Beautiful Two Tone Paint/Extra Chrome/Stunning Interior/287.2 Cubes 4 Speed Auto

1955 Pontiac Chieftain Coupe

The would be Pontiac company was purchased by General Motors in the early 1920's. In 1926, GM introduced a companion marque to GM's Oakland line: Pontiac. The brand was named after Pontiac, Grand Chief of the Ottawa Native Americans, who was famous for his rebellion against Fort Detroit (the British) in 1763.

For consignment, a frame off restoration job in the Pontiac Chieftain trim. Pontiac named for the grand chief of the Ottowa Native Americans, and the Chieftain being the leader of the rebellion against Fort Detroit. This beauty has wonderful lines, snappy 2 tone colors, and correct interior. Lots of horizontal chrome and black banded trim, big bumpers front and rear, and a curved rear window complete with chromed B pillar and gleaming surrounds on all window trimmings. Oh, and did I mention it runs like a Swiss watch?

Exterior
Topping the red hood and leading the way for the smiling grille and large bumper below a jet with a glass chieftain head provides the ornament. Flanking this on either side is bands of horizontal ribs running the gamut of the hood and looking much like a package wrapping for you to open and enjoy. Chromed bezeled single headlights have a visor above molded onto the metal of the front quarter panels. Starting on each door at the sill is a snappy trim piece which dives down the center of the doors and runs rearward to the quarters at mid point. This provides the delineation between the beautiful red, and upper black which encompasses the roof, half the doors, and the full trunk. Plenty of badging nice and shiny adorns the panels which have beautifully minded gaps, and overall paint is excellent. A cascade trimmed rear window rolls down disappearing into the rear sill similar to a sunset. Some trimming for the gas filler door, and we now are made aware that we are in the mind 1950's and not fooling around when it comes to adornments. Fender-skirts in matching red hide ribbed dish wheel covers wrapped in wide whites. The back of the car is adorned with more of the horizontal ribbing on top of each quarter panel, and this dives downward to reveal the round taillights protruding from the mid rear fenders and round backup light below it. More PONTIAC badging for the trunk and another mirror-like bumper below. Overall paint is the deep end of the pool, and slight areas of rust bubbling underneath are noted at the drip edges of the roof.

Interior
Opening up top the interior a nice mixture of gray broadcloth and black wide tuck and roll vinyl along with some chrome bordering and handles and knobs make up the clean near perfect door panels. Slipping into the front split bench seat I'm met with gray broadcloth and a nicely buttoned horizontal patch of shiny black vinyl in the centers of the backs, and on the bolsters, although here sans buttons. The rear bench is a nice match for this and offers up plenty of room. An original looking dash gussied up with black paint, and wide chromed bezels with inserted gauges and levers gives my eyes mid 1950's dreams, it's that nice. An inward V design, the top of the V sports a metal mesh pattern with some chrome highlighting. The lower parts of the V houses a round fuel gauge and a clock which flank a centrally located glovebox, in beautiful black shiny paint. An original steering wheel fronts the dash and is in black with an inserted full circle chromed horn ring. All beautifully bordered below by pristine black carpet with an embroidered chief head in the middle in white stitching. A gray headliner is nice and tight with perfectly stitched panels. A shout out to the trunk which has clean tan carpet lining it and an original looking spare bias ply tire.

Drivetrain
287.2 cubes in V8 configuration rests lovingly restored under the ribboned hood. This is a valve in head engine and is topped with a Carter WGD 2-barrel carburetor. On back is the 4-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission and the rear axle is a 3.08:1 ratio.

Undercarriage
On a frame off restoration its always fascinating to look underneath and see what it looked like in showroom condition, and this car shows that to a T! Beautifully restored frame, floorpans, rockers, and wheel wells all shiny black and mechanically sound as well. This car shows a new fuel tank, drum brakes all around, and a no drip oil and transmission pans.

Drive-Ability
I just love these big 1950's cars, and if you are a sucker like me for chrome mixed with two tone paint, then you'll fall in love like I did. I slipped inside and it fired right up and idled without nearly a sound. It was off to the test track where this car ran like the wind, shifted smoothly, and had good acceleration. The suspension was nice and tight and provided a fantastic big car ride. All functions were working, and I could find very little problems or faults with my experience.

When a consigner brings a frame off restored car to Classic Auto Mall, I generally jump to do the test drive, because I know it will be good. This car was everything and that. No complaints here, and certainly worth all the wampum you will pony up in the end for her. The 1955 Chieftain, a goer and a shower.

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.