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 Dan Vaughan

Convertible

Pontiac was in the midst of an image makeover in 1957. Just three years earlier, Pontiac had been a stodgy solid-citizen car for the senior set. In 1955, Pontiac introduced its overhead-valve V8, and by 1957, Pontiac was making a name for itself on the nation's racetracks.

To celebrate this ongoing performance revolution, Pontiac announced the Bonneville Custom Convertible in the spring of 1957. It was powered by a 347 cubic-inch V8 with Rochester fuel injection and a 317 horsepower rating.

The Bonneville's factory list price was an astronomical $5,782 ($2,677 more than a regular-production Star Chief Convertible). For that Cadillac-like price, Bonneville buyers got a Cadillac-like level of standard equipment, including Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, eight-way power seat, Wonderbar radio, tri-blade wheel covers and a full leather interior. Distribution was limited to select Pontiac dealers and only 630 were built.

The Bonneville shown is Kenya Ivory with a Fontaine Blue side spear and Blue/Ivory leather interior.

Convertible

The Bonneville name was taken from the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the site of early auto racing and most of the world's land speed record runs, which was named in turn after U.S. Army officer Benjamin Bonneville.

In 1956 the Pontiac brand was in trouble and everyone at General Motors knew it. Pontiac sales were lagging, they were considered outdated by younger buyers - mostly the G.I.s of World War II, who were becoming a major force in the marketplace. Everything changed when Semon 'Bunkie' Knudsen became the youngest general manager of a GM division. 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.

Pontiac built 630 Bonneville Convertibles for 1957, one for each of its 630 dealers. Every car was fitted with a Rochester fuel injection system and all but 12 of the cars were painted Kenya Ivory with either red or blue trim.

The 1957 Bonneville remains one of the rarest, most desirable and collectible Pontiacs of all time. From the very beginning people who were lucky enough to obtain one of the 630 cars Pontiac produced knew they had something special. It is considered to be of particular historical significance because it was 'the' car that represents Pontiac's performance legacy, which ultimately culminated in the Catalina, GTO, Firebird, and Trans-Am and set the stage for what Pontiac Motor Division was to eventually become; the performance division of GM.

Convertible
Chassis number: P857H27707

Semon 'Bunkie' Knudsen began working with the Pontiac Division of General Motors in 1939. He became general manager of the Detroit Diesel Division in 1955, a vice-president of the company and general manager of Pontiac Division in 1956. He was tasked with improving sales and improving the image. At the time, Pontiacs were viewed as reliable but had a stodgy image. With the help of Pete Estes from Oldsmobile and John DeLorean from Packard, they began work on creating high performance versions of Pontiac's existing models.

Knudsen re-worked the late pre-production 1957 model by removing its side trim and silver streaks. The first announcement of the Bonnevile was made on December 2nd of 1956, and Pontiac General Sales Manager Frank V. Bridge later announced it in a latter on January 11th of 1957. Each dealer was allowed one Bonneville, with production limited to 630 examples that model year. Power was from a 347 cubic-inch V8 with a cast-iron block and overhead valves. It was fitted with a Rochester mechanical fuel-injection setup and was given a 10.25:1 compression ratio. A factory horsepower rating for the Bonneville was never released by the factory, however it was estimated to produce 315 horsepower at 4,800 RPM.

This particular example has spent much of its life in Southern California and has its original body panels and trim. It is finished in ivory with red spears and a red and ivory leather-and-vinyl interior. Its factory options include power steering, power brakes, power windows, power seat, power antenna, Wonderbar radio with FM tuner, electric wipers, a retractable trunk light and a 3.64:1 Positraction axle. It was given a rotisserie restoration in 2004, during which the engine and Hydra-Matic transmission were rebuilt, the chrome was re-plated, the stainless-steel trim was polished and new glass and wiring were installed. A new Haartz cloth convertible top was fitted, along with a NOS trunk liner and a new brake system. After the work was completed, the car won the Gold Award at the Glenmoor Gathering in Canton Ohio, in 2004.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible

In 1957 Pontiac Motor Division under the direction of Bunky Knutson began its quest for third place in sales with the introduction of the first Bonneville with a fuel-injected ($1000 upgrade) version of the Starchief which was limited to 360 units or one for every dealer. All were produced in white with red or blue coves. The only other GM car produced in 1957 with fuel injection was the Corvette.

