Back when America really stood out above the world with cars. In my opinion the best looking cars came from America from 1930s till mid 1970s. Sadly, those times are over.
+Lt Col Speirs Sir, Today all cars are derivative from each other. Well, perhaps the Dodge Challenger is a good looker since it's derivative of the 1970's Challenger. For the rest of the world, I do give some kudos to BMW for coming up with some fresh designs, too bad their cars rate low in engine reliability. Hyundai is trying new stuff in the tail light department that Ford copies on the Ford Focus, or is it the Ford Fusion (who cares?) Mercedes tries new stuff like computer morphed side fake engine air dam intakes that others copy. The Japanese new styling brainstorm are cars that have huge unfinished grill openings that look like vacuum cleaners. As you said, "sad times".
+Lt Mojo Risin The fall can link directly to the oil crisis of 73. From then on styling was mostly abandoned. Especially with the econo cars of the 80s trying to compete with the foreign market.
I drove one of these for years. First car I ever drove. Absolutely my favorite car to this day. It has indeed, a 389 Pontiac V8, predecessor to the almost identical 400. I had a single Carter AFB 4 bbl., 4 speed hydromatic (iron case) and that wind noise you hear is the classic "pontiac whistle" for many years all Pontiacs would whistle at speeds of about 30-45 mph. Was it the mirrors? The trim? Never could tell. You can hear one coming two blocks away. Usually not so loud from inside the car. The 19 ft. 4-door I had had the "vista" roof with NO pillars, and could do 0-60 in 7 seconds. Not bad for '50's heavy iron. UGH I want it. What memories. Most beautiful car ever made!
Thank you Thank you.... you were spot on when you said that modern cars are appliances. I'm sick of the modern car industry giving us the same stuff.. give me rear wheel drive bench seat chrome everywhere and long.
Gas prices then were on par with today's prices. What's changed more is, people did not usually drive 50+ miles one way to get to work. Kids walked to school and violin lessons. Etc.
Nice thought indeed. Will never happen again. The circumstances all came together for cars such as this. Far more circumstances have occurred so this will never happen again. It's like hoping the clothing and hairstyles of the 19th century will return----they never will either.
It's a lot more complicated than that. You might want to read my comments from 1 year ago here on it. It's as gone forever as the clothes, hairstyles and everything from the 17 and 1800's, Baily.
My first car (1976) was a '59 4 door Catalina, at the end of its life it burned more oil than gas, however, I loved it and it got me around, huge, wide, and bigger than my apartment.
Really, really loved this episode. Mike, if you love cars from the 50s so much, you should feature more of them on this channel! I love the muscle cars too, but you're right, for style, you can't touch the stuff from the 50s, and even the 40s and 30s. Really hope to see more episodes with cars like this featured!
Beautiful. Puts me back in high school in the early 60s. God cars were beautiful in those days and why I became a dealer sponsored ( because of my racing reputation) factory line mechanic for GMC and Mopar dealers. Good times.
I just came across this video and being a kid who's father bought a used one in 1968 for $70 I remember him telling my mom I ran outside and went for a ride and fell in love at age 6. Silver Star Chief with a nice interior and sparkles in the carpet. The dash was eye candy and I loved the styling so much that when dad sold it I balled my eyes out hugging the ass end of the car. I was heart broken. You Have great taste, I just ordered a SUN STAR 1/18 silver 1959 Bonnie Coupe off EBAY for $100. I would love the real thing but living in the north east forget it. I saved this video because I love this car and best of all your excitement to see and drive it.
10:10 He hit the nail on the head when he says... "modern cars....I think they're appliances...they have some semblance of use...but for style, you can't touch a car like this!"
The guy is so right. At my job, when a guy gets a new car, nobody cares. "So, you've got a new Honda", but that's all : they won't even get out to have a look at it. Cars nowadays are so dull. One of the rare cars that draws some attention is the Dodge Challenger : as far as design is concerned, it's amost alone in its league.
Bob Morane Same with my friend who got a 2010 subaru sti not long ago. I thought i was a big fan of modern Subaru cars but when we drove off it felt so cheap with all the plastic interior! I like vintage cars. With style, chrome, and metal dash. Can't we bring some of that magic back in a way? Even modern fridges have less style than the 50's ones! moar plastic!
+ALW TheFox Funny thing is these cars were appliances in their day to many and were also often considered junk by many if they managed to get to 100,000 miles. Mileage is only a number, it _doesn't_ say how much wear is on the car. I've heard of junk under 50k from literally zero maintenance, I've heard of well-running cars over 500k. Hey, It can be had.
@Clarke Shivers Although I enjoy older cars (oldest one I have I inherited, a 1984 Caprice) and my Grandpap was kind of a car enthusiast who traded them in incredibly frequently I still agree. Should you have an interest in an older car, fine. Just realize what's included in older automobiles; safety is a long distance off if you don't retrofit it. Single master cylinders, all drum brakes, steel dashboards, no air bags or seatbelts in most of them prior to 1968, steering columns that would impale you and the fuel pump will not shut off in a collision. Will it ruin the "Old Car World" if you retrofit it? Yes but you could survive instead of impaling your chest.
Rumor has it that the Bonneville and Catalina models did not have brakes. The car had a large boat anchor that you tossed out of the window when you wanted to stop.
421HD? the 421 want around before 1961 and that was for racing only, the first 421's for street use was in 1962 and very very few were built that year. you must have ment SD, not HD.
I was 9 in 1959 & my family all bought cars that year, my dad bought a Chrysler, my uncles bought a dodge, an olds, a chevy & a ford country squire wagon. Remember those cars and when I turned 16 I drove some, great memories, noticed it has dumpers under the front fender, old school. My 59 had them coming off the headers underneath the frame, I used caps. Some used a linkage to open them
The Car's of that time were made with love, built to last, every time i would see T.V. clips of Cuba i thought there it is, proof that the War Cars were example of just who and what Americans were made of, today there is no pride in nothing we make, it is to be recycled and all about the Money, we have really lost our Values in everything and each other. Take me back to the good ol' days!!
My father taught me to drive in a 1959 Pontiac Catalina Station Wagon. The first time I hit the brakes I dang near put both of us in the windshield. I realized instantly my mistake and my father never let me forget it for years after. Oh the memories that this bought back, Thanks for bringing them back. Great car.
Wilbur Snaffel OK ,, so it's a 389 ... not really important in my book that the owner mis-spoke... just a few years earlier Pontiac's slogan was "Chief of the Sixes" ,,, 59 was the year they started down the performance road in earnest.
@@briantracy1324 Really 57 was the first year you could get a Pontiac with over 300 horsepower from the factory. The 57 Pontiac's with the 347 Tri Power setup or the fuel injection setup was one of the fastest cars on the street in 1957. Really only the ultra rare supercharged 312 Ford's and maybe a couple Hemi Mopars like the Chrysler 300 with the 392 Hemi were faster than the fastest Pontiac in 57. But 59 was the first year of the 389 and the wide track stance so many people consider 59 the beginning. But I really like the 57-58 Pontiac's alot and they were one of the fastest cars you could buy if you checked the right option boxes
@GRANT HART His point was it's a 389! Someone so invested in his vehicle that can't convey a simple detail as that seems a little disingenuous to me. And a 389 could/should be able to fry the tires.
LocDawgd 64 Catalina with the same engine. I just got mine fired up for the first time......it doesnt smoke, doesnt idle strange, doesnt run hot, doesnt not perform....20 years sitting in a guys field and BAM...cranked right over after some basic beforehand maintenance. I truly hope you get this car running again. The Grand Prix is a tank of a car.
I know the proud owner knows the difference, but I noticed he "misspoke" on the engine size , this car has a 389 cubic inch engine! I had a '60 model Bonneville with the 389 and believe me these cars would DO BURN OUTS, but I rarely mistreated mine !
My favorite aunt bought one of these new in 1959 when I was two years old. She drove it for five years (then traded it in for a `64 Bonneville), and I can remember riding in it as a kid in the early `60s. The two features I most clearly remember: One, the rear deck window arched upward and forward, extending over the heads of the back-seat passengers by a half-foot or so. At night, you could tilt your head back and look upward for a view of the stars. And two, the frosty-cold air conditioner -- an extremely rare luxury option in those days.
GREAT episode! Just something about the 50's era cars that makes you feel good. Not even the muscle cars (as much as we love them and as cool as they are) have the suave persona that these big, luxurious cars have.
I had a 1959 Bonneville station wagon-flamingo pink with a white roof. The same grand stature, I loved it and I am truly in awe of this beauty, Well done, sir !
Why can't people care about beauty anymore in cars? Concept designs make radical designs, but those are not always the best looking. I think cost and money come into play A LOT. Companies are cheap nowadays, they know you're willing to buy anything with good GAS MILEAGE, ECO FRIENDLY, HYBRID, ELECTRIC, ELECTRONICS. Style on the other hand is an afterthought, aerodynamics might be more important. I have a 1992 Bonneville passed down from my grandfather when he passed away. It's a beautiful car, in perfect condition with only 70,000 miles, he bought it used from an old lady who barely drove it. After so many year he didn't get out anymore so it sat for 12 years. Had to redo the entire fuel system and the brakes, but the car works amazingly now, the interior is spotless, I only take it out on the weekends, it's stored away for the winter. While it's not technically a classic, I like to think it will be one day. It was the first year of the newer body style Bonnevilles and rides like a dream, very quiet and comfortable. It has power seats, which my new 2013 Dart doesn't even have, some stuff just amazes me.
***** The thing is, you CAN bring back sleek style paired with fuel mileage. For all I know all you need is a big enough battery and you CAN power something with this degree of style. (I'm not saying but battery in Vintage and Classics) but company's could bring back style with good Mileage without cheap plastics for the interior of most cars like today.
***** i have a 1996 bonneville even though it has allot of miles on it still runs great. the 3800 series II engine is great. however, my 96 bonneville shares nothing in common with these large RWD classics. i think they have become worse as time goes on and most of what is coming out today has the style of a toaster. pruis, smart4two, nissan juke, honda element, pontiac aztek, nissan cube, scoin XB, i could go on and on. the style is gone. i have a 1996 camaro Z28 as well, what a car and i think highly under-valued. its a 285+ hp car you can buy for $2,500, but people dont care about style, handling, or performance anymore. the people that think a car should be more then transportation are a dying breed. people only care about gas mileage. my LT1 gets 23 MPG average and that's plenty. its fun to drive, if i have to pay for gas (and i do) i wanna have some fun out of it.
andrew donohue 79 Blazer 400 cui - 9-13 mpg, 96 Tahoe 350 small 15-20 mpg, 1964 Catalina 389 17- 23 mpg. Smiles per gallon...smiles per gallon. I look at all my friends in these shit box econocars that have absolutely no fun in them. Cars should be a reflection of you. If thats the case then there are a lot of boring people in the world. By the way. I paid no more than 1400 dollars for any one of these vehicles Ive mentioned. Theyre cheap and they run forever.
goddimmus i have a 1996 LT1 camaro Z28.... long live the small block chevy if you take care of a small block it will wear out very, very, very slowly and replacement engines arent hard to source either. i also agree i hate seeing so much junk on the road. junk like the Nissan juke (puke), the Nissan cube (really YUK), the kia soul (soul-less), the honda element, scion xb (extra boxy)..... these piles look like goddamn toasters. i want to go cut out some pieces of bead out of styrofoam and glue them to the top of one of those "things" because that's what it looks like.... no style at all not even a hint of style.
andrew donohue Im actually giggling out loud...maybe we can make this a widespread thing. We can call it "Toasting". I have a confession though....I love the Scion XB. I LOVE IT! Its the guilty pleasure I have. I dont know why. Its so boxy, ugly, and hateable. Youre right about the 350 though. My dads Blazer had 320 thousand miles on it before the electrical crapped out. Original trans original engine. My Tahoe has 280 thousand and some change. Passed emissions just a few months ago. It runs like a champ and surprises the shit out of people when I tow huge vans or boats with ease. Its all in how you take care of things. I change my oil every 5000 miles and my fuel filter ever other oil change. I change the radiator fluid every year and keep new parts on the car. Simple maintenance goes a long way.
Ahhhh, fond memories of childhood,....Pop had one of these,....guess I was about ten, still to young to appreciate,......but I never forgot this car....specially the four fins.
Chrysler Corp. should be credited for this Bonneville's design. GM was only going to facelift their 1958 designs as was the usual practice since the 58s were all new. Rumors were going around about Chrysler's stunning new car designs. Some GM stylists went over to Chrysler, saw their stunning new designs across the board. Imperial, Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge and Plymouth were all new. They went back to their studio, tore up the face lift sketches and started from scatch.
Definitely the best designs were Chrysler's - Fords and chevs were run of the mill but all the mopars were super cool - especially 57 for all. and especially 60/61 in the chrysler line
BuzzyFredrick During the week if I'm up early enough, I watch an old TV show Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford. It is a half hour crime drama. It originally air from 1955 to 1959. The show features mostly Chrysler Corp. cars from that era. Ditto the old Superman tv show from the same era. Love those old mopars.
bornbillsmith Not only do I remember Imperial, my grandmother used to drive a 1955 and later a 1959. She would drive my cousins, my brother and me down to the Jersey shore doing 80mph.
A sweet example of Early Road Americana. It took two miles to get up to speed, and three miles to come to a stop, but that didn't matter, you was style'n and profile'n and you enjoyed the ride.
The 1959 body looks proper with the 'Wide Track'. Credit John Z. Delorean, whatever his faults, he was a real car guy who cared about how the product performed. [Edit] I should also mention Semon Knudsen and Pete Estes.
I had the good fortune to ride in one of these in 1959!!!! YA, a light green convertible with a white top. 3 of us rode over to Santa Cruz (top down of course) and went cruising there for awhile, then went back home to Sunnyvale. Now THAT was fun :---)))))))))))))
+cave redecorator I was a 389 cubic inch engine. When they said that on the video. I must have been sleeping, I knew it wasn' right, but as I say must have been day dreaming. I had A 59 Catalina, the same engine but with a 2 barrel carb, 4 speed auto. Nice car and fast.
+cave redecorator Yeah I heard that and it didn't add up. A high horsepower engine usually gives up a lot of torque. Not a good combo for moving a land yacht like this.
I know right? As a relatively young 23 year old, I can definitely admit that ever since I was born, I've NEVER seen a modern production car that has any real type of style (From the 90's to Today), or has taken my breathe away, and that's a shame. Cars are just tools nowadays, and their shape follows function, closest thing we have to a "styled" car that ignores science is the freakin' Kia Soul, or dare I say it...the PT -Loser- I mean PT Cruiser...and that's just sad to the max! *LISTEN UP CAR COMPANIES, IF YOU PUT OUT A CURVEY/STYLISH CAR LIKE THIS IN THE CURRENT TIMES, YOU'LL MAKE AAALLLLOOOTT OF MONEY, SOME FROM ME, BECAUSE I'LL BE YOUR FIRST CUSTOMER!*
Look up a 60 model Bonneville, I had a 389, two door hard top and there was no telling how fast it would run , the speedometer went to 120, but it would run a lot faster than that !
***** A lot of these guys have cars to show off with and really know nothing about them... the weight he gives is prolly about 1,000 lbs. too high... they were big cars, but mostly empty space inside...
BuzzLOLOL The weight he gave was not that far off. I owned a 1973 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, and the "curb weight" was listed on the title as 5,400 pounds. This source lists 4,233 pounds for the Bonneville: fastestlaps.com/cars/pontiac_bonneville_tri_power.html
John Wojewidka You are correct, the only engine made for Bonneville that year was the 389 cubic inch V8. That was probably the only one in the Pontiac line with enough power to haul this gargantuan land-yacht. In today's parlance, that engine size would be just a tad under 6.5 liters.
In around 1971 when I was about 14 years old my cousin had a 1959 Bonneville just like this one. He bought it with a blown engine for about $500. He picked up a very low mileage 389 with "3-deuces" taken from a '68 GTO that a kid had wrecked. When it was all put together it was an absolute beauty. Gloss Black with ALL that shiny chrome. In 1971 a '59 Bonneville was still a fairly new car. 5,000 lbs. of Detroit Steel and a beast of an engine. He was about 20 years old and had the sweetest ride in our rural town. Well, we were about a block from our Grandpa's house when it sputtered and 'backfired' through one of the carbs. It burned to the ground, tires and all. It sickens me to think about, standing there helplessly while that beauty went up in thick smoke and flames...
What a Beautiful Car. I've been looking at old cars, mostly 1966 models(my birth year) I''m very fond of the 66 Galaxie and 66 Chevelle. But this..... This is the best looking car I've ever seen.
I am beside myself with joy. My granddad was a Bonnevile man. I grew up with a 68 sedan, a 79 4dr Brougham 400, an 81 2dr Brougham diesel my Nama drove, and the 96 SSEi I got after he passed. I knew he loved them. I never found out what other models he owned, but THIS... is sheer beauty!! I can see why he loved them. I'm 38 I would love a chance to find a 59. Chances are id paint it candy apple red to remind me of the 79 I spent so much time in growing up.
This was one of the best descriptions of the feel of driving and appreciating the style and beauty of a car of that caliber. I always had a fondness for "boats", but I think that Bonneville would be classified a a land yacht. Thank you for a truly great video.
My first car was a 59 Bonneville 4dr hardtop w/389 cid and the hydramatic , and a speedo rated @150 mph . I topped her out at 145 mph , what a ride.! Best riding car I've ever driven. She was red with white bench seat . I paid $150.00 for her from mowing lawns. I miss the ole girl !
Every week, I tune in and after the episode, I think; That was the best episode yet and they can not top this. Here I stand, every week, proved completely wrong and I want to thank everyone at drive for putting out awesome episodes every week. Beautiful car. Just beautiful.
I was having a bad evening until I saw this car. That is perhaps one of the most beautiful cars I have seen. Thank you Mike Musto for showing this to the world. It is exquisite, gorgeous, and in this day and age, truly, truly exotic.
We can write an encyclopedia regarding fond memories of these once taken for granted cars. As time goes by, automobiles of the 1970's are starting to take over where the 50's & early 60's left off. How trite many models of that decade were.
Back when America really stood out above the world with cars. In my opinion the best looking cars came from America from 1930s till mid 1970s. Sadly, those times are over.
+Lt Col Speirs Sir, Today all cars are derivative from each other. Well, perhaps the Dodge Challenger is a good looker since it's derivative of the 1970's Challenger.
For the rest of the world, I do give some kudos to BMW for coming up with some fresh designs, too bad their cars rate low in engine reliability. Hyundai is trying new stuff in the tail light department that Ford copies on the Ford Focus, or is it the Ford Fusion (who cares?) Mercedes tries new stuff like computer morphed side fake engine air dam intakes that others copy. The Japanese new styling brainstorm are cars that have huge unfinished grill openings that look like vacuum cleaners. As you said, "sad times".
+Lockemeister I never liked the look of Japanese cars. I do like the 2 door Honda Accord though.
+Stephen King You never liked the Supra, or the 3000GT?
+Ronan Little 3000GT, that car is the shit. I love that car, I hope I can buy get one some day.
+Lt Mojo Risin The fall can link directly to the oil crisis of 73. From then on styling was mostly abandoned. Especially with the econo cars of the 80s trying to compete with the foreign market.
My god, that thing is beautiful.
Absolutely. georgous
GM really did some brilliant things among their blunders, this car was years ahead of its time.
I drove one of these for years. First car I ever drove. Absolutely my favorite car to this day. It has indeed, a 389 Pontiac V8, predecessor to the almost identical 400. I had a single Carter AFB 4 bbl., 4 speed hydromatic (iron case) and that wind noise you hear is the classic "pontiac whistle" for many years all Pontiacs would whistle at speeds of about 30-45 mph. Was it the mirrors? The trim? Never could tell. You can hear one coming two blocks away. Usually not so loud from inside the car. The 19 ft. 4-door I had had the "vista" roof with NO pillars, and could do 0-60 in 7 seconds. Not bad for '50's heavy iron. UGH I want it. What memories. Most beautiful car ever made!
Thank you Thank you.... you were spot on when you said that modern cars are appliances. I'm sick of the modern car industry giving us the same stuff.. give me rear wheel drive bench seat chrome everywhere and long.
Gas prices then were on par with today's prices. What's changed more is, people did not usually drive 50+ miles one way to get to work. Kids walked to school and violin lessons. Etc.
@IIIBoggyIII True, people who think gas was cheaper then may have never checked the cost with _inflation_ in mind.
Nice thought indeed. Will never happen again. The circumstances all came together for cars such as this. Far more circumstances have occurred so this will never happen again. It's like hoping the clothing and hairstyles of the 19th century will return----they never will either.
It's way more complicated than only that.
It's a lot more complicated than that. You might want to read my comments from 1 year ago here on it. It's as gone forever as the clothes, hairstyles and everything from the 17 and 1800's, Baily.
Someone hiding in the back seat. (3:35) Always check the back seat.
Dave Lammers i seen it
I knew I wasn't the only person who saw that.
Its the camera guy lol.....maybe
Seeing that car in motion really took me back. My grandfather had a '59 Catalina 4 Dr sedan when I was little. Loved it!
This is hands-down the most beautiful car i've ever seen. Who agrees with me?
1959 Bonneville • 100 percent quality in design and even power.
Cheers from Michigan, where this car was manufactured in Pontiac, Michigan.
that's a beautiful car
Cars were a piece of art back then. New cars are very lacking in design.
Spot on. You could even have a Falcon or Valiant and still be proud of it. Pride of ownership.
Pontiacs were the best running cars!! Clean running motors!! I had a 389 Catalina that just ran perfectly!! So reliable!!
Did fire ball Robert's drive and win in one of these oh yes he had to be one good driver
My first car (1976) was a '59 4 door Catalina, at the end of its life it burned more oil than gas, however, I loved it and it got me around, huge, wide, and bigger than my apartment.
Long, low, and lean.
Gorgeous car. And that color is just perfect.
Really, really loved this episode. Mike, if you love cars from the 50s so much, you should feature more of them on this channel! I love the muscle cars too, but you're right, for style, you can't touch the stuff from the 50s, and even the 40s and 30s. Really hope to see more episodes with cars like this featured!
Yeah please consider the 57 Buick RoadMaster. Aaaruuu!!
The 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk. The pinnachle of American automotive design, and my most prized die-cast toy as a kid.
Beautiful. Puts me back in high school in the early 60s. God cars were beautiful in those days and why I became a dealer sponsored ( because of my racing reputation) factory line mechanic for GMC and Mopar dealers. Good times.
1965 Buick Riviera & 1959 Bonneville are my favorite
What a piece of art, WOW!
I just came across this video and being a kid who's father bought a used one in 1968 for $70 I remember him telling my mom I ran outside and went for a ride and fell in love at age 6. Silver Star Chief with a nice interior and sparkles in the carpet. The dash was eye candy and I loved the styling so much that when dad sold it I balled my eyes out hugging the ass end of the car. I was heart broken. You Have great taste, I just ordered a SUN STAR 1/18 silver 1959 Bonnie Coupe off EBAY for $100. I would love the real thing but living in the north east forget it. I saved this video because I love this car and best of all your excitement to see and drive it.
"I love this car!" That's the best line, Mike. I love it too.
10:10 He hit the nail on the head when he says... "modern cars....I think they're appliances...they have some semblance of use...but for style, you can't touch a car like this!"
The guy is so right. At my job, when a guy gets a new car, nobody cares. "So, you've got a new Honda", but that's all : they won't even get out to have a look at it. Cars nowadays are so dull. One of the rare cars that draws some attention is the Dodge Challenger : as far as design is concerned, it's amost alone in its league.
Bob Morane
Very true, very true!
Bob Morane Same with my friend who got a 2010 subaru sti not long ago.
I thought i was a big fan of modern Subaru cars but when we drove off it felt so cheap with all the plastic interior! I like vintage cars. With style, chrome, and metal dash. Can't we bring some of that magic back in a way? Even modern fridges have less style than the 50's ones! moar plastic!
+ALW TheFox Funny thing is these cars were appliances in their day to many and were also often considered junk by many if they managed to get to 100,000 miles. Mileage is only a number, it _doesn't_ say how much wear is on the car. I've heard of junk under 50k from literally zero maintenance, I've heard of well-running cars over 500k. Hey, It can be had.
@Clarke Shivers Although I enjoy older cars (oldest one I have I inherited, a 1984 Caprice) and my Grandpap was kind of a car enthusiast who traded them in incredibly frequently I still agree. Should you have an interest in an older car, fine. Just realize what's included in older automobiles; safety is a long distance off if you don't retrofit it. Single master cylinders, all drum brakes, steel dashboards, no air bags or seatbelts in most of them prior to 1968, steering columns that would impale you and the fuel pump will not shut off in a collision. Will it ruin the "Old Car World" if you retrofit it? Yes but you could survive instead of impaling your chest.
Rumor has it that the Bonneville and Catalina models did not have brakes. The car had a large boat anchor that you tossed out of the window when you wanted to stop.
1VaDude The Cat 421HD (NOT HIGH DEF EITHER) needed two. LOL
Especially with the TriPower option.
I'm dead from that comment. Classic cars had horrible brakes.
421HD? the 421 want around before 1961 and that was for racing only, the first 421's for street use was in 1962 and very very few were built that year. you must have ment SD, not HD.
OH god yes thank you DRIVE, this is one of my favorite cars in the whole world!
I was 9 in 1959 & my family all bought cars that year, my dad bought a Chrysler, my uncles bought a dodge, an olds, a chevy & a ford country squire wagon. Remember those cars and when I turned 16 I drove some, great memories, noticed it has dumpers under the front fender, old school. My 59 had them coming off the headers underneath the frame, I used caps. Some used a linkage to open them
My hubby just found a 1959 2 door Bonneville that is in great condition. Can't wait to restore it.
Beautiful. So right about it being a work of art. Aside from the exotics, where has that aspect gone in today's machines?
The Car's of that time were made with love, built to last, every time i would see T.V. clips of Cuba i thought there it is, proof that the War Cars were example of just who and what Americans were made of, today there is no pride in nothing we make, it is to be recycled and all about the Money, we have really lost our Values in everything and each other.
Take me back to the good ol' days!!
Hellyeah.
Absolutely beautiful! From a pure styling perspective it doesn't get much better than this.
My father taught me to drive in a 1959 Pontiac Catalina Station Wagon. The first time I hit the brakes I dang near put both of us in the windshield. I realized instantly my mistake and my father never let me forget it for years after. Oh the memories that this bought back, Thanks for bringing them back. Great car.
Looking at this car nearly makes me weep. It's So beautiful. However, the owner stated it's a 289 engine. It's actually a 389.
As I posted above, Im sure the "lucky owner " just misspoke" , these 59s and the 60 Bonneville I had would easily smoke the tires !
Wilbur Snaffel OK ,, so it's a 389 ... not really important in my book that the owner mis-spoke... just a few years earlier Pontiac's slogan was "Chief of the Sixes" ,,, 59 was the year they started down the performance road in earnest.
@@briantracy1324 Really 57 was the first year you could get a Pontiac with over 300 horsepower from the factory. The 57 Pontiac's with the 347 Tri Power setup or the fuel injection setup was one of the fastest cars on the street in 1957. Really only the ultra rare supercharged 312 Ford's and maybe a couple Hemi Mopars like the Chrysler 300 with the 392 Hemi were faster than the fastest Pontiac in 57. But 59 was the first year of the 389 and the wide track stance so many people consider 59 the beginning. But I really like the 57-58 Pontiac's alot and they were one of the fastest cars you could buy if you checked the right option boxes
@GRANT HART His point was it's a 389! Someone so invested in his vehicle that can't convey a simple detail as that seems a little disingenuous to me. And a 389 could/should be able to fry the tires.
