Barn find dust is one of those phenomena that nobody can seem to find an origin to. Almost every car stored in a covered enclosure is going to be covered in dust if left for years. However, many now feel that leaving the car in its grungy state somehow will conjure up wheelbarrows full of cash that a cleaned-up one would have never attracted. Well, we now have a bonafide example of how a cleaned-up car is more marketable than a dingy one. Look carefully at the above picture of this 1952 Pontiac Chieftan for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Odessa, Texas. The first picture is of this 32,000 Pontiac after it was drug out of a storage unit. The second picture is of the car after it had a thorough bath. If you only had one picture to help you make your decision, which car would you drop the $10,000 asking price on? Thanks go to T.J. for this once filthy find!
This car has a good story to it. The seller tells us that this 1952 Pontiac Chieftan sedan has been in storage for 28 to 30 years. That puts its entombment right around 1994-1996. While that is not a tremendously long time ago, it was long enough for this car to get a heaping helping of Texas dust from the front to the rear and all places in between.
So instead of crating the car up and heading to the nearest big-name auction or putting the car up on eBay with some contrived King Tut’s tomb story, they did what people used to do: they grabbed a hose, some soap, a sponge, and a bucket. After giving the car a proper bath, they surely were amazed at what they had. As it sits, the car has just 32,000 miles on it and is in perfect condition. Almost everything on it is stock, except a few items that one might pick up at a five-and-dime store to enhance your automotive experience.
The seller tells us that the doors on this car shut like those on a new car. The reason? Even the door seals are still soft. That is kind of hard to believe if it were sitting in a metal building baking under the Texas sun. However, anything is possible. As you can see from the picture above, the finish of the car is still very shiny. More importantly, the chrome looks to be perfect. With the cost of re-chroming these days, that alone is a reason to love this car.
While we were provided little in the way of pictures of the whole interior, we were told that the soft seats are nice. The pictures we do have of the interior show the dash area, which is in great shape. The dash even looks to have one of those stoplight prisms that they used to sell. You put it on your dash, and it shows you an image of the stoplight above you without having to twist your neck up.
Under the dash is an accessory flashlight and mount. Another interesting period piece is the accessory fuse pack bolted to the firewall. From the rest of the picture (which was truncated for this website), the floor mats and pedals are in outstanding shape, which is another piece of evidence pointing to the mileage being correct.
Under the hood is Pontiac’s straight eight-cylinder engine in all of its early fifties glory. The paint seems to have worn off the engine block and the cylinder head, which is in sharp contrast to the condition of the rest of the car. The ad says nothing about whether the car runs or not. With the usual fuel and brake system cleanout needed for every car sitting so long, this car will likely fire right up. You may also need a fuel pump and a carburetor rebuild. Just be sure to save the nifty heat shield sitting under the carb when you do the work.
While it is just a four-door sedan, the car presents very well when cleaned up and the color is a winner. This is a vehicle you could enjoy driving for a long time to come, or just hit the road occasionally to keep the mileage low. Is it worth $10,000? I’d say yes if you are looking for a car to enjoy the hobby with and not as an investment.
Do you think the barn find dust should have been left on or are you happy with seeing the car’s true condition? Is it worth $10,000? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Jeff,
Please get someone to proof read, before you post.
Drug instead of dragged? Mileage without the m at the end.
Not picking on you, but I’m OCD, and it stuffs with my mind (can’t say the F word here).
Back to the car.
The before and after pics are awesome. The before pic, nope not interested, but the after pic? Very interested.
I’m replying to myself, lol.
Yes worth 10k, fix what needs fixing and leave the straight 8 in there (please no LS swaps).
I learnt long ago torque beats horsepower, and the longer the crankshaft, the more torque at a lower RPM.
And having read your comments for a bit, I think you do yourself a disservice by saying you’re OCD.
I think we can mostly all agree that you’re actually CDO-the letters are then in order..
