This is the story of my '65 Bonneville.
She's the first car I bought for myself. When I started, I started
doing some things wrong, (hey, I was just 19 in '96) but I'm glad I kept
up with it and didn't let the pressure get to me. I've learned a lot on
the 20+ cars I've bought, fixed and sold (or dismantled), which my Bonnie
has watched come and go. She knows she'll always be mine.
Bonnie: 1996-2003
This is how she looked when I first brought her home,
May 30, 1996.
This shows all of her 221.7" of length, completely hiding my 214"
long 1986 Grand Marquis (RIP, Merc 1986-1998)
My first repair was the water pump, and shortly after, the fuel pump and alternator. First mod? Dual Exhaust with glass packs, of course. Soon after, Chrome valve covers, breather, Mallory breakerless ignition converion, and huge 8.8mm plug wires. Since then, the original valve covers and breather tube were put back on. Note the Chrysler ignition ECU on the passenger's fender. I wonder what kind of history this car has...
Bonnie's trunk was full of rust. Luckily, there were no holes but I still spent a long time sanding and applying naval jelly to the trunk to get it looking good again.
This is a true local car. It was built in South Gate, CA on the third week of September, 1964 and sold in Santa Maria at Van Wyk's dealership, and always owned in the northern 805 area code. On the driver's mirror is a parking permit for Lake Cachuma, from 1969. yes, 1969. I found several blue chips in the dashboard. Note the Mex-Insure sticker. I've also added a 1998 Power Tour sticker when I drove on the Hot Rod Power Tour in 1998 from Santa Barbara to Denver, CO. On my way back, I drove from Mesquite, NV to home on one tank of gas, 450 miles, getting 16.5 MPG.
Here she is after the paint job, November 1997. My hair isn't that long anymore...
Bonnie has stayed pretty much the same since then, with the addition of nice 15X6 Rally II wheels, which I painted myself. The offset seems a little different than the stock 14" wheels which causes the sidewall of the rear tires to rub on the body on turns and when the rear end has a lot of articulation (from uneven pavement).
She's been a very reliable car. I have put on 23,000 miles from 1996 to 2004 and only needed to replace the water pump, alternator and front drums. The engine has never been rebuilt, and has 152,000 miles on it. Unfortunately, there's so much blow-by that it will shoot the dipstick tube into the hood, there's a lot of valvetrain clacking, but she keeps on cruisin'!
However.....
In the upcoming year, she will be undergoing a major demeanor-reconditioning program...
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