH THE BLACK RUBBER CREST PAINTED RED. IT WAS A KNOCK OUT.
CARS TAKE ON A PERSONALITY. THEY BECOME A FAMILY MEMBER WHICH IS WHY I NEVER UNDERSTOOD SOME LAME SALESMAN TRYING TO TRADE SOMEBODY OUT OF THE FAMILY VEHICLE TO PURPOSELY RUN DOWN THEIR TRADE IN POINTING OUT ALL THE DEFECTS, BLEMISHES AND OWNER NEGLECT. WHY DON’T YOU JUST SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR MAMA? WE ALL LOVED THE BONNEVILLE CONVERTIBLE. IT WAS FAST AND GOOD LOOKING EVEN WITH THE OPTIONAL WIRE WHEEL COVERS. I SOLD IT TO A GENTLEMAN WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH THE BONNEVILLE AND WHO TRADED ME HIS 1966 CHEVROLET IMPALA SUPER SPORT CONVERTIBLE.
IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO DON HAUSER, SON OF THE OWNER OF OAKLANDON SALES AND FINEST THOROUGH CAR MAN I HAVE YET MET. HE SAID, I TOLD YOU TO ORDER THAT CAR WITH DUAL EXHAUSTS, 8 LUG WHEELS WITH A 428. YOU SEE, NOTHING IS MORE IMPRESSIVE ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER TO SEE THAT BEAUTIFUL SMOKE (HEATED EXHAUST) COMING OUT OF TWIN PIPES (MY 1969 BONNEVILLE COUPE). THE GENTLEMAN WHO BOUGHT THIS CAR ALSO SAID HE WISHED IT HAD DUAL EXHAUSTS AND 8 LUGS. IT WAS THE LAST YEAR FOR 8 LUG WHEELS. HE WANTED MY CAR. THE PAINT LOOKED LIKE GLASS AND THE INTERIOR BETTER THAN SHOWROOM QUALITY INCLUDING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ALL HAND POLISHED. THERE WAS NOT ONE SOILED PLACE INSIDE OR OUT. HE SAID, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE KEPT THIS NICE. HE HAD TO HAVE IT.
