Pontiac Bonneville II gallery (1959–1960)

The second-generation Bonneville that introduced Pontiac's legendary Wide-Track engineering for superior handling and stance.

All photos 53 I 10 1957–1958 II 0 1959–1960 III 0 1961–1964 IV 29 1965–1970 V 0 1971–1976 VI 0 1977–1981 VII (G-body) 0 1982–1986 VIII (H-body) 0 1987–1991 IX (H-body) 0 1992–1999 X (G-body) 8 2000–2005

The second-generation Pontiac Bonneville arrived in 1959, introducing General Motors' legendary 'Wide-Track' design philosophy that pushed the wheels outward closer to the fenders. Built on the redesigned GM B-body chassis, this wide stance significantly enhanced handling dynamics and high-speed road stability compared to its competitors. Customers could choose between two-door hardtop coupes, four-door hardtop sedans, post sedans, convertibles, and Safari station wagons. Under the hood sat the celebrated 389 cubic inch (6.4L) Pontiac V8, which delivered outputs ranging from 260 horsepower in standard tune to 345 horsepower with the iconic Tri-Power triple-carburetor package. The powertrain was mated to a robust 4-speed Super Hydra-Matic automatic transmission or a heavy-duty 3-speed manual gearbox. For 1960, the exterior received a cleaner horizontal grille treatment and subtly reshaped rear fins, while interior ergonomics improved with new instrument clusters and luxury padding. Marketed across North America, the 1959-1960 Bonneville solidified Pontiac's transition into GM's undisputed performance division.