Noticed too your icon is now what I think is a ‘71 era Ford Falcon GTHO? Seem to recall one going for $1.3mil, or I think £700,000…
It’s actually a Phase 3, belonged to Bill Bourke, the only BB Aussie GT, he had a 428 fitted at the factory, it was his daily drive.
Ok there were 2, one was sent to the US
Learnt? Lol
That car in your Icon actually belongs to a good mate of mine and the car was sent to the U.S. and had the engine along with other parts fitted there and then flown back to Australia, so the engine may well have been fitted at a factory but not Ford Australia. Just a point of interest for you.
Aussie Dave,
In defense of Jeff, he’s employing the word “drug” not in the pharmaceutical sense but, rather to denote the action of having removed an object (or living being) from a place of confinement to another place in open view of others. This and a number of other words derived from early American gibberish remain in use today despite having unique meanings that differ from those found in the Cambridge dictionary. IIRC, it was Churchill who stated that the American and British Commonwealth nations were two great peoples divided by a common language. A tip of the hat to Jeff for keeping obscure words alive!
Oops, yes it’s a HO, for those that don’t know the “phase cars” were all GTHO’s.
And the phase III, was the world’s fastest production 4door at the time.
Hmm, I believe the vehicle in the post is a ’52 Chief, I don’t know what the hell you guys are talking about?^^^
To Aussie Dave, sorry about your,,condition, but we aren’t that particular here. Typos are okay, and I am the worst offender when it comes to derailing a thread, but back to this really neat find. I love the authors “Beverly Hillbillies” reference, and it sure looks original. The engine can rust like that from humidity, someone decked out this Poncho in ’52. More than likely, the buyer got a promotion, and the old Chevy didn’t cut it anymore. From a time when a Pontiac was an entirely different car than a Chevy. Gee-gaws, like that illuminated hood ornament, just weren’t available with a Chevy. Ponchos weren’t cheap. I read a new bare bones ’52 Chevy, could be had for $1400 bucks. A Chieftan like this cost almost $2400. Doesn’t sound like much today, but at 0.42/hr for the average worker, it was a lot. Pontiacs were for that store manager or superintendent. It was said, Ralph from the Honeymooners made $62/ week as a NY bus driver a good wage in ’52, and he drove a used ’37 Buick.
To be clear, while it’s stated it sat from 1994, I got news for ya’, it sat a lot longer than that somewhere. This should also serve as a stern message for people to clean the vehicles up, that “dusty Barn Find”( no offense) schtick doesn’t fly anymore. Looks pretty darn nice. Still, yep, here it comes, while the 8 is a marvelous engine, it’s going to be that pesky shifting that will hold it back. Since the motor is probably sho anyway, I see no reason to rebuild it as is. A modern PLAUSIBLE swap and an automatic, be a really nice, usable car. No clown wheels, please..
Sorry if we confused or irritated you w the O/T conversation about his avatar, Howard.
Confused, perhaps, irritated? Nah, not since I retired. I’d like to put an image there too, but not sure how. I’m just messin’ with ya’, I like all your comments.
As do I look forward to your knowledge, Howard.
FWIW, you can upload a favorite photo when you go into “My Account”, but I’m not good at explaining it as I just muddle thru.
One of the staff would give a better explanation than I, but keep in mind a cardinal rule with electronic stuff-it doesn’t break like a 1/2” bolt being forced into a 3/8” fitting with a pneumatic driver does.. it generally just doesn’t do anything and you just have to start all over🤬
Stock that mill would make maybe – MAYBE – 120 horsepower and around 200 pound-feet of torque.
Option 1: A little GM 4.8 LS motor and 4-speed auto, stock and unmolested, would double that handily, use less gas, and run smooth and easy all day long.
Option 2: Any Chevy smallblock would be an easy upgrade from a power and parts availability standpoint, even an old unloved malaise-era 305.
Option 3: Keep it straight with a stovebolt 6 and a TH350.
