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1965 Pontiac Bonneville

By 1965, the Pontiac Bonneville was a household name, having joined the lineup as a separate model in 1958. The name was sourced from the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where many of the world's land speed record runs had been set. Its storied introduction began on the 1954 Motorama concept car circuit as a bubble-top two-seat sports model that did not see production. The name was revived in 1957 as a specialty convertible in the Custom Star Chief life, with just 630 examples built, allocated one to a dealer. The limited original production was followed by an ascension to the pinnacle of the marque's marketing program during the mid-1960s

1965 Pontiac Bonneville photo
Convertible
Chassis #: 262675c119178
View info and history
Auction entries : 2
For 1958, Bonneville became a full-fledged series, comprising a convertible and a hardtop coupe. In 1959, all General Motors cars were redesigned with Pontiac having the sole distinction of a 'Wide Track' chassis. Now called 'Bonneville Custom,' a four-door Vista hardtop was added to the list of available body styles, along with a new 389 cubic-inch engine with a four-barrel carburetor. Bonnevilles equipped with Hydra-Matic transmissions had 10.0 to 1 compression, which resulted in 300 bhp with four-barrel carburetion.

The full-size Bonneville was given a fresh design for 1963, with vertically stacked headlights and a deeper recessed grill. A new fourth generation of styling was introduced for the B-Body Pontiacs in 1965 with even more pronounced 'Coke Body' styling. They shed their body side moldings but gained V-shaped front fender badges and Bonneville block lettering on the rear fenders. Ribbed moldings were added along the rocker panels, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. The length of 222.6 had grown by eight inches, and its wheelbase measured 124 inches. The interior received new dashboard styling and instrumentation, along with new upholstery. Body styles on the Star Chief included a sedan and four-door hardtop, while the 1965 Bonneville included a two- and four-door hardtop, a convertible, and a station wagon.

Styling
The 1965 Pontiac Bonneville wore 'Bonneville' identification on the left-hand side of the hood and on the rear fenders. An elongated V-shaped badge rested behind the front wheel cutouts, and stainless steel accent panels traversed the lower body, beneath the fin-shaped crease. The elegant and attractive styling was well received by the public and media alike, earning Motor Trend's 'Car of the Year' award.

Body Styles, Pricing, and Production
The two-door hardtop was priced at $3,290, and the four-door hardtop listed for $3,360. Pontiac built 44,030 of its two-door and 62,480 of its four-door hardtop. Twenty-one thousand fifty were convertibles at a base price of $3,500. The station wagon was the most expensive in the lineup, priced at $3,560, and 6,460 examples were built.

Mechanical Specification
Engines
The Bonneville and Grand Prix came standard with an overhead-valve, 389 cubic-inch V8 engine with five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, a Carter four-barrel carburetor, 10.5:1 compression ratio, and delivered 333 horsepower at 5,000 RPM and 429 lbs-ft of torque with the manual transmission. With the Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, the standard 389 CID V8 produced 325 hp and 429 lbs-ft of torque.

1965 Pontiac Bonneville photo
Convertible
Chassis #: 262675c119178
View info and history
Auction entries : 2
The 389 cubic-inch V8 with a two-barrel carburetor and 8.5:1 compression was available as a no-cost option. It came with a Turbo Hydra-Matc and produced 256 horsepower.

With three two-barrel carburetors and a 10.75:1 compression ratio, the 389 CID V8 produced 338 horsepower and 433 lb-ft of torque. Known as the poor man's Tri-Power, this setup boosted the base price by $133.

The 421 CID V8 with 10.5 compression and a four-barrel carburetor produced 338 horsepower and 459 lb-ft of torque. With 10.75:1 compression, output rose to 356 hp. The 421 High Output V-8 option was listed at $376 and produced 376 horsepower.

Transmission
A synchromesh transmission was standard, and GM's Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 was optional (and new for the 1965 Pontiac). Manual transmission options included a three-speed and a four-speed unit; the three-speed was standard on all available engines, except the 389 CID V8 with 325 hp. The shift lever was positioned on the steering column but could be moved to the console for Bonnevilles with bucket seats, or to the floor (which came with a Hurst linkage). The four-speed manual was a $231 option and was not available with column-mounted shift controls. Like the three-speed, the floor-mounted four-speed used a Husrt linkage system.

