1966 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible
Pontiac was an American automobile brand that was a branch of General Motors, and this is a name that everyone remembers when they talk about muscle cars. Even though Pontiac has been off the market for over ten years, one of its classics came in 1966.
The Pontiac Bonneville made an irreplaceable impact on history and occupied a particular place in the minds of muscle car aficionados.
As the flagship Pontiac marque since its introduction in 1957, the Bonneville nameplate epitomized luxury, but what about performance? Sure its fuel injection promised increased grunt, but in the decade that followed, many surmised that tire-incinerating power was best left to the GTOs, Firebirds, 2+2s, and Grand Prixs. Hobbyists know these Pontiacs well, but relatively few have seen a high-performance Bonneville of that era.
This 1966 Pontiac Bonneville convertible has been refinished in red over red, and its carbureted 389ci V8 is paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. Features include a black soft top, 14″ wheels with covers, whitewall tires, drum brakes, a woodgrain center console.
The interior features front bucket seats and a rear bench with red upholstery. Matching carpeting and trim is present throughout, and a full-length console with woodgrain trim covers the transmission tunnel. A multi-color two-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of instrumentation that includes a horizontal 120-mph speedometer, a clock, an ammeter, and a fuel-level gauge.
Bonneville models had ‘Bonneville’ block lettering on the left-hand grille and behind the front wheel openings, and they had fender skirts. Minor changes included new front and rear sheet metal, brightwork, and trim. The interiors received a more squared-up dashboard and slight changes to the instrumentation.
This fourth-generation of Pontiac Bonneville styling lasted from 1965 through 1970, receiving styling updates along the way, including a major update for 1967 that included a new grille-in-bumper front design, and additional creases to accentuate the ‘Coke body’ styling. Seat belts became standard along with other government-mandated safety equipment.