Can't wait to get my dad's '63 Pontiac Grand Prix with the 389 runnin
LocDawgd 64 Catalina with the same engine. I just got mine fired up for the first time......it doesnt smoke, doesnt idle strange, doesnt run hot, doesnt not perform....20 years sitting in a guys field and BAM...cranked right over after some basic beforehand maintenance. I truly hope you get this car running again. The Grand Prix is a tank of a car.
one of those incredible cars everyone goes silent in shock and awe when they see them... just beautiful...
I know the proud owner knows the difference, but I noticed he "misspoke" on the engine size , this car has a 389 cubic inch engine! I had a '60 model Bonneville with the 389 and believe me these cars would DO BURN OUTS, but I rarely mistreated mine !
Mike Stone Back in those days a driver names Fireball Roberts drove nothing but Ponchos and won big time with that make and engine
Yessir!
Of course they would, this is just another air-bagged shit wagon.
I was just thinking of one of these. Thanks so much for doing this!
My favorite aunt bought one of these new in 1959 when I was two years old. She drove it for five years (then traded it in for a `64 Bonneville), and I can remember riding in it as a kid in the early `60s. The two features I most clearly remember: One, the rear deck window arched upward and forward, extending over the heads of the back-seat passengers by a half-foot or so. At night, you could tilt your head back and look upward for a view of the stars. And two, the frosty-cold air conditioner -- an extremely rare luxury option in those days.
my dad had a 2-door '59 Buick Electra. same thing with the rear deck window extending over the backseat passengers. but it didn't have a/c.
Reminds me of my 1963 Ford Thunderbird, bought it a year ago, so lovely and so beautiful! I'm never gonna give it up either, and I'm only 19
GREAT episode! Just something about the 50's era cars that makes you feel good. Not even the muscle cars (as much as we love them and as cool as they are) have the suave persona that these big, luxurious cars have.
04:58 cameraman hiding behind the seats lol
This show is the only good thing about Mondays. This is my favorite Monday youtube show.
Absolute American Luxury at it's finest. What an absolute sight to behold. Love Chuck's vision.
Really like the car and absolutely love the interior, unrivaled by anything made today imo. Why Pontiac, GM? Why?
I'm proud to say I was the born the same year.
can we be friends
I had a 1959 Bonneville station wagon-flamingo pink with a white roof. The same grand stature, I loved it and I am truly in awe of this beauty, Well done, sir !
"Appliances" perfect word for the modern automobile. Thank You Sir!!
simplesmente magnífico sem comentários
Why can't people care about beauty anymore in cars? Concept designs make radical designs, but those are not always the best looking. I think cost and money come into play A LOT. Companies are cheap nowadays, they know you're willing to buy anything with good GAS MILEAGE, ECO FRIENDLY, HYBRID, ELECTRIC, ELECTRONICS. Style on the other hand is an afterthought, aerodynamics might be more important.
I have a 1992 Bonneville passed down from my grandfather when he passed away. It's a beautiful car, in perfect condition with only 70,000 miles, he bought it used from an old lady who barely drove it. After so many year he didn't get out anymore so it sat for 12 years. Had to redo the entire fuel system and the brakes, but the car works amazingly now, the interior is spotless, I only take it out on the weekends, it's stored away for the winter. While it's not technically a classic, I like to think it will be one day. It was the first year of the newer body style Bonnevilles and rides like a dream, very quiet and comfortable. It has power seats, which my new 2013 Dart doesn't even have, some stuff just amazes me.
***** The thing is, you CAN bring back sleek style paired with fuel mileage. For all I know all you need is a big enough battery and you CAN power something with this degree of style. (I'm not saying but battery in Vintage and Classics) but company's could bring back style with good Mileage without cheap plastics for the interior of most cars like today.
***** i have a 1996 bonneville even though it has allot of miles on it still runs great. the 3800 series II engine is great. however, my 96 bonneville shares nothing in common with these large RWD classics. i think they have become worse as time goes on and most of what is coming out today has the style of a toaster. pruis, smart4two, nissan juke, honda element, pontiac aztek, nissan cube, scoin XB, i could go on and on. the style is gone. i have a 1996 camaro Z28 as well, what a car and i think highly under-valued. its a 285+ hp car you can buy for $2,500, but people dont care about style, handling, or performance anymore. the people that think a car should be more then transportation are a dying breed. people only care about gas mileage. my LT1 gets 23 MPG average and that's plenty. its fun to drive, if i have to pay for gas (and i do) i wanna have some fun out of it.
andrew donohue 79 Blazer 400 cui - 9-13 mpg, 96 Tahoe 350 small 15-20 mpg, 1964 Catalina 389 17- 23 mpg. Smiles per gallon...smiles per gallon. I look at all my friends in these shit box econocars that have absolutely no fun in them. Cars should be a reflection of you. If thats the case then there are a lot of boring people in the world. By the way. I paid no more than 1400 dollars for any one of these vehicles Ive mentioned. Theyre cheap and they run forever.
goddimmus i have a 1996 LT1 camaro Z28.... long live the small block chevy if you take care of a small block it will wear out very, very, very slowly and replacement engines arent hard to source either. i also agree i hate seeing so much junk on the road. junk like the Nissan juke (puke), the Nissan cube (really YUK), the kia soul (soul-less), the honda element, scion xb (extra boxy)..... these piles look like goddamn toasters. i want to go cut out some pieces of bead out of styrofoam and glue them to the top of one of those "things" because that's what it looks like.... no style at all not even a hint of style.
