1953 Pontiac Chieftain

The 1953 Pontiac model lineup consisted of a singular model - the Chieftain - offered with either six- or eight-cylinder engines and in Special or Deluxe trim levels. Pontiac's were all-new for 1953 with one-piece windshields, a wraparound rear window, 'stepped' rear fenders that hinted at the forthcoming tailfins, new hood ornaments, a new grille design that incorporated parking lights, large chrome headlight housings, and Panorama View gauge clusters.

Engines
The six-cylinder engine had a 239.2 cubic-inch displacement with four main bearings, solid valve lifters, a Carter two-barrel carburetor, and delivered 115 horsepower with the synchromesh transmission and 118 hp with the Hydra-Matic. The 268.4 cubic-inch L-head eight-cylinder engine produced 118 horsepower with the synchromesh and 122 hp with the Hydra-Matic. Nearly 82 percent of the 1953 Pontiac models were equipped with automatic transmissions.

Standard Amenities
The standard models were called the Specials and included hubcaps, straight upper beltline trim, short arrow-shaped side trim, and rubber gravel guards. The Deluxe Chieftains had stainless steel gravel guards with rear fender extensions, chrome full wheel discs, dipping belt moldings, and long 'dual streak' body moldings. Eight-cylinder cars had an '8' emblem located between twin 'Silver Streaks' on deck lids.

Body Styles and Pricing
1953 Pontaic body styles included a two- and four-door sedan, a Deluxe Catalina Coupe, Deluxe Convertible, and Deluxe Station Wagon with either six- or eight-passenger seating. Prices ranged from $1,950 for the two-door sedan and rose to over $2,500 for the station wagon with eight-cylinder power. The Custom Catalina Coupe had horizontally grooved decorative trim plates located at the rear roof pillar edge and only available in Milano Ivory, Laurel Green, or two-tone combinations of these colors.

Production
Production of the 1953 Chieftain began on November 17, 1952, and wasintroduced to the public a month later - on December 6. With model year output of 418,619 vehicles, Pontiac remained steadfast in its fifth position of U.S. automobile sales.
- 38,914 with six-cylinder power
- 379,705 with eight-cylinder power

A total of 33,705 examples of the six-cylinder cars had synchromesh transmissions, 4,507 had HydraMatics, and 702 had PowerGlides.
A total of 68,565 of the eight-cylinder cars had synchromesh, 293,343 had HydraMatics, and 17,797 received PowerGlides.

The Pontiac Chieftain
Pontiac produced the Chieftain from 1949 to 1958 and (along with the Streamliner) was the company's first all-new car design in the post-WWII era. Styling introduced in 1949 continued through 1954; the second generation of styling was produced from 1955 to 1957; and the third and final update was 1958.

The 1949 to 1951 Chieftain rested on a 120-inch wheelbase and had an overall length of 202.5 inches, a width of 75.8 inches, and a height of 63.3 inches. Sleeker styling and a longer 122-inch wheelbase platform were bestowed upon the 1953 Chieftain, with a length now reaching to 202.5 inches and a width of 76.6 inches. A minor increase in length for 1953 now measured 203 inches.

The 1949 Pontiac Chieftain replaced the previous Torpedo as the company's 'entry-level' model. It was built on the A-body platform and could be equipped with either a 239.2 cubic-inch L-head six-cylinder engine or a 248.9 cubic-inch 8-cylinder engine.

The 1949 Chieftain was joined by the newly redesigned B-bodied Pontiac Streamliner through 1951. After the Streamliner was discontinued, the Chieftain was Pontiac's sole model through 1953; the Star Chief was added in 1954.

The 'second generation (1955 to 1957)' Chieftain was given a new chassis, body and engine. The wheelbase increased to 122 inches, its length at 203.2 inches (205.6 inches in 1956 and 206.8 inches in 1957), the width at 75.1 inches, and its height at 60.5 inches.

Pontiac was the last General Motors division to retain its prewar inline eight-cylinder engine. In 1955, Pontiac offered a new V8 engine called the Strato Streak V8, and was the company's first 'V8' since 1932. The 287.2 cubic-inch unit produced 173 or 180 horsepower (depending on configuration). Displacement grew to 316.6 cubic inches, as did horsepower output. For 1957, the engine was enlarged to 347 cubic inches, and horsepower was now 290 horsepower for the Chieftain models.

Only eight-cylinder power was available to the post-1954 Chieftain vehicles, as six-cylinder engines had accounted for ten to fifteen percent of sales since 1951.

The third and final major styling update for the Chieftain occurred for 1958. Design elements included concave rear fenders, quad head and tail lamps, and honeycomb grilles. The wheelbase measured 122 inches, the length at 210.5 inches, the height at 55.7 inches, and the width at 77.4 inches. The 370 cubic-inch V8 made 240 horsepower (up to 270 hp depending on configuration) and could be paired with a three-speed manual or Super Hydra-Matic.

Pontiac Model Year Production
1949: 304,819
1950: 446,426
1951: 343,795
1952: 271,373 (calendar year production)
1953: 418,619
1954: 287,744
1955: 554,090
1956: 405,730
1957: 334,041
1958: 217,303

Pontiac ranged 5th in U.S. sales from 1949 to 1953. From 1954 to 1958, Pontiac ranked 6th in U.S. sales.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2020