THE 1959 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE CONVERTIBLE WAS AN ENTIRELY NEW CAR. PETE ESTESS SAID IT VERY ACCURATELY AS HE TOLD JOHN DELOREAN, THERE’S TWO THINGS THAT SELLS CARS – STYLING AND PERFORMANCE.
THE 1959 BONNEVILLE WAS IN MY VIEW THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WELL PROPORTIONED CAR IN HISTORY. EVIDENTIALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE AGREED WITH ME AS IT TOOK PONTIAC TO #3 IN SALES WITH A 73% INCREASE IN BONNEVILLE SALES OVER THE 1958 AND MOTOR TREND’S CAR OF THE YEAR. CERTAINLY, EVEN BACK THEN, IT TOOK AN AWFUL LOT TO IMPRESS ME REGARDING CARS. THE INTERIOR ALONE IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME CREATION THAT SHOULD BE HUNG IN THE LOUVRE AS A PORTRAIT ESPECIALLY WITH THE BUCKET SEATS. THE CONVERTIBLES ALL HAD GENUINE DEEP DYED LEATHER SEATING SURFACES. THE WHITE AND CORAL (OR SUNSET GLOW) AND MAHOGANY TRI-TONED SEATS WITH THE IMBEDDED PONTIAC STAR WAS STRIKING. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CARPETS EVER CREATED WAS THE STAR FLECK CARPETS IN SUNSET GLOW. WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR AT NIGHT, THE COURTESY LIGHTS UNDER THE DASH GAVE AN APPEARANCE LIKE SOMEONE HAD CAREFULLY SCATTERED DIAMOND GLITTER DUST ALL OVER THE CARPETS.
THE DASH WAS A MASTERPIECE WITH THE BRIGHT WORK IN ALL THE APPROPRIATE PLACES. THE DOOR PANELS CAREFULLY CRAFTED WITH CHROME MOLDINGS AND HARMONIZING BRIGHT WORK WITH MATCHING COLORS TO LOOK LIKE EACH CAR WAS CUSTOM MADE. WHEN YOU SLID BEHIND THE WHEEL, IF THE INTERIOR OF THIS BUCKET SEAT BONNEVILLE DIDN’T MOVE YOU, ESPECIALLY FROM THE HO-HUM INTERIORS OF THE PAST, YOU HAVE NO SOUL.
THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH OF ACCELERATOR WOULD ENGAGE THE NEW 389 4 BBL 300 HP V-8 IN THROUGH THE NEWLY REVISED FOUR SPEED HYDRAMATIC, WOULD SPIN THE REAR WHEELS WITH EASE. I REMEMBER DAVE YORKO (AN UNDERCLASSMAN AT ROSSFORD HIGH SCHOOL) THE ORIGINAL ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAYER FOR JOHNNY AND THE HURRICANES FROM ROSSFORD OHIO HAD A PRE-OWNED WHITE SUNSET GLOW 1959 BONNEVILLE CONVERTIBLE THAT CRUISED DOWN THE DIXIE HIGHWAY. I WAS VERY ENVIOUS. I WAS THE ORIGINAL DRUMMER WHEN JOHNNY PARIS FORMED IN THE BASEMENT OF HIS MOTHER’S HOUSE ON HANOM AVENUE. I WAS NO MATCH FOR MY REPLACEMENT LITTLE BO AND THE LEGENDARY DON STACICK.
ANYTIME A 1959 BONNEVILLE SURFACED IN ANY CONDITION EVEN A NON-FUNCTIONAL PARTS CAR, I WAS ON IT LIKE GRANT TOOK RICHMOND. BEFORE I COULD TAKE A PHOTO OR GET THE TITLE IN MY NAME, A GUY FROM NEBRASKA BOUGHT IT FROM ME.