Joe Bortz brought 4 Pontiac concept cars to the Pontiac show at Pheasant Run. The Pontiac Bonneville Special is unloaded in this video. One of 2 built.
The taillight is very Pontiac-esque of that era. Cool rendition of the Chevrolet Corvette in Pontiac style. The hood revealed a straight in line eight instead of a V-8. Very unique.
I wish I could of been there see this 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special. I probably be sweating a little with that clear greenhouse. I hope you have video on the other 3 Pontiac concepts too.
This car was a 1 of a kind hand built. It was shipped to dealers to display and create interest. I was a 14 year old kid working at a dealer in 1956 when it was shown there. I rode in it with the sales manager several miles on the new interstate highway. It was a flat head straight 8 with 8 Weber carbs I think. At that time, it really was a head turner.
I've gotta agree it's a head turner alright ,, for all the wrong reasons... it was beaten repeatedly with the ugly stick... so it's a 53 Corvette stretched to take a straight 8 and it had the ugliest rear end since the 1962 Valiant grafted on... I gotta say it again ,, MY GOD THAT'S A FUGLY CAR.
I ATTENDED THE SHOW AT ST CHARLES IL. THEY HAVE A DATE AS JAN 2 2013 .THATS NOT CORRECT IT WAS IN THE SUMMER .THIS CAR PHOTOGRAPHS BETTER THAN THE CONDITION ITS IN .THE FIBERGLASS HAS CHECKED BADLY AND NEEDS TO BE RESTORED. AND IT DREW LITTLE ATTENTION AS THERE WERE OTHER PONTIAC SUCH AS THE 1953 PARISIAN A HALF TOP OPEN FRONT SEAT SPECIAL SHOW CAR. THERE WERE MANY FUEL INJECTED 57 BONNEVILLE CONVS . BEAUTIFUL 58'S AND MANY OTHER ORIGINAL AND RESTORED BEAUTIES.
$2 million is a lot for a car that doesn't start very good. I hope they have a warranty. LOL Crazy money. I don't think any car is worth that much. I'd sell it in a second. Thanks
My great-uncle was the original owner of this car. He kept it in a garage in Michigan and told me that the kids would lean their bikes against it! He sold it in the 80's to a guy for the price of a 2013 Vette and saw the mate go for that astronomical price and said no one wanted these cars in the 60's and 70's.
The Continental tire in the back looks out of place on this. Needs a wing-window. Wish new cars had wing windows. And a flat-head straight eight? Were they still in production in '54? A real piece of history.
Too bad GM didn't incorporate Corvette styling into more production cars. I know they had lots of concepts that used Corvette cues. The Corvette Nomad is a great example; they kept most of the design from the "A" pillar back but got rid of the bold Corvette nose for a more conservative Bel-Air front clip.
Dont like the top....goofy "space age" looking.....and whats with the hub caps? Should have nice wheels. Can u imagine how HOT it must be on a warm day sitting under that dome!!??
What a beautiful car - never seen this type before - i love the style!
The taillight is very Pontiac-esque of that era. Cool rendition of the Chevrolet Corvette in Pontiac style. The hood revealed a straight in line eight instead of a V-8. Very unique.
Wow! I can't believe you got to see one of them! So jealous!
Sometimes I get lucky!
Now you need to find one of 12 GM Futurliners. 9 left 3 Restored.....One of the most bizarre and unique designs i've ever seen on a car!
Sometimes I miss!
Update: I went to the Annual Utah Autorama and got to see one of the actual Futurliners last year! It was fully restored and looked awesome!
I wish I could of been there see this 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special. I probably be sweating a little with that clear greenhouse. I hope you have video on the other 3 Pontiac concepts too.
Did someone say, "Pontiac Solstice"?
thank you again for a another great video
Cars really have gotten safer over the years.
But sinfully ugly.
I want the bright orange '64 GTO convertible! Wow!
I love these Motorama cars
imagine driving that thing, it must be amazing....
I really enjoyed this video!!!! Thanks Chuck!!!!
In spite of cellulite, stretchmarks & orange tan, still a rather nice body :]
Great post Chuck. I'm struck by the steering wheel being so close to the driver, I could never live with that.
If they had produced this car, that would have been fixed .
