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1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe is the Definition of Retro Cruising

Before the pony craze began and the Detroit Big Three started going at each other’s throats in the muscle car power wars, the American automotive industry was a wee bit more relaxed. Big-finned two-door coupes and convertibles of the later 1950s are a case in point and the 1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe is one of those cars, minus the somewhat flamboyant tail fins.
1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe 21 photos
Photo: RM Sotheby's
1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe
One of the largest Pontiac ever built and named after the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the full-size Pontiac on hand is one of the last remnants of the late 1950s. After the post-World War II economic boon, it would all turn nasty when the turmoiled 1960s arrived, Vietnam War and all.

Mirroring the social and political changes, the 1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe is a turning point in the North American automotive ecosystem. Before the protruding split grille appeared on Pontiac models during the early ‘60s, the Bonneville’s fascia was more reserved. The stiff upper lip styling isn’t the only reason the 1960 Bonneville is among my all-time favorite American nameplates.

The 389-cu-in (6.4-liter) V8 mated to the Hydra-Matic automatic transmission and the pillarless doors are pivotal points to this cruiser’s retro appeal. Slated to go at auction on July 25th, RM Sotheby’s is offering one of the finest restored Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe vehicles in existence. The current owner of the two-door hardtop acquired this big boy in the mid-1980s, subsequently restoring it to perfection in 2004.

Roughly $150,000 were spent on the restoration, which is saying something about this Coronado Red cruiser. Oh, did we mention that it’s got all original drivetrain bits and bobs, bucket seats, and air con?
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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