1956 Pontiac Chieftain Catalina 4 Door Hardtop
Pontiac Chieftains were produced from 1949 to 1958 and during that time, found themselves in different roles within the Pontiac tribe. In '49, they replaced the Torpedo as the lower priced option. In 1952, Pontiac discontinued the Streamliner, making the Chieftain their sole offering. Then, in '54, the Star Chief was offered by Pontiac which moved the Chieftain back to entry level status. In '56, the engine got a bump in size and horsepower just as new bank credit guidelines were implemented, hurting sales across the board.
For consignment, a rough and ready 1956 Chieftain four door with a good body, some recent maintenance, and a golden opportunity to have a driver you can maintain as is or restore to your heart and wallet's content!
Exterior
Sure, you could throw some clear coat on this and call it a day, or you can imagine the Hialeah Green and black in gleaming glory. Either way, this billboard sized car has a presence that fills the room, even in its garage find condition. The black covers the hood and ends in wing shaped and trim- ined accents on the doors, a staple for Pontiac in this year. The roof picks up the black and points to the sky. Below, primer gray leaves clues of a project unfinished and faded Hialeah Green paint sparks the contrast. 15-inch painted steel wheels with beauty rings and dog dish hubcaps look great. Wide ribbon like trim adorns the hood and flanks a winged ornament over a massive chrome bumper. There is surface rust throughout, the metal work is pitted, the paint is crackling, bubbles appear in some places, and there is a rust hole in the rear bumper. But keep reading!
Interior
If restoration is in this car's future, much of the interior is darn close to being finished. The door panels show some age but are mostly intact and wonderfully 50's with the two-tone green and white. The vinyl and cloth bench seat looks remarkably well with only minor dirt. The base shell is a wonderful shade of light green. This is the look 50's diners strive for, only this is the real deal! The back bench is also showing some age but is in very nice condition. A green plastic steering wheel is cracked but it's all there and has a full horn ring on a polished collar. The gear indicator sits in front of a nicely preserved dash with stunning gauges. The AM radio is situated in a polished metal plate above the center glove box which looks much more aged than the rest of the dash, as if it was lifted from another car. The speaker shows some rust and below it is an epic pull out tissue dispenser. Worn loop style carpet covers the front, but the floor covering in the back is toast. The headliner is stained and dirty but hanging high and not obstructing your view. The trunk is covered in an aged mat but is otherwise fairly clean with spare and bumper jack.
Drivetrain
A 317ci V8 sits under the enormous hood and is fed fuel via a 2-barrel carburetor and this car has the 4-speed Hydramatic transmission. 3.08 gears occupy the rear where power is sent from the powerplant in front. Looking in the engine bay, it shows in driver condition with lots of patina including surface rust on the exhaust manifolds and other parts but everything, including the airbox, seems to be in place. Drum brakes are found in the front and back and per our consignor, the rear brakes were serviced recently, and a new master cylinder added.
Undercarriage
Definitely showing some age under here with substantial surface rust and bits of invasive rust on the inner body folds. Dual exhaust enters the stock style muffler at different intervals and then exits through tailpipe extensions mounted under the rear bumper. We note some road grime on the suspension components but no leaks other than some residual oil on the oil pan. Coil springs are found in the front and leaf springs in the rear with shocks that look relatively new.
Drive-Ability
Always a juxtaposition when a car that looks a little rough on the outside but has a nice interior and fine running engine. We rolled this big four door on the test loop where she rolls along just fine, accelerates adequately, and stops well. Things are functional with the exception of the radio reception and the driver's side outside door handle.
Orphan brand, nice interior, good engine, and some new parts. A big car with decent bones and classic styling that you can, as our consignor suggests, "drive it while you fix her up!" More than 25,000 four door Chieftains were built in 1956, but we'd wager only a small percentage remain today.
W756H13926
W-Wilmington, DE Assy Plant
7-27 Series Chieftain
56-1956
H-Hydramatic
13926-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE NO 56 2739D-1956 Chieftain Catalina 4 Door Hardtop
BODY NO BW1814-Wilmington Body #
TRIM NO 252-Medium Green Pattern Cloth & Medium Green Imitation Vinyl
PAINT NO HA-Hialeah Green & Raven Black
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