1957 Pontiac Star Chief

During the immediate post-war 1940s era, automakers offered mildly updated versions of its pre-war products as they aggressively worked to introduce new products. The markets matured during the 1950s, with attention being placed on individual consumer needs. Styling during the middle of the decade could be characterized as 'longer, lower, wider,' with low- and mid-priced vehicles offering luxury and style that rivaled many higher-priced cars.

Pontiac had youthful leadership at the helm resulting in a dramatic performance-based turnaround during the second part of the 1950s. GM Division's new overhead valve V8 engine installed in the engine bays of the Pontiac model lines complemented the attractive styling and multi-color livery. All 1957 Pontiacs were equipped with the upsized 347 cubic-inch V8 engines, and a few came from the factory with the top Ti-Power unit developing 290 horsepower. These engines were intended for NASCAR and drag-racing competition and packed with a comprehensive list of internal upgrades intended to endure the rigors of racing.

Most of the 1957 Pontiac models were priced in the mid-$2,000 price range, while the Star Chief Custom Bonneville Convertible tipping the scales at $5,780. The next closest price point in the Star Chief Custom line was the Cataline Hardtop Sedan priced at $2,975, and the next closest Pontiac was the Star Chief Custom four-door station wagon (Safari), priced at $3,480.

The Pontiac lineup for 1957 included the Chieftain and the Star Chief line, with 162,575 and 103,588 examples produced respectively. The Chieftain models had a 122-inch wheelbase while the star Chief models were larger at 124 inches. Both were offered in a variety of body styles wearing the new 'Star Flight' styling characterized by the large bumper grille, lower hoods, and extended rear fenders with flatter tailfins.

The Pontiac Chieftain had three trim levels including the 'base', and Super Chief. The two- and four-door station wagons (Safari wagons) had Star Chief Custom trim level appointments and accouterments, with 1,292 of the two-door and 1,894 of the four-door produced. The Super Chief body styles included a two- and four-door Catalina hardtop, a four-door station wagon, and a four-door sedan. The 'base' trim level had the same as the Super Chief, plus a two-door station wagon and a two-door sedan. The Super Chief station wagon had seating for six while the 'base' wagon had seating for nine.

The Chieftain model line had small hubcaps, Chieftain insignia on the front fender, and three stars on the rear fenders. The Super Chiefs had full wheel discs, three stars on the rear fenders, front fender 'Super Chief' script, and upper belt moldings.

The Pontiac Star Chief line included a sedan and convertible body style, and a Sedan, Catalina Hardtop Sedan, Catalina Hardtop, and Bonneville Convertible on the Star Chief Custom (a.k.a Super Deluxe) line. The sedan had a base price of $2,840 and the convertible listed for $3,100. The Star Chiefs wore front fender scripts, full wheel discs, chrome semi-cylindrical trim on the back of the pointed inserts, and four stars on the rear fenders. The 'Custom' trim level added off-shoulder interior styling patterns and added approximately $50 to the base price of the sedan.

A mere 630 examples of the top-of-the-line Bonneville Convertible were built in 1957, released on a limited basis with one example going to each dealership. Bonnevilles came with a 347 CID overhead-valve V8 with Rochester mechanical fuel injection and produced an estimated 315 horsepower at 4,800 RPM. The Chieftain came standard with a 347 CID V8 with a Rochester two-barrel carburetor and produced 227 horsepower. the Star Chief, Super Chief, and Custom Safari used a Carter four-barrel carbureted version of the 347 CID V8 and produced 245 horsepower (270 hp with the HydraMatic).

Pontiac had produced 581,860 vehicles during the 1955 calendar year, 332,268 in 1956, and 343,298 in 1957.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2020