MANUFACTURES SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICES

Over the next couple days I'm going to post the various retail (window sticker) prices for the 1959 Pontiac cars and accessories. The purpose is to give you a perspective of what these cars cost. I don't have to tell you that 1959 dollars were quite different than 2010. Keep in mind also that most buyers didn't pay these prices, owing to the trade-in allowances and deals that were made. 1959 was the first year that the window stickers were mandated by Congress, to try to prevent some of the shady practices in the dealer sales business. By providing a "manufactures suggested retail price" customers had some form of comparative shopping.

PLEASE DON'T POST IN THIS TOPIC.....IF YOU WISH TO COMMENT OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS PLEASE POST THEM IN THE RESTORATION THREAD UNDER THE WINDOW STICKER TOPIC. THANKS.....John


I'll begin with the base retail price of the various models and body styles. As you'll see when I get to the options and accessories lists, there was not a whole lot that was standard on these cars, be they Catalina, Starchief, or Bonneville.

2111 CATALINA SPORTS SEDAN $2633
2119 CATALINA SEDAN 2704
2137 CATALINA SPORTS COUPE 2768
2139 CATALINA VISTA 2844
2167 CATALINA CONVERTIBLE COUPE 3080
2135 CATALINA 6-PASSENGER SAFARI 3101
2145 CATALINA 9-PASSENGER SAFARI 3209
2411 STARCHIEF SPORTS SEDAN 2934
2419 STARCHIEF SEDAN 3005
2439 STARCHIEF VISTA 3138
2837 BONNEVILLE SPORTS COUPE 3257
2839 BONNEVILLE VISTA 3333
2867 BONNEVILLE CONVERTIBLE COUPE 3487
2735 BONNEVILLE CUSTOM SAFARI 3532

These prices do not include final destination charges.

The following is a list of stand-alone options and accessories. Keep in mind that generally, options were substitutes or up-grades to existing standard equipment, such as power windows in place of crank windows. Accessories were add-on equipment such as a radio. Stand-alone means that this equipment was not also available as part of a package group.



SUPER HYDRA-MATIC TRANSMISSION...............$231.34
WONDER TOUCH POWER STEERING.................$207.50
MAGI-CRUISE THROTTLE CONTROL...................$ 12.90
SPORTABLE RADIO............................................$234.37
ELECTRIC ANTENNA...........................................$ 29.95
E-Z-EYE GLASS...................................................$ 43.00
LATEX FOAM CUSHION-REAR ONLY.....................$ 12.90.....STANDARD ON CONVERTIBLES, SPORT COUPES & VISTAS...NO CHARGE
WONDER TOUCH POWER BRAKES.......................$ 43.00
ELECTRIC CLOCK ALL CATALINA.........................$ 19.70
OVERSIZE TIRES-8.50X14 BLACK........................$ 18.49.....STANDARD ON ALL SAFARI AND A/C EQUIPED...NO CHARGE
OVERSIZE TIRES-8.50X14 WHITEWALL...............$ 63.64.....$45.15 ON SAFARI AND A/C EQUIPED
ALL WINTER ANTI-FREEZE (+8*).........................$ 4.85
ALL WINTER ANTI-FREEZE (-20*)........................$ 8.15
POWER LIFT GATE 6-PASSENGER SAFARI............$ 32.25
POWER WINDOW LIFTS ALL WINDOWS..............$207.50
POWER WINDOW LIFTS FRONT WINDOWS.........$ 59.13
6-WAY POWER SEAT-FRONT ONLY.......................$202.12
LUGGAGE CARRIER ALL SAFARI............................$ 99.71
SAFE-T-TRACK DIFFERENTIAL...............................$ 51.60
wHITEWALL TIRES 8.00X14.................................$ 41.28....EXCEPT SAFARI AND A/C EQUIPED....SEE ABOVE
TWO-TONE PAINT-STANDARD COLORS.................$ 12.90
TWO-TONE PAINT-SPECIAL COLORS....................$ 53.59
SPECIAL PAINT-SINGLE COLOR............................$ 40.69
BUCKET SEATS-FRONT ONLY.................................$202.12...BONNEVILLE CONVERTIBLE ONLY
CIRC-L-AIRE AIR CONDITIONING..........................$430.00...CIRC-L-AIRE HEATER MUST ALSO BE ORDERED
EVER-LEVEL AIR RIDE SUSPENSION......................$288.13...POWER STEERING MUST ALSO BE ORDERED
HEAVY DUTY SPRINGS ALL SAFARIS.......................$ 6.45
COVER FOR SPARE WHEEL AND TIRE.....................$ 2.58....STANDARD ON BONNEVILLE-NOT NEEDED ON SAFARIS
FRONT LICENSE PLATE BRACKET...............................N/C......ONLY STATES WITH TWO PLATES
DUAL EXHAUSTS....................................................$ 31.18....STANDARD ON 420A WITH 4BBL OR 420A WITH TRI-POWER
AUTRONIC EYE HEADLAMP CONTROL.....................$ 49.75

