The Pontiac Bonneville was an automobile built by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1957 to 2005. It was introduced as a limited production performance convertible during the 1957 model year. The Bonneville (known as the Parisienne in Canada until 1981), and its platform partner, the Grand Ville, are some of the largest Pontiacs ever built; in station wagon body styles they reached just over 19 feet (5.8 m) long, and were also some of the heaviest produced cars at the time (2 and 1/2 tons, or 5,000 lb (2,300 kg)
Early development - 1954-58
The Bonneville name first appeared in 1954 on a pair of bubble-topped GM Motorama concept cars called the Bonneville Special. It entered the production lineup as a high-performance, fuel-injected luxury convertible in the 1957 model year and was loaded with every conceivable option as standard equipment with the exception of optional air conditioning. This put the Bonneville in a Cadillac-like price range of $5,000 - more than double the base price of a Chieftain four-door sedan. A fully equipped Bonneville could cost more than a Cadillac. Only 630 units were produced that first year, making it one of the most collectible Pontiacs of all time. The Bonneville endured until 2005 as the division's top-of-the-line model. The name was taken from the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the site of much early auto racing and most of the world's land speed record runs.
The Bonneville added a coupe in 1958, and it paced the Indianapolis 500 that year. This year's Bonneville had a significantly lower price tag of around $3,000 thanks to the demotion of most of the luxury items found on the '57 model from standard equipment to the option list. Also a 300 horsepower (220 kW) 370 cubic inches (6,100 cc) V8 with four-barrel carburetor and dual exhausts was now standard equipment. The fuel-injection system offered with the standard engine on the '57 model was now listed as an extra cost option but very few '58 Bonnevilles were so equipped due to a towering price tag of over $500 USD, which was not considered a very good value considering that for less than $100 USD, a Tri-Power option was available with three two-barrel carburetors and even more power.
1959-1970
| Also called | Pontiac Parisienne (Canada) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1958-1961 |
| Assembly |
Lake Orion, Michigan Pontiac, Michigan Flint, Michigan Ypsilanti, Michigan Wentzville, Missouri |
| Body style(s) |
2-door
convertible 2-door coupe 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Also called | Pontiac Parisienne (Canada) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1962-1964 |
| Assembly |
Lake Orion, Michigan Pontiac, Michigan Flint, Michigan Ypsilanti, Michigan Wentzville, Missouri |
| Body style(s) |
2-door
convertible 2-door coupe 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | B-body |
| Engine(s) |
389 cu in (6.4 L)
V8 421 cu in (6.9 L) V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 |
| Related |
Buick LeSabre Chevrolet Impala Pontiac Catalina/Laurentian Chevrolet Bel Air |
| Also called | Pontiac Parisienne (Canada) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1965-1970 |
| Assembly |
Lake Orion, Michigan Pontiac, Michigan Flint, Michigan Ypsilanti, Michigan Wentzville, Missouri |
| Body style(s) |
2-door
convertible 2-door coupe 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | B-body |
| Engine(s) |
389 cu in (6.4 L) V8 421 cu in (6.9 L) V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 428 cu in (7 L) V8 455 cu in (7.5 L) V8 |
| Related |
Buick LeSabre Chevrolet Impala Pontiac Catalina/Laurentian Chevrolet Bel Air Chevrolet Caprice |
In its third year, the 1959 Bonneville became a full top-line series with the addition of the four-door hardtop sedan and Safari station wagon body styles. The Bonneville played an important part that year in the introduction of two of Pontiac's greatest marketing inspirations — the split grille and the Wide Track slogan. The latter was not just ad copy, either, as Pontiac pushed its wheels further out toward the fenders than anyone else and created what were considered to be the best-cornering full-size cars in the industry. Both the grille design and the Wide Track phrase are still part of Pontiac's image today. The Bonneville remained as Pontiac's costliest and most luxurious model throughout the 1960s and was instrumental in pushing Pontiac to third place in sales from 1962 to 1970.
The Bonneville differed from their lesser Catalina and Star Chief counterparts by featuring more luxurious interior trims with upgraded cloth and Morrokide vinyl or expanded Morrokide upholstery in sedans and coupes, expanded Morrokide in Safari wagons or genuine leather seating in convertibles. Also found in Bonnevilles were instrument panels and door panels with walnut veneer trim, carpeted lower door panels, grab bar on passenger side of dash and courtesy lights and rear arm rest. Beginning in 1964, a Bonneville Brougham option package was available that included even more luxurious interior trims with front and rear seats featuring center armrests, upgraded door panels and a standard Cordova (vinyl) roof with "Brougham" nameplates.
Bonneville models were standard equipped with Hydra-Matic (through 1964) or Turbo Hydra-Matic (1965-on) automatic transmissions. Other options included power steering and power brakes as well as air conditioning. Other popular options included power windows, power seats, radio, cruise control, 8-lug aluminum wheels that included integral brake drums for improved stopping power. The Bonneville also had more powerful standard V8 engines than lesser full-sized Pontiacs including the 389 or 400 cubic inch V8s with four-barrel carburetors (power ratings of 303 to 340 hp (254 kW) depending on year) with many optional V8 offerings available including Tri Power (three two-barrel carburetion) options on both the 389 and 421 cubic inch V8s that offered up to 376 horsepower (280 kW) through 1966.
Pontiac full-size performance reached its peak in 1966. All full-size models got new sheetmetal for 1963, including stacked headlights. Performance enthusiasts once again turned to the Catalina, the lightest of the Pontiac full-size coupes. The standard engine was a 389 cu in (6.4 L) V8 with 283 bhp (211 kW). Next up were two 421 cu in (6.9 L) V8s with 10.75:1 compression ratios: a four barrel making 353 bhp (263 kW) and the Trophy 421 HO (High Output) with triple Rochester two-barrel carburetors operated by a progressive throttle linkage, rated at 370 bhp (280 kW). For serious drag strip use, buyers could specify the Super Duty 421 which came in three states of tune which all benefited from an increase in the compression ratio from 11.0:1 to 12.0:1 and an increase in the maximum shift point from 5900 rpm to a screaming 6400 rpm. Straight-line ETs ruled the showrooms during the Musclecar era and the early Pontiacs had impressive numbers.
A General Motors corporate edict that took effect with the 1967 model year led Pontiac to discontinue the Tri Power engine options on all of its cars. That year also brought a larger 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 as the standard engine for Bonneville and other full-sized Pontiacs to replace the previous 389, while the 421 cu in (6.9 L) V8 was replaced by a new 428 cu in (7 L) engine that offered as much as 390 horsepower (290 kW). For 1969, a 360 hp (270 kW) 428 became the standard Bonneville engine, which in turn was replaced for 1970 by an even larger 455 cu in (7.5 L) V8 rated at 370 hp (280 kW).
1971-1976
| Also called | Pontiac Parisienne (Canada) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1971-1976 |
| Assembly |
Lake Orion, Michigan Pontiac, Michigan Flint, Michigan Ypsilanti, Michigan Wentzville, Missouri |
| Body style(s) |
4-door
hardtop 2-door coupe 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | B-body |
| Engine(s) |
455 cu in (7.5 L) V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 |
| Related |
Buick LeSabre Chevrolet Impala Pontiac Catalina/Laurentian Chevrolet Bel Air Chevrolet Caprice Oldsmobile 88 |
From 1971 to 1975, the Bonneville was de-emphasized somewhat as Pontiac used the Grand Ville name for its highest-price model. During these years, the Bonneville dropped to mid-line status between the lower-priced Catalina and the Grand Ville. During these years, the Bonneville was offered in three bodystyles including the pillared four-door sedan, four-door hardtop sedan and two-door hardtop coupe. The standard engine for 1971-72 was a 455 cubic-inch V8 with two-barrel carburetor that was rated at 280 gross horsepower for 1971 and 185 net horsepower for 1972 and optionally available was the four-barrel version of the 455 rated at 325 gross horsepower in 1971 and 250 net horsepower in 1972. (the on-paper power ratings of both years reflect the changes in power measurement between those two years as was common throughout the auto industry at the time). The year 1971 was also the first for Pontiac and other GM divisions to reduce compression ratios on all engines across the board in order to enable use of lower-octane regular leaded, low-lead or unleaded gasoline thanks to a corporate edict in preparation for the introduction of catalytic converters in 1975 to help meet increasing stringent federal (and California) emission requirements.
