If you were to look at the progression and development of automobile styling, you will find some sweet spots. These are moments when one genre or style is fading out just as another is coming into it’s own. The 1959 Pontiac Bonneville came onto the scene at a very opportune time in the history of the American automobile.
The 1959 Pontiac Bonneville, with a mixture of sloping feminine curves and sharp boxy edges, carries the weight of the history of automotive styling. The vehicle came out as the rounded “boats” of the 1950s began to give way to the early rumblings of the iconic American muscle car. Very few vehicles encompass both of these styles well, but the 1959 Pontiac Bonneville happens to be one of them.
Though not a limited edition like the 1957 original, the 1959 Pontiac Bonneville separated itself on paper and in design and appearance as introducing the “Wide Stance,” a turn in the conception and design of the vehicle which led to a line of Pontiac vehicles from 1959 to the present. While the Bonneville was a leisure instead of racing vehicle, it is still a formidable performer with what at the time was a newly enlarged 389 V-8 making 260 standard horsepower with stickshift or 300 with optional Hydra-Matic. This included Tri-Power, with triple two-barrel carbs and up to 345 bhp.
Classic car collectors and automotive enthusiasts from around the globe make a yearly pilgrimage to Scottsdale Arizona to attend one of the premier automotive events in the Phoenix Valley area as well as all of North America, the Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction. The Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction, featuring the 1959 Pontiac Bonneville, takes place January 17th to the 22nd at Westworld in Scottsdale Arizona. It only comes once a year, so Phoenix Valley automotive enthusiasts should be sure to take advantage of this opportune even while it is here.
