1962 Bonneville Project--My newest resto

[Electra Rose]

About four months ago I happened to drive by a service station north of downtown to see a gorgeous blue 1962 Pontiac Bonneville 2-dr hard top sitting out from for sale. I slowed down to look (as is usual for me going by old cars) but didn't think much of it at the time. But the idea of the car slowly ate away at me. You ever have that happen, where you can't get it out of the back of your mind and it doesnt want to go away? Yeah, that was it for me. Needless to say, the owner [turned out to be a buddy of mine] had a heart attack and he had to sell it fast and cheap. I drove it home friday. LOL

 

I have spent the past two days getting to know the car and make myself familiar with it's querks. Instead of the factory installed 389, this car has a 400 Small block V8 out of a 1974 Firebird with a brand new Holley carb, and in the past three owners they had only put 150 miles on the swapped motor for a total of 70,XXX. It has the 3 speed automatic and the stock radiator was just rebuilt. As far as I can tell, most every piece of trim on the exterior and interior is original to the car [due to pitted metal and some rust spots]. Though the trunk pan does have some small rust through spots, it is nothing I can fix with a welder [I may end up cutting out the whole trunk pan for something custom anyway].

 

I have already fixed what the PO claimed were 'serious' issues with the electrical system by swapping out the starter and most of the ignition wiring and it starts up right away every time! I have also fixed some nasty looking/cracked hoses and a few other small leaks that were ignored by the PO.

 

Admittedly this is only my second venture into Pontiac [my first being a 1978 Trans Am full resto-mod], but I have been a GM girl since I was a kid. I am excited to being this car back to life, in both looks and power, and I am very jazzed to share it with you all! :)I want to take it back to as original as possible give the parts I can find, the world needs just a few more original cars. ;)

 

Here are just a few pics; for more information and more pics you can hit up my Facebook [where I plan to catalog the build]. :)

 

XOX Electra

 

Exterior [next to our resto-project beetle and my daily driver]...

The interior is admittedly the weakest link in the car, the dash suffering the worst of it...

And a surprise I found amongst the spare parts in the trunk...

[Ms. J]

What a beautiful find! I love it!

[Bill Schweizer]

I had but sold a 1961 catalina which is very much like your new car.......mine came with a 389 trip setup and a 4 speed manual.......problem was it was just too heavy to beat the plymouth torqflite cars running same engine.......but it looked great like yours and sounded even better........Good Luck .....also got rid of my 1969 vett convertable as well....... I currently drive a mazda miata 2006 hot rod

[TheRetroNatural]

Oh how pretty! My sweetheart is still fixing up her 78 mustang, the roof is so battered, it needs to be replaced..I look forward to helping her fix it up though :)

[Electra Rose]

MaimSeay- Thanks!!!

 

Bill- I love the Catalinas and the Grand Prix's of the same era, they are so classic!! I am hoping to find a 389 with a tri power set up that I can swap into the car since it doesn't have the original motor in it. I am trying to get it as close to factory original as possible. I love Plymouth and old Mopars, they are great cars! I have worked on a few in my day, but I would love to get a '34 Plymouth to play around with. 1969 Vettes are nice too! Got any pics?

LOL Miata hot rod, nothing wrong with that!! They are great little cars, the 50/50 weight distribution makes them great track/autoX cars!

 

TheRetroNatural- Building a car together is alwasy fun!!! Good luck!!

[Auburn Hills]

Electra, that is a beauty.  I just got a 1960 Pontiac Catalina, not a tri-power but loving it all the same.  All original, numbers matching car in really good shape for its 51 years.   They are really solid cars aren't they? 

Here is a pic of it with the first coat of paint and primer. 

[Electra Rose]

Auburn Hills- That's gorgeous! I love it!! They are really solid rides, but they drive like a dream. Congrats on it! :-)

XOX

[Fast 50s Fotos / Adam Cash]

thats so coool

[tatsnguns]

LOL did I read mazda miata hot rod correctly ?

[Electra Rose]

Working on fixing up several exhaust leaks today, but the rain does NOT want to cooperate. Every time I start getting to work it starts to pour/storm and I have to go inside when my hands go numb!! Ugh!

Normally I would be working on it in the shop, but the VW Dune Buggy is on the ground waiting for rear disc brake swap to be complete and the El Camino [1970, also a resto awaiting a motor swap] is on the lift above it hemorrhaging engine parts in prep for the engine swap! Darn rain! Slow going!!

I think I just have too many projects and offer to help too many people XD

 

Here are a few newer pics I snapped in the pre-rain time...

[Electra Rose]

Even though it is far from completed, the Bonneville participated in it's first photoshoot yesterday with Mike M Images...

I will post them on my page as I get the edits back, but here is the first sneak peek!

 

http://www.pinuplifestyle.com/photo/with-the-ride

 

Next mod; seatbelt replacements!!

 

XOX

[lallielovesretro]

Oooh how I love your ability to restore and revive!!! I have wanted to restore classic cars for years, sadly I lack knowing anyone who can help me, I don't have the tools to do it or the technical know-how and all the mechanics I've met in the area are underhanded crooks who charge you more and find more things wrong when you have estrogen and breasts!!! *folds arms and grumps* I'm going to live vicariously thru you :o) Treat her well and enjoy her! By the way, have you thought of a name for your gorgeous gal???

 

Lallie

[Electra Rose]

No grumping! ;-)
I know what you mean about the local mechanics. The guys here are no better. Luckily my Dad taught me about cars and I knew enough to catch them. I wish I could tutor all women in "car talk" so they wouldn't be cheated. :-)

I have two names in the running, will most likely combine them.
First is Marilyn, because Marilyn Monroe died in 1962 and she was an elegant lady. And the other would be "Rose" or "Rosie". The reasoning there is that my grandmother Rosemarie (where I took my pinup name) drove a red Bonneville in the 1960's and it was the family car. So I am debating which one to chose. Opinions? I am open to new name suggestions too.

Thanks for the reply!
XOX