1961 Pontiac Bonneville

Pontiac applied the Bonneville name to a bubble-topped GM Motorama concept cars in 1954, called the Bonneville Special. In 1957, it was used for a high-performance, fuel-injected convertible version of the Star Chief. In 1958, it became a separate model, available as a convertible or a two-door hardtop, and powered by a 370 cubic-inch V8 engine with four-barrel carburetion and dual exhausts. A fuel-injected version was optional and added $500 to the already high base price.

During the 1960s, Pontiac grew into GM's performance division, highlighted by game-changing models like the GTO and the Bonneville, a name associated with speed, referencing the Bonneville Salt Flats where numerous land speed records were established. Pontiac's marketing strategy was focused on appealing to younger buyers, and over the next couple of years, the cars would become wider and lower and have available high-performance engines. Pontiac's continued success in the NASCAR racing series helped to promote this new strategy and increase sales. In 1959, Pontiac introduced the 'Wide Track' and the split grille, with all the Pontiac models receiving this new chassis with 'wide-track' stance.

Pontiac's pursuit of performance and its attractive styling helped catapult the compact into the number-three sales position for 1961. They would hold on to this position throughout the Sixties.

The full-size Pontiacs were restyled for 1961, highlighted by the distinctive 'split-grille' that was re-introduced after a one-year hiatus. The full-size range included the entry-level Catalina and the luxury-trimmed Ventura. The Catalina, Ventura, and Bonneville station wagon rested on a 119-inch wheelbase platform, while the other Bonneville body styles had a 123-inch wheelbase - the largest in the Pontiac lineup. The Vista Hardtop had a base price of $3,330, the convertible listed for $3,475, and the hardtop sold for $3,250. The four-door Vista Hardtop was the most popular with 30,830 examples produced, followed by 18,264 of the convertible and 16,906 of the hardtop. The station wagon found 3,323 willing buyers at a factory base price of $3,530.
The 1961 Bonneville came standard with an overhead-valve, 389 cubic-inch V8 engine with hydraulic valve lifters, a Carter four-barrel carburetor, and delivered horsepower with the synchromesh transmission and 303 with the Hydra-Matic. The optional 389 CID V8 was available in various states of tune, with horsepower reaching nearly 350 hp. Pontiac also had a 421 cubic-inch V8 rated at 405 horsepower but it was only available in the Catalina two-door models.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2020