This beautiful 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible has had but three registered owners since new. Number 92 of 630 assembled in 1957, it is authentically finished in Kenya Ivory with Bonneville Red side inserts and features a correct red-and-white leather interior. An affidavit provided by Bonneville's second registered owner, Jim Combs, states the car was originally received by a Pontiac dealership in Oakadon, Indiana. After brief use as a demonstrator, the car was sold to its first registered owner. In 1959, the Bonneville was taken back by the dealership. It was then acquired by Combs, a mechanic at the dealership at the time. The Bonneville was retired from road use and put into storage by Jim Combs around 1974. The complete fuel injection system, which had been removed earlier, was stored in the trunk. Combs states, "The car was never involved in any accidents of any kind and never suffered any body damage, nor did it ever have any rust of any kind." On June 9 1980, Jim Combs sold the Bonneville to Erich "Rick" Kilmer, a dealership customer. Kilmer, a Marine Colonel, later moved to Pennsylvania, taking the Bonneville with him. During the 1990s, the paint was resprayed and the original interior and top replaced. Some chrome was also replated. Col. Kilmer died in 2000 and seven years later, his widow sold the car to the vendor. During 2008, the vendor commissioned a 1957 Bonneville authority to restore the original fuel injection unit, which was then re-installed on the original engine. The Bonneville expert reportedly called the car one of the finest survivors he had ever seen. The vendor also had the brakes gone through, restored the factory Wonderbar radio and power antenna, and installed new period-appearance whitewall tires, along with a tar-top battery. Pontiac was in the midst of an image makeover in 1957. During the early 1950s, the 'silver-streak' Pontiac had become stodgy compared to competitors. Things began to get better in 1955, when a modern overhead-valve V8 was introduced. In 1956, Semon E. "Bunkie" Knudsen took the reins at Pontiac and set out to spur sales by recasting the car into a youthful, spirited performer. By 1957, Knudsen had ditched Pontiac's once proud silver streaks and the cars were making a name for themselves in racing. Seeking to leverage Pontiac's new attitude, Knudsen ordered up a 'Hey, look at us now!' special to attract auto show crowds and pull customers into dealerships. The resulting Bonneville Convertible, introduced in January 1957, showcased GM's new Rochester fuel injection technology, had missile-shaped side trim and sported a standard continental kit—the period's ultimate accessory. Only select Pontiac dealers could get a Bonneville, and even they were reportedly limited to one each. One of the most spectacular Pontiacs ever, the historically important 1957 Bonneville Convertible offered innovation, style and performance in an exciting limited-edition automobile. The example offered here fully conveys, in every sense, all that the first Bonneville was meant to be. The 1957 Pontiac Bonneville is offered by a licensed automobile dealer from Maine.
This beautiful 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible has had but three registered owners since new. Number 92 of 630 assembled in 1957, it is authentically finished in Kenya Ivory with Bonneville Red side inserts and features a correct red-and-white leather interior. An affidavit provided by Bonneville's second registered owner, Jim Combs, states the car was originally received by a Pontiac dealership in Oakadon, Indiana. After brief use as a demonstrator, the car was sold to its first registered owner. In 1959, the Bonneville was taken back by the dealership. It was then acquired by Combs, a mechanic at the dealership at the time. The Bonneville was retired from road use and put into storage by Jim Combs around 1974. The complete fuel injection system, which had been removed earlier, was stored in the trunk. Combs states, "The car was never involved in any accidents of any kind and never suffered any body damage, nor did it ever have any rust of any kind." On June 9 1980, Jim Combs sold the Bonneville to Erich "Rick" Kilmer, a dealership customer. Kilmer, a Marine Colonel, later moved to Pennsylvania, taking the Bonneville with him. During the 1990s, the paint was resprayed and the original interior and top replaced. Some chrome was also replated. Col. Kilmer died in 2000 and seven years later, his widow sold the car to the vendor. During 2008, the vendor commissioned a 1957 Bonneville authority to restore the original fuel injection unit, which was then re-installed on the original engine. The Bonneville expert reportedly called the car one of the finest survivors he had ever seen. The vendor also had the brakes gone through, restored the factory Wonderbar radio and power antenna, and installed new period-appearance whitewall tires, along with a tar-top battery. Pontiac was in the midst of an image makeover in 1957. During the early 1950s, the 'silver-streak' Pontiac had become stodgy compared to competitors. Things began to get better in 1955, when a modern overhead-valve V8 was introduced. In 1956, Semon E. "Bunkie" Knudsen took the reins at Pontiac and set out to spur sales by recasting the car into a youthful, spirited performer. By 1957, Knudsen had ditched Pontiac's once proud silver streaks and the cars were making a name for themselves in racing. Seeking to leverage Pontiac's new attitude, Knudsen ordered up a 'Hey, look at us now!' special to attract auto show crowds and pull customers into dealerships. The resulting Bonneville Convertible, introduced in January 1957, showcased GM's new Rochester fuel injection technology, had missile-shaped side trim and sported a standard continental kit—the period's ultimate accessory. Only select Pontiac dealers could get a Bonneville, and even they were reportedly limited to one each. One of the most spectacular Pontiacs ever, the historically important 1957 Bonneville Convertible offered innovation, style and performance in an exciting limited-edition automobile. The example offered here fully conveys, in every sense, all that the first Bonneville was meant to be. The 1957 Pontiac Bonneville is offered by a licensed automobile dealer from Maine.
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert