[silverbullet07]

How rare is the 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible? What is prices on these? Ran across one that is coming up at action listed as parts only, no title. Wondering if it would be worth saving.

[Stuart]

They only built 630 Bonneville Convertibles for ’57, one for each of its 630 dealers. They all had fuel injection, and nearly all were painted Kenya Ivory. If a car is listed as parts only, the big thing will be if it has all the fuel injection parts or if some are missing.

I don't know value, but obviously restored cars are worth a lot.

[Txbobcat]

Values used to be upwards of $100,000 so bring a big billfold to the auction.

[silverbullet07]

So I take that the fuel injection parts would be hard to find along with any other items? Did any of the other cars share sheet metal or trim? Just wondering how tough it would be to find parts need to reassemble.

[Txbobcat]

Sheet metal will interchange but I believe that trim was for Bonnie only.

[Doug]

Harold, Here is an interesting note. Check out this Ebay listing.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-Pontiac...ld-Carburetors

Of interest is the fact that tripower was not offered on a 57 Bonneville (only F.I.)

Also, the guy mentions that the Bonneville engine was painted a different color than any other engines. That may or may not be true.

All Bonnevilles were convertibles. As such, a 57 convertible of any model is typically a high priced car. If the lack-of-title problem can be resolved, it will bring a healthy price.

Call Kelly. He can give you the full details on these cars.

[silverbullet07]

Hey Doug, That ebay listing disappeared fast. Benny is the one Interested in the 57 Bonneville and he talks like he knows about them. I did not know about the fuel Injection and I would say that would be a hard thing to find along with other items if they are not there. Hopefully he can check it out good to see what is missing.

[61-63]

Originally Posted by silverbullet07

How rare is the 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible? What is prices on these? Ran across one that is coming up at action listed as parts only, no title. Wondering if it would be worth saving.

If you are a POCI member look up David J. Evans of LaMarque, Texas and contact him. He has a registry on '57 Bonnevilles, has owned a number of them, and deals in parts for them.
He can probably answer any question you may have about them.

As someone said they are worth a lot of money when done but they can be very expensive cars to do.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by silverbullet07

Hey Doug, That ebay listing disappeared fast. Benny is the one Interested in the 57 Bonneville and he talks like he knows about them. I did not know about the fuel Injection and I would say that would be a hard thing to find along with other items if they are not there. Hopefully he can check it out good to see what is missing.

Seems like I have seen a F.I. unit on Ebay a while back listed at $5,000. I don't recall what all it included.

If Benny goes to look over the car pre-auction, he definitely needs to take Kelly with him.

I often recall seeing a 57 Bonneville for sale for $1,000 in D.C. area in the early-mid 60's.

[PMD1969]

They bring some money fully restored to factory concours. Caught a clip some time ago showing a 57 with the fuel injection correct motor and they went on about how difficult it was to find the correct parts and that some they had to make. They did not go into detail which parts though.

http://youtu.be/2u63btvXbEg

ETA: Found this Mecum 57 https://www.mecum.com/collection-det...d=FL0110-89882 . Question is that were not they all supposed to be Kenya White ? If so, why would you paint it red? Do a full rotisserie on a car with the extremely rare fuel injection motor and you paint it red. WTF?

[Bill Hanlon]

I've seen a black one, although the hood was down so I couldn't read the paint codes. MOST were ivory.

[stevep]

I have seen the black one and I do know that there is a black one. There were also a few Pink/White and Charcoal/White. There is also 1 with quad headlights. But most were Ivory with a red or Blue spear.

[gentile3]

Gib Mahle had a 58 bonneville with a complete fuelie setup in the trunk. the car had a tripower on it, but was a factory fuelie car. the entire system was redone by someone at delphi and it was vacuum pack onto cardboard like an nos carb.

the car was mint and dark green, a factory 4 bucket seat car with a sport about radio.

it was 1992 and his asking price for everything was 5K...lol

I still miss Gib, great guy for the hobby!

[Doug]

Originally Posted by silverbullet07

Hey Doug, That ebay listing disappeared fast. Benny is the one Interested in the 57 Bonneville and he talks like he knows about them. I did not know about the fuel Injection and I would say that would be a hard thing to find along with other items if they are not there. Hopefully he can check it out good to see what is missing.

Harold,

I talked with Kelly. He hadn't heard about Benny's interest. Said he would call him.

Kelly pointed out one detail (other than the most obvious) that is specific only to the Bonneville. Something I wouldn't have thought about in a million years. That is typical of Kelly's Pontiac knowledge.

Guess what the detail is? Anybody?

[Jack Gifford]

Lack of a standard-transmission option?

[silverbullet07]

No clue here.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by silverbullet07

No clue here.

Harold, Give up? Do I need to give you a tip?

[silverbullet07]

Ya. I don't know. My thoughts was something to do with the top. Maybe header bow.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Doug

Harold, Give up? Do I need to give you a tip?

"....Kelly pointed out one detail (other than the most obvious) that is specific only to the Bonneville. Something I wouldn't have thought about in a million years...."

"......Harold, Give up? Do I need to give you a tip?....

The tip WAS the tip!

That is to say, the through-the bumper exhaust tips on the 1957 Bonneville bumpers are unique to it. Although various other models of the 57 Pontiacs had through-the-bumper exhaust tips, they were straight up and down styles. The tops of the Bonneville tips are sort of extended into a point on the top portions of them, giving a sort of "frenched over" look.

[silverbullet07]

Thanks Doug I would have not thought of that. I don't know anything about the Bonneville or anything really that old. Hopefully Benny does.