[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?

[chiphead]

If he's not gonna restore, then how about selling to somebody who could restore it? Get it to barely run, and sell it for a bit more than he has in it. Or pull the engine and sell the car cheap cheap. Better than junking it.

I still feel bad about junking the '67 bonny wagon, and it was a total POS. Was a 428/TH400/Posi, full power, Morane disc brakes. 428 was long gone, body was shot. I pulled the 400 out of it and junked the car. Still feel bad.... At least the 400 lives on in my LeMans.

[Batman]

Buy it.

figure the rest out later- keep it, sell it, whatever, don't let him crush it

[pontiacmonstr]

buy it. part it out. sounds like it has some great option that shouldn't be hard to sell. quit getting so emotional over 4 door cars. thats what they are there for, to be parted so the 2 door cars can live. then put a chevy motor in it and use it for a demo derby car! every car can't and shouldn't be saved. pontiacmonstr

[63 Pontiac]

It's a shame to see a decent car go but the reality is the 4 doors aren't easy sellers. I've parted out 3 decent Pontiacs in the last few years: a '64 Safari, a driver '76 Bonneville 4 door, and a '75 Grandville. Nobody wanted them and I'm not going to sit a car forever. Next up is a '64 Cat 2 door which is beyond saving but does have some good parts. Either buy the '65 cheap or forget about it.

[GTOWAGON]

Buy it part and it. It will cost you more $$$ to restore or fix it that you can buy a decent one for

[GTOnly70]

While the car sounds too good to junk, big 4-door Pontiacs are practically worthless. Will never be worth restoring.

[mike nixon]

you have to love the abody guy's opinions of the big cars. parts only,demo cars ect.

in 1980 gto's, firebirds,camaros, were worthless also and look at them now.

the value on the big cars is increasing, it's apparent because of the number of parts being repro'd for them.

it may never bring what a gto will but it's worth something to someone.

if you're not gonna build it then sell it to a big car lover and let them do with it what they want.

my old boss had a saying , "there's an ass for every seat". he's right, someone wants that car you just need to find them.

mike

['ol Pinion head]

The reason big car values has risen has more to do with the coattail effect. The rarest & most desirable bodystyles shoot up & price, & most everything similiar, but not as desirable, goes along for the ride. As prices make a correction, the less desirable the bodystyle, the more the drop. As a result, no way I'd put hard earned money in a 4 door projectcar.

2 door hardtop Bonnevilles & Cats, I can handle, there are several years I really love the styling. If had more room & money would love to own a '62 Cat or a '65 2+2. Many B series converts are cool too.

4 door sedans & 4 dr hardtops... they better be super clean time capsule original, & new owner better have nothing but room & upkeep $$$$, other wise, they're a losing proposition to keep up, or restore. Something learned a long time ago... not every vehicle can be saved, or has to be saved. When nicely restored 2 door B series Pontiacs get wrecked & the phonecalls & e-mails start going out, it's often 4 door parts/projectcars that show their true usefulness. Really have to examine the situation, would one rather see that faded out lightly dinged up 4 door getting driven into the ground or parked in the elements with no respect to the damage being incurred year after year? Or see it's use as a driver being over, so others could live? As an A & F-body guy, there have to be A-body & F-body partscars as well. Not all can be saved.

[GTOnly70]

Originally Posted by mike nixon

you have to love the abody guy's opinions of the big cars. parts only,demo cars ect.
mike

My opinion is based on the fact that the car is a 4 door, not because it is a big car. I have the same opinion on 4-door A-bodies. Great parts cars for the more desirable models/body styles. With few exceptions (sentimental value) they are not worth restoration on their own. That's just market reality.

['ol Pinion head]

GTOnly70,
Got to fess up, cut up another '70 LeMans 2 door hardtop this week Waited till had the frame sold locally, have had the interior gutted since the day I rolled it in. Desperately needed the solid rh 1/4, tailpanel, & a/c parts for my own resto projects. Never like cutting up solid '70-72 2 door LeMans, but that's what it's come to considering the lack of quality in repro sheetmetal.

[bonneville Joe]

Originally Posted by GTOnly70

While the car sounds too good to junk, big 4-door Pontiacs are practically worthless. Will never be worth restoring.

I strongly disagree.

They only made so many of them to begin with. How many are left and how many of the ones that survived are restorable? Convertibles used to be the hot cars to have, then the 2drs and now the wagons. What's left after that? 4drs..

Everywhere I drive my 4drs people make remarks about what beautiful cars they are and they are right. Those 4dr cars that were just stylish transportation years ago are now rolling art. Save everyone you can. There aren't that many left.

[mike nixon]

[QUOTE='ol Pinion head] As a result, no way I'd put hard earned money in a 4 door projectcar.

the thing is these can be great low cost entry level cars for someone wanting to get into the hobby until they can afford the high dollar car everyone wants.

the people like joe that build / maintain these cars are a part of the hobby just as much as the high dollar, numbers gotta match, date code the hose clamp concours crowd is. actually they're probably a bigger part when you figure the driven car'll will keep putting money into the hobby and the trailer queen's done when it's done.

will you guys throw baby seats in the 50k resto'd gto or ho bird when it's done?
a solid 4dr htp's or wagon's the way to go for someone with kids.





Really have to examine the situation, would one rather see that faded out lightly dinged up 4 door getting driven into the ground or parked in the elements with no respect to the damage being incurred year after year? Or see it's use as a driver being over, so others could live?

actually i'd rather see someone enjoy the car as a driver than have a solid car cut up that needs what's considered minor work in the rust belt.

i know the southern or "spoiled" [as they're referred to in the rust belt] people look at this the opposite way but up here it's reality.

we fix what you guys cut up and save what you wouldn't even buy as a parts car.

roger, you've got a rough idea of what i've got sitting around here and not all of them are "desirable" cars. i agree that not all need to be saved but some should be.

this isn't meant to be derogatory to anyone but it's another point of view.

mike

[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.

[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!!

[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

[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.