Put all that in a Chevy. If upgrades are wanted, please make them Pontiac upgrades. Better yet, leave it alone.
Had a friend in college that had an old ’52 light green convertible with the straight 8 and 4 speed automatic. Wasn’t a drag car but would really get down the highway. We drove it to the west coast for summer work and routinely ran 80 mph with ease. It had a split exhaust manifold that put out the best sounds while ripping down the highway.
Best of all the options is to leave it as it has been since 1952!! I had a 1951 back in 1955 that I shared with my elder brother. I then swapped my ’51 Ford Zephyr six for his half share in the Pontiac. My friend borrowed it and ran a big end but had it rebuilt for a half share in the car, another friend used to borrow it to take out his girl friend and we all would pile in it, with girl friends’ for the Saturday night drive – in movies. We hammered that car but it never gave any further trouble and I eventually swapped it for a 1957 Ford Zephyr Zodiac Mk 2. Happy Days!
The 1952 Pontiac straight 8 displaced 268 cu.in. and produced 118 SAE BHP @ 3600 rpm and 222 ft.lb. of torque @ 2200 rpm. I vote to keep it stock. The sound of any straight 8 beats that of a I-6 or V8. According to old spec sheets, the top end was 91 mph which was a good 15 mph higher than my college years 1952 Chevy Styleline Deluxe 4 door sedan. That Pontiac 8 would have been ideal for the 6-1/2 hour road trips home during school breaks and I wouldn’t have had to worry about valve float putting a valve through a piston. I soon learned to buy cars having a tachometer with a red line.
HoA- Spot on regarding the poor Aussie’s .condition,
But a pox on you( thats Medieval Inglish) for suggesting an engine swap :)
Given the condition overall I say get it running keep it original.
I love reading about how pre 1970 cars were looked at so differently as it was well before i knew how to piss in a pot & old grand dad use to call some people pot lickers which had me thinking for awhile what he meant! Nostalgia is a great thing not just the cars but the slang & people in general & as I get older it does seem the good old days are behind us. You never know though just maybe it’s right now!
It’s all in the perception IMHO. Most folks don’t remember the difference between the good ol days and nowadays is forgetting the bad days of those old days.
This old Chieftain is an amazing find for someone who can appreciate its simplicity (I’d love to have it)but when they want to set the cruise, reset their inside biosphere and get 25 MPG at 75+MPH it’s not the good ol days they’re missing at that point!
Perhaps it’s a Dave thing. Like Aussie Dave, I appreciate those, especially the authors, who proofread carefully to avoid typos, misspellings, improper usage, missed/incorrect punctuation, incomplete/run-on sentences, etc. before posting their comments.
You and Aussie must be English majors lol. I have spell check on my keypad and it drives me nucking futs to be honest with you. Do you guys stack your money all facing in the same direction also?
Is that bad? 😂
I hear they line up the screws in their switch plates too. I can imagine it could be frustrating, but like I said, we’re not perfectionists here. I bet most folks here were good old blue collar workers, and schooling wasn’t our strong point, but boy howdy, we could run a machine or bang the “tums” with a hammer. The car hobby used to be, if it works, no points for style, good enough, within reason, of course. Typos are not that big a deal, we know what is meant. I’ve eliminated most things in my life that upset me, and if something like typos or misspelled words bother you, you may be in the wrong place.
Note: As a lifelong car restorer I align the screws on my switch plates and the phillips on my cars. It’s just what you do.
Doesn’t everyone?
