Inventory Listing

Believed to be 6209 original miles. Stunning original interior, engine bay, and undercarriage. AACA National Senior first prize winner. Runs and drives like a new car. Gorgeous!

This particular 1955 Pontiac Chieftain was discovered in a body shop in 2008, and at that time, it had not been registered for road use since 1965. The interior, undercarriage, and engine bay are completely original, but its time in the body shop necessitated a repaint and some chrome work, making this car the best of both worlds: cosmetically stunning with the wonderful comfort and mechanical precision of a low-mileage survivor. It is filled with wonderful authentic details combined with a surprising sophistication that many antique car enthusiasts would not expect.

The lovely paint job is how this car was delivered originally, a combination of Marietta Blue and Castle Gray that’s just stunning in person. Sadly, our photos were not able to quite capture the brilliance of the colors, particularly the Castle Gray, which does indeed have a bit of green mixed in, giving the car a wonderful ‘50s pastel color pallet that appears to have been designed by artists (which, of course, it was). The paint was freshened in 2009-2010, and the job was extremely professional, with all the trim removed, new weather-stripping, and even the original glass was carefully removed and reinstalled during the process. At the same time, most of the chrome was re-plated and the stainless trim was polished and straightened, including the lovely little eyebrows over the headlights and distinctive brightwork on the lower quarters behind the wheels. It also wears a set of accessory chrome fender skirts that enhance the long, low look.

The remarkable all-original interior will help convince you that the mileage is correct. The two-tone Light Blue Cloth and Dark Blue Vinyl upholstery is unquestionably vintage 1955 and perhaps the most amazing element of this already pretty impressive car. Yes, there are a few loose threads, just look at the floor coverings, the beautifully finished door panels, and the taut headliner. An AM radio still lives in the center of the dash and does power up and make noise, but we haven’t been successful in dialing-in a station, and one of the levers for the heater is a little sticky, but otherwise, it remains in fully-functional, as-new condition. For authenticity, there’s a neat visor-mounted instruction sheet about the 4-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, and even that original 1965 Pennsylvania registration tag is still affixed to the windshield. The trunk is wonderfully correct, with original burlap-style trunk linings, a full-sized spare (new, to match the other four tires), and the original jack assembly which appears to have never been used.

Pontiac’s all-new “Strato Streak” OHV V8 engine was 22 cubic inches bigger than Chevy’s 265, and with the same bodywork to haul around, performance is more than entertaining. The engine was removed during the body repaint and cleaned, but it was not dismantled or painted, then reinstalled using original fasteners and clips wherever possible. The engine bay was also tidied up, but all the decals, markings, and hardware are from 1955, keeping it as authentic as possible while bringing it up to show standards. The smooth-running 287 cubic inch V8 starts easily and idles with that wonderful burble from the tailpipe that only these early V8s can offer. The water pump was recently replaced, and there’s no doubt that the one that was removed was original, crumbling bearings and all, but otherwise the engine bay runs all its original equipment. It idles smoothly, doesn’t get hot, the generator makes plenty of juice, and it has that smooth, effortless feeling that you only get from untouched, original cars. We also serviced the brakes, including a rebuilt master cylinder, and there’s a correct tar-top reproduction battery to make it look right.

The Hydra-Matic 4-speed automatic transmission is virtually indestructible, but while the car was apart, it was treated to new gaskets and seals so it drives like it should. Obviously with so few miles on the clock, we’re not taking extensive test drives in this car, but we can confirm that it rides, handles, shifts, and feels like a new car might have in 1955. The undercarriage is extremely clean, having been detailed but not disassembled or repainted, and it shows that GM was painting just about everything satin black in 1955: suspension, frame, floors, all of it. It sits on four color-matched steel wheels with Pontiac hubcaps, and was just recently fitted with a correct set of 7.10-15 BFGoodrich Silvertown wide whitewall tires that might just be only the second set of tires this car has ever worn.

There’s also a bit of neat documentation, including an ad featuring a Catalina hardtop in these colors, plus a spectacular display book with fantastic cut-away illustrations on clear visquene showing all the engine’s internal details. This car has won numerous awards at the national level, including its AACA National Senior first prize, which is a rather remarkable feat for a car that hasn’t been fully restored and speaks to the quality of the preservation as well as the work that was done.

Combining the very best aspects of a survivor (the driving experience) with show-quality paint and chrome, this is a car that will delight you no matter what you decide to do with it.