In mid-1971, a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, power steering and power front-disc brakes became standard equipment on Bonneville and other full-sized Pontiacs (as well as other full-sized GM cars).
From 1973 to 1976, the Bonneville's standard engine dropped to a 170-horsepower 400 cubic-inch V8. Optionally available was the 455 four-barrel V8 rated at 250 horsepower (190 kW) for 1973-74 and 200 for 1975-76. In 1973, Bonneville was the only full-sized Pontiac to offer a "Radial Tuned Suspension" option package which included the steel-belted radial tires along with an upgraded suspension with Pliacell shock absorbers and front and rear sway bars. The RTS option was expanded for 1974 to all full-sized Pontiacs and radial-ply tires became standard on all 1975 models though an upgraded "RTS" package was still available as an option.
With the demise of the Grand Ville series after 1975, Bonneville once again emerged as the top-line full-sized Pontiac series for 1976 with the Bonneville Brougham models featuring the same luxurious interior appointments as the departed Grand Ville.
1977-1981
| Also called | Pontiac Parisienne (Canada) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1977-1981 |
| Assembly |
Lake Orion, Michigan Ypsilanti, Michigan Wentzville, Missouri |
| Body style(s) |
2-door
coupe 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | B-body |
| Engine(s) |
231 cu in (3.8 L)
Buick
V6 265 cu in (4.3 L) Pontiac V8 301 cu in (4.9 L) Pontiac V8 350 cu in (5.7 L) Pontiac V8 350 cu in (5.7 L)Oldsmobile diesel V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) Pontiac V8 |
| Wheelbase | 116.0 in (2946 mm) |
| Related |
Buick LeSabre Chevrolet Impala Pontiac Catalina/Laurentian Chevrolet Bel Air Chevrolet Caprice Oldsmobile 88 |
Bonneville would continue its flagship duties on the downsized big car line that was introduced for 1977. The downsized Bonnevilles (and Catalinas) were about a foot shorter in length and reduced in weight by some 800 pounds compared to their 1976 counterparts but maintained the same interior roominess and trunk space with much-improved fuel economy - a major selling point in the years following the 1973-74 energy crisis.
With the downsized 1977 models, only a pillared four-door sedan and two-door coupe (with optional opera windows) were offered as the hardtop sedans and coupes offered in previous years were discontinued across the board at all GM divisions. The Bonneville also regained the Safari station wagon as part of its model lineup for the first time since 1970 with woodgrained exterior trim and interior appointments shared with Bonneville coupes and sedans. The Safari was available in both 6- and 9-passenger configurations and featured a dual-action tailgate that could be opened to the side as a door or downward as a tailgate, rather than the disappearing clamshell tailgates found in 1971-76 full-sized Pontiac wagons.
The standard engine for Bonneville was Pontiac's new 301 cubic-inch V8 rated at 135 horsepower (101 kW) and optional engines included a 170-horsepower 350 or 185-horsepower 400 cubic-inch V8. In later years, increasingly stringent fuel-economy standards mandated by the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations would lead to the discontinuation of the larger engines with a 231 cubic-inch Buick V6 becoming the standard engine on Bonneville coupes and sedans for 1980 and 1981 with the only optional V8s offered including 265 and 301 cubic-inch Pontiac-built gasoline engines or an Oldsmobile-built 350 cubic-inch Diesel powerplant.
The Bonneville/Bonneville Brougham models were discontinued after the 1981 model year along with the lower-priced Catalina due to sagging sales resulting from the second energy crisis of 1979-80 which sent many new car buyers to more fuel-efficient four-cylinder or V6-powered compact cars. The discontinuation of the American-built, rear-drive full-sized Pontiac also coincided with the demise of Pontiac-built V8 engines, which were last built in 1981. From 1982 onward, all V8-powered Pontiacs were powered by engines sourced from other GM divisions such as Chevrolet or Oldsmobile.
