Roman Red: 1979 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham – Sold?

March 28, 2021 Update – We just confirmed the listing for this Pontiac Bonneville “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found we’re assuming this ride “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call Rudy directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

By the late 1970s, Pontiac’s version of GM’s downsized B-Body line, the Bonneville, became one of the more popular choices among traditional full-size car buyers as the model provided a balance of luxury with a hint of sportiness that appealed to these consumers.  A prime example is this 1979 Roman Red Bonneville Brougham originally listed in March 2021 on Craigslist in Pikesville, Maryland with only 45K original miles and equipped with the division’s 301 cubic inch V8.  Interestingly, the current caretaker lists their Bonneville as “best offer” with no specific price target provided. Hagerty Insurance currently does not provide pricing guidelines for this vintage of Bonneville currently. Based on the pictures provided, we rate this Bonneville as a low-mileage daily driver quality car in need of updating bumpers and a dash pad in order to take it to the next level.  Thus we rate it a solid #4 to perhaps a low #3.  A check of the  Collector Car Market Review reveals this guide’s estimates for #4 “Fair” and #3 “Good” to be $2,175 and $4,100, respectively.

Pontiac’s top-of-the-line Bonneville continued its flagship duties on the downsized big car line introduced for 1977. Designers shortened Bonnevilles by 14 inches, narrowed the new car by over four inches, and combined those decreases with other weight-saving tactics to shave nearly 800 pounds compared to their 1976 counterparts. Despite the size decreases, designers developed smarter interior packaging on the 1977 models to provide increased headroom, rear-seat legroom, trunk space, and much-improved fuel economy over the prior ’76 land yacht versions.

Only a pillared four-door sedan and two-door coupe (with optional opera windows) were offered as the hardtop sedans and coupes offered in previous years were discontinued across the board at all GM divisions. The Bonneville also regained the Safari station wagon as part of its model lineup for the first time since 1970 with wood-grained exterior trim and interior appointments shared with Bonneville coupes and sedans.

We found an owner of a similar Bonneville in like-new condition posted this video of their example on YouTube:

We like how the private seller of this low-mileage Bonneville provides honest pictures to show the good and the bad of their classic.  While replacing the cracked dash pad and mutilated driver’s door may seem daunting to some, in reality, sourcing suitable replacements will likely be harder than the actual change out.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“For sale is an all original 1979 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham.. 45k miles…4.9 liter motor..runs and drives..currently tagged..engine and transmission are still strong and shifts smoothly after 40 yrs..exterior is free from any major dents or dings..paint is still in great shape..no rust..only some peeling on the back bumper..interior is all original..no major rips or tares with the exception of the cracks in the dashboard..overall for a 40-year-old car it is in good shape..I’ve tried to show all the imperfections and blemishes as best I could in the photos. b/0.. thanks for looking.“

Do you have a Pontiac Bonneville story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!