andrew donohue
Im actually giggling out loud...maybe we can make this a widespread thing. We can call it "Toasting". I have a confession though....I love the Scion XB. I LOVE IT! Its the guilty pleasure I have. I dont know why. Its so boxy, ugly, and hateable. Youre right about the 350 though. My dads Blazer had 320 thousand miles on it before the electrical crapped out. Original trans original engine. My Tahoe has 280 thousand and some change. Passed emissions just a few months ago. It runs like a champ and surprises the shit out of people when I tow huge vans or boats with ease. Its all in how you take care of things. I change my oil every 5000 miles and my fuel filter ever other oil change. I change the radiator fluid every year and keep new parts on the car. Simple maintenance goes a long way.
Ahhhh, fond memories of childhood,....Pop had one of these,....guess I was about ten, still to young to appreciate,......but I never forgot this car....specially the four fins.
Jim Wangers would be proud. I was 11 when that car was born -- and I thought it was as big as a house. simply awesome.
there's someone hiding in the back seat lol
Chrysler Corp. should be credited for this Bonneville's design. GM was only going to facelift their 1958 designs as was the usual practice since the 58s were all new. Rumors were going around about Chrysler's stunning new car designs. Some GM stylists went over to Chrysler, saw their stunning new designs across the board. Imperial, Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge and Plymouth were all new. They went back to their studio, tore up the face lift sketches and started from scatch.
Definitely the best designs were Chrysler's - Fords and chevs were run of the mill but all the mopars were super cool - especially 57 for all. and especially 60/61 in the chrysler line
BuzzyFredrick During the week if I'm up early enough, I watch an old TV show Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford. It is a half hour crime drama. It originally air from 1955 to 1959. The show features mostly Chrysler Corp. cars from that era. Ditto the old Superman tv show from the same era. Love those old mopars.
i WAS THINKING THE SAME THING.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE IMPERIAL.
bornbillsmith Not only do I remember Imperial, my grandmother used to drive a 1955 and later a 1959. She would drive my cousins, my brother and me down to the Jersey shore doing 80mph.
. 1959 cars ended up ugly... except for maybe the Caddy... designs settled back down in 1960...
A sweet example of Early Road Americana. It took two miles to get up to speed, and three miles to come to a stop, but that didn't matter, you was style'n and profile'n and you enjoyed the ride.
Pontiac Bonneville: "Exceptionally well done video. Loved the history narration, very educational. More please. Thanks !
Big, strong, and SEXY. Oh, and I also like the car.
True, cars today have no personality. Everything looks like everything else on the road. The big 3 need Mike.
56-59 was indisputably beautiful time for cars, it is the prime example of style.
That is a great car. Just oozes late 50’s early 60’s. Such a beautiful car.
The 1959 body looks proper with the 'Wide Track'. Credit John Z. Delorean, whatever his faults, he was a real car guy who cared about how the product performed. [Edit] I should also mention Semon Knudsen and Pete Estes.
Yes, you have to appreciate a man who loved his 'blow'! Lol
What I've read about that sad episode, was that it was pure entrapment, and his goal was only to rescue his car company any way he could.
That and the fact that the Feds had laid their hands on some really good stuff and John just couldn't say no! Lol
How on Earth we ended up with Sonata !
This is a great looking car from a wonderful era of design.
"I saw a lot of potential". True car guys live by these words.
When the chrome was thick , and the women were straight
+Carbide Jones And when they also didn't shave "down there!!"
...at most trimmed the side of 'the runway' for the flyboys...
4:44 is some one hiding in the back seat?
+Mark Rich yes during all the interview
+Mark Rich LOL no, is a dog moving behind !
Lol ahahahaha I seen that price of hair behind the man. Omg I was curious about that as well.
0-85 in 8sec and immediately got pulled over haha! Great episode, this car is a piece of art no doubt.
I had the good fortune to ride in one of these in 1959!!!! YA, a light green convertible with a white top. 3 of us rode over to Santa Cruz (top down of course) and went cruising there for awhile, then went back home to Sunnyvale. Now THAT was fun :---)))))))))))))
59 dislikes, toyota fans stay the fuck away
that is a big ass screen name you got there. lmfao.
Also very much agree with your comment.
289cubic inch with 300 hp? he must of meant 389 cu. in.
+cave redecorator Naw man, this was back in the 50's before the EPA strangled power output in American cars.
Ryan Vincent i noticed others in comments said it was a 389 also. pontiac was never known to have a 289. their small block was a 326.
+cave redecorator I was a 389 cubic inch engine. When they said that on the video. I must have been sleeping, I knew it wasn' right, but as I say must have been day dreaming. I had A 59 Catalina, the same engine but with a 2 barrel carb, 4 speed auto. Nice car and fast.
+cave redecorator Yeah I heard that and it didn't add up. A high horsepower engine usually gives up a lot of torque. Not a good combo for moving a land yacht like this.
+Jan Nordlund You might want to edit that, because right now it says "I was a 389 cubic inch engine."
What a beautiful car. I'm glad I lived during those times although I wasn't old enough to drive yet..
Simply Brilliant! Well done Mr Cushner!
