Pontiac Bonneville
| Pontiac Bonneville | |
|---|---|
| Production period: | 1957-2005 |
| Class : |
Upper middle class (1957–1981 & 1987–2005) Middle class (1981–1986) |
| Body versions : | Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible |
| Successor: | Pontiac G8 |
The Pontiac Bonneville was a model built by the US automaker General Motors under the Pontiac brand that was offered from 1957 to 2005.
Specifically designated Bonneville
- a high-performance convertible produced in small numbers (1957)
- a series of full-size models from Pontiac, which for most years marked the top of the model range (1958 to 1981)
- a smaller middle class series with rear-wheel drive as the successor to the Pontiac Le Mans (1981 to 1986)
- a large front-wheel drive sedan (1987 to 2005).
Bonneville (1957)
| 1st generation | |
|---|---|
 Pontiac Star Chief Bonneville Cabriolet (1957) |
|
| Production period: | 1957 |
| Body versions : | Cabriolet |
| Engines: |
Otto engine : 5.7 liters (232 kW) |
| Length: | 5431 mm |
| Width: | |
| Height: | |
| Wheelbase : | 3150 mm |
| Empty weight : | 1941 kg |
In January 1957, Pontiac presented the Bonneville Cabriolet as the exclusive top model of the Star Chief line , which was powered by a version of the company's own 5.7 liter V8 engine with gasoline injection and was extensively equipped. Each Pontiac dealer received a copy of this image-carrying model, which at US $ 5,782 cost more than double the cheapest Pontiac; 630 copies were built.
Bonneville (1958-1981)
In 1958 the Bonneville lost its exclusive status, was now also available with the brand's regular carburetor engines and was reduced in price by over $ 2,000. A hardtop coupé was added to the cabriolet without the B-pillar .
From 1959 onwards, the Bonneville marked the respective top series of the model range, while the Pontiac Catalina was from then on the most affordable full-size model from Pontiac. In between there were one or two other series with changing names until 1972: Star Chief (1959–1966), Ventura (1960), Executive (1967–70), most recently Catalina Brougham (1971/72). From 1970 to 1975 the Pontiac Grand Ville was positioned above the Bonneville .
A two-door coupé, a four-door sedan, a convertible (until 1970) and in some years a five-door station wagon were also available. Some of the large Pontiac station wagons also represented their own model series.
Important model changes took place in the model years 1961 (ladder frame instead of X-frame), 1965 (longer wheelbase), 1969 (again stretched wheelbase), and 1971 and 1977. In 1977 the Bonneville, like all other full-size models from General Motors , was significantly reduced in size; its length shrank from 574 to 543 centimeters. From 1980 it was also available with a V6 engine for the first time, whereas previously only V8s with a displacement of 5.7 to 7.5 liters had been offered.
At the end of the 1981 model year, the large Pontiac was no longer part of the model range in the USA, but production continued in Canada and re-introduced in autumn 1982 under the name Pontiac Parisienne . The name Bonneville was used from 1982 for a smaller mid-range series.
From 1957 to 1981 a total of around 1.93 million copies were made of the Bonneville.
The four-door Bonneville formed the technical basis for the Stutz IV Porte luxury sedan, which was manufactured in around 50 units from 1979 .
Bonneville (1981-1986)
| 3rd generation | |
|---|---|
 Pontiac Bonneville (1981-1986) |
|
| Production period: | 1981-1986 |
| Body versions : | Limousine , station wagon |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 3.8–5.0 liters (63–112 kW) Diesel engines : 4.3–5.7 liters |
| Length: | 5044 mm |
| Width: | 1811 mm |
| Height: | 1417 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2745 mm |
| Empty weight : | 1424-1531 kg |
After the end of production of the great Bonneville, the factory transferred the name to the slightly modified former Pontiac Le Mans (the parallel model to the Chevrolet Malibu ). To distinguish it from the original model, the vehicle was officially called Bonneville G in the first year .
A four-door sedan and a station wagon (until 1983) as well as a Brougham sedan with sophisticated equipment were offered, in the meantime an LE sedan from 1984. The smaller Bonneville was powered by a 3.8- or 4.1-liter V6, only in 1982 a 4.3-liter diesel engine and from 1983 to 1985 by a 5.7-liter V8 diesel, driven. A five-liter V8 was also available from 1983.
Around 332,000 copies of the Bonneville (G) were made in five years.
Bonneville (1987-2005)
| 4th generation | |
|---|---|
 Pontiac Bonneville, 1999-2005 |
|
| Production period: | 1987-2005 |
| Body versions : | limousine |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 3.8–4.6 liters (111–205 kW) |
| Length: | 5037-5159 mm |
| Width: | 1831-1892 mm |
| Height: | 1397-1422 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2815 mm |
| Empty weight : | 1484-1696 kg |
From 1987 the name Bonneville referred to a four-door sedan with front-wheel drive based on the H platform from General Motors. In technical terms, the Bonneville was related to the former GM models Oldsmobile 88 and Buick Le Saber , but had a completely independent body.
The first Bonneville model with front-wheel drive remained in production until 1991 and had a 3.8-liter V6 that initially produced 152 hp (111 kW), and from 1988 also developed 167 hp (123 kW); The equipment levels Basic, LE, SE and SSE were offered. Around 500,000 of this generation of vehicles were produced.
At the end of 1991 the Bonneville received a new body. The range was now divided into the SE, SSE and SSEi equipment variants. The 3.8-liter was retained, but now developed 172 hp (126 kW). The SSEi was powered by a supercharged version of this engine with 208 hp (153 kW). In 1994 the SSEi was discontinued as an independent model, but the supercharged engine remained available as part of an SSEi package with 228 hp (167 kW). In 1995, the output of the basic V6 was increased to 208 hp (153 kW). From 1996 the supercharged V6 developed 243 hp (179 kW). Around 600,000 copies had been built by 1999.
In February 1999 Pontiac presented a completely new model of the Bonneville with a slightly longer wheelbase and a more aggressively designed body. With regard to the range of engines, the units used so far remained. In 2004 the Cadillac Northstar V8 (279 PS / 205 kW) replaced the previous supercharged version in the Bonneville GXP.
The last Bonneville rolled off the line in May 2005.
Web links
swell
- Gunnell, John: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975. Krause Publication, Iola 2002. ISBN 0-87349-461-X , pp. 706-761.
- Flammang, James M. and Kowalke, Ron: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976-1999. Krause Publication, Iola 1999. ISBN 0-87341-755-0 , pp. 844-917.
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