The 347 cubic inch V8 produced 315 horsepower which brought Pontiac to the attention of the performance market.

The current owner has a long history with Pontiac. He was born in Pontiac General Hospital, his first job was at a Pontiac dealership in Detroit at the age of nineteen, he became a Pontiac dealer in Pennsylvania at age 35 and had two children go to work for Pontiac one of whom became a Pontiac dealer.

Convertible
Chassis number: P857H24652

The Pontiac Bonneville Convertible generated traffic into Pontiac dealership and the quest towards NASCAR competition meant the customers were very pleased with the performance. These limited production cars saw just 630 units produced.

The Pontiac Bonneville Convertible was unveiled to the public in December of 1956. It had a base price of $5,782 and came equipped with nearly every accessory offered by Pontiac. The only two available options were Air Conditioning and an externally mounted spare tire.

The fuel-injection V8 engine mounted under the hood produced an estimated 315 horsepower. Pontiac never released a specific rating for the engine, they simply stated it produced 'in excess of 300 horsepower.'

This example has been treated to a correct frame-off restoration. It is painted in Kenya Ivory with a tartan Red interior. It comes equipped with a Wonderbar AM radio, a deluxe steering wheel, a padded dash, a clock, cowl vent chrome wheel discs, and whitewall tires. It has the total power group, including a power-operated convertible top, a power antenna, power steering, power brakes, power windows, and an eight-way power-operated seat.

In 2009, this Pontiac Bonneville Convertible was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Arizona presented by RM Auctions. The lot was estimated to sell for $150,000 - $180,000. It was sold for the sum of $137,500, including buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: P857H25916

When introduced on January 11th of 1957, the Bonneville was the fastest Pontiac ever produced. Zero to sixty took just 8.1 seconds to achieve. A Bonneville won the Grand National Championship with a top speed of 101. 6 mph and broke all existing records during NASCAR trials at Daytona. The 300+ horsepower fuel injected V8 engine changed the image of the Pontiac nameplate into one that was backed by performance. This had been the work of Semon E. 'Bunky' Knudsen who had made it his goal to update the 'bland' mid-range vehicles. The new designs were meant to appeal to a younger generation and were inspired by style and performance.

The Pontiac Bonneville Convertible came with a $5782 sticker price, a rather high figure at the time, though the vehicle came equipped with nearly every option offered. As a result only 630 examples were produced making them one of the rarest Pontiacs ever produced. Each dealership was given only one car to sell. Most of the cars were finished in white with red 'flashes'; a few were given custom colors.

At the 2006 RM Auctions in Meadow Brook this car was estimated to fetch $120,000 - $150,000. It was sold at a price of $115,000.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: P857H25797

The 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Fuel Injected Convertible finished in white with a blue flash was offered for sale at the 2006 RM Auction in Monterey, Ca where it was expected sell for $125,000-$175,000. It was offered without reserve. The interior is two-tone white and blue. It is just one of eight cars built with factory air-conditioning. Since new this vehicle has undergone a complete frame-off restoration. At the conclusion of the auction the vehicle had been sold for $165,000.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: P857H30450

Pontiac built a limited run of 630 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Bonneville Convertibles in recognition of the Bonneville Salt Flats where land speed records were set. Each Pontiac Bonneville had a 347 cubic-inch V8 engine with a 10.25:1 compression ratio and fuel injection, instead of carburetors, to generate 315 horsepower.

Nearly every Bonneville was painted Kenya Ivory with either blue or red side spears. This example has a red and white interior and a Kenya White exterior and red side spears. The interior features a Wonderbar signal-seeking radio with an electric antenna, eight-way power driver's seat and power top, windows, steering and brakes. It has had a frame-off restoration from new and remains in excellent condition.

