Power Plant
Under the hood lay the "Special"-8, a bored out, high output 268 in³ engine that was painted bright red and detailed in chrome. This was a unique configuration for the "eight", installed in the only two Specials ever made. Called the Silver Streak in de-tuned production cars, it was Pontiac's most powerful engine to date in the early 1950s. Similar in appearance only, this was a high compression variant that was modified with a long-duration cam and aspirated naturally through four Carter YH side-draft, single barrel carburetors, the same used in the 1953 Corvette, under open-mesh breathers. Total output was the highest ever for the "eight", rated at 230 bhp (172 kW), though some estimated it at nearly 300 bhp (220 kW). Like the "Special", only two of these remarkable variants were ever made. Gearing was controlled through a 4-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission.
Note: Pontiac’s new V8 was being considered for use in the "Special" but was instead held back by GM marketing. They directed that the straight-8 be used, to keep the "vee" a secret from consumers for one more year until its debut the following year.
| Engine name | Engine type | Displacement in³ ( L) | Output bhp (kW) @ RPM | Torque ft·lbf (Nm) @ RPM | Carburetor series (bbl) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Special"-8 | Inline I-8 | 268 (4.4) | 230.00 (169.28) @ 3700 | NA (NA) @ 2000.00 | Carter YH 2206 (1) x 4 |
Read more about this topic: Pontiac Bonneville Special
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