1963 Pontiac Bonneville

Convertible

389 4 Barrel

Automatic

Clear

****NO RESERVE!**** This vehicle was owned for many years by a gentleman who began a frame-off restoration of it many years ago.  He completed the chassis work, but got sick and was unable to complete the project.  The body was on a rotisserie and the entire project was sold to another fellow who put the body back on the frame, got the car running and replaced the convertible top with a new one.  I purchased the car from him and have enjoyed it for several years while tinkering with small items to make the car run better.  I've got two GTO projects that are ahead of this one, so I've made the decision that it's time to let someone else finish this one out. The chassis was taken down to the bare frame and the frame was blasted and powder coated.  The suspension was completely rebuilt (new steering linkage, ball joints, springs, shocks, etc.) and the brakes were rebuilt using new parts.  This is easily verifiable from a visual inspection.  I was told that the engine, transmission and rear end have all been rebuilt, although I have no documentation to enable me to verify that.  The motor is clean as a whistle and nice and tight.  In fact, it's the only car I've ever worked on where I actually didn't get my hands dirty; that's how clean the engine is.  The motor starts right up and runs strong.  No smoke from the tail pipes.  The transmission shifts fine; when I got the car it was shifting "hard" but the more I drove the car the smoother the shifting has become.  I don't know if that is because there was some break-in needed or what. The body still needs work if someone is trying to make a show car out of this one.  The paint is a "twenty footer," meaning the closer you get the more flaws you see.  The trunk floor has been worked on, but appears to be solid.  The floor pan has had sections replaced; it looks like someone cut sections out of another 63 Pontiac and caulked and sheet metal screwed them into place instead of welding them in.  That should be addressed by someone wanting to restore this car the way it should be done.  There is some evidence of body putty in the right rear quarter panel and the tail panel.  How much I have no idea. Both bumpers have been rechromed.  However, it looks like someone attached a chain or a come-a-long to the front bumper and made two slight outward dents in the bumper (dummy).  Not really all that noticeable though.  The dual exhaust system is brand new and sounds great.  There is a small dent in the driver's side front fender.   The car needs four new tires.  I replaced the battery a couple of months ago.  The convertible top is new and goes up and down as it should at the flick of the switch.  Gauges appear to work fine; clock does not work.  Radio is weak, but does work.  I purchased a tilt column that needs rebuilding that I am including with the car if the buyer wants it.  I also have the reel out trunk light that I'll include as well. The interior is in decent shape.  The dash pad has several cracks in it. The carpet is new, but someone did a lousy job of installing it and cut it too short to tuck under the sill plate on the driver's side.  Window crank handle for vent window on passenger side is missing. All of the glass is intact.  Weatherstripping is just so-so.  Lights work.  Car passed Texas State Inspection for classic cars.  The odometer says 91,965, but I have no idea whether that is accurate or not.  Given the story on the car, I would actually expect that that is the true mileage. I've restored several old Pontiacs and am somewhat of a perfectionist when doing so.  If I were going to keep this car, I would remove the body from the chassis and soda blast all of the old paint and body work off of it, replace the floor and trunk pans, install new body mounts and then paint it with a good base coat-clear coat.  The rest of the work is already done.  This is a great car to play with and will make someone a good investment.  I loved the 63 Bonny Convertible when I was a kid and just wanted to own one.  I've worked that out of my system and am back to restoring my first love, the 64 GTO.  But this is really a sharp and cool car.  Many thumbs up whenever I take it out.  Wife says there are too many cars around and something has to go.  She has had enough.  Women are so totally unreasonable! No warranty expressed or implied.  I'll be glad to answer any questions I can.  My mobile number is 210-373-5688.  We live about 15 minutes from the San Antonio airport, so if someone wants to fly in and take a look at the car that can be easily arranged.