Fix or Restore? 1956 Pontiac Chieftain
For nearly a decade (1949-58), the Chieftain served as Pontiac’s entry-level car. It would be one of GM’s first new post-war auto designs. For 1955-57, the Chieftain would share the same A-Body platform used by the Tri Five Chevies. This ’56 Chieftain hardtop has been in storage the last four years and needs work, though it will run off a gas can. Located in the City of Brotherly Love (aka Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), this interesting car is available here on craigslist for $5,900. This tip comes to us compliments of Russell Glantz.
The ’56 Chieftain came in two trim levels, the 860 (basic) and 870 (deluxe). Given the lack of brightwork on the seller’s car, we’ll assume it’s an 860 of which 46,335 of them were built by Pontiac that year. For each of the three years of the car’s second generation, they would come with different V8 engines. For 1956, that would be the 317 cubic inch powerplant good for nearly 200 hp with a 2 barrel or 220 with a 4-barrel. We’re told the seller has had the car running at times, but it will need a new fuel line. It also needs a driveshaft and brakes. It has an automatic transmission and power steering.
My guess is the finish on the car is either flat black or black primer, I’m not sure which. The body panels look good from what we can see, but the floorboards may be suspect. Brightwork, especially both bumpers, also presents well. It looks as though this car was in the process of being customized at some point as the rear wheel openings are larger than stock and resemble those from the 1955 Chevy Nomad.
The interior is also a work-in-progress, with bucket seats from what might be a mid-1960s GTO and they don’t match the upholstery in the back. At least one door panel is needed, and the back glass is also missing. The carpeting (or what might have been carpeting at one time) looks ready to be replaced. These mid-50s Pontiacs can attract buyers in the $30-40,000 range for a quality automobile. Rather than restore this one, I’d just get it running reliably and make the Cars & Coffee circuit, keeping my investment in check.
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Comments
I wonder if the rear wheel opening has been radiused on this one??
yes they have been cut
Not a bad looking car for the money. If the primer paint isn’t hiding gobs of Bondo. The seller doesn’t provide a lot of details though the pics are decent. Some under carriage pics would have been nice. Mom’s living room carpet would have to go for a correct repo and either swap out the bucket seats for the correct bench or maybe upholster the buckets to match the rear seat. Some new door panels, clean up the other bits in the interior along with fresh paint and you’ll have a nice driver. The chrome wire wheels look pretty good, too.
Wrong model, and too far removed from how it left the factory to me. GLWTA!
Those are probably reproduction simulated wire wheel covers. I’ve never cared for their looks. It only gets worse when paired with whitewalls. Yet somehow it all works with this cars flat black paint and glossy white top. It catches the eye without being garish.
If the body isn’t loaded with filler and the underside is solid this car seems like a bargain. A new owner could take this project in any direction. I’d be tempted to build it as a late 60s/early 70s hotrod with period parts.
the rear wheel wells where opened up the only GM product that had open wheel wells was Buick.