 The top boot is fiberglass...  The top boot is fiberglass and is similar to the units used on Cadillacs of that era. |
 The chrome button toward the...  The chrome button toward the rear of the doorpanel snaps the seatback forward to gain entry to the back seat. |
 The shortened Catalina-length...  The shortened Catalina-length quarters still look quite long by modern standards. The intent was to build a sportier-sized vehicle with the upscale Bonneville trim; the same basic idea as the Grand Prix, which debuted in 1962. |
 Your author gets ready to...  Your author gets ready to embark on his test drive. The X-400 still felt like a new car-well, a new '60 Pontiac. The supercharged engine was a flexible and stout powerplant, much in keeping with Pontiac's performance philosophy. |
To see a '60 Pontiac with a floor-shifted manual is not unheard of, but it is unusual to see a four-speed shifter sticking out of the floor of one, certainly with the console the X-400 has. The '60 X-400 is one of, if not the first, '60 Pontiac to receive a factory-installed four-speed-a Corvette-sourced Borg-Warner T10. Though they weren't up to the axle-snapping torque that a Pontiac V-8 could produce, in this case it works fine because it is not driven hard and-after all-it is a show car.
That's not to say the engine isn't capable of really dishing it out--a rebuild about 10 years ago had it running in top form. The engine rarely sees more than about 4 or 5 pounds of boost, but that is still enough to make for some pretty exhilarating performance, as we would soon find out.
Joe took us to an industrial area not far from his house, and as we drove along, I noticed how tight and new the car felt-no creaks or groans to be found. As the engine burbled along, Joe explained some details of the engine rebuild and how happy he's been with the results. Driving in Second gear, he nailed it, and instantly the huffed 389's demeanor went from docile to violent, but only long enough to go from about 20 mph to 43 mph. We know it was 43 mph because that was what the police officer told us. Yup, we got bagged in the X-400. How many people can say they've been pulled over for speeding in a vintage Pontiac concept car?
Actually, what happened was, unbeknownst to us, Joe stomped on the X-400 about 300 feet ahead of a Highland Park police cruiser that was partially hidden and taking radar readings near an abandoned building. Apparently, it was a pretty good spot for picking off street racers. The lights went on immediately-Joe just shook his head and pulled over. I said, "Jeez, I feel like I'm in high school again," and the three of us began giggling. Still laughing a little, Joe said, "Cut it out. I don't want to start laughing in front of him!" We all sat up straight, put on our poker faces, and got ready for the inevitable.
After a few minutes of mild interrogation about the car and the paperwork (he was actually pretty nice), the officer went back to his car. After a minute or so, Joe said, "I think he's a car guy. I'll bet we don't get a ticket." As it turned out, he was right. He was let off with a written warning that didn't require any further action from either side. After we pulled away, Joe said, "Now I'm really glad I didn't open up the cutouts!"
In that brief moment of full-throttle bliss-perhaps a second and a half at the most-the Latham supercharger really made its presence known, letting out a shriek similar to a high-boost turbocharged race car. The boost gauge on the left corner of the dash got only a little bit past the 4-psi mark, but it was still an impressive rush of power. With our tails between our legs, we headed back-our day was done.
The next morning, we returned for our test drive, and once again the Bonneville emerged from its garage. Joe dropped the top for us for the first time ever, and we helped him install the fiberglass boot. With that handled, I got in the car, ready for the run.
Right off, the sensation that I got the day before-the tight feeling the X-400 displayed-was magnified even more once in the driver seat. It felt like a new car, a fresh '60 Pontiac without the shortcomings that age inevitably brings. It didn't feel like the bushings were dried out or even like the door hinges were worn-it just felt new. Starting up the X-400, I was once again treated to the mechanical symphony under the hood. Even at idle, a Latham supercharger can be heard and the sound is quite exotic, like a turbocharger but full-time, whether under boost or not.