Posted on 08/25/2025 2:12:07 PM PDT by TexasKamaAina
Introduced in 1958, the Bonneville became the company's range-topping model in 1959. The 1961 redesign saw Bill Mitchell handle the styling, and the Bonneville joined the "Coke bottle" craze. In 1965, Pontiac rolled out a longer and more sculpted version. It's among my favorite Ponchos, especially in two-door guise.
(Excerpt) Read more at autoevolution.com ...
Took one of those out on the Kansas Turnpike and buried the speedometer.
I miss those vent windows.
Vehicles were very distinctive back then.
My dad had a 1969 Mercury Marauder that looked very similar. Quite the boat to drive.
My dad had a 1969 Mercury Marauder that looked very similar. Quite the boat to drive.
I do believe this is what my grandma drove. No one left to really ask but that’s what I remember.
Smelled heavily of her two packs a day of Parliaments. I loved my grandma
One of the best looking cars ever made. The closest I got was a Chrysler 300 (2 door hard top coupe, base 383 engine, gold). When my then 23 year old wife (tall, blonde) she got a LOT of attention.
My dad brought home a goldish-tanish one. It had a 4-barrel 389 V-8 rated at 325 HP. Whether it was close to 325 real HP, is debatable. It would spin the tires, though, and went pretty good. The back seat? Like a sleeper bed.
Not Benson & Hedges? Just a silly millimeter longer.
Seat belts were unheard of.
Got her up to 73 mph, eh? Which went faster, the car or the car’s fuel gauge?
My parents were straight GM buyers and I am certain their cars got an average of 8 miles per gallon.
Adam Wade of youtube fame bought this car recently.
https://youtu.be/3iqVpM5Iiys?si=Fo2JO9PlS_3yTuzd
“I miss those vent windows”
Yeah but those were a car thiefs’ best friend.
Seat belts in 1965 were a mere formality, if found at all.
We had a 1965 Chevy station wagon. We didn’t think it had seat belts, but they had just fallen between the seat cushion and seat back. No one cared.
“... And she had, fun fun fun,
.... till daddy took the,
,,,, T-Bird away. “
Nice .. and they melted one of them for 4 Toyotas.
Safety back then was the distance from the driver’s seat to the front bumper.
I owned a 1952 Buick Super with straight 8 engine. She was built like a tank. And ride was like a swan floating on calm lake. In town I got 5 mpg but gas was 19 cents a gallon in Iowa City in 1961. $2 filled the tank for a month’s driving.
I had a 65 Pontiac Catalina. Similar look.
Loved that car. High School was fun with it. Huge. Fit 8 easily. AC would freeze you out in a hot August.
I am and was 5’7”. I could lay in the seats. No bucket seating back then. Backseat was like a tent. Kept a pillow and sleeping bag in the huge trunk.
Made, uh, dates interesting.😊
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.