1959 Pontiac Bonneville Vista Sedan

This 1959 Pontiac Bonneville Vista sedan is said to have been refurbished in 2009 and spent time in Florida prior to the seller’s acquisition in August 2016. The car is finished in Royal Amethyst over red and white multi-tone vinyl upholstery, and power comes from a 389ci V8 paired with a Hydramatic four-speed automatic transmission. Features include power-assisted steering and brakes, 15″ chrome wire wheels, tinted windows, air conditioning, a power-adjustable front bench seat, and a rear armrest. Service performed in preparation for the sale included changing the oil, overhauling the radiator, and replacing the tires and battery. This Bonneville participated in the 2017 Concours d’Elegance of Texas and is now offered with partial service records and a clean Tennessee title in the seller’s name.

The 1959 model year saw the introduction of Pontiac’s Wide-Track chassis, and the Bonneville was revised to feature quad headlamps, sloping chrome trim on the sides, and twin-fin rear quarter panels. This four-door hardtop example was delivered from the factory in Shoreline Gold with a Cameo Ivory roof and received bodywork before being repainted in its current Royal Amethyst. Window tint has been applied, and additional equipment includes chrome bumpers and brightwork, faux quarter panel vents, cowl-mounted mirrors, and an antenna. A paint bubble is visible on the trunk, and the windshield wiper motor does not work.

Chrome 15″ wire wheels wear Pontiac Motor Division center caps and are mounted with Coker Classic whitewall radial tires that were installed in September 2022. A spare tire is located under a cover in the trunk, and the car is equipped with power-assisted steering and four-wheel drum brakes. A rebuild of the brake master cylinder was performed by Ross Restorations of Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, in November 2019, and replacement wheel cylinders, bearings, and brake hoses were also fitted at that time.

The cabin features front and rear bench seats trimmed in white and red multi-tone vinyl upholstery. The front bench is power-adjustable, and equipment includes front lap belts, a rear armrest, and Pontiac-branded floor mats. The air conditioning system was overhauled and converted to use R134a refrigerant in 2009. The Super Deluxe AM radio does not work.

The two-spoke steering wheel features a chrome horn ring and frames a 120-mph speedometer, an analog clock, gauges for generator status and fuel level, and warning lights. A Sunpro coolant temperature gauge is mounted under the dash. The five-digit odometer shows less than 72k miles, approximately 1k of which were added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.

The 389ci V8 was reportedly overhauled during the refurbishment and features a four-barrel carburetor. Service in 2022 involved overhauling the radiator, changing the oil, and installing an Optima Red Top battery. Results from a September 2022 Blackstone Labs oil analysis can be seen in the gallery.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Hydramatic four-speed automatic transmission.

The underhood cowl tag decodes as follows:

• Style 59–2839 – 1959 Bonneville Vista four-door hardtop
• Body BT 1936 – Arlington, Texas assembly plant, Fisher body number
• Trim 272 – Maroon Piedmont and Pomona cloth with ivory and metallic mahogany imitation leather
• Paint PC – Shoreline Gold paint with a Cameo Ivory roof