Lets talk about the Cheiftains. Who has them and who would like to have one. This weekend when returning from the Hot Rod Cinematic, I stopped at a guys place to pick up some stuff I recently acquired. We got to talking and he takes me into his shed/shop and pulls of a tarp on a 55 Cheiftain. Has been restored and been sitting for the past two years. The car is sporting 82,000 miles on the 287 and automatic. Price is fair, just curious what you think of this car since it is not discussed here alot. I want to hear what you think of this 55 Chevy cousin..
Bulletproof cars when basic maintainance is kept up. Underneath, they're a '49-'54 Pontiac with a V8 engine. '55 styling very clean compared to both earlier & later Pontiacs, & the last of the Dual Range hydros
I have a 1951 Pontiac Chieftain and think it's the s@#t just cause it has the GM stylings but the individual chrome of a Pancho.
Most folks here seem to like them. The front end is a little busy, but they are great cars-still affordable too.
Mine was too far for any restoration, put in a 66 389/th400 and 3:90 rear and tubbing rear end. I'm a big Pontiac guy, always liked the 55 Chevy body too. Once I got back into the game , the GTO stuff was too rich for my blood and got hooked on the earlier stuff. Mine's a 2dr sedan.
I've got the wagon and a 53. Love them both. Will enjoy them more when they're on the road. Motor on the 53 is being rebuilt and I'm working on the 55. Solid cars and they're not tri-5 Chebbys....which are in 3 of 4 garages in America it seems.
I lusted after a '49 Poncho when I was a kid. Had been parked in a barn in 1969 by a teacher who'd moved to the area. She'd since moved on, the family that loaned her the barn space had no where abouts and no keys or ***le. Car was a 2 door and sweet! My dad and I stopped to check it out a few times, they told me for $1200 it was mine. I was 16 and it took me 2 years to get that kind of cash. By the time I had it, the car was gone. Never did see it again but always loved that chrome and indian head. New a guy in HS that had a 57 Olds. Another nice spin on the tri-5 Chevies. The Olds and Ponchos were better looking in my opinion. Buick was cool but just looked SO heavy. If the price is right, I'd say why not?! LDNFST has one, I think a '55. He's got it dropped sans grill right now and it is a great looking ride.
It's a post I believe, not sure. He said its a 2 door Sedan. He is gonna be sending me some pics. I will post when I get them. Really thinking I gonna be picking it up as a wedding present for the woman. She keeps saying that she wants a "Grace Kelly" car, not sure what that is but this one is pretty nice. It looks like this one, about same condition, same colors ( ?venetian? green lower with white upper).
Nice. The one in the pix is a Starchief, thicker side trim, 3 stars down the sides as well as a longer trunk and rear fenders than a Chieftan. My first car was a 56 Pontiac Chieftan 2 drht. I drove that car everywhere and loved it. More recently I owned a 55 Starchief but have since sold it. 55/56 Pontiacs are great cars and have been my top car for 15 years. I am currently looking for one again. Here is a pix of what it looks like now
Ive always liked the cheiftains. Nice lines and they look great chopped. I am looking for a wagon to buy.
I have a '51 Cheiftain. I dropped a 350 into it. I bought it for a few hundred, but it did need alot of work. Check it out on my profile. Lets see some more pics of those Cheiftains.
Just recently picked up a '55 Chieftain. My first older car and I love it. I'm sure I'll love it more once she's on the road regularly. She'll be my daily once I get a few more things done to her. Anyone got good sources for parts for these/ I need a lot of the trim clips, specifically. 99% percent of the chrome was in the trunk when i bought her and I can't find anyone with clips for it.
i had a 55' 4 door, man did i love that car LDNFAST has it now, those cars are way cooler than the chevys, just because more styling and not seen as often
Here's a couple shots of my 55. Like previously said, a little more styling than the Chevs, and fewer and farther between. Just the lit up hood ornament while driving at night will get people to staring and asking questions.
I love '55 Pontiacs ... I just think they're really cool looking. That's one of many on the list of cars I need to own someday.
I've had 11, 55-57 Pontiacs...all chieftain 2 doors....some sedans and some hardtops and one 57 Super Chief 2 door hardtop and one 55 wagon. I love 'em. They are easy to slam and still ride decent after cutting the coils. The 287 is a little anemic but the 316's and bigger can give respectable performance. I generally bolt-in a 59-60 389 and with a little grinding on the 389 crank flange, it bolts right up to the 55 hydro fluid coupling. The rest is straight bolt-up stuff and that 55 will stick with 327, 4 speed 55 chevies all day long. Here are a few photos of some of my 55-56's
If I was smart a few years back this would be parked in my garage. Everything about your old 55 was pure perfection.
I loved my 54 Cheiftain... thing was slick. I had the original Straight Eight in it... ran good too. That engine looked like it came right out of a John Deer Tractor. Good looking cars...... Sold it on ebay to a guy in Texas... wonder how its doin?
Well BTT with pics for those who wanted to see what I found. I am gonna be taking this one home, so don't ask!
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