Pontiac Chieftain
Encyclopedia
The Pontiac Chieftain was an automobile produced by the Pontiac
Motors Division of General Motors from 1949 to 1958. Chieftains were one of the first all new car designs to come to Pontiac in the post World War II
years. Previous cars had been 1942 models with minor revisions.
as Pontiac's top automobile and was similar (if not exact) in dimensions, engines, trim levels and options to the lower level Streamliner. However, the Chieftain was based on the sportier GM A-Body shell instead of the Streamliner's more staid B-Body shell. They had standard automatic interior lighting.
The Chieftain was initially introduced with four models: Sedan, Sedan Coupe
, Business Coupe and Deluxe Convertible Coupe. In 1950, a Catalina Coupe was added to the range while a station wagon
was added in 1951.
First generation Chieftains came with a choice of four engines:
The horsepower differences between each of the 6- and 8-cylinder engines were due to changes in compression ratios.
Some of the more interesting optional items available for the first generation Chieftain included a radio with seven vacuum tubes, tissue dispenser, under seat heaters, and a Remington Auto-Home shaver. In 1951, the horsepower on the 8-cylinder rose to 116. The Chieftain came with a gas gauge, ammeter, oil pressure gauge, and temp. gauge(which had marks for 160, 180, and 220 degrees Fahrenheit).
For the 1952 model year, Pontiac discontinued the Streamliner leaving the Chieftain as their only offering. The Chieftain moved to the new 122 wheelbase. Engine offerings were basically the same except for the 8-cylinder
which got a .2 cubic inch enlargement. Horsepower did increase by 10 on the 6-cylinder
and by 15 on the 8-cylinder.
The 1953 Chieftains were largely unchanged from 1952. The six-cylinder was standard.
The Star Chief
joined the Pontiac line in 1954, bumping the Chieftain down to entry level status. Both cars were built on the A-body shell but the new Star Chief had an 11 inches (279.4 mm) extension added to its frame. Also in 1954, 8-cylinder engines increased by about nine horsepower due to carburetor changes. The 6-cylinder engines remained unchanged.
Also in 1954, power brakes and air-conditioning were offered as extra cost options for the first time. Also a power front seat was added.
The biggest change for 1956 was again in the engine. The new for 1955 V8 was drastically enlarged to 316.6 in³. Horsepower made a considerable increase, jumping to 192 and 205 respectively. Otherwise, the 1956 model Chieftains received only minor updates. A padded safety dashboard was added as an option.
New "Star Flight" styling graced the 1957 Chieftains. This new theme included missile shaped side trim, extended rear fenders with V-shaped tips, lower hoods and massive bumpers. A new Super Chief sub-series debuted within the Chieftain line. These were the meant to be the top of the line Chieftain models. Sales were 58.02% of all Pontiac's in 1957. The first "Tri-Power" Pontiac engines were offered.
Once again the Pontiac V8 was enlarged. The 1957 model year say the engine increase to 347 in³ with horsepower increasing to 290 for the Chieftain models.
As in years past, the V8 engine was enlarged. For 1958 it grew to 370 in³ and made 240 and 270 hp depending on version.
The 1958 models were the last Chieftains to be produced. It was replaced with the all-new Catalina
in 1959.
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
Motors Division of General Motors from 1949 to 1958. Chieftains were one of the first all new car designs to come to Pontiac in the post World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years. Previous cars had been 1942 models with minor revisions.
First Generation (1949-1954)
The first generation Chieftain replaced the TorpedoPontiac Torpedo
The Pontiac Torpedo was an entry-level car produced by the American car manufacturer Pontiac from 1940-1948.- Pre-war :In 1940, Pontiac introduced the Torpedo on the GM C-body. The first year it came out, it was only available with the Inline 8-cylinder engine. It was either a 4-passenger coupe or...
as Pontiac's top automobile and was similar (if not exact) in dimensions, engines, trim levels and options to the lower level Streamliner. However, the Chieftain was based on the sportier GM A-Body shell instead of the Streamliner's more staid B-Body shell. They had standard automatic interior lighting.
The Chieftain was initially introduced with four models: Sedan, Sedan Coupe
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
, Business Coupe and Deluxe Convertible Coupe. In 1950, a Catalina Coupe was added to the range while a station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
was added in 1951.
