Considering recent changes in professional sports teams’ names, I’d say it’s a safe bet that we won’t see a return to an automotive moniker like “Chieftain” such as this 1951 Pontiac proclaims. Actually, we won’t see the return of Pontiac in general, so on to the next big thing, whatever that might be, I guess. Regardless, it’s fun to revisit what passed for an everyday sedan 71 years ago, especially when the subject is as clean as this example. Spied by T.J., this Tin Indian is located in Glastonbury, Connecticut and is available, here on craigslist for $16,500.
The reality of the matter is that most 1951 Pontiacs, ’51 being their silver anniversary year, were Chieftains. There were a pair of two-door hardtops known as the DeLuxe and Super DeLuxe Catalina, but all of the others, save for the station wagon, the sedan delivery, and a two-door fastback, known as the “Streamliner”, all eschewed the “Chieftain” tag. As for the Chieftain’s body styles, there were two-door sedans, convertibles, and business coupes as well as a four-door sedan. There was some Chieftain trim level differentiation made between “DeLuxe” and non Deluxe levels. Pontiac had a pretty good year in ’51, coming in fifth place in the production race with 370K units. Unfortunately, it was a sizable drop from ’50, a year that saw 446K copies going home with new owners.
I would have liked to have had the stainless trim concession back in the ’50s – Pontiac alone could have kept one in tall cotton. The wide hood and trunk lid silver streaks seem a bit over the top but the look is so synonymous with Pontiac, that this car wouldn’t look right without them. The seller states, “No dings or dents in stainless. Chrome shows well. No rust out. All original panels“. This car is considered a “long time” garage find and if that’s the case, this Chieftain must have been happy with its digs – it presents perfectly. I have to admit that I really like the sunshade – it’s a dated look and is just perfect for a car of this era.
Under the cool illuminated hood ornament is a 116 HP, 268 CI “straight-eight” engine driving a Hydramatic automatic transmission. The seller adds, “gas tank done by Renu, fuel pump rebuilt by Arthur Gould, carburetor rebuilt by Classic Carburetor, generator and regulator refreshed, re-cored radiator, new master cylinder, and more to make it a reliable driver“. You gotta love the simplicity of this ’50s vintage engine. I recently watched one of those “How It’s Made” episodes and I probably stared at it for ten minutes before I realized I was watching a modern European auto engine being assembled.
The interior is probably most remarkable because it appears to be in original condition and still presents well. The fabric upholstery is not perfect but shows little sign of wear. As with many cars from the mid-century, the instrument panels were beautiful and this Chieftain is no exception. Note the distinctive circular chrome speaker grille – a recognizable Pontiac trait.
This is one of the finest condition early ’50s automobiles that I have reviewed. It has an original, unmolested, unabused, non-worn-out purity to it. I’m not certain what the demand for this vintage Chieftain may be, or even if there is a demand of any significance, but there should be – they just don’t surface like this often, wouldn’t you agree?
Perfect.
Careful storage preserved it.
This is very nice and seems reasonably-priced.
I could get 2 of these for the price of one new car.
I know which one I’d choose.
This and the LeSoto De So.. are the find of the day.
Nice.
The Chief needs some additional love but its a reasonable
offer for a clean car. Very nice. I like this art-deco like
styled interior – sadly from factory they missed to add
some Bernstein and real woodgrain.
Jay Leno would add a vane compressor
to get some extra horsepower out of it. Im with Mr. Leno.
My dad had a ~1947 Ford that I don’t remember but heard tales of difficult service access. The first car I remember though was the same body style as this: a 1952 Pontiac 4 door, cream over copper. I think he got it from his dentist father and I was always fascinated by the lighted Pontiac head on the hood and thought it was a tribute to “Chief Pontiac.” He got rid of it about 4 years later but I don’t know why.
Brings back some memories! Had a great aunt that lived in Norwalk, Conn. that had a ’51 or ’52 Pontiac, don’t remember if it was a Chieftan or not. Hers was a dark green and I believe it was a 4 door but can’t be sure. What I do remember is, she was a short woman (about 5 feet tall) and she had one hell of a lead foot!!
That engine is incrediblely smooth, at idle, you can’t tell if it is running. The standard transmissions on these had a terrible whine in 2nd gear, why GM did not use the Chevy or Olds/Buick transmission was a mystery, maybe the Chevy was not sturdy enough for the 8, but the others would have been. Friend had one, we commuted in it every other week to our summer jobs in the same factory in the summer of ’60, 30 minutes in the morning, 45 in afteroon traffic, it was amazingly more comfortable than my ’56 Chevy. But that transmission whine got me at every stop.
Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Pontiac all used the Hydramatic transmission. Buick had the Dynaflow & Chevrolet had the PowerGlide, which is a scaled down Dynaflow.
What a custom sled if you converted this beauty with a convertible top
The only thing wrong with its lines is the top
Love the Art Deco design…..
My dad had a ’52 version of this car. Be advised that the non-power steering is HEAVY and slow with the straight eight engine. Pontiac didn’t have power steering as an option until 1953.
I had what I thought was a 1951 Star Chief but after reading the review I see that it must have been a Chieftain. I was only 17 at the time and 83 now so the memory isn’t that good anymore, however, I do remember that most cars in what was then Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, were fitted with a sun visor over the windscreen so as to protect the dashboard from the extreme heat. Nobody worried about rolling up the windows, let alone locking their cars during the summer months.
Call me on this car. 912-245-5850
I have interest.
If you’re interested you need to contact the seller via craigslist.
JO
My uncle had one just like this back in the early 1950’s this beauty sure has brought back some great memories of riding in it with him when I was a kid.