In 2009, it was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $80,000 - $100,000. The lot was sold for the sum of $115,000 including buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: P857H35445

When 'Bunky' Knudsen took over, Pontiac was one of General Motors most mundane nameplates. His vision was to revitalize the brand with a healthy dose of performance and dramatic styling. He began with the 1957 fuel-injected Bonneville, a deluxe convertible with plenty of power, performance and style.

The car was named after the famous salt flats where so many speed records had been earned. The Bonneville utilized the Rochester fuel-injection unit - tuned and prepared by Harry Barr and Zora Arkus-Duntov. Along with performance, the Bonneville was fitted with every luxury feature available. Priced at a hefty $5,782, a total of 630 examples of these Pontiacs were built.

This example is a superb example of the quintessential high-performance Pontiac halo car. The car wears the popular Kenya Ivory with red trim and a Tartan Red interior. It has the famous tri-blade wheel covers and the correct chrome spears on each side ahead of the taillight bezels. Standard features include a Wonderbar AM radio, a deluxe steering wheel, a clock, and period-correct whitewall tires. Power options include top, antenna, steering, brakes, windows, door locks, and an eight-way power seat.

The car has been treated to a restoration to factory specifications, and even the original inspection marks on the firewall have been carefully re-created. The fuel-injected engine displaced 347 cubic-inches and offers 310 horsepower. There is a 3-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

In 2013, the car was offered for sale at Gooding & Company's Scottsdale, Arizona sale. It was estimated to sell for $150,000 - $180,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $176,000 inclusive of buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: P857H36291

Pontiac's trademark 'Silver Streak' hood trim, used since the 1930s, no longer adorned the Pontiac models, resulting in a much cleaner and modern appearance. Semon E. 'Bunkie' Knudsen felt they were like 'suspenders' and had them immediately removed after he took over the Pontiac division of General Motors. He was also the individual who coined the phrase 'You can sell an old man a young man's car, but you can't sell a young man an old man's car.' During his tenure at Pontiac, sales soared considerably and the brand image was transformed from mundane to performance.

The Bonneville, introduced in January of 1957, became Knudsen's flagship model and came with ever power-operated features available at the time. The base price of $5,782 was $1,000 more than a fuel-injected Corvette and more than double the price of a Star Chief convertible. The engine was a 347 cubic-inch V8 fitted with a Rochester mechanical fuel injection system developing 315 horsepower and making a zero-to-sixty mph achievable in 8.1 seconds. Total production was a mere 630 units guaranteeing its collectability and exclusivity.

This particular example is finished in Kenya Ivory and Bonneville Red. It is fully optioned with power steering, brakes, windows, seat, antenna, signal-seeking radio, and Hydramatic transmission. It has a white convertible roof and charcoal-and-ivory leather interior as per the trim tag. Accessories include a tissue dispenser, nail guards, dual spotlights, fender skirts, and continental kit.

This Bonneville has been in the care of its current owner for eight years. It was restored in the late 1970s/early 1970s by the previous owner who secured the services of a marque expert. While in the possession of the former owner, Jack Denlinger of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the Bonneville received its AACA First Junior and Senior awards in 1994, along with the Bomgardner Award for the most outstanding restoration at the Hershey Fall Meet.

The car remains in excellent condition and is regularly exercised.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: P857H34997

The Bonneville was the first of newly-appointed General Manager Semon E. 'Bunkie' Knudsen's high-performance, youth-oriented product offerings to hit the market. They were well-appointed with six-way adjustable front seats, along with nearly every luxury and convenience option available on lesser models as standard equipment. Among the list were the Autronic Eye headlamp dimmer and leather seating. Pontiac's 347 CID V8 was rated at 310 horsepower at 4,800 RPM with 400 lb-ft of torque at 3,400 RPM. The special fuel-injected engine was available only with the 4-speed Strato-Flight Hydramatic transmission.

Just 630 Bonneville convertibles were built for 1957 with one going to each Pontiac dealer at the time.