1965 Pontiac Bonneville photo
Convertible
Chassis #: 262675c119178
View info and history
Auction entries : 2
Unlike the previous fluid-coupling-based Super-Hydramatic, the three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic 400 used a torque converter, and its shifting pattern was changed to a more modern 'P-R-N-D-S-L.' This transmission was a $231 option, except for the 325 hp 398.

Dimensions, Suspension and Brakes
The 1965 Pontiac Bonneville had a 124-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 2226 inches, and a width of 79.7 inches. The suspension was independent with coil springs, A-arms and tubular shocks. The Hypoid uit with semi-floating rear axles was standard, and a wide range of differential gear ratios were offered, depending on the engine and transmissions selected.
- A 3.23:1 ratio was used for most three-speed manual and engine combinations.
- The three-speed manual had a 3.42 gear ratio with the 421 CID V8 with 376 hp
- The four-speed had a 3.42:1 gear ratio
- The Turbo Hydra-Matic ranged from 2.41:1 to 3.23:1
Additionally, a list of optional ratios was available depending on the engine selected.

Cast-iron drum brakes measured 11 inches in diameter at the front and rear, with the rear drums having a 2-inch depth while the fronts measured 2.75 inches. The front brake linings gained a 10 percent increase over the 1964 Bonneville.

The Bonneville Brougham
Pontiac offered the Bonneville Brougham option for an additional $161, adding Ponchartrain cloth and Morrokide upholstery, 'Brougham by Fisher' roof pillar badges, and a Cordova top. Standard equipment included fender skirts on the passenger cars, Deluxe wheel discs, Deluxe steering wheel, dual-speed wipers, courtesy lamps, armrests, padded assist grip, padded instrument panel, and an electric clock. The standard interior was cloth and vinyl upholstery combinations.

1965 Pontiac Bonneville photo
Convertible
Chassis #: 262675c119178
View info and history
Auction entries : 2
Pontiac built a combined 134,020 examples of its Bonneville for 1965, accounting for approximately seventeen percent of the company's total production, the highest single-year Bonneville production up to this point in history, and nearly 14,000 more than the previous year. Sales increased slightly the following year to 135,331 units.

The Bonneville would remain part of the Pontiac lineup through 2005.


by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2006

Related Reading : Pontiac Bonneville History

To celebrate General Motors 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee, all stops were pulled out by the designers on the 1958 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe, undoubtedly one of the flashiest of all 1950s vehicles. A one-year-only body was featured as a final statement by longtime GM styling chief Harley Earl before his retirement. The entire 1958 lineup literally sparkled chrome. Unique two-tone exterior....
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1965 Pontiac Bonneville Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1965 Bonneville
$3,560-$24,400
1965 Pontiac Bonneville Price Range: $3,290 - $3,560

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1965 Pontiac Models
$2,675 - $3,240

Bonneville

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
82,564
124.00 in.
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 260.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 300.00hp
$3,255 - $3,530
85,277
122.00 in., 124.00 in.
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 281.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 303.00hp
$3,258 - $3,530
69,323
119.00 in., 123.00 in.
8 cyl., 215.00 CID., 155.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 230.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 235.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 267.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 283.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 287.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 303.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 318.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 333.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 348.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 405.00hp
$3,256 - $3,525
101,753
119.00 in., 123.00 in.
8 cyl., 215.00 CID., 190.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 215.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 230.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 235.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 267.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 283.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 303.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 305.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 318.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 333.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 348.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 385.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 405.00hp
$3,350 - $3,625
109,539
119.00 in., 120.00 in., 123.00 in.
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 215.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 230.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 235.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 267.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 283.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 303.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 313.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 353.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 370.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 390.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 405.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 410.00hp
$3,350 - $3,625
120,259
123.00 in.
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 230.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 235.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 255.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 267.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 306.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 320.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 350.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 370.00hp
$3,360 - $3,640
134,020
121.00 in., 124.00 in.
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 256.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 325.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 333.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 335.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 356.00hp
$3,290 - $3,560
135,331
124.00 in.
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 325.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 333.00hp
$3,350 - $3,750
102,996
124.00 in.
8 cyl., 400.00 CID., 333.00hp
$3,230 - $3,820

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