1959 Pontiac Bonneville Custom Safari

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE 

By the mid-60s Southern California was engulfed in a car craze, captivating young men like Steven J. Karlock, who became enamored with the Shelby 427 Cobra. Steven's passion for high-quality cars began with a Cobra, extended to Corvettes, and grew to include many legendary marques. Together with his wife, Jackie, he restored and cherished these vehicles. They later moved to Hannibal, Missouri, where they opened Karlock's Museum of Pop Culture in a historic grain depot along the Mississippi River. The museum, showcasing top-tier motorcars and memorabilia, became a Midwest gem. Hagerty Marketplace is honored to present The Karlock’s Collection, offered entirely without reserve. 

The kids are late for school, now what? When you own a 1959 Pontiac Bonneville Custom Safari it’s no problem. The Bonneville Custom Safari was the most powerful, most stylish station wagon in Pontiac’s 1959 lineup. The Bonneville was Pontiac’s limited-production big-dollar image-changing convertible in 1957, a hardtop and convertible the next year. For 1959 they added a four-door sedan and the Custom Safari station wagon, powered by Pontiac’s biggest engine that year, their famed 389 cu-in V8. Plus, the nine-passenger station wagons now used a rear-facing third seat of fold-away design. The entire Pontiac line was picked as “Car of the Year” by Motor Trend magazine and the Bonneville Custom was picked as “Best Buy in the $2,000-$3,000 Class” by Car Life magazine. But the Bonneville Custom Safari was the most expensive model in Pontiac’s 1959 lineup at $3,532 and had the lowest production at 4,673 units. 

Offered from The Karlock’s Collection, this 1959 Pontiac Bonneville Custom Safari wagon is mechanically complete but needs to be finished. It’s painted in Shoreline Gold and features Pontiac’s unique Kelsey-Hayes 8-lug wheels and aluminum/iron drum brakes. Oh, what a ride to school! 

Highlights 

• Offered from The Karlock’s Collection  

• The most expensive 1959 Pontiac model 

• Lowest production 1959 Pontiac model 

• 389 cu-in V8 with four-barrel carburetor 

• Four-speed Super Hydra-matic (Strato-Flight) transmission 

• Finished in Shoreline Gold (P) (Leo Fender used this paint on some of his electric guitars) 

• Ivory with Metallic Maroon and Mahogany (66) upholstery  

• Kelsey-Hayes eight-lug wheels and aluminum/iron drum brakes 

• The chassis number (759C1498) decodes as: 

  • 7 – Pontiac 

  • 59 – 1959 model year 

  • C – South Gate, California, final assembly 

  • 1498 – Plant serial number 

• The Body Tag decodes as:  

  • Style – 59-2735 1959, Pontiac Bonneville four-door station wagon  

  • Body – EP 2411 Euclid, Ohio, Fisher Body assembly sequence number  

  • Paint – PP Shoreline Gold 

  • Trim – 66 Ivory with Metallic Maroon and Mahogany 

• This 1959 Pontiac Bonneville Custom Safari is offered with the five-digit odometer currently showing just over 25,999 miles at the time of listing; however, the true mileage is unknown   

Features 

• Super Deluxe radio 

• Directional signals 

• Dual sun visors 

• Dome lamps 

• Cigarette lighter 

• Quad headlamps  

• Front and rear ash trays  

• Coat hooks 

• Dual horns 

• Tubeless tires 

• Bumper jack and wheel lug wrench  

• Two-speed electric wipers 

• Deluxe steering wheel 

• Electric clock 

• Loop-pile Lurex-flexed carpeting  

• Padded dashboard 

• Inside door safety reflectors 

• Rear seat foam cushions  

• Dash courtesy lights  

• Padded assist rails for passengers 

Known Imperfections 

• Please note that all lots in The Karlock’s Collection are offered after many years of static museum display, without operation or road use. The selling estate endeavored to advance all cars to running condition, however, as a result of the extended museum display, it is to be assumed that every lot will require additional mechanical attention before being driven safely on open roads. All cars will have immediate needs associated with long-term static display and require sorting to perform best and safely. All lots are sold as is, where is. 

• Missing front door locks, rear trim, antenna 

• Crazing on some chrome trim 

• No interior door panels 

• Loose and missing interior switches and trim 

• The interior of the car is mostly in “project” condition and will require completion 

Included 

• Spare parts and restoration receipts 

• Car is filled with spare parts, and it is believed most are for the completion of the interior 

 Ownership History 

This 1959 Pontiac Bonneville Custom Safari was acquired by the Karlock’s Collection in 2014. 

Additional Notes 

A private preview will be hosted by Hagerty Marketplace for registered bidders on Sunday August 18 and Monday the 19th.  You must call the representing Car Specialist, Ramsey Potts (912.508.4096), in advance to secure an appointment.  

Additionally, due to the cars being stored in a personal residence, following the close of the auction all lots must be retrieved while a Hagerty Marketplace representative is onsite beginning Tuesday, September 3rd through Tuesday, September 10. No cars can be retrieved prior to September 3 and any lots remaining after September 10 will be removed from the facility and placed in an adjacent lot.  

A Broad Arrow Group Consignment Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle.   

Contact: Ramsey Potts    Phone: 912.508.4096    email: rpotts@hagerty.com