December 12, 2024

The Car History of Alex Beloff III

THE 1970 BONNEVILLE COUPE WAS WELL EQUIPPED WITH THE PROPER HARMONIZING EXTERIOR COLOR AND INTERIOR TRIM THAT MATCHED THE TOP AND WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE.  HOWEVER, THE OVERALL STYLING LEFT A LOT OF POTENTIAL BUYERS VERY COLD.  THE FRONT END ESPECIALLY WAS RATHER UGLY TO SOME.  I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPRESSIVE AND EVIDENTLY MY ENTHUSIASM WAS VERY INFECTIOUS AND I HAD NO TROUBLE FINDING A BUYER.  I LIKED THE LARGE WIDE STAINLESS STEEL ROCKER PANEL MOLDINGS RUNNING THE LENGTH OF THE CAR.

YOU SEE, WE LEARNED FROM THE 1965 BONNEVILLE THAT GALVANIC CORROSION TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE MOLDINGS AND THE SHEET METAL CAUSING SEVERE RUSTING.  WITH THE EXTENSIVE USE OF WAXES, SEALANTS, AND A TYPE OF ZINC CHROMATE THAT’S USED IN AIR CRAFT CONSTRUCTION, THAT SITUATION WAS ALL BUT ELIMINATED.  YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT 1970 WAS THE LAST YEAR FOR THE PREMIUM FUEL, 455 V-8 WHICH THIS BONNEVILLE HAD.  MOST EVERYONE KNEW ALL 1971 GM AND COMPETITIVE CARS WOULD HAVE REGULAR FUEL AND ENGINEERED TO BE ANEMIC AND NEUTERED.  IN MY VIEW, THE 1970 BONNEVILLE WAS THE END OF AN ERA.  I WISH WE WERE ABLE TO ORDER 60/40 DIVIDED FRONT SEATS WHICH WERE AVAILABLE IN CADILLAC SINCE 1969.

THE CLEVER PONTIAC ENGINEER AND STYLISTS BEVELED THE DASH ACCOMPANIED WITH A TILT STEERING WHEEL TO WHERE MOST ANY TORSO GIRTH AND HEIGHT WOULD BE QUITE COMFORTABLE ESPECIALLY FOR THE PASSENGER WHO WOULD NOT HAVE THEIR KNEES IN THE DASH REGARDLESS HOW SHORT THE DRIVER WAS.  THOSE OF YOU WHO FOUND IT NECESSARY FOR YOUR WIFE OR FRIEND TO DRIVE COULD LOOK FORWARD TO A VERY COMFORTABLE EXPERIENCE.  NOTE RALLY TWO WHEELS LIKE THE 1969.

 

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