In the mid-1950s, Chevrolet produced one of the most iconic vehicles in automotive history. I'm talking about the Tri-Five. Built from 1955 to 1957 in nearly five million units, the Tri-Five is among today's most desirable classics. However, these Chevys weren't the only vehicles produced using GM's A-body platform at the time. Pontiac used the same underpinnings for the Chieftain and Star Chief.
A Poncho that doesn't get as much attention as the GTO and Bonneville due to its short stint in showrooms, the Chieftain debuted in 1949. Designed by Harley Earl, the Chieftain was one of two brand-new Pontiacs produced after World War 2 (alongside the Streamliner). The nameplate was discontinued in 1958 after three generations.
The Star Chief, on the other hand, did not arrive until 1954. A range-topping automobile based on the Chieftain, the Star Chief was the first Pontiac to share a longer wheelbase with Oldsmobile and Buick products. The nameplate spawned six generations and soldiered on through 1966.
Why am I talking about these old Pontiacs? Well, for starters, I'm a big fan of the Chieftain and Star Chief. While some GM enthusiasts may disagree, I think the second-gen Star Chief is a better-looking version of the Chevy Tri-Five designs sold during the same model years (1955-1957). Second, I just stumbled upon a cool revival video of a 1957 Star Chief.
Sold in 103,212 units, the 1957 Star Chief is far from rare. But this example is a tad special because it's been in the same family since new. And It was recently dragged out of a barn after more than four decades.
Purchased new by the current owner's grandfather in 1957, this Star Chief spent six years on the road before it was retired in a garage. The four-door sedan sat for over 15 years until the grandson put it back on the road in 1979. He repainted the body, refreshed the interior, and drove it for around three years.
The Star Chief was placed back in storage in 1982 and did not emerge back into the light until April 2024. That's a whopping 42 years, but the vehicle is still with the same owner, who wants to drive it again. And even though it sat for so long, the sedan is still in decent condition. There's visible rust to talk about, but the interior is still a nice place to spend time, while the V8 under the hood is still all-original and complete.
Granted, the mill did not run after 42 years without a sip of gasoline, but our host managed to get it to fire up again after a few days of work. Sure, the old V8 is still a long way from being road-worthy, but the fact that it runs is great news for a proper revival.
By the way, these Ponchos left the factory with the iconic 347-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) Strato Streak V8. Introduced in 1955, the overhead valve V8 remained in production for a whopping 26 years. The 1957 version came with 244 to 300 horsepower on tap, depending on the carburetor setup.
Oh, and even though I said the Star Chief is far from rare, this specific four-door sedan variant is a bit harder to find. That's because only 8,874 units were built with this body style. The four-door hardtop variant, for instance, is a lot more common, with 44,283 examples made. Check out this cool semi-survivor in the video below.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News