Pontiac's standard size models that year were Catalina, Star Chief, Bonneville, and Grand Prix. Star Chiefs were only available as four-door sedans and four-door hardtop sedans: the other models included hardtop coupes. Pontiac's Tempest compact line also had 2-door hardtops, but on a different body platform, so those cars are not treated here..
The 2+2 was a performance-enhanced model, so has a few special trim items such as the faux-louvers on the front fender: otherwise, it's typical Catalina 2-door hardtop. Catalinas and Grand Prix's had a 121.0-inch (3073 mm) wheelbase. The wheelbase of the Bonneville in the next image is 124.0-inches (3150 mm).
The Bonneville's extra length takes place abaft of the rear door cutline. Compare the position of the wheel with the aft point of the rear side window. Or the aft point of the roof with the wheel below. The rear fender bulge and length on the Bonneville strike me as being too great, disturbing the proportions of an otherwise attractive design.
Model year 1963 saw the appearance of the classic Pontiac Grand Prix. Its backlight window was a concave, dished-in shape echoed by the aft edge of the wide C-pillar. That combination was carried over for the 1965 redesign (which wasn't as nice as the '63 original). One virtue is that the top seems "lighter" than the convex alternatives seen on the Catalina and Bonneville.
1 comment:
Color and wheels certainly help, but imo the Catalina looks the best of the three variations. That coupled with the long hood/short deck trend makes me wonder if JZDL and Bunkie ever questioned the need for a wheelbase stretch for senior Pontiacs, at least the 2-door variants. Four-door sedans and hardtops are another matter, and perhaps if added volume was needed for the stretch an arrangement could've been made with Chevrolet to deploy it across all B-body station wagons?
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