I love the car! — and what a lovely colour! I prefer the facelifted 1953 — but I’d happily drive this ’52. I would keep it absolutely stock, and restore the engine to match the cosmetic condition of the rest of the car. I would not change the transmission, either: all I would do is, restore it to top mechanical condition, keep the rest just as it is, and drive it. And I PREFER the 4-door sedans! One of my neighbours drives a 1949 Pontiac which is quite similar to this, with less dressy details. But that’s how it was in that era: a new style would come out, then each year would see altered details and fancier trim — until the inevitable face-lift or total re-style. In Pontiac’s case, the 1953 face-lift took it from that 1949 look to clearly a more squared-up “’50s” appearance, whilst maintaining those familiar Pontiac cues. The 1954 took this dated body about as far as it would go toward GMs newer models. That new body would reach down to Pontiac in 1955, and yet not look revolutionary from the ’54. These were beautiful cars, but increasingly less appealing to younger drivers. The Pontiac Division would soon dramatically change that “mom’s and dad’s car” image, and go straight for the more sporty youth-oriented market. Sales went up, but my preference for Pontiac went down. How I wish I had the wherewithal to buy this one and bring it back to its original glory and reliability.
You guys duke it out. I devoting some moments looking for a like flashlight and holder for my Hudson.
That flashlight is MUCH NEWER than the car. I remember postwar flashlights; in fact, I think I still have one around here someplace. The flanged red plastic head is a give-away — this flashlight is from the early-to-mid 1960s. In 1952, they were all metal, and did not have a flange. The on-off switch was a sliding metal button. Usually, you unscrewed the bottom to install the batteries, not the front with the light-bulb. I ought to know: I used enough of them in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Take a look at photographs and advertisements from the Korean war era.
The history lesson much appreciated!
Hi, Harrison.
Thanks for your perspective.
That’s Amazing!
I grew up in Childress Tx in the panhandle. In the 50s a sand storm could put more than that on a stationary vehicle in an hour. My brother did basic training at Ft Bliss and said it was the only place he ever saw where you could be in mud up to your butt and still spit sand.
Wipe the sand off the table and when you moved a dish it still had grit on it.
Jeff, ‘just a 4 door’? A LOT of my favorite cars are 4 doors, but I know, to each his own. I think this car is wunderbar! The low miles, the history, would love to know it’s story from day one. In some ways I’m disgusted at new cars, and prefer things to be simple. Why do all new vehicles have to have power windows? I hate them. Hard to get a manual transmissions these days, I LOATHE automatics. Anyway, enough with my rant. I just love this old Pontiac, and the 4 doors make it even better.
My sentiments exactly, Greenhorn – keep it simple and dependable. And four-doors rule!
I agree with you Greenhorn. Manual steering and windows took away upper body workouts. Too many creature comforts in today’s cars and getting worse with autonomous cars.
Thumbs-up, Greenhorn!!! You too, GitterDunn!!! This car was designed as a 1952 sedan — not a hot-rod — a pleasant ride for either a driver, a couple, or a family, in the early 1950s optimistic prosperity. Respect what it is, and don’t molest it! The 6 volt system is fine: I drove a six volt car for YEARS, and never had a problem related to electrical failure or insufficiency — even starting an eight-cylinder flathead in 18°-below zero weather. The clock and the radio (one of the best radios I’ve ever had in a vehicle!) ran fine on six volts. In 1952, people were used to standard transmissions: if you can’t drive one, then either buy another car, or LEARN! Once you do drive a standard, you might prefer it to an automatic — especially on complication and maintenance! And if you don’t ride the clutch, you are not ever likely to need to replace it. Even in the event that you do, it costs a fraction of what re-building an automatic will set you back! I wish I had about $18,000.00 on hand right now: I’d buy this Texas Pontiac, have it mechanically brought back to “new” (including new gaskets and entire lubrication), have the engine detailed to look as nice as the rest of the car, then enjoy driving it exactly as it was in 1952!
Don’t forget the wide whitewalls, H.R.
Big thanks to the finder of a washed dirtmobile!
Mom and Dad brought brand new me home in 1954 from the hospital in their ‘49 Pontiac Star Chief with the straight eight.
I remember Dad sitting a nickel on edge on that straight eight head while the engine was idling and it just stood there, on end… they were inherently smoother than a V8.
