This 1961 Pontiac Bonneville convertible was delivered new in Texas and acquired by the current owner in 2010. Power is supplied by a 425A 389ci V8 equipped with triple Rochester carburetors paired with a four-speed manual transmission, and the car features factory power windows, steering, and brakes.
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-- Edited by bjburnout on Thursday 2nd of July 2020 08:35:16 AM
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......big block, 4 speed, bench seat, it doesn't get much better
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
When you get right down to it, that is one of the ultimate cars as an example of what Pontiacs are all about. Such a beauty with all the right boxes checked. As for the Hurst shifter, Pontiac began using or offering Hurst shifter kits in 1961. They weren't always in place (e.g. early Grand Prixs) but later came with all floor shifts for many years running. U.S. cars that is, more selective on Canadian-built examples (early 70's floor shift LeMans).
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67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
I looked at a 61 Bonneville rag top when I was a teenager in the 70s. It was black with a white top with the same interior as this car but with a bench seat. It was a 421 automatic car and besides being oddball in my mind, I had never seen a US built Pontiac, for the time it was very rotten. Ontario winters were not kind to the car. Today we would call it restorable but back then it was just a rusty old car.
It's hard to think of an early 60s Pontiac that looks better than a 61 Catalina or Bonneville coupe or hardtop, especially one in this color combination, and optioned in this way. So no surprise at the selling price.
I saw a beautiful seafoam green Bonneville ht in Carlisle a few years ago. It was gorgeous inside and out but was too rich for me, as most of the best cars of this 61-64 era have been for the last 20 years.
I looked at a 61 Bonneville rag top when I was a teenager in the 70s. It was black with a white top with the same interior as this car but with a bench seat. It was a 421 automatic car and besides being oddball in my mind, I had never seen a US built Pontiac, for the time it was very rotten. Ontario winters were not kind to the car. Today we would call it restorable but back then it was just a rusty old car.
Paul
Did you ever ask the guy where he got the 421 for the 61?
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......big block, 4 speed, bench seat, it doesn't get much better
I looked at a 61 Bonneville rag top when I was a teenager in the 70s. It was black with a white top with the same interior as this car but with a bench seat. It was a 421 automatic car and besides being oddball in my mind, I had never seen a US built Pontiac, for the time it was very rotten. Ontario winters were not kind to the car. Today we would call it restorable but back then it was just a rusty old car.
Paul
Did you ever ask the guy where he got the 421 for the 61?
I thought it was the original engine. The car had some options, power windows and tilt steering. Not being familiar with the US cars but still remember the owner telling me it was a 421. Whether it was swapped or just a dressed up 389 and he was trying to impress a teenager, but the car was a four barrel, no dual carbs or six pack.
-- Edited by Prefectca on Tuesday 14th of July 2020 07:49:49 AM
I looked at a 61 Bonneville rag top when I was a teenager in the 70s. It was black with a white top with the same interior as this car but with a bench seat. It was a 421 automatic car and besides being oddball in my mind, I had never seen a US built Pontiac, for the time it was very rotten. Ontario winters were not kind to the car. Today we would call it restorable but back then it was just a rusty old car.
Paul
Did you ever ask the guy where he got the 421 for the 61?
I thought it was the original engine. The car had some options, power windows and tilt steering. Not being familiar with the US cars but still remember the engine being a 421 four barrel.
Similar swaps were not unusual some 50+ years ago. Most wreckers had stuff like this kicking around for the hot rodder.
The 421 was introduced in the 62 Catalina and Grand Prix according to Cars & Parts Catalog of American Car ID Numbers.
They were offered at 405hp only. In 63 it was offered on all US Pontiacs at various ratings.
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......big block, 4 speed, bench seat, it doesn't get much better
I totally agree with you that the engine was probably swapped. In Canada these cars were scarce and if a used engine was needed you would take what you could get, in this case a 421. I installed lots of oddball engines in Pontiac cars in the seventies when money was tight for a lot of people. I put a 425 Olds in a 71 Le Mans in place of a 350 Pontiac, and a little 300 Buick in a 69 Firebird to replace the overhead cam six. Not forgetting lots of 67 and 68 Firebirds that I put Chevy engines in.