Minneapolis Street Sighting: Pontiac Bonneville wagon

I've been on a 1960s kick lately; for whatever reason, I am beginning to think that the 1960s is one of the best decades for post-modern car design; every brand had consistent themes, styling was a mix of luxurious-ness, but most cars still packed tons of incredible details that would lure enthusiasts to inspect them more closely. I've brought readers examples of Pontiac's Bonneville before, but never a wagon-- and I have come to a not-so-startling conclusion; the Bonneville wagon is probably my favorite bodystyle for the nameplate. I love wagons--always have, and likely always will. As a "late-bloomer" in the classic car scene, I first discovered the mid-1960s Bonneville last winter, and pored over its many exquisite details; unfortunately, I did not get very many closeup shots of these details on that example nor this one. That still standing, this white wagon is probably the coolest American car I've featured this year.













On the whole, this particular Bonneville was beautiful; I normally don't care for white cars, but on this wagon, it works--quite well. It makes the big wagon seem a bit smaller than it actually is, and the rolling stock certainly helps matters. Another thing I quite liked about this Bonneville, is the sparse amount of chrome. Normally, I'm a sucker for older cars with varying degrees of chrome, but here, the absence of it clearly sets it off. With only the "Bonneville" script adorning the doors, the minimal application on the grillework and tailgate, this American wagon screams "class" not many others can.
No doubt this example is stock, aside from the lowering job and Torq Thrust wheels, both of which look excellent here. I'd say this is about as close of a "hot rod wagon" one can get without doing any drastic changes; for someone who recently got interesting in mid 1960s iron, I'd venture as far to say that this Bonne is certainly the best of the breed I have seen yet.
I would loved to have shot this on the street, but I'm not complaining; I realize I've broken my own rules, but hey, an awesome find is an awesome find, right?

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Pontiac Bonneville convertible

Now this is an awesome sighting! I hardly ever see vintage Pontiacs, and usually when I do, they end up looking worse than that tired 326 LeMans I blogged earlier this winter. Fortunately, this car had all one could expect from a big cruiser of this period; lots of chrome, wire hubcaps, and a formal paint color. Perfect, I'd say.
The Bonneville was Pontiac's "luxury" vehicle from day one, for people who couldn't afford a Buick, much less a contemporary Cadillac, and it shows; big, bold styling, a lineup of big V8s, and a "who-cares" attitude when it came to gas mileage--isn't that what a luxury car is supposed to be about? Unfortunately, as time wore on, the focus of the Bonneville was shifted. In the 1980s, it became a FWD vehicle that, among other setbacks, wound up ultimately being a car largely favored by rental agencies a many.
Let's not get off focus, here. This example was quite stunning; the paint seemed to be in near-perfect shape, likewise the chrome. One thing that I liked about this pristine big boat was the fact that it still had the dealer plaque on the trunk, leading me to wonder if this was a meticulous restoration, or if it is an original owner un-restored example. I highly doubt the latter, but it would be really awesome if it was. Parked in uptown, this beast certainly stood out, and with good reason. Not often do I see a vehicle which looks as great up close as it does across the street. Well spotted, I say. And to the owner, please keep up this wonderful classic Pontiac!