[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by jamesq

I got all my upholstery back!

This is everything installed, including the console, carpet, windlace, and all the garnish moldings.

Not having taken it apart, it was a bit of a learning experience to get the rear seat to attach to the floor and fold correctly, but three tries later, I was successful.

You'll notice there are no door panels....Paid for 15 months ago from SMS and still waiting...

No headliner yet, after fighting the windlace, I will have the headliner installed by an old school trim shop.

Thanks for looking,

James Q

Man! That interior is just beautiful - but I didn't bust into a smile until I saw that exterior shot.

K

[jamesq]

Originally Posted by webfoot

Those look awesome. Mine are allegedly being worked on this week and will be done soon.

Good luck, I started hearing that about two months ago....

James Q

[mgarblik]

Thanks for all the pics. You are doing a great job on that car. My favorite color combination. What a beauty. I may have missed it, but what is the running gear in that beast?

[jamesq]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

Thanks for all the pics. You are doing a great job on that car. My favorite color combination. What a beauty. I may have missed it, but what is the running gear in that beast?

Thanks for the kind words!

It has its original running gear, 303hp 389, BWT-10 4-spd and 3.42 posi. It shows 69k miles, but I don't know if that's the first time around.

It will get a new (rebuilt) Lares PS box and rag joint next week.

I have a Tri-power setup for it and it will get some painting, so it's close to being as good as it's going to be!

James Q

[jamesq]

Much has been accomplished since the last update:

1. Rear end rebuilt and resealed by a friend who's a former racer. He also completely replaced the rear brakes and put in new axle bearings.

2. New wheel bearings on the front end.

3. Door panels from SMS received and installed.

4. Painted the hood, upper front fenders, and rt rear quarter with a different buddy. This was a very frustrating experience, but came out ok in the end.
Shout out to Lashley Paint in Shreveport LA for a very close match to the existing paint!

5. Professionally detailed and ceramic coated.

The only thing I have left is to install the tri-power unit I have on the bench.

My plan is to drive it a bunch and make sure I haven't missed any mechanical issues before I put the 3x2's on.

James Q

[Stuart]

It looks great! People legitimately complain about the long lead times from SMS, but they do good work.
Was this originally a four speed car, or was it converted at some point? it's a real unicorn if it left the factory that way.

[61-63]

Beautiful car man!

[mgarblik]

Once again, great car, great colors. Pound for pound, that's one special machine!

[jamesq]

Originally Posted by Stuart

It looks great! People legitimately complain about the long lead times from SMS, but they do good work.
Was this originally a four speed car, or was it converted at some point? it's a real unicorn if it left the factory that way.

Thanks, it's a PHS confirmed 4-speed car.

The SMS door panels took 2 1/2 years to receive, but as many have said, they were worth the wait!

James Q

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by jamesq

Much has been accomplished since the last update:

1. Rear end rebuilt and resealed by a friend who's a former racer. He also completely replaced the rear brakes and put in new axle bearings.

2. New wheel bearings on the front end.

3. Door panels from SMS received and installed.

4. Painted the hood, upper front fenders, and rt rear quarter with a different buddy. This was a very frustrating experience, but came out ok in the end.
Shout out to Lashley Paint in Shreveport LA for a very close match to the existing paint!

5. Professionally detailed and ceramic coated.

The only thing I have left is to install the tri-power unit I have on the bench.

My plan is to drive it a bunch and make sure I haven't missed any mechanical issues before I put the 3x2's on.

James Q

Very nice!

[jamesq]

Here is the PHS copy of the build sheet for those who are interested.

James Q

[Stuart]

4 speed, console, bucket seats, tach, posi rear end, all in a station wagon. It would be interesting to know more about the original owner, he must have been a hot rodder that had a family to haul around.

[Cardo]

I'm in love!! Love the long roofs!! Beautiful car!

[jamesq]

Originally Posted by Stuart

4 speed, console, bucket seats, tach, posi rear end, all in a station wagon. It would be interesting to know more about the original owner, he must have been a hot rodder that had a family to haul around.

I think it was built as a tow rig, but that's just a guess. It's effectively a 5-seat wagon, so the family might not have been very large!

James Q

[Stuart]

So this one doesn't have the third fold-down seat in the cargo area?

[jamesq]

No, for some reason, in 1963 Pontiac did not offer the third seat option in the Bonneville, only the Catalina.

James Q

[Stuart]

That's right, I wasn't thinking - I'm pretty sure it wasn't until 1965 or 1966 that the third seat was available in a Bonnevile.

[carcrazy]

Great looking car! Lots of fun in your future!

[Heybuck]

Originally Posted by Stuart

That's right, I wasn't thinking - I'm pretty sure it wasn't until 1965 or 1966 that the third seat was available in a Bonnevile.

'66 in a Bonneville I believe Stuart but in '65 you could get the third row seat in a Catalina.

Other years, I don't know about??

[Stuart]

I checked through the factory brochures and yes, 1966 was the first year for the third seat in a Bonneville. Who knows why Pontiac did that.

I knew from personal experience they had them in 1966 - way back when, my high school girlfriend had a '66 Bonneville wagon. It was a heck of a car with a 421 and nearly every other option available.