Probably just the pixel rate of the camera but it sure looks like the paint work suffers a few areas of "orange peel" dimpling. A truly beautiful car.
The paint wasn't perfect.
This car was a 1 of a kind hand built. It was shipped to dealers to display and create interest. I was a 14 year old kid working at a dealer in 1956 when it was shown there. I rode in it with the sales manager several miles on the new interstate highway. It was a flat head straight 8 with 8 Weber carbs I think. At that time, it really was a head turner.
It still is a head turner....
I've gotta agree it's a head turner alright ,, for all the wrong reasons... it was beaten repeatedly with the ugly stick... so it's a 53 Corvette stretched to take a straight 8 and it had the ugliest rear end since the 1962 Valiant grafted on... I gotta say it again ,, MY GOD THAT'S A FUGLY CAR.
Every moving company needs to have a person who's job is to repeat the word "Easy".
Thanks for posting,it's a long way from a production car! Cheers.
Yep, I do!
Awesome video! Sweet looking car! It's too bad Pontiac is no longer around. In the past few years, they actually offered some interesting cars.
crown jewel showpiece
I ATTENDED THE SHOW AT ST CHARLES IL. THEY HAVE A DATE AS JAN 2 2013 .THATS NOT CORRECT IT WAS IN THE SUMMER .THIS CAR PHOTOGRAPHS BETTER THAN THE CONDITION ITS IN .THE FIBERGLASS HAS CHECKED BADLY AND NEEDS TO BE RESTORED. AND IT DREW LITTLE ATTENTION AS THERE WERE OTHER PONTIAC SUCH AS THE 1953 PARISIAN A HALF TOP OPEN FRONT SEAT SPECIAL SHOW CAR. THERE WERE MANY FUEL INJECTED 57 BONNEVILLE CONVS . BEAUTIFUL 58'S AND MANY OTHER ORIGINAL AND RESTORED BEAUTIES.
"Chuck Rogers", Hey that has a nice ring to it.
$2 million is a lot for a car that doesn't start very good. I hope they have a warranty. LOL Crazy money. I don't think any car is worth that much. I'd sell it in a second. Thanks
It's a 1930s Engine, slightly changed for the '54 concept, so yeah.
My great-uncle was the original owner of this car. He kept it in a garage in Michigan and told me that the kids would lean their bikes against it! He sold it in the 80's to a guy for the price of a 2013 Vette and saw the mate go for that astronomical price and said no one wanted these cars in the 60's and 70's.
Do you have any photographs of it from back in the day?
The Continental tire in the back looks out of place on this.
Needs a wing-window. Wish new cars had wing windows.
And a flat-head straight eight? Were they still in production in '54?
A real piece of history.
At Pontiac yes.
awesome Chuck. thank you!
I'd like to make a fiberglass body and have something different too. The Cadillac Ghia would be another choice of mine along with a Nash Healey.
There are lots of possibilities.
Nice car!!!
It is a real as they get.
Obrigado!
AWESOME!
Beautiful. Why does the backend sit so low on the wheels and the front so high?
Who knows....
I know it’s obviously period correct, but the orange peel paint still makes me squirm a little
Too bad GM didn't incorporate Corvette styling into more production cars. I know they had lots of concepts that used Corvette cues. The Corvette Nomad is a great example; they kept most of the design from the "A" pillar back but got rid of the bold Corvette nose for a more conservative Bel-Air front clip.
bela maquina!!! vc sempre tem otimos videos parabens
nice
hey chuck
thanks for subscribing to my channel
did you ever heart or saw a barkas framo
greatings from the netherlands
Is it my eyes or does this thing have a huge orange peel paint job?
The paint is rough.
RideswithChuck didn’t they not use clear coat back then?
wow nice paint what number roller did they use
On this car...any number they want.
Flash gorden. Dan dare. Jetsons. Ray guns. Fireball xl5. Super car. Princess layla. Stingray. Batman.
Chuck rodgers &the 21st. Century.
I hope it has air conditioning.... You could roast a chicken in there!
Dont like the top....goofy "space age" looking.....and whats with the hub caps? Should have nice wheels.
Can u imagine how HOT it must be on a warm day sitting under that dome!!??
VERY POOR QUALITY VIDEO, NOT MUCH CAR.
What do you mean poor quality? It's in HD.