Rolando Zapata

I recently had a chance to speak with Bill Bonez of Bill Bonez Garage in Montgomery. Bonez, as he likes to be referred to, showed me his 1973 Cadillac Sedan De Ville that he purchased from a customer that was going to scrap it. Bonez purchased the Cadillac for six hundred dollars about a year ago. Bonez told me that it took him about four months to restore it while working on customer’s cars.

Bonez, who is a “Class A” Automotive Technician has been working on cars since he was about 11 years old. He has owned and operated Bonez Garage for 16 years. His specialty is working on classic cars. Bonez, is well known throughout the local classic car scene and is a big supporter of local car clubs and the many charity events throughout the local car season. He can always be seen at a local car show or event with his black 1976 Cadillac Hearse with his logo on the side.

Bonez 1973 Cadillac Sedan De Ville has a 7.7 Litre 472 CID 16 valve OHV V8 engine with a Turbo Hydra-matic transmission. Bonez told me that he rebuilt the suspension, the engine, transmission, steering, fuel, and brake lines. The car has power seats, power windows, air conditioning, automatic headlight dimmer, cruise control and climate control. With all the work that Bonez put into the Cadillac, he says that the car is his everyday vehicle. Bonez said that he even tows with it. The color of the car is Renaissance Gold. The car’s nickname is “Goldie”. The car has 115,000 original miles.

I asked Bonez what was the first car he owned, he told me that his first car was a 1979 Pontiac Formula. I asked him what his best and worst moments with his 73 Cadillac were, he told me that his best moment with his car was when he started the engine after rebuilding it. Bonez said his worst moment was when the steering cracked, and he had to be towed home. He told me that his favorite music to cruise with is Rock & Roll. I asked, who was his favorite person to cruise with was, he told me his wife, Stacy Nassani. His dream car is a 1959 or 60 Cadillac El Dorado Biarritz Convertible. Bonez has great taste in cars!

Production Specifications: 112,849 Cadillac Sedan De Villes built in 1973, Base price: $6,038, Length 227.8 inches, Curb Weight 4,900 Lbs, 0-60 mph in 10.5 seconds, 0-100 mph in 11.1 seconds, the quarter mile in 17.7 seconds.

What was happening in 1973:
President Nixon is sworn in for his second term, OPEC Oil Embargo, Secretariat Wins Triple Crown, Watergate Hearings Begin, The classic film “American Graffiti” premieres, Native Americans and members of the American Indian Movement began their occupation of Wounded Knee in South Dakota, Vice President Agnew Resigns, The Exorcist was the top grossing movie, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando and Dawn was 1973’s top selling song.