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Winter 2009 , Car Chatter, Car Chatter
They're out there if you know where to look
One that almost got away, a 1960 Bonneville.
If anyone had told me I would ever own a 1960 Bonneville, I would have told them they were crazy. Don't get me wrong, I like the so-called "boats". And I'm a Pontiac fan first and foremost, since I bought my first car, a 1969 GTO, when I was 16. And it's not that I did not like the '60 Bonne's beautiful styling and great performance, either. It was just never on my personal Top 10 list (like, for instance, a 1958 is).
So, in January of 2004 when I came across a nondescript ad in a small town free newspaper that read: “Pontiac Bonnevile 1960 Sport Coupe, black, one owner, excellent condition”, I did not call right away.
As a matter of fact, almost a month went by before I called Mr. Charles E. Miller about his car for sale. Something kept telling me, “find out about this car”. When Mr. Miller answered the phone, I found out the Bonneville was indeed still for sale. I asked when it was last repainted and he quickly responded with a curt, “never”. That's when I became very interested. Answers to the next several questions yielded the history of this possible diamond in the rough.
Way back in February of 1960, with gas under two bits a gallon and Eisenhower beginning his final year in the White House, Mr. Miller drove his 1956 two-door Ford Victoria into the Renn Pontiac dealership in Frederick, MD. His mission? To check out the "all new" 1960 Pontiacs. He came across a sharp, nearly new, black 1960 Bonneville Sport Coupe. Turns out the car was a demonstrator and was used by the dealer himself. Options included power steering, brakes and antenna. There were a few other “group options” that made the car easier to get along with. Soon a deal was struck. The Ford stayed as the Pontiac was happily driven home.
Once home, the Bonneville was treasured and very well taken care of. After a few short years the car became garage-stored and another vehicle was purchased for use as primary transportation. Since Mr. Miller worked nights at the railroad, the Bonneville did not see long, hot days exposed to paint-damaging sunlight in the company parking lot. Soon, the Pontiac became used mainly for recreational cruising with one of the then-new CB radios that became available to the public. During the installation of the CB, thankfully, there were no permanent holes drilled in the trunk lid or quarter panels. Likewise, under the instrument panel, modifications were kept to a minimum.
As the years passed, the car was used less and less. By 1974 the Bonneville had accumulated just 77,000 miles. Mr. Miller decided it to trade the car in for new Pontiac Bonneville. He was shocked that the dealer made him such a low offer on a trade-in for his well cared-for, near mint vehicle. Shock slowly gave way to anger as the trip home ensued. Mr. Miller would never own another Pontiac nor drive his on the road again. (A lesson for today's dealers, perhaps?) His son, born in 1976, would never have the pleasure of a drive with dad in the big black beauty.
For almost the next 30 years, the Bonneville was washed and started semi-annually, but never driven on a public road. As Mr. Miller's health deteriorated over the ensuing decades, the car’s care began to suffer. Due to moisture and time, ugly green mold had taken residence on all exterior chrome. The exterior paint had a 1/16 inch of dust on it, a tire went flat, and the exhaust system rusted to the ground. Inside, an unknown film had formed on all the beautiful chrome and windows. (One could hardly see inside the car!) The battery failed from non use. Even the water pump began to leak steadily on the floor due to a worn seal.
Overall, not a pretty picture. Especially when trying to find a buyer!
At first glance, the Bonneville’s appearance was awful. I figured out that all previous prospective buyers compared the condition to the asking price and promptly left, thinking it was overvalued. (Mr. Miller apparently got very grumpy over some of the offers.) It appeared the car would never leave the garage, despite some price softening afterwards.
Yet when I first saw the car on a wet, January day, I was still impressed with the straight body, lack of rust and remarkably preserved interior. Even the original red floor mats were still in place! Damage from the sun was minimal. Within about 30 seconds, my heart began to pound and my brain began to shout, “buy this car” within my head. I wanted to examine it some more, but I could see Charles was not walking well in the cold. Like a proud, overprotective poppa meeting with prospective suitors for his daughter, he was not interested in having me look at his car without him watching over it. I asked if we could go inside and chat.
Once in the warmth of his house, both of us sat at the kitchen table. I offered him a price range I thought the car was worth IF it ran as he said it did. Mr. Miller immediately picked the highest dollar amount and said it was lowest he was going to go. “The car can stay in the garage” he piped out loud. Despite feeling I may be paying way too much for a car I could not drive, I agreed and left a small deposit. Once we had the flat tire repaired and the car was running, I would come back for a second and final look.
Within three weeks, I received a call saying the car was up and running, ready for me to complete the sale. This time, it was a bright sunny February day as I pulled into the driveway, to see the car just outside of the garage for the first time in weeks. The site was amazing. Despite dirt and grime, the sport couple body style looked so sharp in black. I had a damp sponge and towel with me. Almost apprehensively, I began to wipe away the decades-worth of dust over several areas to check for any imperfections and thin, worn paint. After clearing about six spots, Mr. Miller blurted out, "That car has never seen a buffer." When I looked up curiously, he exclaimed with pride, "My hand did all the polishing." I felt better.
Later I found out that to prevent the gasoline from deteriorating, the owner made trips to the local airport for leaded fuel. This care kept the fuel system in top shape. (A tip for my fellow classic car owners.) The Bonneville fired right up and sounded great for enduring such a long sleep! But a test drive was out of the question. “You can not find parts for it anymore” Charles argued. All the electronics were in working order. Considering the lack of use, I was very pleased.
Despite the lack of a test-drive, I had enough confidence to complete the sale. Payment and arrangements for transport were made.
About two weeks later my Bonneville was flat-bedded to a local shop for some brake work and an alignment. After that, it was in my own garage for some major detailing. It took the better part of six months to clean, buff and polish to restore its original beauty. Several mechanical items were also repaired. A couple of Pontiac Oakland Club International members, Richard Ray and Tony Toma, provided parts and expertise that I could not have done without. (Thanks, guys.)
Unfortunately, my dream of showing Mr. Miller his car after it was finished was never achieved. During the time I was working on the Bonneville, Charles suffered a major stroke in September of 2004. He was unable to function and has since passed away.
Though saddened by this, I was somewhat consoled by the fact that I had restored his precious baby to its original luster from its heyday. And of course I''ll take just as good care with it as he did, as I only drive it to an occasional show. I'd like to think Mr. Miller would be happy and contented to know his 1960 Bonne has found a happy home and is in good hands.
So, the next time you see an old car ad that sounds too good to be true, check it out. What may seem to be ridiculous or unrealistic may offer a pleasant surprise. You never know what kind of treasures are out there, still waiting to be found!