Pontiac - Full size over the years

Welcome to the PONTIAC HEAVEN ID Guide!

Full size Pontiac “B” body 1955-81, includes GP through ’68

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1955

Below is the top of the line for ’55 Star Chief with optional bumper guard

The one that started it all, the first Pontiac V-8 287 cu in!

44 door wagon

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1956

2 door Safari wagon

4 door wagon

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1957

Chieftain sedan

Hard top

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1958

Bonneville was offered for the first time as a Hardtop

This Below is the Star Chief in 4 door, wagon and 2 door

Super Chief int

Chieftain was the entry level model

370 engine was offered for this one year only

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1959

Top of the line Bonneville

Rear of Star Chief below

Catalina below

1959 389 Tri-Power 3-2 bbl engine

This was the first year of the Wide Track and the first year of the divided grilles that would become a Pontiac trademark. ’59 Safari below

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1960

Catalina 4 door sedan

SStation wagon “Safari” below

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1961

iiio1961 Pontiac- All models had the same front end

CCatalina 2 door hard top “Bubble Top”

TVentura Bubbletop

Bonneville 2 door hard top “Bubbletop”

The Catalina 2 door sedan, nicknamed “Batwing” (above )

The Star Chief sedan below

BBonneville (above) had full length stainless side trim, different fender spears and longer wheelbase.

ReaRear views of ’61 Catalina & Ventura (left), Safari (right)

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1962

Above Catalina hard top in Ensign Blue and Aquamarine with optional Ventura int shown in Aqua and Blue, below Catalina Safari s/w with standard Catalina int (wagons had vinyl).

The Star Chief was priced between the Catalina and the Bonneville below

Bonneville (below) had full length trim, rear trim panel and had its own grille emblem.

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11963

Base model Catalina (top) had long, thin full length moulding. Top of the line Bonneville (below) had wider cast trim that ran the first half of the length of the car, full width trim between tail lights and Bonneville emblem in grille, longer wheelbase. Grand Prix (above) had its own grille, tail lights and trim and roof line.

Below, Grand Prix rear

Below Safari

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1964

Catalina coupe

top of the line Bonneville above, Star Chief below

Grand Prix below for 1964

Safari station wagon rear below

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1965

Bonneville

22+2 below was now its own model with 421 4bbl standard.

Available in HT (shown) or convertible

GP had its own rear roof line, grilles and tail treatment (below)

2+2 interior left and Bonneville right

Below is the base model Catalina with the upgraded Ventura trim package including 2 tone interior

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1966

Catalina and Ventura front and rear above. GP front and side below (GP had its own roof line, back glass and tail lights)

This wouThis would be the last year for the Star Chief name. This year it was call Star Chief Exectutive. This model was based on the longer wheelbase Bonneville but with less trim and int upgrades.

Top of the line Bonneville was available in 2 dr coupe or convertible, 4dr ht or wagon. Rear (below) shows longer trunk lid, longer wheelbase and wider tail lights

AvAvailable on the Bonneville was the Brougham package with even plusher interior shown below

Performance model 2+2 (below) was available in HT or conv and had 421 4bbl standard and was the only model that featured the “gilles” in the 1/4s below the 1/4 windows.

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1967

1 This would be the last year for stacked head lamps. Bonneville (shown above), had “Bonneville” emblem on header panel above grille. GP different w/ hidden head lamps. 2+2 (below) was offered for the last year as sales were poor, note unique fender “gilles” on 2+2. Also 428 was standard

Lowest priced full size Pontiac for ’67 was the Catalina 2 door sedan below

NewNew for ’67 was the Executive. This was a step down from the Bonneville. Shown here is the mid priced full sized Executive Safari. This model had simulated wood side grain standard. This was optional on Catalina and Bonneville Safari.

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1968

All ’68s had same front end except the Grand Prix, for the first time, shared parking lights with mid size models. Bonneville tail lights (shown above) were wider than other full size models like the Executive shown below in Meridian Turquoise.

Grand Prix rear shown below

GP for ’68 front/side view shows unique front end, roof line and quarter panel. Note: This car has been modified with black grilles (silver grilles were original) and does not have the fender skirts that they came with.

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1969

Catalina, Ventura and Executive below

Bonneville This was the first year that Bonneville would have its own grille. A pattern that would continue through the era.

Another styling feature change in the Pontiac line up for ’69 was the Bonneville would get its own rear bumper too. The picture below, while not pretty, clearly shows the differences in rears on full size 69s. The Bonneville (foreground) has longer lights and Endura insert in bumper. Catalina, Executive and Ventura had standard bumper with smaller lights. Note: Even the deck lid is different to fit the lights of each model. Safari is below right

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1970

1970 Bonneville (above) was the only model with vertical bars in the grille. Ventura, Executive and Catalina (below) had horizontal bars. This styling trend would last through the era covered on this site. Also, Bonneville had Endura panel with its own lights in rear bumper.

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1971

below, the New for 1971 Grand Ville

Catalina

Bonneville

FForFor ’71, full size Pontiac were redesigned, Catalina (left) and Grand Ville (right)

As mentioned under ’70, Catalina had horizontal grilles, Bonneville and the new Grand Ville had vertical grilles. The styling influence is obviously inspired from the very successful ’69 GP. Also (below), the full size station wagons were redesigned with many good advanced features including a tail gate that slid into the floor and an electric rear window that went into the roof. For the first time too, wagons had leaf spring rear suspensions where coupes and sedans retained coil springs. These wagons were built for towing and hauling and also had 12″ rear brakes, the largest ever put on a passenger car.

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1972

Grand Safari,Grand Ville & Bonneville had vertical grilles

Below is Catalina with it horizontal grilles

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1973

Rears-Grandville left and Catalina right

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1974

Catalina coupe

Grandville below

Grand Safari

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11975

Catalina 4 door sedan above

11975 Catalina, (top), again had horizontal bars/slats in grille and round headlights. Bonneville and Grand Ville, (above ) used, for the first time, rectangular head lights.

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1976