I know right? As a relatively young 23 year old, I can definitely admit that ever since I was born, I've NEVER seen a modern production car that has any real type of style (From the 90's to Today), or has taken my breathe away, and that's a shame. Cars are just tools nowadays, and their shape follows function, closest thing we have to a "styled" car that ignores science is the freakin' Kia Soul, or dare I say it...the PT -Loser- I mean PT Cruiser...and that's just sad to the max! *LISTEN UP CAR COMPANIES, IF YOU PUT OUT A CURVEY/STYLISH CAR LIKE THIS IN THE CURRENT TIMES, YOU'LL MAKE AAALLLLOOOTT OF MONEY, SOME FROM ME, BECAUSE I'LL BE YOUR FIRST CUSTOMER!*
Look up a 60 model Bonneville, I had a 389, two door hard top and there was no telling how fast it would run , the speedometer went to 120, but it would run a lot faster than that !
At 6:50 he asks how big the engine is the owner reply's that its a original 289cid ,that is incorrect that car came with a 389.0 cu in 6.4 L
The car had 4-5 different engine options including a 289.
The only engine for this year was the 389. And for some weird reason, the only year with no other engine options.
***** A lot of these guys have cars to show off with and really know nothing about them... the weight he gives is prolly about 1,000 lbs. too high... they were big cars, but mostly empty space inside...
BuzzLOLOL The weight he gave was not that far off. I owned a 1973 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, and the "curb weight" was listed on the title as 5,400 pounds. This source lists 4,233 pounds for the Bonneville:
fastestlaps.com/cars/pontiac_bonneville_tri_power.html
John Wojewidka You are correct, the only engine made for Bonneville that year was the 389 cubic inch V8. That was probably the only one in the Pontiac line with enough power to haul this gargantuan land-yacht. In today's parlance, that engine size would be just a tad under 6.5 liters.
Iv watched this video probably 100 times and it still is by far my favorite episode. Please do more 50s cars!
In around 1971 when I was about 14 years old my cousin had a 1959 Bonneville just like this one. He bought it with a blown engine for about $500. He picked up a very low mileage 389 with "3-deuces" taken from a '68 GTO that a kid had wrecked. When it was all put together it was an absolute beauty. Gloss Black with ALL that shiny chrome. In 1971 a '59 Bonneville was still a fairly new car. 5,000 lbs. of Detroit Steel and a beast of an engine. He was about 20 years old and had the sweetest ride in our rural town. Well, we were about a block from our Grandpa's house when it sputtered and 'backfired' through one of the carbs. It burned to the ground, tires and all. It sickens me to think about, standing there helplessly while that beauty went up in thick smoke and flames...
The owner looks like Ed Asner
I knew a fella that was a spittin image of Jerry Van Dyke,and the kicker is he lived in S.Cal. for 31 years before he retired.
56 people has no sense of style.
Love the guy trying to hide on the floor of the back seat!
What a Beautiful Car. I've been looking at old cars, mostly 1966 models(my birth year) I''m very fond of the 66 Galaxie and 66 Chevelle. But this..... This is the best looking car I've ever seen.
This car is amazingly beautiful. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Nice smooth ride, the guy hiding in the back seat could have had a nice nap.
i would love this car over here in the uk
simply gorgeous respect to chuck for loving restoration
A magnificent work of art.
More episodes like this one, please. Love seeing these stylish old cars in nearly stock form and perfect condition.
This is one of my favorite episodes. Thanks, Mike and Team Drive!
Seriously, that's a beautifully designed car.
wow. a fantastic job on a fantastic car....
I am beside myself with joy. My granddad was a Bonnevile man. I grew up with a 68 sedan, a 79 4dr Brougham 400, an 81 2dr Brougham diesel my Nama drove, and the 96 SSEi I got after he passed. I knew he loved them. I never found out what other models he owned, but THIS... is sheer beauty!! I can see why he loved them. I'm 38 I would love a chance to find a 59. Chances are id paint it candy apple red to remind me of the 79 I spent so much time in growing up.
Flat out beautiful. So elegant. Makes me want to put on a Tux.
That is one special car. Beautiful.
What a beautiful car. It's a piece of art. US cars from the 50's and 60's where really beautiful.
"When was the last time you saw a BEAUTIFUL car??" That's SO true. That's why we drive classics - because everything else is just traffic..
This was one of the best descriptions of the feel of driving and appreciating the style and beauty of a car of that caliber. I always had a fondness for "boats", but I think that Bonneville would be classified a a land yacht. Thank you for a truly great video.
My first car was a 59 Bonneville 4dr hardtop w/389 cid and the hydramatic , and a speedo rated @150 mph .
I topped her out at 145 mph , what a ride.!
Best riding car I've ever driven.
She was red with white bench seat .
I paid $150.00 for her from mowing lawns.
I miss the ole girl !
I love this car. My dad's business partner bought one just like this as soon as they were available in a factory metallic purple.
Every week, I tune in and after the episode, I think; That was the best episode yet and they can not top this. Here I stand, every week, proved completely wrong and I want to thank everyone at drive for putting out awesome episodes every week. Beautiful car. Just beautiful.
This car is bizarrely beautiful, not usually my type of thing but this is about the best looking "finned car" that I have ever seen.
God damn what a gorgeous car, Pontiac used to have some of the best looking cars in the world in the late 50s through the late 60s. WOW, love it.
Very beautiful car, great color!
Great show!
oh my God.
look at the detailing in every fucking thing on the car. beautiful.
I was having a bad evening until I saw this car. That is perhaps one of the most beautiful cars I have seen. Thank you Mike Musto for showing this to the world. It is exquisite, gorgeous, and in this day and age, truly, truly exotic.
I don't care what genre of the automotive world you follow, you have to love this car.
We can write an encyclopedia regarding fond memories of these once taken for granted cars. As time goes by, automobiles of the 1970's are starting to take over where the 50's & early 60's left off. How trite many models of that decade were.
InfiniteMushroom c
Dat wind noise lol. love it