1969 Pontiac Bonneville

http://southbend.craigslist.org/cto/4722199156.html

 

Date on pics could be wrong (my camera is broken like that) sellers makes no mention and the description sort of makes the new parts sound only 2 years old when looking at the date on the pics, and I'm positive we have seen this very wagon many times sooooo whats the deal with the date would be my first question to seller if I could over look the asking price.

Does look nice....in 2010:confused:

 

One of my favorite designs. Man I love Pontiacs! Needs Rally II wheels!

 

I'll bet this is a low-option Bonneville Safari - at least no power side windows. Seller says, "All power: steering, brakes, transmission, rear window"

And the sticker price he quoted, $5,390, doesn't seem all that high for a '69 Bonneville. I think my folks '66 Caprice wagon (hardly any equipment) had a sticker around $4,500 3 years earlier.

 

I'd pay that!

If it was a '69 LeMans woodie...

 

I noticed there's an electrical hookup just underneath the back bumper so its safe to assume its hauled a trailer or boat at some point maybe?
The nose cone thing is what really sticks out on this car for me... it almost appears as though its flat-black in color, or lost its paint or something?

Too bad the seller hasn't posted more pics of the car in his ad...

I'd be super interested if it was a 1970 in this kind of shape, especially with a 455, even at the sellers current asking price... Our 1970 was almost this color, a little darker green... really looks like it from the rear view...

 

Pre bumpers-cats-bags. Minimal imperial entanglements - thatz nice.
Though always hesitate when there is evidence of trailer towing such as wiring receptacle in bumper.

 

Also on 69 B-body Pontiac's Inspect the endure Nose very carefully, no replacements available, and most are cracked or missing large chunks. The Larger versions on the GTO's and 70-73 Firebirds seem to hold up better than just the center section on the 69 Full size cars.

 

Nice looking Wagon and worth the money if it really is in excellent condition.

 

A decent body shop would be able to repair it - similar method to repairing urethane bumper covers.

 

Krash - Logic would say you are correct, but experience says differently, the 69 B-body nose piece seems to continue to fall apart around any repairs that are made, once they start shedding chucks of material it just gets worse.
I had an Uncle that had this happen to his 69 Bonneville Cvt after an accident repair, the insurance company would not pay for a new part (they were still available at the time) and repaired it 2 times, the 3rd time he made a deal with the body shop and paid for the difference for a new part to be installed.
And a couple people in our Local Pontiac Club have had the same experience. I don't know if the material is different than the GTO/Firebird parts, or if the thickness and or shape makes the difference?

 

Well, those early 'Endura' noses are really not the same as your modern urethane bumper cover and remaining bumper parts, truth be told.

From what I remember, the 'nose' on the '69 Pontiac, as well as the redesigned '70 Firebird were some sort of 'plastic/rubber' application bonded to a steel inner panel that was basically the shape of the bumper, but slightly smaller to account for the thickness of the plastic/rubber. The modern body-colored bumpers you see around now are formed urethane, attached to various other pieces underneath. Most modern bumper assemblies start with a steel or aluminum reinforcement bar, then add foam or plastic waffle impact absorption material, then the cover goes on over that.

 

Just as a reference this picture is from a E-bay auction for a 69 Catalina Sedan

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/201213731431?item=201213731431&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466

 

CammerJeff I would say you're pic is pretty convincing and it would suggest that the '69's nose cone is completely void of whatever that material is... the Pontiac V emblem is there but it appears as though the cracked pieces of shell on the sedan in your pic disappeared long ago on the wagon...
Great pic and good information, thanks for posting.