My friend Jason Bagge from Spokane, Washington, has a real passion for 1970s American land yachts, and his 1972 Bonneville Car, finished in a striking black-over-white, is perhaps the most memorable of all the classic cars he’s owned. There’s something truly special about this particular Bonneville, and it goes beyond just its stunning aesthetics.
My personal history is intertwined with Pontiac Bonnevilles. The earliest car memory I have is of riding in my father’s company car, a 1979 Bonneville sedan. It was a metallic root beer-brown, complemented by a beige top and interior. I couldn’t have been more than two years old at the time.
I can vividly recall sitting in a booster seat in the middle of the back seat of that Bonneville as we went through the local Shell station’s car wash, just a short distance from our home. The sensation of water spraying everywhere and the bright, rotating red and yellow scrubbers is etched in my mind – a far cry from today’s touchless car washes. That experience cemented my early fondness for car washes and, more importantly, for Pontiac Bonnevilles. While I developed a particular soft spot for the 1977–79 Bonneville sedans, my appreciation extends to all iterations of the full-size Bonneville, from the inaugural 1957 fuel-injected convertible to the final sedans of 2005. These Bonnevilles, excluding the Grand Ville era from 1971–75, were undeniably Pontiac’s most luxurious and refined full-size offerings of their respective times.
But let’s refocus on the 1972 Bonneville. The 1972 Pontiac Bonneville debuted alongside the rest of the Pontiac lineup on September 23, 1971. It was entering its second year as the slightly less opulent full-size Pontiac, a position it assumed after the introduction of the Grand Ville, often dubbed the “Super Bonneville,” a year prior.
The Grand Ville boasted even more lavish interior appointments than the Bonneville and featured an exclusive, formal C-body roofline on both two-door and four-door hardtops. This marked Pontiac’s ongoing shift from its muscle car image towards an era of Brougham styling, characterized by plush velour interiors and prominent chrome grilles. Consequently, the Bonneville lost its convertible body style to the Grand Ville in 1971, a first since 1957. Unbeknownst to many at the time, this signified the end of the Bonneville convertible lineage. The last full-size Pontiac convertible would be the 1975 Grand Ville Brougham. Enthusiasts seeking open-top Pontiac experiences could still find solace in the Firebird and Sunbird convertibles in subsequent years.
The full-size 1971 Pontiacs were completely redesigned, featuring a polarizing full-width grille design, a defining characteristic across the model range, albeit with variations in grille bar designs depending on the trim level. For the 1972 model year, the most notable changes included a more formal grille, a sturdier front bumper, and redesigned taillights. While the 1971 front end design has its admirers, the 1972 iteration, particularly on the Bonneville and Grand Ville, with its more refined, vertically patterned grille bars, is arguably more aesthetically pleasing.
Another significant change for the 1972 full-size Pontiac lineup was the discontinuation of the Bonneville station wagon. The top-tier station wagon models were now part of the Grand Ville series, offering buyers a choice of painted or woodgrain sides and two- or three-seat configurations. Catalina wagons remained available as before. Continuing from the 1971 redesign, all station wagons featured a three-inch longer wheelbase compared to other full-size Pontiacs.
Under the hood, all 1972 Bonnevilles came standard with a 455 cubic inch V-8 engine, equipped with a two-barrel carburetor and producing 185 horsepower. Optional engine upgrades included a four-barrel 400 (250 hp), a four-barrel 455 (220 hp), and a two-barrel 455 (200 hp) with slightly different tuning. The Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission and front disc brakes were standard features across the Bonneville range, emphasizing its position as a premium offering.
Pontiac achieved fifth place in overall sales for 1972, with a total of 702,571 vehicles across all models. The Series 2N Bonneville was offered in three body styles: a four-door pillared sedan, a four-door hardtop, and a two-door hardtop. The four-door hardtop, the same model featured here and once owned by Jason, had a base price of $4292 and a curb weight of 4369 pounds. It was the most popular Bonneville variant that year, with 17,202 units produced. The pillared sedan accounted for 15,830 sales, and the coupe for 13,866.
