Hi, as I am quite new to Bonnevilles, please could someone fill me in on the appearance changes that took place between 1987 and 1999?

I know there was a body change in 1992 but I'd like to know about the more subtle changes so i can tell one year from another. Thanks!

Well, 87 was a little different as there was no SSE. It had a different steering wheel among other little things.

Here is my 89 SSE (rough, but you get the idea).





And willwren'* greenzilla for comparison:





Basically everything is different between the generations. It was drastic. Smaller changes happened from 95 to 96, but not nearly this big. Obviously the different trim levels look different as well.

Your '89 seems to have a different steering wheel from my '88.

The differences between the 1987-91 and 92-99 models is obviously quite striking, but what I reallly want to know is how to tell an '88 from an '89 from a '90 etc. Just the subtle changes that occured from year to year.

I forgot the '88 got the different steering wheel. I don't know if I can even think of changes between 89-90-91. You can tell an 87 by the steering wheel and the engine (it will have a pre-3800 3.. Some early 88'* will have this motor as well. I beleive '91 was the first year for keyless entry, but other then that...

Maybe someone else has some indicators?

OMG there are so many differences we be here...well untill the G8 comes out explaining changes....Hell there were even changes IN the years

this will take Research on your own

Here'* how I would tell the differences between SSE:

88: Old style steering wheel

89: New style steering wheel, small side mirrors

90: New style (three-slat) grille, larger mirrors

91: Non-Teves braking system: pop the hood and have a peek at the master cylinder.


Of course this can't be perfectly accurate as parts do get replaced and mismatched over the years, but this is a general idea...

Thanks guys. Jerry, that is an excellent guide to the '88 to '91 changes. Just the kind of information a geek like me craves!

You want more? I will give you Pat'* phone numnber...he can talk this stuff for 3 days straight...

since nobody mentioned it ill throw it out there...... in 1990-1991 the sse got the gx3 gear ratio (3.33)