[Tennesseestorm]

My uncle has all kinds of old, weird cars. He recently got a 65' Bonneville 4dr hardtop sedan that had been setting for a few years, but is still a very solid car. It is white with black interior. He has not tried to start it, but I was under the impression that he was going to get it running and sell it, like he normally does when he gets a old car. Anyway, he lives on a country road along one of the local large rivers and he had the car parked in his yard- at the area nearest the road. Seems like some jerks had drove by and busted some windows in it according to my uncle and now he says that he is going to pull the engine and tranny and junk the body.

I really like these cars, but I have no time, no space or money to restore this car, as I am restoring my Caprice and about ready to buy a new/nearly new car/truck.

Now, I would love to rescue this car, but its not possible. Just how crazy is it for him to junk this car? I think around 80,000 of these were built, but you do not see too many these days. I think they are cool looking too.... they have a low look to them. Whats more, is that this is an extremely high optioned model..... power windows, power locks, tilt, cruise, power seat, AM-FM radio, climate control A/C, power steering, power brakes and I think even power antenna! Am I crazy for wanting the car saved, or does anyone else out there crazy too and think that even though this is a 4dr car, it should be saved?

I would have thought my other uncle- a Pontiac nut would have bought it, but his time is now focused on a 1965 Oldsmobile F-85 Deluxe wagon he just acquired that is in EC for only $400!

Hopefully, I can convince him not to remove the engine from the Bonnie.... or bite the bullet and buy it and kick myself later?

[Engine-Ear]

I'm w/ Bonn-Joe.

If the thing is reasonably solid, get it into a garage, scatter a bunch of mouse traps inside it and get to it later (even YEARS later).

On the other hand, if the frame's rotted to the point where the rear control arms tend to pole-vault the thing when it goes down the road then, yes, part it.

I realize "you can't save them all", but there are probably diehard '65 lovers on this or the Classical Pontiac board who'd make great next-owners for it. Worst case: you buy some used glass, have it installed and build a cool set of daily wheels.

On a related note, let me make the following blanket request of all you guys with one (or more) of those unsightly, unworthy-of-restoration full size 4-doors from 1962: I will buy/adopt it from you and rid you of your burden.

btw, the attachment is the now-famous, "$510, trans-continental roadtrip car" I bought from a charity auction (no-reserve) ... drove it 2400+ miles home over the Sierra Nevadas and the Rockies in FEBRUARY... 6500 miles of daily use later I STILL haven't turned a wrench on this 'parts' car.

thanks for reading my rant.

[Deadhead]

Originally Posted by Engine-Ear

btw, the attachment is the now-famous, "$510, trans-continental roadtrip car" I bought from a charity auction (no-reserve) ... drove it 2400+ miles home over the Sierra Nevadas and the Rockies in FEBRUARY... 6500 miles of daily use later I STILL haven't turned a wrench on this 'parts' car.

thanks for reading my rant.

Your rant lends credence to the most commonly heard reply to my Pontiac questions to an old mechanic I know starting with "should I...?". He always says, "I wouldn't do anything to it. Just run the hell out of it."

[Heybuck]

Hey.... I LIKE 4DRHT cars.

I like 2 door cars too. I consider myself very fortunate in being the owner of a 1965 Parisienne Convertible and my '66GP

And I also own a '65 Bonneville 4DRHT. It really is a car which is junk - not worth the expense of saving but I LIKE it. (I suppose the fact it's documented by PHS that it is a genuine 421HO Tri-power car might have something to do with it).

But what happens when all the 4 door "donor" cars are all gone. The big 4 doors are going to be such a rarity that is is feasible that they might be highly prized and worth top money?

And anyway, 2 door cars are like arseholes - everybody has got one!!!

Save that big old girl if you can.

[Deadhead]

Originally Posted by Heybuck

And anyway, 2 door cars are like arseholes - everybody has got one!!!

Save that big old girl if you can.

Hmmmm. I am now looking at my turquoise arsehole in a whole new light! I don't think I could live without it.

To further the metaphore... Maybe 4 doors are like colostomy bags. Not many people have 'em but they are better than nothing?

Sorry.

I don't think there were ever nicer looking 4 doors made than the '65-'66 Big Pontiacs. The non-post versions are hard to tell from a 2 door at a distance with the windows down. Now THAT is styling.

[Heybuck]

Originally Posted by Deadhead

... Maybe 4 doors are like colostomy bags. Not many people have 'em but they are better than nothing?

I don't think there were ever nicer looking 4 doors made than the '65-'66 Big Pontiacs. The non-post versions are hard to tell from a 2 door at a distance with the windows down. Now THAT is styling.

Heh heh heh.... That's good. Yes Bruce, you are indeed quite right. Gotta be a pillarless car. Pillared cars look like old taxi's. Terrible things.

Over here up till '65 that's all we got - 4 door pillared cars. Well there were some odd pillarless but usually they were a special import. Very rare (and expensive!!)