First generation Chieftains came with a choice of four engines:
- a 239.2 in³ L-head 6-cylinderStraight-6The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
engine making 90 hp at 3400 rpm - a 239.2 in³ L-head 6-cylinder engine making 93 hp at 3400 rpm
- a 268.2 in³ L-head 8-cylinderStraight-8The straight-eight engine or inline-eight engine is an eight-cylinder internal combustion engine with all eight cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
making 103 hp at 3800 rpm - a 268.2 in³ L-head 8-cylinder making 106 hp at 3800 rpm
The horsepower differences between each of the 6- and 8-cylinder engines were due to changes in compression ratios.
Some of the more interesting optional items available for the first generation Chieftain included a radio with seven vacuum tubes, tissue dispenser, under seat heaters, and a Remington Auto-Home shaver. In 1951, the horsepower on the 8-cylinder rose to 116. The Chieftain came with a gas gauge, ammeter, oil pressure gauge, and temp. gauge(which had marks for 160, 180, and 220 degrees Fahrenheit).
For the 1952 model year, Pontiac discontinued the Streamliner leaving the Chieftain as their only offering. The Chieftain moved to the new 122 wheelbase. Engine offerings were basically the same except for the 8-cylinder
Straight-8
The straight-eight engine or inline-eight engine is an eight-cylinder internal combustion engine with all eight cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
which got a .2 cubic inch enlargement. Horsepower did increase by 10 on the 6-cylinder
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
and by 15 on the 8-cylinder.
The 1953 Chieftains were largely unchanged from 1952. The six-cylinder was standard.
The Star Chief
Pontiac Star Chief
The Star Chief was a car built by General Motors' Pontiac division between 1954 and 1966.Between 1954 and 1957, the Star Chief was Pontiac's prestige model; the car was easily identified by its chrome star trim along its sides...
joined the Pontiac line in 1954, bumping the Chieftain down to entry level status. Both cars were built on the A-body shell but the new Star Chief had an 11 inches (279.4 mm) extension added to its frame. Also in 1954, 8-cylinder engines increased by about nine horsepower due to carburetor changes. The 6-cylinder engines remained unchanged.
Also in 1954, power brakes and air-conditioning were offered as extra cost options for the first time. Also a power front seat was added.
Second Generation (1955–1957)
The 1955 model Chieftains featured completely new chassis, body and engine. The engine was the biggest news as this was Pontiac's first V8. The 287.2 in³ engine made 173 or 180 hp at 4400 rpm depending on which version was ordered (again, the difference was due to changes in compression ratios). A 6-cylinder engine was no longer offered. The original five-chrome strips running down the hood and trunk where dropped, with a twin-stripe design used.The biggest change for 1956 was again in the engine. The new for 1955 V8 was drastically enlarged to 316.6 in³. Horsepower made a considerable increase, jumping to 192 and 205 respectively. Otherwise, the 1956 model Chieftains received only minor updates. A padded safety dashboard was added as an option.
New "Star Flight" styling graced the 1957 Chieftains. This new theme included missile shaped side trim, extended rear fenders with V-shaped tips, lower hoods and massive bumpers. A new Super Chief sub-series debuted within the Chieftain line. These were the meant to be the top of the line Chieftain models. Sales were 58.02% of all Pontiac's in 1957. The first "Tri-Power" Pontiac engines were offered.
Once again the Pontiac V8 was enlarged. The 1957 model year say the engine increase to 347 in³ with horsepower increasing to 290 for the Chieftain models.
Third Generation (1958)
Chieftains went through another major styling change in 1958. All models were give honeycomb grilles, quad head and tail lamps, concave rear fenders, and longer, lower lines. The Super Chief sub-series was promoted to full model status leaving just the standard array of Chieftains as the entry level Pontiac. The "Sportable" transistor radio became an option, along with air-suspension.As in years past, the V8 engine was enlarged. For 1958 it grew to 370 in³ and made 240 and 270 hp depending on version.
The 1958 models were the last Chieftains to be produced. It was replaced with the all-new Catalina
Pontiac Catalina
The Pontiac Catalina was part of Pontiac's full-sized automobile line. Initially, the name was used strictly to denote hardtop body styles, first appearing in the 1950 Chieftain Eight and DeLuxe Eight lines...
in 1959.