Back to the HAMB with my new 55 Poncho Starchiefl

Hey guys!

I'm back! Took a break for awhile with a few non-HAMB friendly cars (64 Cuda and a 73 Duster), but I'm back now with a 55 Pontiac Starchief I picked up yesterday.

I'm in San Diego, found the car on ebay and it was in Chula Vista, so I gave the guy a call and headed down to check it out before the auction ended.
Not sure what the reserve was, but I picked up the car for $2890.

It seems to be an original CA car, sat out in the desert for quite a few years.
Has the title, but has been non-op'ed since 1964!
Totally solid car, with no bad rust at all. Paint looks like its been sandblasted in the desert quite a bit, but not bad at all.

Interiors pretty well worn, but workable. All the gauges, lights work, pretty crazy for sitting that long!

What do you guys think?
Gonna be building this one alongside with my bro's 56 Starchief (betteroffalone on here).

So anyways, glad to be back on the HAMB, and I'll be havin some fun with this one.











Heres the worst body damage on the car:


Nice original caps!


Gotta love the lighted chief!


Interiors seen better days, but its workable

 

Welcome back!

 

You Bastard!!!!!!
Thats a really nice car man....Enjoy, and congrats.......

 

looks like a nice solid car to work with. looking forward to seeing what you do with it. i had a '55 coupe.

 

Holy cow that's a great start!

 

Cool car.

 

great stuff i had one just like it they are awesome cars,cant wait to see it.

 

Hey thanks alot for the comments guys.
I'm really stoked on this project.
My bro and I are going to be doing a blog on the build of this car, as well as whatever trouble we get into with his Star Chief too.
The site will probably be www.twinchiefs.com (not up yet) but I'm not sure so I'll post in here when its ready.

So when I got her home yesterday, the gas tank was trashed and leaking badly. It had already been repaired numerous times, and just wasn't going to cut it.

So I pulled the tank today and set it aside. Looking for either a good OEM tank, or debating putting a fuel cell in the trunk, shaving the filler door, and just filling it from inside the trunk?

Any good leads on where to get a reasonably priced fuel cell and possibly electric pump? Or good reasonably price OEM style tanks? Are the Chiefs interchangeable with a Chevy tank?

Also, did the 55's come with dual exhaust at all? Or was that not even an option?
I noticed under the car that only the passenger side X frame has a slot in it for exhaust pipe, doesn't look like it was even a option to run a drivers side pipe all the way back?

No big deal either way, she's getting side pipes soon!