 With the look of an attacking...  With the look of an attacking shark, the '60 X-400 continues to captivate Pontiac aficionados. The one-off convertible is painted a special GM Firefrost Blue. |
 This custom console is whittled...  This custom console is whittled out of brass and plated. The shifter operates a Borg-Warner T10 four-speed, and the smaller handle operates the exhaust cutouts. |
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 The wheels are non-production...  The wheels are non-production versions of the 8-Lug wheels used from 1960 to 1968. They feature chrome rims and a fin design that was different from the stock versions. These wheels were originally on the '59 X-400, which was parted out to make this car. |
 The interior of the X-400...  The interior of the X-400 is a unique blend of factory and custom, with custom blue leather upholstery, a one-off console, and waffle-patterned floor mats. The mats feature a blue plastic insert that mimics the carpet color and keeps out dirt. |
Driving The '60 X-400 - Over the last several years, Joe Bortz has graciously given HPP's readers access to his treasure trove of one-off Pontiac Dream Cars. Last year, he even provided us an opportunity to drive the Tempest Monte Carlo roadster, and that was in itself a once-in-a-lifetime chance. It was a blast to drive, once your author got over his initial concern about piloting such a rare piece.
This year, Joe had us out again, and like last year, he offered up another Pontiac Dream Car, this time the spectacular '60 Bonneville X-400 convertible. For those of you not familiar with the X-400s, they were a series of Pontiac convertibles customized by GM Styling for show use. New models appeared in 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, and 1964. The first two were Catalina-length Bonnevilles and the latter versions were Grand Prix convertibles-none of which were available from the factory.
The X-400s represented the outer limits of Pontiac-style, luxury, and performance, with supercharged Pontiac V-8s, custom interiors, and enough one-of-a-kind features to impress even the jaded enthusiasts of today. They boasted such high-tech goodies as a rain-sensing, automatically operating convertible top, driver-operated exhaust cutouts, and full gauges, right down to custom but stock-appearing 160-mph speedometers. We've covered the X-400s in past issues of HPP, dating all the way back to the earliest days of Thunder Am.
This time, we actually slid behind the wheel of the '60 X-400, and it was an amazing car in all respects. A recent restoration put it in a level of condition that would no doubt rival the day it was originally completed. As such, the realities of the situation did not allow for an extended run, but we were able to ride and then drive the X-400 and experience a vintage Pontiac concept car first-hand.
Arriving at Joe's house in Highland Park, Illinois, we were greeted with the X-400, which was in his garage waiting for us. After a few minutes of chatting and examining the one-off ragtop, Joe got in and cranked the engine. The supercharged 389 fired to life with an authoritative roar-the throaty exhaust note accented by the whine of the Latham axial-flow supercharger. He cracked the throttle to clear it out, slowly let out the clutch, and like a battleship from days gone by, the Bonneville gracefully left its slip.
Joe rolled the car about 20 feet and stopped, motioning for us to get in. My brother Charlie, camera in hand, folded over the front seat and slid into the back seat. I maneuvered around the dog-leg-shaped A-pillar and settled down in the passenger seat.
The first thing one notices in the interior is the beautiful blue leather seating, contrasted by an abundance of brightwork. Pontiacs of this era were known for their chrome-trimmed dashes and other accessories, though in the X-400 it was even more so, including the ribbed console, which is a machined slab of chrome-plated brass, and the waffle-patterned stainless steel floor mats.