The following list contains additional options and accessories that were available as either stand-alone or as part of a packaged group. If they were part of a package, the package price was listed on the window sticker and the individual items were listed beneath without their price. If they were ordered seperately, they would be listed with the respective price. I'll post the package groups later.

DELUXE WHEEL DISCS ALL CATALNIA...........$ 17.65
CUSTOM WHEEL DISCS ALL CATALINA...........$ 35.30....(SPINNERS) EXCEPT WITH DECOR GROUP
CUSTOM WHEEL DISCS...................................$ 17.65....(SPINNERS) CATALINA WITH DECOR GROUP, AND ALL STARCHIEF AND BONNEVILLE
CIRC-L-AIRE HEATER AND DEFROSTER............$201.65
WONDER TOUCH SUPER DELUXE RADIO.........$201.65
WONDER BAR RADIO.......................................$235.07
REAR SEAT SPEAKER........................................$ 15.75
BACK-UP LAMPS...............................................$ 10.75
HEAVY DUTY AIR CLEANER................................$ 7.15...STANDARD ON 420A, AND TRI-POWER ENGINES AND AIR SUSPENSION, AND A/C..NO CHARGE
FULL-FLOW OIL FILTER.....................................$ 9.65
GLOVE BOX LAMP..............................................$ 3.30
WINDSHIELD WASHERS....................................$ 13.88
SAFEGUARD SPEEDOMETER...............................$ 10.75
OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR..L.H.....................$ 6.34
LUGGAGE-UTILITY LAMP.....................................$ 8.05...REEL-OUT TRUNK LAMP...EXCEPT SAFARI
UNDERHOOD-UTILITY LAMP................................$ 8.05...REEL-OUT LAMP FOR SAFARI..COULD BE ORDERED FOR ANY CAR
DELUXE STEERING WHEEL ALL CATALINA..........$ 15.78...STANDARD ON BONNEVILLE AND STARCHIEF AND CATALINA WITH DECOR GROUP...NO CHARGE
COURTESY LAMPS....UNDER DASH.......................$ 7.65...STANDARD ON ALL BONNEVILLES, CATALINA CONVERTIBLE,
COURTESY LAMPS....UNDER DASH.......................$ 11.93...ALL STARCHIEF, 9-PASSENGER SAFARI, AND CATALINA EXCEPT CONVT.
CIGAR LIGHTER & ASH TRAY LAMPS.....................$ 7.40...ALL CATALINA EXCEPT WITH DECOR GROUP. INCLUDES R.H. ASH TRAY
CIGAR LIGHTER & ASH TRAY LAMPS.....................$ 4.90...ALL STARCHIEF, BONNEVILLE, AND CATALINA WITH DECOR GROUP
PARKING BRAKE LAMP..........................................$ 5.75
INSIDE NON-GLARE TILT MIRROR.........................$ 4.90
VISOR VANITY MIRROR.........................................$ 1.65...NOT AVAILABLE ON CONVERTIBLES
INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD......................................$ 19.35...STANDARD ON BONNEVILLE...NO CHARGE
DUAL SPEED ELECTRIC WIPER ALL CATALINA.....$ 5.00
CUSTOM LATEX FOAM CUSHION FRONT ONLY.......$ 10.75...STANDARD ON ALL BONNEVILLE AND CATALINA CONVERTIBLE

