1955 Pontiac Chieftain

Pontiac resumed civilian automobile production following World War II with mildly updated versions of its pre-war products. Models included the Torpedo and Streamliner with both offered with either a six- or eight-cylinder engine with the 239.2 CID six delivering 90 horsepower and the 248.9 CID Eight developing 103 horsepower. The Hydra-Matic transmission was introduced in 1948, and new, modern, redesigned bodies with integral rear fenders, and lower lines appeared in 1949. The Catalina two-door hardtop body style was introduced a year later and the eight-cylinder engine displacement grew to 268.2 cubic-inches, and power was rated at 108 hp at 3,600 RPM.

By 1954, the Pontiac model line included the Chieftain and the Star Chief, both offered with either six- or eight-cylinder power, the 239.2 CID six now offering 115 horsepower and the 268.4 CID eight producing 122 horsepower.

Completely new bodies were introduced for 1955, resting on a lower chassis and wearing all-new steel body panels. The Pontiac model lineup included the Chieftain, offering in the Special, Deluxe, and Custom trim level, and the Star Chief offered as a sedan or convertible, or a Custom trim-level sedan or Catalina hardtop. The only engine was an overhead-valve, 287.2 CID V8 with a Carter two-barrel carburetor (or Rochester two-barrel), five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and 173 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. With the Hydra-Matic, power rose to 180 horsepower. The standard transmission was a three-speed synchromesh gearbox with column-mounted gearshift controls.

The Chieftain Special trim level body styles included a two- and four-door sedan, and a station wagon. The Deluxe trim level added a Deluxe Catalina Hardtop, and the Custom trim level was offered solely as a two-door Safari wagon with seating for six. Both the Special and Custom four-door sedan were popular, with 65,155 and 91.187 examples produced respectively. The two doors were also popular, with 58,654 of the Special two-door and 28,950 of the Deluxe. 72,608 were Deluxe Catalina Hardtops, having a base price of $2,335.

Much of the 1955 Pontiac styling was shared with contemporary Buicks and Chevrolets, with the Chieftains having a compound curved windshield that was lower and wider, with straight-through fender lines. Bright trim work and two-tone paint jobs adorned the bodies, with the hoods receiving a wide stainless strip down each side. The large front bumper was divided, positioned within the rounded grille.

The Pontiac Chieftains rested on a wheelbase that measured 122 inches while the Star Chief models were slightly larger, measuring 124 inches. The Chieftains station wagons had a length of 202.9-inches while the rest of the bodies measured 203.2 inches. The Star Chief had a length of 210.2 inches. Pontiac's Custom Safari Wagon was the counterpart to the Chevrolet Nomad, with the Nomads finding 8,530 buyers compared to the 3,760 examples of the Pontiac.

A long list of options was offered on both models, including fender skirts, power windows, power steering, power brakes, padded dashboard, E-Z-Eye glass, dual fog lamps, rear seat speaker, electric antenna, outside rearview mirror, traffic light viewer, exhaust deflector, Autronic Eye, backup lamps, and more.

The public agreed with Pontiac's new styling, and over 500,000 units were sold for the first time, placing the company sixth on the sales list for the year.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2020