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1961 Pontiac Bonneville

$42,495

Vehicle Details

Make

Pontiac

Model

Bonneville

Year

1961

VIN

AMS49303

Body Type

Convertible

Transmission

Automatic

Engine

389ci V8 TB Code 315hp 4 Barrel

Description

1961 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible – 389 V8 Stunning 1961 Pontiac Bonneville convertible powered by its original 389ci V8 with the TB engine code, rated at 315 HP. Equipped with the factory 4-barrel carburetor and automatic transmission. This Bonneville is loaded with desirable factory features, including working factory air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, a power convertible top, and rare 8-lug wheels.

Highlights: Original 389ci V8 TB engine code / 315 HP Factory 4-barrel carburetor Automatic transmission Factory A/C – works Power steering Power brakes Power convertible top Rare 8-lug wheels Runs and drives excellent Very straight body Very clean underneath A beautiful, well-equipped Bonneville convertible with classic Pontiac styling and a great combination of factory options.

Pontiac Bonneville Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Mike Sullivan

Muscle Cars

1957–1970

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

The Pontiac Bonneville started as the fastest American production car of 1957 and evolved into the Wide-Track performance flagship that defined Pontiac's golden era — a full-size car that combined genuine V8 performance with the luxury appointments that buyers at this price point expected.

This guide covers

✓ 8-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 4 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Bonneville Buyer's Guide

Pontiac Bonneville Market Overview

Based on 18 Pontiac Bonneville listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$26,806

Avg. Asking Price

1960–1997

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Above Average

This car: $42,495

Low: $6,495 High: $72,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 67% ◄

Condition Distribution

Excellent 6%

Good 11%

Fair 6%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 18 listings →

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What is this car worth?

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Pontiac Bonneville Buyer's Guide

Mike Sullivan here. In 1957, Pontiac produced exactly 630 Bonnevilles — a fuel-injected convertible that was, at $5,100, the most expensive American car outside of Cadillac and Lincoln, and the fastest American production car of the year. That's where the Bonneville name started: as a performance statement, not a luxury statement. The name honored Bonneville Salt Flats, where Pontiac racing cars had set records, and the car's specifications backed the association.

From that 630-unit performance car origin, the Bonneville grew into Pontiac's flagship for the Wide-Track era — the car that sat above the GTO in the lineup, that carried the biggest engines, that had the most lavish interiors. The 1965–1970 Bonneville with the 428ci or 455ci is a serious performance luxury car that deserves more collector attention than it currently gets.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Lower Rear Quarter Rust — Probe lower rear quarters thoroughly — the most common structural failure on all Bonnevilles.

✓

Rear Floor Pan — Inspect trunk and rear floor from underneath and inside.

✓

Tri-Power Verification — On Tri-Power cars, verify all three carbs are original Rochester 2-barrels and properly synchronized.

✓

Engine Compression — Compression test on 428ci or 455ci — confirms ring condition and rules out head issues.

✓

Transmission Function — Test TH400 or TH350 through all ranges — smooth shifts with no slipping.

✓

1957 FI System — On 1957 cars, have the Rochester fuel injection system verified by a specialist — completeness and function are critical to value.

✓

Convertible Top (if applicable) — Test top mechanism and hydraulics — inspect frame for rust and the rear tub for water damage.

✓

Power Accessories — Test all power windows and seat — circuit failures are common age-related issues.

Common Issues

Lower rear quarter panel rust — universal on northern cars. Rear floor pan rust. Tri-Power carburetor synchronization issues — all three carbs must be properly tuned. 428ci and 455ci oil consumption from worn valve stem seals on unrestored high-mileage examples. TH400 band adjustment on high-mileage cars. Power window circuit failures. 1957 Rochester fuel injection system — correct function and completeness are increasingly rare. Convertible top hydraulic seal failures and mechanism rust.

What to Look For

Lower rear quarter panels are the primary rust location on any Bonneville — probe thoroughly, especially on salt-belt cars. The rear floor pan is the secondary concern. On Tri-Power cars, verify all three Rochester 2-barrel carburetors are original — a transplanted single-carb setup or incorrect carbs reduce value significantly. Verify the 428ci or 455ci engine doesn't have excessive oil consumption; a compression test reveals the engine's real condition. The TH400 or TH350 automatic transmission should shift cleanly through all ranges. On 1957 fuel-injected cars, the Rochester FI system must be verified by a specialist — complete, functioning original FI on a 1957 Bonneville is a significant value element.

Price Guide

1957 Bonneville convertible (original FI, documented): $80,000–$160,000+. 1959–1964 Bonneville (driver): $12,000–$28,000. 1961–1966 Tri-Power Bonneville: $18,000–$40,000. 1965–1969 Bonneville 428ci (convertible): $28,000–$60,000. 1965–1969 Bonneville 428ci (hardtop): $14,000–$32,000. 1970 Bonneville 455ci: $12,000–$26,000. Convertibles premium 40–60% over equivalent hardtops in all years.

Did You Know?

The 1957 Pontiac Bonneville was named for the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where Pontiac-sponsored racing cars had set records in the 1950s. It was the only full-size American car with standard factory fuel injection that year, and at about $5,782 it was priced above the Cadillac DeVille convertible. Pontiac's "Wide-Track" slogan coined in 1959 described an actual engineering change: the track was widened by approximately 5 inches, lowering the center of gravity and improving handling, and became one of the most effective automotive marketing campaigns of the era.

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1961 Pontiac Bonneville

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