Chieftain
Rat Rod Wagon? 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Safari
From 1955 to 1957, the Safari was Pontiac’s equivalent to Chevy’s Nomad, a “sport wagon”. That concept didn’t go over from a sales perspective. So, when that body style was dropped, the Safari was added as a tagline to… more»
Running Garage Find: 1955 Pontiac Chieftain
The Pontiacs were all-new for 1955 (just like their counterparts at Chevrolet). The Chieftain was the entry-level model and accounted for 63% of sales that year. Pontiac gained a V8 in ‘55, the first time an eight-cylinder had been… more»
Straight-8 Survivor: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain
Introduced in 1949, the Chieftain and Streamliner were Pontiac’s first all-new cars since before World War II. The Chieftain would eventually become the GM division’s entry-level automobile and remain in the mix through 1958. This 1951 edition, in a… more»
Restomod Project: 1952 Pontiac Hearse by Barnette
Guy Barnette & Co. out of Memphis, Tennessee built ambulances and hearses from the late 1940s through the mid-1950s. Chevrolet and Pontiac sedan deliveries were typically what their conversions were based upon. This 1952 Pontiac is one of those… more»
Attention Patina Fans! 1957 Pontiac Super Chief
In 1955-57, the Pontiac Chieftain used the same platform as the “Tri-Five” Chevies, though the sales numbers were less. In 1957, the Super Chief was introduced as a top trim level on the Chieftain, making it roughly equal to… more»
Chieftain or Star Chief? 1955 Pontiac Sport Coupe
Pontiac rolled out a new design for its cars in 1955 and included a V8 engine for the first time since 1932. Only two broad series were available, the Chieftain and the Star Chief of which the latter rode… more»
“Tri-Five” Poncho: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain
In the mid-1950s, the Chieftain was akin to the 210 in the Chevy lineup as the Star Chief was more like the Bel Air in terms of trim. All new bodies were introduced in 1955 (along with Chevrolet) and… more»
Twelve Car Barn Find In Northern California!
Most vehicle collections focus on a specific brand or type of car or truck. While others seem to be a little bit of everything, like this dusty assortment that resides in a warehouse in Watsonville, California. What started as… more»
Garaged 50 Years! 1951 Pontiac Chieftain
The Pontiac Chieftain was introduced as a 1949 model, offering good looks and some cool features such as a curved 2-piece windshield, but it seems these cars aren’t really garnering all that much attention from car enthusiasts at present,… more»
Original Paint: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain
The “one owner, little old lady, only driven on Sundays” stereotype is well-worn, and many treat the concept with a grain of salt. However, those are the claims made by the seller about this 1957 Pontiac Chieftain. It wears… more»
Pretty In Pink! 1958 Pontiac Chieftain
The 1950s Chieftain appealed to Pontiac buyers who were budget conscious. Its last model year in 1958, the car (along with all Pontiacs) was all-new and struggled a bit in sales as the U.S. economy was suffering through its… more»
Stored In a Garage for 52 Years: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Eight
I wonder what this old Pontiac’s story is. It’s been in storage since 1970 – 52 years in hibernation – and was recently pulled out of a garage in Southern California. It’s not running but it looks original, straight,… more»
Tri-Power Included: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain
Pontiac’s Second Generation Chieftain brought wholesale changes to the badge, although not all were visible to the naked eye. It underwent further changes during its three-year production life, and our feature car is from the final year. It is… more»
Needs Good Home: 1949 Pontiac Chieftain
Pontiac’s post-WW2 automobiles were retreads until 1949 when the all-new Chieftain and Streamliner debuted. The Chieftain would be Pontiac’s entry-level model, using the A-body shared with Chevrolet. Both six and eight-cylinder engines were offered, with the latter said to… more»
Halloween Hauler? 1953 Pontiac Chieftain Hearse
Back in the 1950s, Memphis, Tennessee was a mecca of professional car builders where hearses, ambulances, and flower cars were the primary products. Guy Barnette & Co. specialized in converting Chevrolets and Pontiacs into these sorts of vehicles using… more»
Tin Wood Wagon: 1951 Pontiac Eight
Like other divisions of General Motors, Pontiac rolled out new post-war cars in 1949. While the only badging on the seller’s wagon says Pontiac Eight, the simple VIN doesn’t tell us much more. P = Pontiac, MI assembly plant;… more»
