West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely exceptional rotisserie frame off restored and always completely rust free original southern California example with every nut & bolt replaced and only very few miles since being restored and mostly all original specs 1958 Pontiac Bonneville matching #'s 370c CID 'Tempest 395' Tri-Power V8 Convertible with 3 x 2BBL Carburetors and a 3 speed 'Super Hydra-Matric' automatic transmission faithfully finished in it's original 'Patina Ivory over Redwood Copper Metallic' (Color Code VVU) factory color paint and with an absolutely beautiful all new & original specification matching colored all leather interior with the Bonneville's sport car competition inspired Deluxe steering wheel and color keyed door panels with brushed aluminum trim, bodyside stainless molding, beltline molding, rocker panel molding and boasting virtually every available factory option including;
370 CID "Tempest 395" (3x2BBL) V8 engine ($551)
'Circulaire' Air Conditioning ($430),
Bucket Seats ($85)
'Wonderbar' signal seeking radio ($125)
Power Windows ($108),
Power Steering ($108),
Power Brakes ($38)
Heater & Defroster ($91),
Tinted Glass ($34),
White sidewall tires ($38),
'Safeguard' Speedometer,
Power convertible top,
Full wheel covers,
Electric clock,
Dual exhausts,
There's no better example of GM's styling and engineering prowess than the 1958 Pontiac Bonneville with this top-of-the-line 'Tri-Power Convertible' model being chosen as the Pace car for the '58 Indianapolis 500. For 1958 this exclusive one year only model model had proved to be a ground breaking model for Pontiac with the '58s longer, heavier, lower and wider than the previous years image building limited edition convertible conceived by performance enthusiast and Pontiac division head S.E. "Bunkie" Knudsen. It had shared basic body and styling with the '57 Star Chief convertible but boasted a new fuel injection system similar, but not identical, to Chevrolet's 'Ramjet' system. More a sales promotion than a serious money-maker with only 630 built in '57, it was obviously Pontiac's top-of-the-line model and would remain so for the next two years. Continued in 1958 along with a new 6 passenger hardtop coupe companion to the 6 passenger convertible (or 4 with the rare 2+2 seating), but still a limited production and costly model. Only 3,096 convertibles were built, with very, very few being original Tri-Power powered examples. Styled in the Harley Earl idiom they were 'rounder' than their 'straighter' predecessors and they expressed commendable restraint in the era of tailfin excesses and were solidly built. The limited edition Bonneville, featured special trim, deluxe interiors and the steepest price in the division.
The Pontiac Bonneville entered the production lineup as a high-performance, fuel-injected luxury convertible version of the Star Chief in 1957, and was loaded with every available option as standard equipment with the exception of air conditioning and a continental kit. This put the Bonneville in GM's Cadillac division price range of almost $6K, more than double the base price of the Chieftain on which it was built, with the result being that a fully equipped Bonneville would cost more than a Cadillac. Only 630 units were produced that first year, making it now one of the most collectible and sportiest Pontiac's of all time. The following year it became a separate model which would endure until 2005 as the division's top-of-the-line model. The name was taken from the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the site of much early auto racing and most of the world's land speed record runs, which was named in turn after U.S. Army officer Benjamin Bonneville.
Of all the GM divisions, Pontiac seemed to make the most of the 50th anniversary of General Motors. Coming into the new model year with an all new design with the top-of-the-line Bonneville Convertible (with Tri-Power engine) being chosen as the official pace car for the 1958 Indianapolis race. With all this celebrating to be done, Pontiac once again engineered an enlargement of its V8 engine, this year to 370 cubic inches with added horsepower, now called the "Tempest 395", with the 395 referring to the maximum torque output of a 4 barrel engine with choices of 4 barrel, 3 X 2 barrels & fuel injection. Pontiac styling for 1958 is widely considered among the very best of the GM division of its day and the top-of-the-line '58 Bonneville was for the first time offered with bucket seats as optional equipment for a very unique and exclusive look. The 1958 model was not greatly changed from the previous years redesign but nevertheless these '58 Bonneville's have achieved the rare combination of both collector and cult status amongst enthusiasts for their unique and classic late fifties styling.
This particular example has the optional and highly desirable original matching #'s 370c.i. "Tempest 395" V8 engine with the triple 2 barrel carburetors set up mated to the 'Super Hydra-Matic' automatic transmission boasts rare and super desirable factory options including air conditioning, power windows, power steering, power top and power brakes, 2+2 bucket seating, heater & defroster, etc. These fully loaded cars bristled with the latest in available modern appointments and had few rivals in the luxury market with this beautifully preserved and faithfully restored example still boasting it's original T3 headlights which only further cement this cars rare and special all original provenance.
Purchased from its most recent and renown southern California collector owner and obviously always garaged, covered, well maintained and stored since its recent nuts & bolts frame off restoration. The car has perfect gaps with flush fitting doors, hood and trunk and the floor boards, trunk, rockers and all the typical rust-prone areas are completely solid and rust-free and the car has no signs of any accidents whatsoever. The car has a very striking repaint in its original classic factory 'Patina Ivory over Redwood Copper accents' color paint and the car boasts a reupholstered factory correct original matching leather interior, its original color keyed correct and restored interior and color keyed matching door panels with a new 'White' color power top and with all the original chrome having been re-chromed.
The 370 c.i. Tri-Power V8 engine is extremely strong and powerful and sounds absolutely magnificent and this particular car drives absolutely magnificently - must be driven to be believed - does not miss a beat and purrs like a kitten - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day car a run for it's money! The transmission shifts smoothly through the gears and the car is an absolute pleasure to drive
This is an extraordinarily rare opportunity to own a nuts and bolt fully frame off restored and fully loaded 1958 Pontiac Bonneville Tri-Power Convertible, one of the most distinctive and iconic of all American designs from the late fifties, and indeed the early sixties and this must surely be one of the finest examples available anywhere!
