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Stunning 1965 Pontiac Bonneville Flexes Rare Color, Had One Owner for 60 Years
AutoEvolution ^ | 08/25/2025 | Ciprian Florea

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 ...


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Chit/Chat; History; Travel
KEYWORDS: 1965; automobiles; automotive; bonneville; landyacht; midcentury; pontiac
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

Seat belts were unheard of.
_____________________________

I read recnetly that seatbelts were a low-cost option on some brand of 1960 American car. Only 5% of their customers ordered them. I think our ‘65 Bonneville had them. (Didn’t have auto-rollers or shoulder-belts.)


21 posted on 08/25/2025 2:40:19 PM PDT by oldplayer
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To: Obadiah

I think it thought it was north of 110. When I let off at the toll gate it lumbered like it had lost a pound of carbon.


22 posted on 08/25/2025 2:43:43 PM PDT by KC Burke
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

That’s a Matt Helm mobile. Sweet ride. They started going downhill after that.


23 posted on 08/25/2025 2:44:19 PM PDT by AFreeBird
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To: TexasKamaAina

Ford had a similar color in 1960 on the fairlane and sunliners. Beautiful color.


24 posted on 08/25/2025 2:44:40 PM PDT by HANG THE EXPENSE (Life's tough.It's tougher when you're stupid.)
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To: TexasKamaAina

That purple grey would fit in with the modern colours of what seems to be popular.


25 posted on 08/25/2025 2:46:54 PM PDT by Jonty30 (Pornography feeds abortion. Abortion is Satan's ultimate effort to hurt God. )
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

My Grandfather had a 1964 Samoan Coral Thunderbird T-BIRD Convertible with white leather and a 390ci engine.

It was so nice but it turned to a dark day in family history when he traded it in for a station wagon.


26 posted on 08/25/2025 2:47:12 PM PDT by bosco24
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To: TexasKamaAina

Neighbors had a 1964 Pontiac Catalina , nice car.


27 posted on 08/25/2025 2:48:41 PM PDT by OldHarbor
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To: TexasKamaAina

I started driving in the early 70’s. I wish I had appreciated cars more. All of these were used cars that were not that far out of reach at the time.


28 posted on 08/25/2025 2:51:26 PM PDT by DouglasKC
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To: TexasKamaAina

About 10 or so years ago, I was at a concours d’elegance that always had a Packard category. I stopped to admire a beautiful 1950 Packard convertible. The white-haired guy sitting by it in a lawn chair said he had bought it new off the showroom floor in 1950.


29 posted on 08/25/2025 2:53:57 PM PDT by jjotto ("...saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau...")
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To: maddog55

But people were more courteous drivers and paid attention. Examples are natures best teachers.


30 posted on 08/25/2025 2:55:56 PM PDT by Semper Vigilantis (Peace - through superior firepower.)
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To: KC Burke

In 1976 I drove a ‘65 Bonneville on its last journey, across Eugene, OR to a wrecking yard outside of town. Nobody else would drive it because it had no brakes whatsoever, which made things interesting.


31 posted on 08/25/2025 2:56:30 PM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

I have a wonderful ‘63 Bird but it is a hardtop coupe not a rag top. Power windows and ac.


32 posted on 08/25/2025 2:57:52 PM PDT by desertsolitaire (hite sea. )
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To: Disambiguator

I saw that video the other day and figured this was the same car. I really like his channel.


33 posted on 08/25/2025 3:06:47 PM PDT by Yardstick
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To: TexasKamaAina

Very true. My favorites are the ‘64-’69 Impalas.


34 posted on 08/25/2025 3:07:06 PM PDT by stevio (Fight until you die!)
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To: Obadiah

Doesn’t sound like you know anything about this vintage when it comes to speed


35 posted on 08/25/2025 3:09:36 PM PDT by Dartoid
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To: TexasKamaAina

For Chevrolet the same color was called Evening Orchid.


36 posted on 08/25/2025 3:14:24 PM PDT by Wuli (uire)
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To: exPBRrat

There was artistry in design.


37 posted on 08/25/2025 3:14:50 PM PDT by old school
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To: TexasKamaAina; sweetiepiezer

38 posted on 08/25/2025 3:14:53 PM PDT by Jane Long (Jesus is Lord!)
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To: jjotto

I saw a 1949 Packard at a car show a while back. It was a Custom Eight Touring sedan. Showroom condition. The owner was dressed in a suit, tie, hat and shoes from 1949.


39 posted on 08/25/2025 3:20:54 PM PDT by Texas resident ( We finally have an American President again)
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To: oldplayer

True story…as a small child my dad had an Oldsmobile ‘98. I’m guessing it was late 50s/early 69s.

It was SOOO yuuuge I clearly recall stretching out on long drives in the recess area under the rear window (rear deack???) and sleeping. In warm weather, at night with the summer air caressing me. Hearing my young parents in the front beach seat softly laughing and playing music as they cruised. It was a feeling literally impossible for me to recreate today.

I could win the 3/4 billion dollar lottery now and spend 50 million of it and I could not recreate that feeling. 😭


40 posted on 08/25/2025 3:27:06 PM PDT by Phoenix8
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