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1952 Pontiac Chieftain

The immediate post-war Pontiacs, wearing pre-war styling, were updated in 1949 with new sleek, enveloping bodies on its entry-level Streamliner and top-of-the-line Chieftain. Both came standard with an L-head six-cylinder engine or optional L-head eight. The six displaced 239.2 cubic-inches and had solid valve lifters, four main bearings, and delivered 90 horsepower. The eight had five main bearings, solid valve lifters, and delivered 103 horsepower. A three-speed Synchyromesh gearbox with column shift was standard on all models, with a Hydra_matic four-speed automatic optional.

The Streamliner model was dropped in 1952, leaving just the Chieftain line in Standard, Deluxe, and Super trim levels. The standard body styles included a two- and four-door sedan, and a station wagon with six- and eight-passenger seating. The two-door sedan with six-cylinder power had a factory base price of $1,960 and the eight-cylinder version at $2,060. The four-door sedan with six-cylinder power sold for $2,015 and the eight at $2,120.

Body styles on the Chieftain Deluxe Six included a Catalina Hardtop and convertible, with prices of $2,300 and $2,445 respectively. The Super Deluxe Six Catalina Hardtop listed for $2,370 and the eight-cylinder version at $2,445.

The styling was similar to the previous year's appearance, including the grille, but now had four black oblong indentations in the upper grille blade, resting below a new Pontiac nameplate.

The Deluxe trim level added updated trim, done in rich wool diamond-pattern cloth with a button-back appearance. Along the body side were dual sweep spear moldings. Stainless steel was used for the gravel guards and chrome for the wheel rings and headlight rings. Convertibles and Deluxe Catalina hardtops had cloth and leather trims, and Super Deluxe Catalinas had two-tone green top grain cowhide seats with cloth and leather trim as optional equipment. Deluxe station wagons received a choice of Gray Bedford cord cloth with genuine leather in green, blue, black, red, or tan.

The wheelbase measured 120-inches and sedans had a length of 202.5-inches, while the station wagons measured 203.9-inches. They rode on 7.10 x 15 or optional 7.60x15 tires. Optional equipment included a Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic with various rear axle ratios, fuel door lock, scruff pads, multi-purpose lamps, fog lights, safety spotlight, back-up lights, direction signals, rear window wiper, windshield washers, venti-shades, and No-Blo window deflectors (among others).

The 277,156 units produced by Pontiac earned it fifth in the American auto industry sales, nearly a twenty-percent decrease from 1951.


By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021

Related Reading : Pontiac Chieftain History

As World War II ground to a halt in the late 1940s, production once again resumed at the Pontiac Motors Division of General Motors. Commissioned by the Government in 1942, Pontiac had assisted in the creation of rocket bombs throughout the duration of the war. Embroiled in the midst of the hysteria of a Communist Witch Hunt, in 1951, America also found itself of the long-lasting Korean War. At this....
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Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1952 Chieftain
$2,615-$17,350
1952 Pontiac Chieftain Price Range: $1,960 - $2,615

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Chieftain

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
120.00 in.
6 cyl., 239.20 CID., 90.00hp
6 cyl., 239.20 CID., 93.00hp
8 cyl., 248.90 CID., 103.00hp
8 cyl., 248.90 CID., 106.00hp
$1,590 - $2,185
271,373
120.00 in.
6 cyl., 239.20 CID., 100.00hp
6 cyl., 239.20 CID., 102.00hp
8 cyl., 268.40 CID., 118.00hp
8 cyl., 268.40 CID., 122.00hp
$1,960 - $2,615
418,619
122.00 in.
6 cyl., 239.20 CID., 115.00hp
6 cyl., 239.20 CID., 118.00hp
$1,960 - $2,800
172,656
122.00 in.
6 cyl., 239.20 CID., 115.00hp
6 cyl., 239.20 CID., 118.00hp
8 cyl., 268.00 CID., 122.00hp
8 cyl., 268.40 CID., 127.00hp
$1,967 - $2,580
354,453
122.00 in.
8 cyl., 287.20 CID., 173.00hp
8 cyl., 287.20 CID., 180.00hp
8 cyl., 287.20 CID., 200.00hp
$2,100 - $2,960
122.00 in.
8 cyl., 347.00 CID., 227.00hp
8 cyl., 347.00 CID., 252.00hp
$2,460 - $2,900
7,359
122.00 in.
8 cyl., 370.00 CID., 240.00hp
8 cyl., 370.00 CID., 270.00hp
$3,025 - $3,025

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