1957 Pontiac Bonneville

General Motors first used the Bonneville name in 1954 on a pair of bubble-topped Motorama concept cars called the Bonneville Special. When the name was first applied to production cars, it represented a high-performance, fuel-injected luxury convertible within the Star Chief line for the 1957 Pontiac model year and came equipped with every conceivable option as standard equipment. The 1957 Bonneville was introduced on January 11th of 1957 and at the time was the fastest Pontiac ever production. The chrome-laden convertible took 8.1 seconds to go from zero-to-sixty mph thanks to the 347 cubic-inch fuel-injected V8 engine offering 315 horsepower, however, Pontiac never officially released a specific power rating for this engine, merely stated that its output was 'in excess of 300 horsepower.'

The mechanical fuel injection system was a continuous-flow unit engineered by Harold Barr and Zora Arkus-Duntov. The setup is different than the one found in the 1957 Corvette, with a combined - rather than separate - manifold heater and pipes, and different - some believe better - fuel meter placement. This unit was bolted to the Hydra-Matic automatic transmission and power was sent to a live rear axle sprung with semi-elliptical leaf springs. Independent front suspension with coil springs and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes contributed to a luxurious and comfortable ride.

The styling was courtesy of chief stylist Paul Gillan and is considered a second facelift of the design that was introduced for 1955. In the front were illuminated front fender ornaments, newly featured body-color hooded headlight rims, and a bumper/grille ensemble with a series of vertical slots for a 'water' effect that was drawn by future GM styling chief Irv Rybicki. Fender hash marks were placed behind the front wheels to give the illusion of speed. The taillights had elliptical lenses, marking the first time in a decade that Pontiac taillights were a shape other than circular. The lenses were placed within chrome bezels under fins that angled back and up. The rear styling treatment was topped off by a chrome wraparound bumper with integrated dual exhaust outlets. Along the sides were rocket silhouette chrome spear trim that traversed the entire length of the car and provided two-tone paint accents. The advanced fuel-injection system was announced by 'Fuel Injection' badging located above the front wheel arches and centered on the trunk lid above the bumper. On the rear fenders, above the spears, was the stylish 'Bonneville' badging.

The Bonneville name was in reference to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah where early automobile contests were held and was the scene for many world land-speed record runs. The mechanical prowess and the long list of standard equipment justified the high $5,782 sticker price, reinforced by its low production run of 630 examples, released as only one-to-a-dealer. The list of standard equipment included the Wonderbar AM radio, underseat heater, Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, tri-blade wheel covers, Autronic-Eye automatic headlight dimmer, padded dash, full leather interior; power top, eight-way seat, windows, steering, brakes, and antenna. The list of available options was much shorter and included an air conditioning system, Continental Kit, factory clock, whitewall tires, a Kleenex dispenser, six (or eight)-way manual seat, tinted glass, deluxe carpet floor mat, and a few other items.

In the GM hierarchy, the Pontiac nameplate was a builder of reliable but mundane family cars. The Bonneville helped change this persona, and the image was shattered after Semon 'Bunkie' Knudsen assumed leadership to become the youngest General Manager of a GM Division in July of 1956. His famous statement, 'You can sell a young car to old people, but you can't sell an old car to young people,' set the tone for Pontiac until the late 1960s. The Pontiac lineup would soon include a list of high-performance powertrain options specifically targeted toward NASCAR stock-car competition. Despite GM's adoption of the short-lived AMA racing ban in 1957, Pontiac (and other companies) found various loopholes and was able to continue its pursuit of performance. The legacy included the Catalina, GTO, Firebird, and Trans Am, among many other models.

The 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible was a traffic generator for Pontiac dealers and one of the rarest production cars of its era.

1957 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Bonneville
The Pontiac Bonneville was a limited-edition Convertible priced at $5,70, and just 630 examples were built. Its pricing eclipsed all other 1957 Pontiac vehicles, selling for double the price of most other vehicles. It was announced in early December 1956 and released on January 11, 1957. It was part of the Custom Star Chief sub-series and each dealer received only one example. The following year, it would become its own separate model. The Pontiac Bonneville would be the division's top-of-the-line model through 2005.

The Bonneville rested on a 124-inch wheelbase chassis and had an overall length of 213.8 inches and a width of 75.2 inches. It rode on 8.50 x 14 tires, and the only engine offered was a 347 cubic-inch V8. It had overhead valves, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and a Rochester mechanical fuel injection system. It produced an estimated 315 horsepower at 4,800 RPM and was paired with a 3-speed Strato-Flight Hydra-Matic transmission.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2020