1982-1986
| Production | 1982-1986 |
|---|---|
| Assembly | Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec |
| Body style(s) |
4-door
sedan 4-door station wagon |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | G-body |
| Engine(s) |
3.8 L (231 cu in)
Buick V6 2.8 L (≈171 cu in) Chevrolet 60° V6 engine 4.3 L (≈262 cu in) Chevrolet V6 (EFI) 5 L (305 cu in) Chevrolet V8 5.7 L (350 cu in) Oldsmobile diesel V8 |
| Transmission(s) |
3-speed
THM200
automatic 4-speed 200-4R automatic |
| Wheelbase | 108.0 in (2743 mm) |
In 1982, Pontiac abruptly moved the Bonneville nameplate from a full-size car to a mid-size car previously known as the Pontiac LeMans in both four-door sedan and Safari station wagon body styles with engine choices including a standard Buick 231 cubic-inch V6 or optional Chevrolet 305 cubic-inch V8 or Oldsmobile 350 cubic-inch Diesel V8. The 1982 model was officially known as the "Bonneville Model G", after the platform on which it was based. The wagon was dropped after 1983 in favor of the front-drive Pontiac 6000 wagon introduced for 1984. The Bonneville sedan continued in both base and Brougham versions through 1986.
Pontiac customers did not take to the change as the "downsized" Bonneville arrived just as many new-car buyers were switching their preferences from compact economy cars to full-sized, V8-powered cars, as noted by increasing big cars from Pontiac's competitors such as the Chevrolet Caprice, Oldsmobile 88, Buick LeSabre and Mercury Grand Marquis. Late in the 1983 model year, Pontiac reintroduced a full-sized car to the American market by bringing over the Canadian-built Pontiac Parisienne (which was essentially a restyled Chevrolet Caprice and powered by Chevrolet V6 or V8 engines). The Bonneville was then again one notch below the top of the line from late 1983 through 1986.
However, exactly as before, a downsizing proved its salvation. In 1987, the Parisienne was discontinued and the Bonneville was completely redesigned as a front-wheel drive car, rejoining its pre-1982 platform mates the Buick LeSabre and Oldsmobile 88 and regaining its status as the senior Pontiac. The Bonneville SE was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list that year.
1987-1991
| Production | 1987-1991 |
|---|---|
| Assembly |
Ypsilanti, MI 1987-1989
(early) Wentzville, MO 1989 (late)-1991 |
| Body style(s) | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Platform | H-body |
| Engine(s) | 3.8L LG3 Buick V6 3.8L LN3 3800 Buick V6 |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed THM440T4 automatic |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 in (2814 mm) |
| Length |
198.7 in (5047 mm) 1987-89 SE: 198.3 in (5037 mm) 1990-91 SSE: 198.6 in (5044 mm) |
| Width |
1987-89: 72.4 in (1839 mm) 1990-91: 72.1 in (1831 mm) |
| Height |
1987-89 LE & SE: 55.5 in (1410 mm) 1987-89 SSE: 54.7 in (1389 mm) 1990-91 LE & SE: 54.1 in (1374 mm) 1990-91 SSE: 54.6 in (1387 mm) |
| Curb weight |
LE 3,275-3,325 lb (1,766.8 kg) SE 3,327-3,413 lb (1,778.9 kg) SSE 3,481-3,601 lb (1,847.6 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 18 U.S. gal (68 L/15 imp gal) |
| Related |
Buick LeSabre Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight |
For 1987, Pontiac introduced a radically different Bonneville. Instead of using traditional rear-wheel-drive, the new Bonneville used a more economical front-wheel-drive platform. It joined the two-year-old H Body platform with the Buick LeSabre and Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight. Initially, a 150-hp 3.8L V6 was the sole engine, mated to a 4 speed Hydramatic 4T60 automatic. The new Bonneville was placed on Car & Driver's 10 Best list for 1987, offering both a base model and LE model. For LE models, an SE sport package was also available that featured a quicker gear ratio, sportier suspension and more standard features.
1988
1990 Bonneville SSE
A host of trim level changes and a new engine became standard for the front wheel drive Bonneville's second year. First, a revised version of the LG3 was introduced. Renamed the LN3, it was the first use of the "3800" name. Featuring sequential-port fuel injection, the LN3 produced 165 hp (123 kW) and 210 lb·ft (285 N·m). Also new for 1988, the base model is dropped making LE the base model. Two new models are added, the midlevel SE (went from option package to trim) and line-topper SSE. The latter features an extra deep rear valence, lower body cladding, a digital compass/trip computer, an eight speaker premium sound system and much more.
