Pontiac Bonneville (1957)

Performance was fast becoming a major selling point in the 1950s and Pontiac were likely to be left behind if they didn't release a vehicle to capture the public's imagination. In 1956 the company brought in Bunkie Knudson as new General Manager, and he quickly announced the availability of a new model called the Pontiac Bonneville, so called after the Pontiac which made a record-breaking run of 118mph (88km/h) for 24 hours at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The car was launched in 1957 at a NASCAR meeting, where the company showcased its new fuel-injection system. It was only ever a limited edition, with 630 supplied at a very high price, but the customer got a lot for their money. Displacement was up from 316ci (5.2 liters) with a new stroker crank, and the compression ratio was raised. It gave seamless acceleration through the 1956 Hydramatic transmission.

Pontiac Bonneville (1957) Specifications