Before Pontiac went out of business, it surprised everyone in the 1950s with a futuristic concept car. This limited-production piece’s design cemented its status as the company’s most expensive and sought-after model. Here are 15 fascinating facts about the Bonneville Special and why it holds such a prestigious place in Pontiac’s history.

Came From a Successful Brand 

Although Pontiac went out of business over a decade ago, America will never forget them for their iconic muscle cars. The carmaker produced the 1966 GTO, often dubbed the “Goat,” which had a monstrous 360 HP V8 engine and was the most powerful production car sold that year. It also produced the luxurious 1970 Grand Prix SJ with a massive 455 cubic inch V8 engine, producing 370 HP. 

A “Special” Concept Car

Pontiac unveiled the Bonneville Special at the General Motors Motorama in 1954, a traveling show where GM presented their latest innovations and concept vehicles with much buzz and excitement. Surprisingly, the carmaker built only two units. The designers finished the first in metallic bronze, debuting at the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf in New York. Then they painted the second in sleek emerald green, unveiling it in the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles. While the cars wowed enthusiasts at the event, Pontiac never produced units for public sale.

The Brainchild of the Famed Harley Earl

Harley Earl influenced the American car industry before and after World War II with his designs. Initially GM’s design head, he became vice president and left a lasting impact. As an industrial designer and coachbuilder, Earl was among the early adopters of free sketching and hand-sculpted clay models in car design. He also pioneered using concept cars like the Bonneville Special not just to showcase innovative design but as clever marketing strategies.

Born Out of America’s Growing Interest in Space

The success of the Bonneville Special stemmed from the growing fascination with space exploration in the 1950s. Even though NASA records the start of the Space Age with the Soviets launching Sputnik, American interest in space already had deep roots. These roots were evident in various areas of their life, such as television, films, art, and automotive design. Designer Harley Earl recognized this trend and crafted the Pontiac Bonneville Special, drawing inspiration from space-age aesthetics and sleek European sports cars of the 1940s.

Harley Earl Was a Genius With a Proven Track Record

After World War II, Earl saw a need for General Motors to offer a competitive sports car to rival European automakers. He designed the groundbreaking Buick Y-Job in 1939, considered the first-ever concept car. This vision created the iconic Chevrolet Corvette C1 in 1953, and his success inspired him to craft another sports car. Leveraging his experience and track record, Earl was able to appeal to customers who loved looks and performance when Pontiac displayed the two exquisite prototypes.

Hand-Built By Two Top Talents

Contrary to popular belief, the Italian design house Bertone didn’t build the Pontiac Bonneville Special. While Bertone is known for collaborating with automakers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Alfa Romeo, this car was a domestic project. Harley Earl directed Homer C. LaGassey Jr. and Paul Gilland, who hand-built these Specials as a grand touring sports coupé. They used a Plexiglas canopy with gull-wing windows on a sleek fiberglass body with innovative styling. 

Its Name Came From a Popular Racing Location

Its creator named this Pontiac model after he visited the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. This vast expanse of flat, smooth land is the site for several record-breaking land speed attempts. Since the early 1900s, cars and their drivers have tried to push the boundaries of speed. Likewise, Pontiac accepted the name because people would readily associate the car with speed.

Advanced Features and Styling

With a glimpse into the future, the Bonneville Special showcased a rare futuristic design and advanced features that are still relevant seven decades later. Instead of the usual gauges and knobs, the dashboard had a jet-fighter layout with a central instrument cluster displaying information in aircraft-style dials and readouts. This design element surprised audiences and fueled the idea that the Bonneville Special truly represented the future of transportation.

Stood Out For Special Design Elements

Designers meticulously shaped it in a wind tunnel with modern trim on the body, hood, and grill. It had recessed headlights under glass, dual sets of rectangular fender louvers, plus the signature Pontiac “Silver-Streaks” that added its unique appearance. These streaks are chromed metal bands representing luxury and speed, which they introduced in the 1930s to differentiate Pontiac cars.

Wraparound Windshield Like an Airplane

Unlike conventional windshields with a defined frame separating the glass from the A-pillars, the Bonneville Special’s windshield was a single, expansive piece of curved glass wrapped around the car’s front to the sides. This seamless glass wall ensured that nothing obstructed the driver’s or passenger’s view. Earl undoubtedly drew this inspiration from jet fighters with similar panoramic canopies for pilots to maximize their field of view during flight. It’s important to note that windshields like this were rare in the 1950s due to limitations in glass technology.  

Designed for Show, Not Raw Power

Pontiac decided to stick to a tried-and-true option, modifying their existing “Special” straight-eight engine. The 268 cubic inch (4.4 liter) was a workhorse installed in a few existing models. Their engineers bored out the engine, increasing the cylinder diameter and adding a high-performance camshaft plus four carburetors. These modifications bumped up the horsepower to 230, which was respectable then.    

Specs Were Just About Right for the 1950s

The designers paired the Pontiac Bonneville Special front-mounted engine with a four-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission. Besides its rear-wheel drive, its specifications made it one of the most powerful cars in the ’50s compared to rivals like the Chevy Corvette and Ford Thunderbird. It also rivaled iconic European sports cars like the BMW 507 and Mercedes-Benz 300SL.

Unusual Interior

Futuristic-themed, this extended to the interior. Taking cues from fighter jets, it had two wide bucket seats, replacing the usual bench seat. It also had a wide central speedometer with five analog stainless steel gauges on its right. The steering was a three-spoke wheel like racing cars to convey speed.

Record-Breaking Sale

Concept cars are rare, but the Bonneville Special took its price as an exclusive piece to a new level. It shattered records in 2006 by becoming the most expensive Pontiac ever sold when the emerald green auctioned for $2.8 million. Almost a decade later, it broke the record again at a Barrett Jackson auction, fetching a whopping $3.3 million. One can anticipate a higher price tag whenever the Pontiac Bonneville Special resurfaces in the market with diligent upkeep.

Significance in Automotive History

Due to its value and role in automotive history, the car has a steep price tag. Although the Pontiac Bonneville Special was only a concept car, it helped earn Pontiac some respect among gearheads and showed the automaker could build a proper performance car if given a chance. It pushed the boundaries, inspiring other concept cars to do more and influencing automotive design.