Available for sale in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a clean, low-mile 1988 Pontiac Bonneville SSE in excellent condition. This American sport sedan has less than 15,000 miles on the odometer and an asking price of $14,500.
The Pontiac Bonneville SSE is perhaps a little-known oddity in GM history. The Bonneville made the big switch to front-wheel drive when the eighth-generation model riding on the H platform came out in 1987. Since it was no longer available with a V8, the SSE variant was offered as a more performance-oriented alternative to lesser Bonneville trims and its more sedate GM platform-mates, the Buick LeSabre and Oldsmobile 88.
Power comes from a 3.8L V6 LN3 rated at 165 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. This was the first year this engine was named the “3800.” Output is sent to the front wheels via a 4-speed automatic transmission.
In addition to a sporty appearance package with body-color bumpers and lower cladding, a rear spoiler, and unique body-color wheels, the SSE trim also included a sport-tuned suspension system, a quicker gear ratio, and automatic leveling rear air suspension with a trunk-mounted inflator.
On the inside, you’ll find cushy leather seats with 14-way power adjustment in front, a steering wheel full of audio control buttons, a digital compass and driver information center, automatic climate control, and the Delco UT4 stereo system with 8-speaker audio.
The idea of the SSE trim was to add a little European flavor to GM’s sedan offerings. The American auto industry, including GM, struggled for years to compete with premium European sport sedans that were quickly becoming desirable in this time period. The Bonneville SSE probably didn’t win over any BMW enthusiasts, but it may have prevented some GM loyalists from switching to a German car.
The Bonneville’s SSE trim lived on through the nameplate’s ninth generation, but the later SSE wasn’t quite as visually interesting; it was just the Bonneville’s midrange trim below the SSEi. The original Bonneville SSE is an interesting piece of GM history and very much a product of its time. The market will determine whether the true value of a clean example is near $15,000.
Comments
Cool car! Bulletproof motor!! My mom had a green Bonneville when I was in high school. Had excellent seats, floated down the road, got excellent gas mileage, and had 200 hp for a big 4 door sedan back then in 98, thing could move pretty well.
Looked hard at one of those back in the day but with three young kids it was just too much, ended up with a Celebrity which ended up being a great car.
These were definitely some great built AMERICAN AUTOMOBILES!
Look at the interior color coordination and design. Why can’t we have that today? Even my J-2000 of that era had color keyed seatbelts a blue steering wheel and two tone cloth seats. These were nice cars the middle class could afford. Today we get some kind of Hyundai knock off with grey fake leather and an interior that isn’t distinct.
The cars that KILLED Pontiac as a car brand
Kevin,
The lackluster cars that killed Pontiac came much later, in the early 2000s. In the 1980s, the brand experienced a renaissance and became the third best-selling car brand in America behind Chevrolet and Ford. Pontiac’s resurgence arguably hurt Oldsmobile and perhaps began their demise but when this Bonneville was built, Pontiac was in the throes of their ‘We Build Excitement’ era and had recaptured the magic of the 1960s. The second act of Pontiac performance imbued their cars with a more European flavor emphasizing handling and all-around performance rather than solely 0-60 times which had been the focus during the GTO era. In the 80’s, with cars like the mid-engine Fiero, 6000STE sports sedan, and the best-selling Grand Am, Pontiac’s were lauded by the motoring press and they became the envy of the industry with high sales and the youngest buyers, by far, of the domestic brands.
This Bonneville completely encapsulates what Pontiac was doing in this era with most of their cars. They used a dull GM H-body (think Buick LeSabre) with FWD and somehow managed to make it into a respectable sports sedan that compared with Audi. They gave it a much nicer interior and a more youthful persona and were rewarded in the marketplace. The ‘80s definitely didn’t kill Pontiac. The neglect that came later, products like the Aztek, and a former US president killed Pontiac.
I had a 95 Bonneville SSEi. Bright red with tan leather interior. Loaded. It was one of my favorite cars. It was also my most “pedestrian” vehicle I’ve ever owned. My wife thought it was an “Old Man’s” car. It replaced my 89 T-type LeSabre. That’s where I fell in love with the 3.8 (3800). Great engine, even front wheel drive. I was contemplating putting a Ken Bell Supercharger kit and associated upgrades in the T-Type. Never got around to it. That was an awesome car as well. This Bonneville isn’t an SSEi and I don’t like the wheels but if it is a true low mileage car, I think it’s a decent buy.
Great car but I liked my Olds Touring Sedan better. Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac all had their versions of this type of car. Way short on HP but great for the times otherwise. Had they all had 30+HP more they would have put BMW, M-B & Audi in their place. Lexus LS 400 & Infiniti Q45 didn’t show until 1989-1990 and put all of them inn their place changing the entire market.
Dude I’m no fan of Hyundai and Kia but they offer way more creative interior color ways (green, blue, tan, grey and red) than most (not all)of gm’s models (ie the standard jet black and gaudy whisper beige-you can also get an attractive red on the envision sport). A good portion of gm vehicles-even the Cadillacs also have the same fake leather (ie evotek, inteluxe etc) the competition offers. Sadly now in the Cadillac EV’s only are we starting to see some unique interior colors, textures and overall design.
I had an ’87 base model with the 3800 as my company car. IT WAS MAGNIFICENT! Red over Red. In those days the Interstate speed limit was 55mph and very strictly enforced. But I found a lonely stretch of I-69. So I took a bit of a risk. At 95mph, that 3800 just began to wake up. Wonder what could have been… Not long after, my uppity brothers-in-law saw my car. Not 6 months later, each subsequently treated themselves to a new Bonneville. (Then I got T-boned. Bought a Sable. It rusted out immediately.)
Seatbelts on the door? I had one. Great blue bomber. Every division got a body except Chevy.
Bulletproof engine until gm put cheap plastic intake manifolds on them. My bought new 2002 Impala LS blew up last year at 206K as mechanic couldn’t find pin hole in the manifold. Finally put enough antifreeze in the cylinder to put the connecting rod into pieces in the oil pan & stick piston in cylinder wall. Really loved that car. Now driving wife’s hand me down 2020 Equinox as she got a new 2024 Caddy XT4 Premium Luxury which we love but will sadly be last Caddy as they go all EV. Son has bought new Camaro RS V6 which we also love and also dropped. Sold my ‘79 Corvette L48 after 33 years of great times. First in 55 years no Chevrolet V8 in my carport. Nothing much they have of interest to me going forward. Sad times.
1987 was the peak of the Roger Smith era and the start of the long demise of GM as the world’s number one automaker. Yet it seems that product lineup of those days are exponentially better than the one they have today. Back then at least you had choices other than less-than-exciting crossovers.
The Bonneville offered both versions of the Buick 3.8 this year with the older 150 HP non balance shaft version for the base SE cars and the 165 HP 3800 for the SE and SSE. There were also 3 different axle ratios. 2.73 for SE. 2.97 for SE and 3.33 for SSE along with a higher stall speed torque converter. This gave the SSE versions much livelier launching power and great throttle response. I remember having all three versions to test at our used car dealer lot back in the late 90’s being able to compare them. The SE felt like a Delta 88 with slightly firmer springs. The SE felt like a Delta 88 with touring suspension and the SSE took it to another level for handing and responsiveness.
Te owner gets 6k Gateway the rest