Other than having babbit bearings that engine would probably just need some cleaning, gasket and seal replacement and a couple rattle cans of the proper color paint to match the condition of the rest of the car.
If I had room for it it’d be in my corral.
The Pontiac Straight eight did not use poured babbit bearings, they were insert bearings
Right on, Frog! I also believe we could cut down accidents if you had manual everything! Remember “planning” to stop with manual brakes? Anyway, it would also ease the congestion at school zones at pickup time! Can’t see all the soccer Moms driving to get the brats. :-)
I think it is a nice car and would own that but by the time I shipped it to Australia it would owe me over the $20,000 with all the Added taxes and duty plus shipping etc and our dollar only being in the .60 cent area to the U.S. dollar. The total charges would be more than the cost of the car. I had a 51 Chev many years ago and I do like this car.
Fly in and drive it home, JT
hehehe, yeah right. The trouble is the tunnel is blocked somewhere between Hawaii and here :) haha
JT, there’s a guy in Adelaide SA that charges just under $4,000 AUD to bring any vehicle out from the US, cleaning, asbestos removal is all included in the price. They come in via Melbourne due to AQUIS in Adelaide being impossible to get on with, no one brings cars direct to SA anymore, it’s not worth the hassle.
I can supply the guy’s details if you’re interested in bringing a car in.
I’m thinking about bringing one in myself, not sure what I want yet though but it’s got to be over 25 years to keep it LHD, conversion costs can get into around $15,000 and more and it ruins the originality. If it’s American it has to stay LHD in my book!
When I was a classic car dealer in South Africa back in the early Noughties I sent several cars and bikes to Perth, Oz, with no problems either for me or the recipients. One deal was for two 1955 Chevs and when customs opened the container to check the cars he said that they were the best cars that he had seen that covered all of the Oz requirements for importation. They both started first time and the owner and his wife drove them home. Same with a 1953 Matchless G9 that I sold. On arrival, and after a couple of kicks the buyers wife rode it home.
TC, that sounds interesting, can you send a text or call me. zero four 0 eight 45 eight 8 two 2. Thanks, that does sound interesting. Like yourself I have been looking at different options. My 95 Chev pickup is still left hook.
The original drivetrain might not perform as well as an upgrade but it’s part of the character.
Andy G.
I once had a Pontiac straight 8 and it sure loved its fuel I would change the engine to something more economical if I owned this car
Jim, why would you bother about fuel economy when you might only drive it on a weekend for a cruise in the country and them stick it back in the garage ’til the next nice day out, it’s not like it would be a daily driver. Just enjoy it for what it is, a nice piece on motoring history destined to remain as original as possible for as long as possible.
I believe I see a curb feeler behind the front passenger wheel. And an under dash tissue dispenser. Too cool.
The first car I could remember my father having it was a 48 Pontiac. The light up Indian hood ornament intrigued me. It had the torpedo back. It was dark blue, if you rub your hands on it the color would come off on your fingers. That car was a real tank !!!
Personally, I would rather have a standard Transmission in this car rather the troublesome Hydramatic of this era.
JT, I bit the bullet in January and bought a 1994 GT Mustang, it still has the 302 Windsor in it before they went to 4.6 in 1996, the previous owner installed a performance chip in it and it now tries to jump out of it’s paint! The problem with it is that you don’t get IN the car you PUT THE BLOODY thing ON. Everyone says it looks like a Toyota Celica, it’s about the same size and shape, not sure if I’m going to keep at this stage but will have to see what’s available in the US in my price range.
I’ll call and give you the contact details for shipping, etc. in the next day or two. Currently car prices in the US are still half the price they want for them here and the selection is way better than what we have in OZ.
Great, thanks mate.
does anyone know if this car has been sold? I can’t find it listed on facebook marketplace in odessa, tx. It is a rare find in such great condition and low mileage, and I would like to be able to pursue it. Thanks
Sold