This 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible is powered by a 347 cubic-inch V8 engine with Rochester fuel injection and delivers 310 horsepower. There is a Strato-Flight Hydra-Matic transmission, power brakes, power steering, deluxe carpeting, a power convertible top, a power antenna, 8-way power seats, white whitewall tires, and full-size wheel covers. There is a two-tone red and white leather interior, and a Kenya Ivory exterior with Bonneville Red inserts.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible

The 1957 Pontiacs were hailed by the company as the 'newest of all new cars.' With newly-appointed General Manager Semon E. 'Bunkie' Knudsen guiding the division, the Bonneville was the first of his youth-oriented, high-performance vehicles to hit the market. Innovative features included unique Bonneville trim and badging, six-way adjustable front seats, and every luxury and convenience option available on lesser models as standard equipment. This included leather seating, an Autronic Eye headlamp dimmer, and an exclusive Rochester mechanical fuel-injected version of the Pontiac 347 that featured a 10.25:1 compression ratio. The special engine delivered 310 horsepower at 4,800 RPM and 400 lb-ft of torque at 3,400 RPM. It could only be paired with the 4-speed Strato-Flight Hydramatic transmission.

Only 630 Bonneville convertibles were built for 1957 - one for each Pontiac dealer at the time.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: P857H29883

Pontiac produced 630 examples of the 1957 Star Chief Custom Bonneville (known simply as the Bonneville), one per dealer in the United States, plus two prototypes. They were offered solely as a convertible, and they proudly wore the 'Bonneville' name on the rear fenders, along with special trim on the lower quarter panels, and the 'Fuel Injection' badges on the front fenders and on the center of the trunk lid. Mounted underneath the hood was a Rochester fuel-injected 347-cubic-inch V-8 with 10.25:1 compression and delivering 315 horsepower. The transmission was a Strato-Flight Hydra-Matic three-speed automatic.

While the standard Star Chief was priced at $3,105, the Bonneville listed at $5,782. Among the long list of standard amenities included power windows, top, antenna, seats, brakes, and steering. They had a Wonderbar radio, a padded dash, special wheel covers, automatic headlight dimmers, and leather upholstery.

This particular Bonneville was given a professional frame-off restoration by Don Felts, with the fuel injection unit rebuilt by noted early GM specialist, the late Gail Parsons. It is believed to be one of only eight cars finished in Charcoal Grey (of which three are known to exist) out of 630 total produced. Additionally, this Bonneville left the factory with the optional continental kit and a set of rear fender skirts.

by Dan Vaughan

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 1950's 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 color combo's and deluxe interiors were showcased on interiors on all 58 models from Chevrolet's, Pontiacs, Buick, Oldsmobile, and Cadillacs. Their motto for this year was 'The Boldest Advance in Fifty Years!'

Semon E. 'Bunkie' Knudsen became Pontiac's new general manager in the summer of 1956 and soon after he hired Pete Estes and John DeLorean. Huge changes were in the works for Pontiac. First introduced as mainly a dealer promotion vehicle, that attempted to highlight Pontiac's new high-performance image, the original Bonneville was a largely flashy convertible with a highly powered V8 engine generating 310 horsepower.

Originally introduced as a limited production performance convertible in the Pontiac Star Chief model range during the 1957 model year, the Bonneville eventually became its own series in 1958. Historically based on the Cadillac DeVille, the Bonneville was built by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1958 until 2005. Pontiac has been best known for its performance vehicles, especially since the introduction of the Bonneville I 1957. Perhaps a little flashier and faster than a Chevrolet, it is still cheaper than an equivalent Oldsmobile or Buick. That has remained Pontiac's mission.

First appearing in 1954 on a pair of bubble-topped GM Motorama concept vehicles called the Bonneville Special, the Bonneville name first entered the lineup as the Star Chief Custom Bonneville, which was a high-performance, fuel-injected luxury convertible late during the 57 model year. The very first Bonneville was a spectacular, chrome-laden convertible with a continental-style spare wheel mounting, fuel-injected engine. It came with an eight-power front seat, under-seat heater, defroster electric antenna, and many more unique and exclusive features.

During that first year, only a total of 630 units were produced. This small amount made it the most collectible Pontiac of all time, especially since it cost twice the amount of the star Chief convertible. The Bonneville has persisted and remained as the division's top of the line model until 2005. Many speed records were being set at the Utah salt flats, and the name was created from the town of Bonneville, the place of much auto racing, and most of the world's land speed record runs.

