Danbury Mint 1:24 1958 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible

I get goose bumps when the Danbury Mint flexes its muscles. They spar periodically with some interval pieces, repainted and/or improved, but when they land the big blows that maintain their heavyweight championship status, we all win. We’ve benefited from some large bouts, as when they introduced their far out 1957 Turnpike Cruiser, the 1950 Studebaker Champion and, more recently, the 1948 Buick Roadmaster, just to name a few. Well, are you ready for the next big thing? Ladies and gentlemen, in this corner, weighing in at a svelte 4,300 pounds, dressed in Mallard Turquoise accented in Marlin Turquoise, we have the 1958 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible. Please join with me as we take pity on its challengers.

The ’58 model year of the Bonneville has been a long time in coming. It is one that a good many of us have clamored for. Danbury’s big Bonnie appears in ‘full dress’ with skirts and a continental kit. It is optioned out in its very best boulevard finery with everything you might expect to see on it in 1958. The skirts are removable but due to the inherently large nature and working order of the connie kit, the latter is static and not made to come off. And while I am not a devotee of the continental kit the car somehow just does not seem appropriate without it. If the Barrett-Jackson Auction® is any indicator, cars optioned with as many factory and dealer accessories as possible seem to fetch far more than the standard versions usually do.

Danbury spared no quarter in putting this model together. We expect a fine fit and finish and this early production sample proves to provide guaranteed satisfaction. The deep Mallard Turquoise, the darker of the two colors, is a foot thick and as glossy as a mirrored country lake. More green, actually, than blue, it is brilliant in person and close up. The fit is laser straight; and there was ample opportunity for there to be mistakes. As the twin chrome spears widen from front fender to door to rear fender, there is never a waiver or faltering line. These chrome trim pieces are inset within the body lines to boot, making the fit even more crucial and DM nailed it. More chrome trim is visible on the top of the doors, simulating the window tops and on the rear fenders as they outline the window exits for the back seat passengers. Perfection. Take time to study the chrome-foiled metal badgings and emblems on this piece, perhaps the best I have yet to see. “Bonneville”, in gold script, adorns the lower front fenders while, “Bonneville” in chrome lettering, makes a bold statement on the trunk and hood edges. Additionally, tri-colored, “Tri-Power” badges add sparkle to the upper front fenders. As I mentioned, the fender skirts are a display option you can take off. By doing so you expose more of the wheel and tire visibility. That’s a good thing; DM took their time getting them right. The wheel itself is body color. The insert of the wheel cover is delicately detailed with tiny fins. The center cap is lettered with white paint exclaiming, “Pontiac”, right side up and upside down. Oh yeah, valve stems too. The chassis beneath the behemoth is Danbury-excellent; lots of detailing to put the model over the top. Aside from the metal brake lines we now see a fuel line, in black, running from the gas tank to the front portion of the car. There are engine cradle and transmission studding, in silver, to delineate more detail and of course the suspension is workable and still provides the perfect stance. The front of the car rides on coil spring suspension and the entire ‘A’ frame articulates as with the real car. In back we see a modern miniature marvel where the wheel travel is modulated via coil spring suspension, working shocks and moving suspension arms.

Much attention was paid to the trunk area too. Swing the connie kit to the left side and you may open the trunk lid. As with the doors there is an inset chrome button simulating the lock cylinder. Inside, under the trunk lid, you will find realistic hinges, scale-wise, proper color co-ordination and all you need to change a flat; jack, jack stand, jack base and tire iron. To the right you will note the mechanism for operating the power antenna, perfectly wired. Yes, the antenna on the model extends. The trunk matting is flawless. On the driver’s side you will see the fuel filler extension as it rises from the floor to just behind the back-up lamp. Go ahead, open it, it works. Behind the back-up light, you see the gas cap. Don’t expect to see the spare inside, as in real life, the continental kit replaces it. Under its chrome surround, DM placed the extra wheel and tire. The rear body colored portion of the kit is labeled with chrome-foil lettering, “Pontiac”. Before we get too far from it, let me address a question that may arise. You will note twin exhaust ports on the rear-facing connie kit bumper. You may also notice that the dual exhaust pipes exit underneath the car and not out of these ports. The ports are dummies. GM realized by ’58 that exhaust condensation caused rusted out bumpers so this option did not include actual exhaust porting.

Let’s examine the interior; I can’t wait to spring a surprise on you. First, suffice it to say that realism has a new name, and it be Bonneville. Swing the doors open on their internal hinges and spot the nice photo-etched door sill. We can readily see that power seats are optioned here and as you fold the seat backs forward, you’ll note the ample room in which to enter the car. If the top is off and the boot is too, enjoy the simulated top-down look. DM fabricated black fabric to line the convertible top storage well, it feels soft and real. The visors work and the passenger side sports a mirror. The steering wheel is a joy to the eye, delicate and scaled with a white insert with printing too small to see by the naked eye. It reads, “Pontiac” in gold. DM uses great material to fashion the seats. They are in two-toned turquoise and feel just like vinyl. The carpet feel is awesome too. The dash is a wealth of detail. Gauges are readable and the radio simulates the Pontiac, “Sportable” radio. If you do not recall, some GM products featured this radio so that you could pull it out of the dashboard via a metal handle and take it with you; to the beach or on a picnic away from the car. Ready for the surprise? It pulls out of the model too! Use a pair of tweezers, it slides in and out.

What, more new detail innovation under the hood too? Why, yes Virginia, this IS a DM model. Can scissors hinges get any more realistic? I doubt it. They open and close the hood without the need for readjustment when closed, the fit is superb. Hood insulation is finely wired up on the inside of the hood. The air cleaner comes off of its tri-stud mounting to show off the Tri-Power Poncho engine. Three deuces with immaculate linkage, plug wiring from your dreams and all the right lines, hoses and engine bracketing you could ask for. The grille is photo-etched metal and finely cut with an addition of the Pontiac symbol. Ok, now for the rating. As I said, I do not much care for fender skirts and continental kits but I’m basing my judgment of the model not as much on subject matter in this case as I am on execution of excellence, fine detailing and operational features. To that end I rate this a 9.9 on the old Thrillometer! With an order number of 443-09, the issue price is $115.

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