During the 1959 sales year, several popular accessories were packaged together. These packages were marketed to prospective buyers as providing "FASTER DELIVERY, GREATER CONVENIENCE, AND BIGGER SAVINGS." If any of these packages were ordered, the window sticker listed the group name and the group price. Beneath that would be the list of accessories included in that group without the individual prices. If any of the items that comprised a package were not ordered, then the grouping would not be listed and only the individual accessories with their respective prices would appear on the window sticker. I'm not sure about the "faster delivery or greater convenience," but the "bigger savings" was a myth. If you price out the individual accessories, they total to the same price as the package.

BASIC GROUP (BA).......................................$241.60
PRICE INCLUDES
CIRC-L-AIRE HEATER AND DEFROSTER
WONDER-TOUCH SUPER DELUXE RADIO
BACK-UP LAMPS
HEAVY-DUTY AIR CLEANER
FULL-FLOW OIL FILTER
CUSTOM LATEX FOAM CUSHION FRONT

DELUXE BASIC GROUP(DB)...........................$290.77
PRICE INCLUDES
CIRC-L-AIRE HEATER AND DEFROSTER
REAR SEAT SPEAKER
"WONDER BAR" RADIO
BACK-UP LAMPS
HEAVY DUTY AIR CLEANER
FULL-FLOW OIL FILTER
CUSTOM LATEX FOAM CUSHION FRONT

These groups were not used in the following situations;
Tri-power engine, either 420A engine, A/C, Air suspension---all these already came with the heavy duty air cleaner
Bonnevilles ordered with bucket seats---already included foam in cushion
Catalina and Bonneville convertibles---already included foam cushion

MIRROR GROUP(MR).......................................$ 12.89
PRICE INCLUDES
OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR L.H.
INSIDE NON-GLARE TILT MIRROR
VISOR VANITY MIRROR

This group was not used for either convertible---visor mirror would not clip over padded visors

SAFETY GROUP(SG).........................................$ 43.98 OR $ 24.63
PRICE INCLUDES
WINDSHIELD WASHER
SAFEGUARD SPEEDOMETER
INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD

The price was less for a Bonneville---already came with padded dash

LAMP GROUP(LM).............................................$ PRICES DETAILED BELOW
PRICE INCLUDES
GLOVE COMPARTMENT LAMP
LUGGAGE UTILITY LAMP OR UNDERHOOD UTILITY LAMP FOR SAFARI
COURTESY LAMPS
CIGAR LIGHTER AND ASH TRAY LAMPS INC R.H. ASH TRAY IN CATALINA
PARKING BRAKE LAMP

ALL BONNEVILLE............................$ 22.00.....already had right hand ash tray and under dash courtesy lamps
CATALINA CONVERTIBLE................$ 24.50.....already had under dash courtesy lamps
ALL STARCHIEF..............................$ 29.65.....already had right hand ash tray
ALL CATALINA EXCEPT 9-PASS.......$ 32.15.....none of these accessories came standard on coupes and sedans
ALL 9-PASSENGER SAFARI..............$ 36.43.....needed extra courtesy lamps in rear for 3rd seat passengers

Group price would not be used on Catalinas with the Decor Group below due to right hand ash tray.