Well, I'm off tomorrow in my beige "arsehole" on a long road trip. I'm on holidays and we are taking the Grand Prix on a 3500 mile trip up into the far west of New South Wales to a town called Broken Hill and thereabouts. I've never been there before so I'm quite looking forward to it. VERY DESOLATE country in parts. If any of you saw the movie "Mad Max" it's where it was filmed. (I think the movie might have been called "The Road Warrior" when it was released in the USA. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Changed the plugs, leads, oil, filters etc etc and she is running faultlessly. But I'd like to talk with the guy who decided to put the A/C compressor over plug number 2. What a bummer to get it out. Old plug lead had welded itself onto the plug. I had to remove the compressor out of the way so I could get to it.

I have a mate and his wife coming in his 1979 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham D'Elegance. VERY nice car for a road trip. It's only got 28 thousand miles up from new too so this should blow some cobwebs out of it.

I'll post some pictures when we get back.

[mikediaz]

That's what I'm talking about big car guys! Dont listen to the goatees, do what you can to save the car as mentioned above. I certainly agree that you can't save them all but that should apply when they are wrecked or rusted to death. You're talking about a solid car that can be easily fixed up to a satisfactory degree! I'd ride a boat before a goat anyday and i'm sure you can find someone who agrees with me and who is looking to buy!!

[Dave Wanichek]

Well I would also say save the car if you can. The 65's are absolutely beautiful cars. You would not believe what great lenghts people up North go through with fixing rusted, rotting cars. If all you have is missing glass and a couple dings I'd say go for it!!

And as for Matts (Engine Ear) post about his $510 parts car. It is a sweet a$$ ride hands down!!

[beamy45]

Originally Posted by mikediaz

I'd ride a boat before a goat anyday and i'm sure you can find someone who agrees with me

right here

mike, check out my new sig below

[Tennesseestorm]

Wow. I had lost track of this thread and did not realize there were so many replies. Yeah, I like the 4-door cars too- guess thats why both of my old cars are 4drs. My father hates them though- he says they are tanks, but I would take my "tanks" anyday over his 69' Camaro that everyone seems to rave over. I like them too (the 2-door muscle cars), but I still have the soft spot for the 4drs and wagons.

Still have not heard anything about my uncles 65' Bonneville. I have not saw him in awhile. I hopefully can get down to his house soon to see what is going on with this "tank". Hopefully he will let me have it, or sell it to someone that will restore it.

[mikediaz]

Originally Posted by beamy45

right here

mike, check out my new sig below

Haha i see it and i love it. It's so real!

And 4-drs are going up in value every day so to buy one, enjoy it, and sell it in a few or more years would not be a bad investment. As for whether restoring is a bad investment, that depends on how much it costs you to get it and how much work needs to be done blah blah blah. Much like a 73 SD T/A isn't worth restoring if it's been crushed to a cube (unless the vin tag is intact J/K of course!)

Bah enjoy your cars everyone! And save that bonneville! =)

[Bill Morgan]

Here's another one of those "do I part it out?" cars - a '66 Star Chief Executive which has been sitting for about 25 years and may have only 27,363 miles on it.

It's missing only the wheelcovers, right rear quarter trim molding, and the power steering box.

[bonneville Joe]

Originally Posted by Bill Morgan

Here's another one of those "do I part it out?" cars - a '66 Star Chief Executive which has been sitting for about 25 years and may have only 27,363 miles on it.

It's missing only the wheelcovers, right rear quarter trim molding, and the power steering box.

That car looks like its got a helluva good body on it.

Save it....

[Deadhead]

Originally Posted by Bill Morgan

Here's another one of those "do I part it out?" cars - a '66 Star Chief Executive which has been sitting for about 25 years and may have only 27,363 miles on it.

It's missing only the wheelcovers, right rear quarter trim molding, and the power steering box.

Looks like a post car. If the bottom part of those doors would fit a wagon I'd say part it out.

[pontiac locator]

Hey Im up for a 4dr 61 if anyone has one taking up valuable space and needs it gone!
Seriously, I have a GTO, and a T/A, and have had several, but there something about a full size car. I am currently looking for a 61 2dr htop, for a SD clone, but would love a 4dr driver! One of the coolest cars I ever saw was a 63 tripower 421/4spd 8lug wagon, and the same guy had a 62 389 tripower 4spd 4 dr htop with dog dishcaps

[bonneville Joe]

Here is another spin. If I was driving by your uncle's house and saw a 65 4dr Bonneville just sitting there waiting for rescue I would sure as hell stop and ask what he wants for it. Glass is easy to get. There are plenty of rusty old Chevy 4dr hardtops Id be glad to gut the glass out of.

[ZeroxII]

Great thread, I say save the big bodies! Pillarless windows are the best, most commentors on my 63 StarChief notice that first. If anyone is junking big bodies let me know I want an f-in fleet of those things!

[bonneville Joe]

Originally Posted by ZeroxII

Great thread, I say save the big bodies! Pillarless windows are the best, most commentors on my 63 StarChief notice that first. If anyone is junking big bodies let me know I want an f-in fleet of those things!

Amen brother....

[bonneville Joe]

Its much easier to rail your girl in the back of a 65 Bonneville than the back of a 69 Camaro too....

[Goatracer1]

If you want a car to keep a four door is fine but DONT buy one to fix and resell. It costs as much (or more) to restore a 4 door as a 2 door and you wont get your money back. This doesn't even take into consideration what it costs to have a car shipped half way across the country. If you can buy a nice one locally and want a great driver go for it but you just can't spend a lot of money on them.