For 1989, a compact-disc player became optional and in 1990 a remote keyless entry system was added to the options list for all models. Suspension changes greeted the 1991 model year, also the last for the first front-wheel-drive generation of the Bonneville
1992-1999
| Production | 1992-1999 |
|---|---|
| Assembly |
Wentzville, MO
1992-1993 Lake Orion, MI 1994-1995 Flint, Michigan 1996-1999 |
| Body style(s) | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Platform | H-body |
| Engine(s) | 3.8L Series I L27 V6 3.8L Series I L67 V6 3.8L Series I L67 V6 3.8L Series II L36 V6 3.8L Series II L67 V6 |
| Transmission(s) |
1992-97: 4-speed
4T60-E
automatic 1992-96: 4-speed 4T60E-HD auto 1998-99: 4-speed 4T65-E automatic 1997-99: 4-speed 4T65E-HD automatic |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 in (2814 mm) |
| Length |
1992-95 SE: 199.5 in (5067 mm) 1992-95 SSE & 1992-93 SSEi: 201.1 in (5108 mm) 1996-97 SE: 201.7 in (5123 mm) 1996-99 SSE: 203.1 in (5159 mm) 1998-99 SE: 202.0 in (5131 mm) |
| Width |
1992-97: 74.5 in (1892 mm) 1998-99: 74.4 in (1890 mm) |
| Height |
55.7 in (1415 mm) 1998-99 SSE: 56.0 in (1422 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 18 U.S. gal (68 L/15 imp gal) |
| Related |
Buick LeSabre Oldsmobile 88 Oldsmobile LSS |
In 1992 the exterior and interior of the car was completely redesigned, this was a generation that hosted quite a few Bonneville firsts, the car not only became quicker, but it also became a lot safer. One of the most notable improvements over the previous generation was that the Bonneville SE now came standard with a driver airbag, optional ABS brakes (with sport appearance package), the SSE models came with standard ABS, standard traction control, The trims were redone once again, the LE trim was removed, the SE was now the base model, the SSE was now the mid grade and a new top of the line trim was now added, the SSEi. It should be noted, according to GM's Pontiac division, these trim acronyms have no implied meaning. The new N/A 3800 Series I (RPO: L27) engine was used, producing 170 hp (127 kW) and 225 lb·ft (305 N·m), as well as the newly designed force inducted Series I 3800 (RPO: L67) equipped with an Eaton M62 roots type supercharger which made 205 hp (153 kW) and 260 lb·ft (353 N·m). The newly revised N/A L27, for the 1992 model year only, was not equipped with an EGR Valve, which can reduce performance, decrease fuel economy and raise combustion temperatures, which tends to cause burnt valves down the road. In 1993, the EGR returned to the naturally aspirated L27.
Abridged Safety Option List:
| ABS | Traction Control | Driver Airbag | Passenger Airbag | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 SE | Optional (SLE) | Optional | Standard | N/A |
| 92 SSE | Standard | Optional | Standard | Optional |
| 92 SSEi | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| 93 SE | Standard | Optional | Standard | Optional |
| 93 SSE | Standard | Optional | Standard | Optional |
| 93 SSEi | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| 94 SE | Standard | Optional | Standard | Standard |
| 94 SSE | Standard | Optional | Standard | Standard |
| 94 SSEi | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| 95 SE | Standard | Optional | Standard | Standard |
| 95 SSE | Standard | Optional | Standard | Standard |
| 95 SSEi | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
For 1993 the Sport Luxury Edition (SLE RPO: H4U) was offered. This is basically an SE sub-trim with more standard options such as leather seats, electronic climate control and premium sound. This option package designation remained only on the RPO sticker until 1998, when SLE badges were added to the exterior of the vehicle. This continued onto the '99 model year. Many more standard options were available with the SSE. The SSEi came standard with most of the available options in the lower models, including the Supercharged 3800 (RPO: L67).