The public must have liked both the car and its name became in 1958, a coupe was added into the lineup as Bonneville expanded into its own series. This year it paced the Indianapolis 500. Offering 225 hp an 285 hp V8 engines, the Bonneville sat atop the Pontiac range, also offering a deluxe steering wheel, unique upholstery, and chrome wheel covers. The Bonneville also featured wraparound windshields and rear window, two-toning on the roof, and long striking side spear plus chrome hash marks placed on the front fenders.

During its third year, the 1959 Bonneville gained a 4-door body style along with a nearly complete line in itself. The Pontiac Wide-Track was born in 1959 when all Pontiac makes and models received new chassis with 'wide-track' stance. During this year, the introduction of two of Pontiac's greatest marketing inspirations was showcased, the split grille, and the Wide Track slogan, both are still part of Pontiac's image to this day.

Sales peaked in 1966 at 135,401 units sold. In 1969, the main highlight became the new V8 engine that provided 360 horsepower. Considered Pontiac's most expensive and most luxurious model throughout the 1960s, the Bonneville was extremely instrumental in moving Pontiac to third place in sales from 1962 until 1970. Bonneville's constantly received updates, changes, and restyling, along with new features for all of its trim models throughout the 1970's.

During the early 1970's, the Grand Ville name was being used for Pontiac's highest-price model, and though the Bonneville was de-emphasized slightly, it never went away. In 1976, the Bonneville emerged in the top spot. This was the final year before the down-sized full-sized Pontiacs began to appear in 1977.

The Bonneville nameplate was quite abruptly moved from a full-size vehicle to the mid-sized car in 1982. The mid-sized car was previously known as the Pontiac LeMans. This change was not taken to very well by customers, so Pontiac was forced to reintroduce a full-sized vehicle. They brought over the Canadian-built Pontiac Parisienne, which was basically a restyled Chevy Caprile that was powered by a Chevrolet V6 or V8 engine. Once again, Bonneville was placed one notch below the top of the line.

Just like the previous time, downsizing became the salvation that the Bonneville needed. The Parisienne was discontinued in 1987, and the Bonneville was redesigned completely as a front-wheel-drive vehicle and once again rejoined in pre-1982 platform buddies, the Buick LeSabre and the Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight. It again regained its status as the senior Pontiac and the SE Bonneville was placed on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for that year.

The decision was made by Pontiac to change the Bonneville from rear-wheel drive with a V8 engine to a more economical front-wheel drive 3.8 V6 vehicle in 1987. The V6 that was installed was a 3.8L V6 with the RPO code of LG3. A dive in the performance market soon followed, as this engine only produced around 150 hp, though it had a kick of 210 ft-lbs of torque power.

The following model that was introduced in 1989, the Bonneville LE may have been Pontiac's attempt to add a bit more of pep and pizazz to the Bonneville line. This new model moved up to 15 hp and 10 ft-lbs of torque, and this engine has the RPO code of LN3. The Bonneville was once again redesigned in 1991, though it did remain as an H-body.

A total redesign was done in 1992 to the exterior of the Bonneville, though the interior experienced very few changes. The LE trim was also taken off the lineup. Available trims for 1992 were SE, SSE, and SSEi, and airbags now came as standard features in Bonnevilles. Nearly 100,000 Bonneville models were sold in 1992.

Things once again changed in 1993, though the exterior remained the same, the interior did go through a slight update. A sport Luxury Edition was made available for '93, which was basically a base SE, with an SSE exterior, an all of the same available options as an SE. Much remained unchanged for the 1994 model. Much of the vehicle has remained the same throughout the next few years, making way for a total redesign for the 2002 model year.

The Bonneville regained a V8 option on the GXP trim for 2004, which has been a first since 1986. On February 8, 2005, GM announced that the Bonneville would be dropped from Pontiac's lineup for 2006. The high-end Pontiac Grand Prix GXP trim replaced the Bonneville.

For many years, the vehicle fondly called the 'Bonne', the Pontiac Bonneville has showcased a mix of luxury, performance with the aid of a supercharged 3.8-liter engine.

by Jessican Donaldson