Pontiac Bonneville Special
Encyclopedia
The Pontiac Bonneville Special is a purpose-built concept car
unveiled at the General Motors Motorama
in 1954, the first 2-seater sports car
Pontiac ever produced. Designed by renowned designer Harley J. Earl and hand built by Homer C. LaGassey Jr. and Paul Gilland, the "Special" is an experimental car, a two door, grand touring sport coupé
that incorporated innovative breakthrough styling like an all-plexi canopy
with gull-wing panels
on a sleek fiberglass
body. The name "Bonneville" was inspired by a trip by Earl to Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah
while observing speed trials there. It was in fact the first car at GM to have been named after it, and would become Pontiac's top end performance platform
for 47 years.
Two "Special" prototypes, one painted metallic bronze
and one emerald green, were built with the intention of unveiling them simultaneously at the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf in New York
and the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles
in 1954.
s, and a custom spare tire enclosure with space-age wheel disc that gave the car a jet-powered appearance.
incorporated into the monocoque
-style canopy that swung upward.
, not to mention Pontiac's concept car for 1956, the Club de Mer
. The twin scoops, designed to channel cool air into the driver's compartment - also on the Club de Mer - resurfaced again on both the 1967 Firebird and 1968 GTO. The louvers, emblazoned horizontally on the fenders, behind the front wheel wells, appeared again as vertical slits on the 1957 Star Chief
Bonneville and 1965 2+2
. The bold tail fins were replicated faithfully on the 1955 and '56 Pontiac. The 1958 Bonneville had an instrument panel that matched the sleek stainless steel style of the "Special", while the finned wheel covers became a design cue for Pontiac's famous 8-lug, aluminium rims that were introduced in 1960. And finally, the colour was seen again on Pontiac's modern two-seater, the Solstice
, which was also painted metallic bronze.
and aspirated naturally through four Carter YH side-draft, single barrel carburetors, the same used in the 1953 Corvette, under open-mesh breathers. Total output was the highest ever for the "eight", rated at 230 bhp, though some estimated it at nearly 300 bhp. Like the "Special", only two of these remarkable variants were ever made. Gearing was controlled through a 4-speed Hydramatic
automatic transmission.
Note: Pontiac’s new V8 was being considered for use in the "Special" but was instead held back by GM marketing. They directed that the straight-8 be used, to keep the "vee" a secret from consumers for one more year until its debut the following year.
, Illinois
; and the green "Special", which was completely restored and auctioned off in 2006 at Barrett-Jackson
Collector Car Auction, selling for $2,800,000.
According to "Special" owner Joseph Bortz, 90% of the air in the tires, with the exception of a few top-ups, is the same air from 1954.
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
unveiled at the General Motors Motorama
Motorama
The General Motors Motorama was an auto show staged by GM from 1949 to 1961. These automobile extravaganzas were designed to whet public appetite and boost automobile sales with displays of fancy prototypes, concept vehicles and other special or halo models. Motorama grew out of Alfred P. Sloan's...
in 1954, the first 2-seater sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
Pontiac ever produced. Designed by renowned designer Harley J. Earl and hand built by Homer C. LaGassey Jr. and Paul Gilland, the "Special" is an experimental car, a two door, grand touring sport coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
that incorporated innovative breakthrough styling like an all-plexi canopy
Vehicle canopy
A vehicle canopy is a rarely used type of door for cars. It has no official name so it is also known as an articulated canopy, bubble canopy, cockpit canopy, canopy door, or simply a canopy. A canopy is a type of door which sits on top of a car and lifts up in some way, to provide access for...
with gull-wing panels
Gull-wing door
Gull-wing door is an automotive industry term describing car doors that are hinged at the roof rather than the side, as pioneered by the 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300SL race car and its road-legal version introduced in 1954....
on a sleek fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
body. The name "Bonneville" was inspired by a trip by Earl to Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
while observing speed trials there. It was in fact the first car at GM to have been named after it, and would become Pontiac's top end performance platform
Pontiac Bonneville
The Pontiac Bonneville was an automobile built by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1957 to 2005. It was introduced as a limited production performance convertible during the 1957 model year...
for 47 years.
Two "Special" prototypes, one painted metallic bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
and one emerald green, were built with the intention of unveiling them simultaneously at the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1954.
Exterior
The design of the "Special" drew its visual impetus from America’s fascination with aeronautic and rocket design in the 1950s, employing a wind-tunnel inspired profile and high-tech bright work throughout the body, hood and grill. Glass covered recessed headlights, two rows of louvers on the fenders and twin "Silver-Streaks" on the hood that lead to functional air scoops were among its most distinguishing features. The rear end styling was its most over-the-top visual cue. Featured between two rather bold fender fins were ultramodern twin exhaust chrome-ports, similar to today’s PorschePorsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
s, and a custom spare tire enclosure with space-age wheel disc that gave the car a jet-powered appearance.
