Wikipedia's Pontiac Bonneville entry is here. It notes that Bonneville became a separate Pontiac model for 1958 and classes later generations as follows: Second, 1959-1960; Third, 1961-64; Fourth, 1965-1970; Fifth, 1971-76. Ten generations are listed, but the present post only deals with those noted here.
During the period covered, Bonnevilles were built on Pontiac's longest wheelbase and generally were the most expensive models. Presumably, therefore, they should have been given plenty attention and care by marketers and stylists.
Wheelbase: 124 inches (3150 mm). Original Bonnevilles were only convertible Star Chiefs, but I enclose this image to illustrate what a '57 hardtop coupe Bonneville might have looked like. This GM A-body dates from the 1955 model year. 1957 Pontiacs were given considerable facelifts, front and rear.
Wheelbase: 122 inches (3099 mm). This was a one-year-only body design. The basic shape wasn't bad, though the roof was too rounded compared to the flatter roofs on the stylish new 1957 Chrysler Corporation models that prompted a crash GM redesign effort for 1959. What's seriously wrong with this Bonneville's styling is the garish, rocket-theme side trim. Those horizontal items abaft of the front wheel opening add to the visual clutter.
Wheelbase: 124 inches (3150 mm). For 1959-60, body types were shared across all of GM's brands. This Bonneville has less applied decoration than the one in the previous photo, but the body sculpting is greater, especially the then almost-obligatory tail fins.
Wheelbase: 123 inches (3124 mm). The so-called 'bubble top" passenger compartment greenhouse design is retained aside from the windshield in what I and others thought was a redesign. Lately, I'm thinking that parts of the 1959 body were retained, so what we have might be considered a massive facelift. Side trim is bold, but better related to the body design than the trim seen in 1958.
Wheelbase: 124 inches (3150 mm). Here side trim is nearly absent, replaced by voluptuous, simplified shaping. I find the body/fender abaft of the door to be too ponderous. One result is making the greenhouse seem too small. Clean isn't always better.
Wheelbase: 125 inches (3175 mm). The next redesign resulted in tidy appearance with no major flaws. And little to excite the viewer.
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