Reflecting the trend of American full-size cars in the 1970s, the Bonneville offered extensive personalization options in terms of color, trim, and features. Notable available options included automatic air conditioning ($507), automatic level control ($77), cruise control ($62–67 depending on model), power trunk lid release ($14), and for those seeking premium audio, an AM/FM radio with an eight-track stereo tape player for $363.
I’ve always been particularly drawn to the now-discontinued four-door hardtop body style. They possessed a unique coolness, blending the sleek lines of a hardtop with the practicality of four doors. In my opinion, they were just as stylish as their two-door counterparts, offering the best of both worlds. And the 1972 Bonneville four-door hardtop, especially when finished in Starlight Black with a white Morrokide interior and a black vinyl roof, as was Jason’s car, exuded unparalleled style.
Jason had been admiring this particular Bonneville car for years. It resided just a five-minute walk from his home but was never officially for sale. He would often stop by, chat with the owner, and even occasionally help to clean and polish the car. Then, in March 2018, it unexpectedly appeared on Craigslist. Jason knew he had to act fast before someone else seized the opportunity. He promptly walked over, negotiated a deal, and began the process of making it his own.
It’s remarkable what a difference simple detailing can make to an older car. With a borrowed power buffer and a fresh set of whitewall tires, the Bonneville was transformed, looking almost factory fresh. During the few months he owned it, Jason thoroughly enjoyed cruising around town with his father, often stopping to chat with friends who recognized the striking Bonneville car. “Hey man! Cool car, Jason!” was a common refrain.
Even before Jason acquired the car, I had expressed my strong desire to feature it if he ever bought it. Once the deal was done, Jason went above and beyond to provide me with some fantastic photographs. Given that he’s in Spokane and I’m in the Midwest, getting my own photos wasn’t feasible. But as you can see, the pictures he provided are truly exceptional. He scouted out some incredibly photogenic locations around Spokane, and I am immensely grateful for his efforts.
This Bonneville car is truly exceptional. The black paint and top, combined with the white interior, create a striking and somewhat uncommon color combination that really stands out. It reminds me of my grandmother’s 1977 Thunderbird, which was black with a red pinstripe and a white bucket seat interior with dark red accents – a color scheme I’ve always admired.
What’s particularly impressive about this Bonneville is its originality and remarkably low mileage. It had only 40,414 miles on the odometer when these photos were taken, a testament to its well-preserved condition.
While the Bonneville’s interior was certainly comfortable and well-appointed, it was perhaps not quite as overtly luxurious as earlier models, especially compared to the Grand Ville. However, it still provided a refined and quiet cabin experience. Although Jason’s car lacked the optional power windows, it was equipped with a power front bench seat.
As the pictures clearly demonstrate, this Bonneville car is a low-mileage gem. The door panels, seats, carpeting, and all interior hardware were in excellent condition, reflecting its careful preservation.
The only minor interior flaw was some fading of the black carpeting to a tobacco brown hue in areas, likely due to prolonged sun exposure. Had Jason retained the car longer, he intended to restore the carpet color to a uniform black.
During the approximately three months Jason owned this exceptional Bonneville car, I consistently encouraged him to keep it, emphasizing its rarity, remarkable condition, low mileage, and fantastic “tuxedo” color combination. However, as often happens with car enthusiasts, another compelling classic land yacht surfaced, funds were needed, and this fine Pontiac was listed on eBay.
Surprisingly, it was purchased by a classic car museum in Eastern Europe. Over the past decade or two, European collectors, particularly in Sweden, have developed a strong interest in 1970s American full-size cars. Models like Country Squires, Fleetwood Talismans, and Caprice Landaus are highly sought after.
As many domestic collectors still underestimate the value of these cars, and European buyers are willing to pay premium prices, numerous large American Broughams have found new homes overseas, as was the case with this Bonneville car. It sounds like a fitting retirement for such a well-preserved and desirable example. And for Jason, not to worry; he has recently acquired a 1974 Ford LTD Brougham coupe, which will likely be another story for another time, once he’s finished making it “pretty”!