Interior
Interior styling in the "Special" was state of the art for its time, and indeed would pass muster against today's computer-designed automobiles. The dashboard was a sleek, wing like design that incorporated a clean horizontal layout of working instruments that gave the interior a futuristic cockpit look. Even underneath the dash, the gauges were sealed in by a contoured metal facia with brushed finish, assuring by Earl that no detail would go unnoticed. Between unique, parabolic shaped, leather bucket seats lay a matching metal, center console with functionally modest gear shift handle, twin vent-control levers, and ignition key slot. Centered over the three spoke, Corvette-style steering wheel was a single, large speedometer that read a top speed of 120 mph (193 km/h). Passengers gained entry through conventional lower doors and gull-wing panelsGull-wing door
Gull-wing door is an automotive industry term describing car doors that are hinged at the roof rather than the side, as pioneered by the 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300SL race car and its road-legal version introduced in 1954....
incorporated into the monocoque
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
-style canopy that swung upward.
| Dashboard Gauges (l-r) | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Speedometer | 0-120 mph |
| Ampmeter | (-)30-0-30(+) |
| Fuel Gauge | E-F |
| Manifold Temp | 60-240 °F. |
| Oil Pressure | 0-80 psi |
| Fuel Pressure | 0-20 psi |
| Oil Temp | 60-240 °F. |
Design legacy
Design carry-overs of the Bonneville Special quickly made it into production models the next year, and in the years that followed. Most obvious were the pairs of silver-streaks, which appeared again on the 1955 and '56 Chieftains and Star ChiefsPontiac Star Chief
The Star Chief was a car built by General Motors' Pontiac division between 1954 and 1966.Between 1954 and 1957, the Star Chief was Pontiac's prestige model; the car was easily identified by its chrome star trim along its sides...
, not to mention Pontiac's concept car for 1956, the Club de Mer
Pontiac Club de Mer
The Pontiac Club de Mer was a purpose-built, concept car that was unveiled at the General Motors Motorama in 1956 to celebrate GM's commitment to futuristic design...
. The twin scoops, designed to channel cool air into the driver's compartment - also on the Club de Mer - resurfaced again on both the 1967 Firebird and 1968 GTO. The louvers, emblazoned horizontally on the fenders, behind the front wheel wells, appeared again as vertical slits on the 1957 Star Chief
Pontiac Star Chief
The Star Chief was a car built by General Motors' Pontiac division between 1954 and 1966.Between 1954 and 1957, the Star Chief was Pontiac's prestige model; the car was easily identified by its chrome star trim along its sides...
Bonneville and 1965 2+2
Pontiac 2+2
The Pontiac 2+2 was a full size high performance automobile manufactured by Pontiac Motor Division. It debuted in 1964 as an interior trim option for the Pontiac Catalina, with special door panels, buckets seats and center console...
. The bold tail fins were replicated faithfully on the 1955 and '56 Pontiac. The 1958 Bonneville had an instrument panel that matched the sleek stainless steel style of the "Special", while the finned wheel covers became a design cue for Pontiac's famous 8-lug, aluminium rims that were introduced in 1960. And finally, the colour was seen again on Pontiac's modern two-seater, the Solstice
Pontiac Solstice
The Pontiac Solstice is a small sports car from the Pontiac division of General Motors. Introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, the Solstice roadster began production in Wilmington, Delaware, starting in mid-2005 for the 2006 model year. The exterior styling of the...
, which was also painted metallic bronze.
Power plant
Under the hood lay the "Special"-8, a bored out, high output 268 in³ engine that was painted bright red and detailed in chrome. This was a unique configuration for the "eight", installed in the only two Specials ever made. Called the Silver Streak in de-tuned production cars, it was Pontiac's most powerful engine to date in the early 1950s. Similar in appearance only, this was a high compression variant that was modified with a long-duration camCamshaft
A camshaft is a shaft to which a cam is fastened or of which a cam forms an integral part.-History:An early cam was built into Hellenistic water-driven automata from the 3rd century BC. The camshaft was later described in Iraq by Al-Jazari in 1206. He employed it as part of his automata,...
and aspirated naturally through four Carter YH side-draft, single barrel carburetors, the same used in the 1953 Corvette, under open-mesh breathers. Total output was the highest ever for the "eight", rated at 230 bhp, though some estimated it at nearly 300 bhp. Like the "Special", only two of these remarkable variants were ever made. Gearing was controlled through a 4-speed Hydramatic
Hydramatic
Hydramatic was an automatic transmission developed by both General Motors' Cadillac and Oldsmobile divisions. Introduced in 1939 for the 1940 model year vehicles, the Hydramatic was the first fully automatic mass-produced transmission developed for passenger automobile use.-History:During the...
automatic transmission.
Note: Pontiac’s new V8 was being considered for use in the "Special" but was instead held back by GM marketing. They directed that the straight-8 be used, to keep the "vee" a secret from consumers for one more year until its debut the following year.
| Engine name | Engine type | Displacement in³ ( L) | Output bhp (kW) @ RPM | Torque ft·lbf (Nm) @ RPM | Carburetor series (bbl) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Special"-8 | Inline I-8 | 268 (4.4) | 230.00 (169.28) @ 3700 | NA (NA) @ 2000.00 | Carter YH 2206 (1) x 4 |
2008
As of 2008, both cars still exist: the all-original bronze "Special" belonging to Joseph Bortz of Highland ParkHighland Park, Illinois
Highland Park is a suburban municipality in Lake County, Illinois, United States, about north of downtown Chicago. As of 2009, the population is 33,492. Highland Park is one of several municipalities located on the North Shore of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.-Overview:Highland Park was founded...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
; and the green "Special", which was completely restored and auctioned off in 2006 at Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction provides products and services to classic and collector car owners, collectors and automotive enthusiasts...
Collector Car Auction, selling for $2,800,000.
According to "Special" owner Joseph Bortz, 90% of the air in the tires, with the exception of a few top-ups, is the same air from 1954.