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Details
1956 PONTIAC STAR CHIEF CONVERTIBLE
Chassis No. TBA
Pink and Silver-Gray with black and white vinyl interior and a black vinyl top
Engine: V8, 2 pushrod operated overhead valves per cylinder, single 4-barrel carburetor, 317ci., 227hp at 4,800rpm; Gearbox: three speed automatic; Suspension: front, independent; rear, live axle; Brakes: four wheel drums. Left hand drive.
1956 was a watershed year for Pontiac as a group of enthusiastic managers, led by Semon ('Bunkie') Knudsen, took over the division and began the rapid evolution that transformed Pontiac. Knudsen was the youngest son of former GM President, Bill Knudsen. He led a group that included Bill Estes and John Delorean that quickly put their stamp on what had been a staid and conservative marque and set all their careers on a fast track.
GM had treated Pontiac from its inception in 1926 as an upscale Chevy, a stop on the GM migration path from Chevrolet to Cadillac. Characteristically, Pontiac had labored long to replace its L-head straight eight with a modern overhead valve V8. Introduced in 1955 after 6 years' cautious development, it took Knudsen and his crew only months to come out with a high performance dual-quad 'extra horsepower' version and Pontiac was on its way to 'Excitement'.
Since 1935 Pontiac's styling signature was the 'Silver Streak' chrome hood embellishments. In a symbolic break with the Division's past, 1956 was to be their last year. Knudsen and his crew had a good base upon which to build, as Pontiac's ohv V8 was, appropriate to its conservative past and long gestation, robust and incorporated many lessons learned in several families of sister GM divisions' V8s. All Star Chief models were V8-powered and most were backed up with the proven Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. With luxury trim, standard chrome rear wheel skirts that continued into chrome fender moldings and audacious paint combinations, Star Chiefs were easily recognized as top-of-the-line.
The Star Chief convertible offered here predicts Pontiac's coming transformation from luxurious transportation into performance icon. It has been repainted in its characteristic two-tone color scheme and benefited from a new interior and top at the same time. The ample chrome trim is in fine overall condition. The chassis and engine have been left as-found and are in good, and largely original, condition. The odometer shows 42,840 miles, which is supported by the Star Chief's overall condition. This Star Chief is ready to be driven and enjoyed as a symbol of Fifties' style with an ample measure of top-down 'Excitement' as a bonus.
WITHOUT RESERVE
Chassis No. TBA
Pink and Silver-Gray with black and white vinyl interior and a black vinyl top
Engine: V8, 2 pushrod operated overhead valves per cylinder, single 4-barrel carburetor, 317ci., 227hp at 4,800rpm; Gearbox: three speed automatic; Suspension: front, independent; rear, live axle; Brakes: four wheel drums. Left hand drive.
1956 was a watershed year for Pontiac as a group of enthusiastic managers, led by Semon ('Bunkie') Knudsen, took over the division and began the rapid evolution that transformed Pontiac. Knudsen was the youngest son of former GM President, Bill Knudsen. He led a group that included Bill Estes and John Delorean that quickly put their stamp on what had been a staid and conservative marque and set all their careers on a fast track.
GM had treated Pontiac from its inception in 1926 as an upscale Chevy, a stop on the GM migration path from Chevrolet to Cadillac. Characteristically, Pontiac had labored long to replace its L-head straight eight with a modern overhead valve V8. Introduced in 1955 after 6 years' cautious development, it took Knudsen and his crew only months to come out with a high performance dual-quad 'extra horsepower' version and Pontiac was on its way to 'Excitement'.
Since 1935 Pontiac's styling signature was the 'Silver Streak' chrome hood embellishments. In a symbolic break with the Division's past, 1956 was to be their last year. Knudsen and his crew had a good base upon which to build, as Pontiac's ohv V8 was, appropriate to its conservative past and long gestation, robust and incorporated many lessons learned in several families of sister GM divisions' V8s. All Star Chief models were V8-powered and most were backed up with the proven Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. With luxury trim, standard chrome rear wheel skirts that continued into chrome fender moldings and audacious paint combinations, Star Chiefs were easily recognized as top-of-the-line.
The Star Chief convertible offered here predicts Pontiac's coming transformation from luxurious transportation into performance icon. It has been repainted in its characteristic two-tone color scheme and benefited from a new interior and top at the same time. The ample chrome trim is in fine overall condition. The chassis and engine have been left as-found and are in good, and largely original, condition. The odometer shows 42,840 miles, which is supported by the Star Chief's overall condition. This Star Chief is ready to be driven and enjoyed as a symbol of Fifties' style with an ample measure of top-down 'Excitement' as a bonus.
WITHOUT RESERVE
Sale room notice
Please note that the chassis No. of this car is C856H12834.