This Stunning 1960 Pontiac Bonneville Will Make You Forget About the Chevrolet Impala

Introduced in 1958, the Chevrolet Impala sold almost 200,000 examples in its first year on the market. Accounting for 15% of Chevrolet production that year, the Impala helped the company regain the number one production spot in America.

Deliveried increased dramatically in the 1960s, to the point where the Impala moved almost 900,000 units in 1964. Come 2022 and second- and third-gen Impalas are anything but rare, but they’re incredibly popular with the classic car crowd. To such an extent that other GM-built full-size vehicles from the era are pretty much ignored.

And that’s a shame because GM’s lineup included many awesome land yachts at the time. I’m talking about the Oldsmobile 98, the Buick Electra, and the Pontiac Bonneville. The latter is my absolute favorite for two reasons: it looks sexier than the Impala and it came with a powerful V8 engine as standard.

Just like the Impala, the first-gen Bonneville was a one-year wonder. The full-size was redesigned for 1959 when it was also slotted above the Catalina. That year also saw Pontiac introduce the iconic split grille and “wide track” design that added three inches of track width compared to other GM products.

The second-gen Bonneville was only offered with a 389-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) Tempest V8 engine. While restricted to just one mill, the standard Bonneville packed more punch than most Impala versions available at the time.

Not surprisingly, the 1960 Bonneville wasn’t as popular as the Impala: Pontiac delivered only 80,651 units that year. And only 17,062 examples were convertibles, which makes the 1960 Bonneville one of the rarest full-size drop-tops from the era. The Coronado Red example you see here is one of those cars.

Briliantly restored to original specifications, this Poncho looks like it could win awards at any Concours d’Elegance. The paint looks absolutely gorgeous from every angle, the chrome trim shines like new, and the interior is so clean you could eat off the floor. The same goes for the engine bay, which hides a spotless 389 V8 refinished in period-correct color and still rocking many of its original components.

On top of that, it purrs like a kitten while idling and roars like a lion when the pedal hits the metal. Since many of these drop-tops were abandoned in junkyards or barns, this 1960 Bonneville might just be the finest one in existence. So go ahead and hit the play button below for a walk around and in-car driving footage. 

Related Posts

1968 Chevrolet Impala Barn Find Seeks Redemption with Encouraging News Under the Hood

A 1968 Impala that’s been sitting in a barn for God knows how long hopes to impress with an intriguing package that paves the way for complete…

Unrestored Survivor: A 1959 Chevy Impala That Deserves a Special Place, Not on the Street

Chevrolet presented the Impala as a concept in 1956, and it needed just two years to bring it to mass production. The company didn’t want to rush…

1964 Chevy Impala Forgets the Taste of Pavement, Keeps Hood Secrets Well-Guarded

With a new generation already on the radar, the 1964 Impala didn’t change much from the previous model year. It retained almost everything from the 1963 sibling, with few…

1961 Chevy Impala Revived, Yours for the Cost of an iPhone

Chevrolet Impala launched in 1958 to lead the GM brand’s efforts to get back on the map, especially after so many years of total Ford dominance. The…

Enigmatic 1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible Appears as Barn Find Ready for Restoration

Chevrolet first presented the Impala to the world in 1956 as a concept car. The public’s response was positive, so General Motors accelerated the work on the…

Captivating 1960 Chevrolet Impala Surfaces After Extended Storage, Unveiling Some Hidden Secrets

Chevrolet Impala came to be in 1958, but the GM brand wanted to use baby steps to make sure the new nameplate made itself noticed. Impala debuted…