DECOR GROUP(DC)...........................................$ PRICE DETAILED BELOW
PRICE INCLUDES
DELUXE STEERING WHEEL
DELUXE WHEEL DISCS
CUSTOM TRIM MOLDINGS AND R.H. ASH TRAY

CATALINA CONVERTIBLE.................$ 38.91
CATALINA SPORTS SEDAN...............$ 52.13
CATALINA SPORTS COUPE & VISTA.$ 54.50
CATALINA SEDAN............................$ 59.39
CATALINA 6 AND 9 PASS SAFARI.....$ 65.90

This was a CATALINA ONLY accessory that was designed to upgrade their appearence. The trim moldings were the stainless steel pieces on the exterior, above the side windows, and the interior molding that spelled out PONTIAC across the ash trays and glove box. The prices varied due to the amount of trim on the exterior. Convertibles had none, and Safaris had the most. These moldings were not available as a stand alone item, and only part of the DECOR GROUP. If you have them, you have this package, and this precludes the LAMP GROUP because of the redundancy of the R.H. ash trays.

During the 1959 sales year, Pontiac had 23 variations of it's 389cu.in. engine. This was accomplished with one block casting, one head casting, and four intake manifold castings. Different pistons, camshafts, carburators, and machining processes account for these variations in horsepower and torque. Many of these engines were built for export, where gasoline quality was poor, and therefor had very low (7. compression. Several engines were built for special service such as police and taxi vehicles. These won't be included in the following pricing information since they weren't normally marketed or available to the general buying public of the United States. There are however, nine engines that are of interest to us. The four standard engines listed below did not appear on the window stickers.

All Bonneville engines with manual transmissions were 260hp, 4bbl, 8.6:1 compression
All Bonneville engines with Super Hydra-Matics were 300hp, 4bbl, 10.0:1 compression
All Catalina and Starchief with manual transmissions were 245hp, 2bbl, 8.6:1 compression
All Catalina and Starchief with Super Hydra-Matic were 280hp, 2bbl, 10.0:1 compression

All other engine options were listed on the window sticker with the price as below.

PA TEMPEST ECON. ENGINE-NO CHARGE
PC FOUR BARREL CARBURETOR.....................$ 24.19
PX TRI-POWER CARBURETION.......................$ PRICES DETAILED BELOW

SUPER HYDRA-MATIC BONNEVILLE........................$ 90.30
SUPER HYDRA-MATIC CATALINA & STARCHIEF.......$200.50
MANUAL TRANSMISSION BONNEVILLE...................$233.30
MANUAL TRANSMISSION CATALINA & STARCHIEF..$243.00

PK TEMPEST 420A ENGINE-4BBL CARB...........$ PRICES DETAILED BELOW

SUPER HYDRA-MATIC BONNEVILLE.........................$233.06
SUPER HYDRA-MATIC CATALINA & STARCHIEF........$254.24
MANUAL TRANSMISSION BONNEVILLE....................$276.06
MANUAL TRANSMISSION CATALINA & STARCHIEF...$297.24

PM TEMPEST 420A ENGINE-TRI-POWER..........$ PRICES DETAILED BELOW

SUPER HYDRA-MATIC BONNEVILLE.........................$320.35
SUPER HYDRA-MATIC CATALINA & STARCHIEF........$330.55
MANUAL TRANSMISSION BONNEVILLE....................$363.35
MANUAL TRANSMISSION CATALINA & STARCHIEF...$373.55

Although these prices seem strange at first, Pontiac established them, making some initial cost and price assumptions;
1. If you bought a Bonneville you had already paid for a 4bbl engine.
2. If you wanted to upgrade a Catalina or Starchief to a 4bbl engine the price was option PC above.
3. If you bought a Hydra-matic transmission you had already piad for a high compression engine in any model.
4. The standard manual transmission was not considered strong enough for any engines but the 8.6:1 compression.
5. Manual transmission prices for options PK, PM, and PX reflect the use of a heavy duty 3 speed sourced from??? Probably Buick or Oldsmobile.
6. Options PK, PM, and PX all had a 10.5:1 static compression ratio.
7. The 420E engine was available on any model and body style but required the Super Hydra-Matic transmission.

Catbird, this is fantastic stuff, and I hope that 59 Blue Bomber can make use of this on the window sticker project!

Thank you so much for taking the time to research and post this information.