Vehicle Description
Desirable and rare 1958 Bonneville with Tri-Power. Beautiful
original color combination. Older restoration in fantastic
condition, very clean and solid throughout. New Diamondback www
radials. Is this the best car GM sold in 1958?For reasons we don't
quite understand, the all-new 1958 Pontiac Bonneville sport coupe
was a tough sell, as only 3481 were built?fewer than any other
model except the station wagon. Seeing this stunning
top-of-the-line coupe in person makes you wonder why more buyers
didn't fall in love, because it's just a gorgeous car. GM's
one-year-only styling was a big success in 1958, transforming the
automotive landscape almost overnight, and Pontiac was just
discovering its swagger with big horsepower and fantastic design.
Finished in Patina Ivory over Redwood Copper, it looks every bit
the '50s cruiser that it is, packing luxury and performance into a
right-sized package. Paint and bodywork are excellent, with good
gaps and doors that swing closed with a precise-sounding THUNK
rather than a loose rattle, a testament to both GM's build quality
and the restoration work. The paint shines up beautifully and lets
the brilliant chrome trim do most of the talking. And yes, there's
a LOT of chrome on this car, all of which appears to have been
restored at the same time as the rest of the bodywork. There are a
few minor signs of age, but nothing really worth mentioning.
Instead, it has an all-of-a-piece look that suggests it has always
been lovingly maintained but also used as intended. This is a car
that stops people in their tracks as they browse through our
showroom.The beautiful copper and ivory interior has that jet-age
feel that makes these cars so special. Sparkling carpets are funky,
underscoring Pontiac's swaggering attitude in the late 1950s. The
upholstery, carpets, door panels, and headliner were all restored
with the rest of the car and aside from some minor comfort marks on
the driver's seat, it shows very little wear. And like the
exterior, all the brightwork is in great shape, from the delicate
horn ring to the band of stainless that spans the entire dashboard.
Big, round gauges keep an eye on the engine's vitals and they all
work like they should, with secondary controls for the ventilation
and heating system tucked underneath. The original Wonder Bar radio
is still in the center of the dash, although it, and the clock
above it, are currently inop. There's new weatherstripping in the
doors so they feel tight and rattle-free and a decent amount of
sound-deadening makes this feel like the luxury car that it is. In
back, check out that cool center arm rest that rises up from the
center of the lower seat cushion, almost creating a separate set of
bucket seats. And there's a positively massive trunk that features
a correct mat set and a full-sized spare tire assembly.While
Chevy's 283 cubic inch V8 was getting all the attention, Pontiac
was busily building horsepower with a considerably larger
overhead-valve V8 and multiple carburetors. With 370 cubic inches
and legendary 'Tri-Power' induction, the 1958 Bonneville grunts out
300 horsepower and 385 lb-ft. of torque. There's a reason so many
engine builders regard the Pontiac V8 as one of the best designs
ever. It's over-built, under-stressed, and uses a forged bottom
end, making it incredibly durable. Fully rebuilt with a trio of
Rochester 2-barrel carburetors on top, this one runs superbly. It
always starts easily and idles nicely, and under most circumstances
it's happy to cruise on the center carburetor. But push through the
stop that you can vaguely feel with your toes, and the outer carbs
come online and the big Bonneville feels like it suddenly lost 800
pounds. For a big car, this sucker is pretty quick! It's also
nicely detailed with Pontiac Turquoise engine enamel, a correct
generator, and the right golden cad finish on the carburetors
themselves. Backing up the rumbling V8 is GM's bulletproof
HydraMatic automatic transmission and a set of 3.23 gears, making
this coupe a peerless highway cruiser that just loafs along at
modern speeds. Power steering makes it incredibly easy to wheel
around, even in tight corners, and the brakes are reasonably
powerful for the era. The suspension rides like a luxury car, yet
the dual exhaust has the faint rumble of a muscle car, perfect for
the Bonneville's split personality. Floors have been professionally
replaced and the rockers are solid with no issues, and we just
installed a fresh set of 225/75/14 Diamondback wide whitewall
radials on the original wheels with factory hubcaps.Pretty, fast,
and luxurious, Pontiac knew the Bonneville wasn't for everyone. But
for the discerning client who wanted more muscle than a basic Chevy
but wasn't quite ready to drive his dad's Oldsmobile or Buick, the
Bonneville was the perfect choice. With great colors, a
strong-running powerplant, and those legendary 'Tri-Power' emblems
on the front fenders, this car commands respect at shows and on the
road. Most of all, however, we think it will impress the guy behind
the wheel because it just feels right. Call today!Harwood Motors
always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections
of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
