As you know, the automotive landscape in this great country of ours has changed a lot over the years – and I imagine it will change a lot more going forward. What we know as a typical passenger car has long fallen out of favor, replaced by SUVs, CUVs, and pickups. But before that happened, everybody in the car biz provided a full line-up of passenger models. Go back a bit further, and those passenger body styles were divided into two and four-door arrangements. Wind it back some more and you’ll find variations on both two and four-door body styles i.e. coupe vs. sedan, vs. hardtop. Where I’d like to stop time travel is in the ’50s, specifically as it relates to this 1956 Pontiac Star Chief. As can be seen, it’s a four-door hardtop (no B-pillar) and is a stylish car. But as I review the ’56 Pontiacs that we’ve covered here on BF, I find that most are two-door variants – even the station wagons always seem to be the limited production two-door Safari models. The four-door variety gets short-shrift but some of that’s probably due to them not being as valued, and therefore deemed worthy of saving. Considering all of this, let’s examine this very ’50s-looking Pontiac and see if we think it’s worthy. It’s located in Los Angeles, California and is available, here on craigslist for $16,000.
Hardtop body styles started to proliferate in the ’50s and Pontiac, like other manufacturers, reserved a specific name for such a design, referring to them as a “Catalina”. There were Star Chief Catalinas in two and four-door body styles and four-door sedans too. The lower echelon 870 and 860 trim levels both offered “Catalina” hardtops as well as sedan-bodied cars. Star Chief’s four-door hardtop production volume equaled 48K units – a pretty healthy number.
The seller refers to this Star Chief as a “Stunner”, I’m not sure that’s the adjective that I’d use but it is a fine-looking car in the strictest 1956 way. The Corral and Creme (normally I’d call it pink and white but then images of Good & Plenty would be conjured) finish is deep and true and the extensive stainless trim, including the hood suspenders that Bunkie Knudsen, Pontiac’s new General Manager so despised, are in perfect shape. The four-door sedan version of this car is a bit stodgy but this airy hardtop is a Pontiac of another color – that C-pillar is an attention-getter. The seller adds, “It has always been well-cared for, regularly maintained, lightly driven and garage kept“, it looks it!
The interior is as spectacular as the exterior. While not said, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that it has been restored – 77K miles of use and 67 years of age are usually not that kind to fabrics which in this case would have been a leather and “nylon-faced” fabric. The dash and instrument panel are nicely color-keyed and the stainless strips affixing the headliner panels are a high-fashion touch.
A 227 gross HP, 317 CI V8 engine provides Poncho-Power that is distributed via a Hydramatic automatic transmission. The engine appears to be original and complete, and while there is no mention of running or driving dynamics, there’s no reason to assume any operational foibles.
Here’s a car that presents perfectly, appears to need nothing, and is reasonably priced. It’s not a hot rod or a quarter-miler and was never intended to be. It is a fabulous cruiser however and provides functionality to bring along friends and family. And speaking of family, have any of you experienced a toddler’s car seat circa 2023? It’s like the seat out of a NASCAR Cup car with the Han’s device attached. And I can tell you from experience (grandchildren), getting one in the back seat of a two-door model is tantamount to pulling off a Houdini escape trick. So, let me pose this question, if you could have this Star Chief or the exact same model in a two-door hardtop body style, which would you choose?
The 4dr looks nice, but my kid raising days are behind, so I’d prefer a 2dr
Fun fact; the 1956 Pontiac promo model (from Jo-Han, and reissued several times over until the original company went belly-up – you might still be able to get one from the current holder of the IP and factory stock) was a 4 door hardtop. That was GM’s big news for ’56 across all divisions.
I’ve always thought the 1955-58 GM’s Sport Sedans aka 4 door hardtops looked cleaner and more balanced than the Sport Coupes aka 2 door hardtops. From the driver’s position does the number of doors really important?
A very-close ‘twin’ to my grandparent’s `56! Theirs had the chrome gravel shields behind the rear wheels, something that was standard with the Star Chiefs but this one is missing? I would source out a pair of those! The car I remember also had the matching chrome skirts and was the same two-tone pink/white, but with a gray/black/white interior, and just about every option available. PS, PB, factory AC, PW, P/seat, and autronic eye headlamp dimmer. Their 56 would be their last car unfortunately, and Grandma was killed @ a RR crossing in their small town in it.
It’s interesting that you mention the stainless trim behind the rear wheels. Those were on the Star Chief CUSTOM. This car has a Star Chief Custom interior both seats and door panels, and it’s in one of the two color combos for Customs–Sandalwood Tan and beige; the other color choice for a Custom was Catalina Blue (dark) and white. So, perhaps those stainless pieces were omitted at one time in the car’s history. I guess one would need to check this car’s data plate to verify the model number since it presents as a Custom, but it is missing some trim.
Cool car – In 1957 Pontiac Won The Daytona NASCAR Race with their V8 Engine :)
That must have been quite a race, since Daytona didn’t open till 1959
He’s referencing the Daytona Beach Course race which ran from ’49 until ’58. Cotten Owens did win in ’57 with a Pontiac.
JO
I was 15 1/2 and looking for my first car. My Dad bought a 4 door 55 Pontiac from original owner. This was 1969. I helped him polish out the chrome bumpers and the faded paint and clean the interior. He had paid $75 for it and suggested that it would be a great first car for me. I was not impressed. He said it even had a rear speaker. Still not impressed so after we cleaned it up and he fixed a few things on it he sold it to a friend of his who had three kids and it made a great family car for them for several years. What car did I want? A VW beetle or a thunderbird. I ended up with a 61 thunderbird with new paint for $225 which was the very top of my paper route budget. Would like to have a 55-57 Pontiac now.
Even though I always liked the 2 doors better this is one nice looking car. There was a movie (I can’t remember the name) in which the star drove ’56 Olds 4 door hardtop and he made that car cool. Maybe the right buyer could be a trend setter and make 4 doors cool. Except for Nomads And Safaris wagons were never popular, but it seems now that everybody wants one.
WW and the Dixie Dance Kings w/Burt Reynolds
Lucy and Desi?
Years ago I was in a local junk yard. As I was walking back to the office to pay for the parts I had taken off I spied a 55 Pontiac 4 door hard top. It was red and black with red and black interior. I looked it over and it was actually a nice car. May not have run but was complete. I asked at the office if it was slated for crushing and the guy said yes. The owner, was out to lunch. I asked the guy not to crush and I would buy it. He said call back in about an hour and he the owner would be back. I called and spoke with the owner and he was willing to sell me the car. He went to the yard to tell them not to crush it and found out it had already been crushed.
56 was first year for the Pontiac 4 dr ht. 55 Buick and Olds only.
Nice piece , still trying find 55-56 2 dr sedan . jk new jersey
The interior of a Star Chief Custom was either leather and cloth or all leather. This may have been done in vinyl, but it’s ‘correct’ including the seatback embossings.
My old dad, a Master Sergeant in the USAF, had a Poncho just like that one when I was born, except it was some shade of green and cream. And I rode in one of those ‘hook over the back of the seat’ car seats for kids. He traded it to a guy who was going to transfer to the west coast when he drew orders to Ethiopia for a 1960 Renault Dauphine. I loved that Poncho and would love to have one like it.
Two-door hardtops look “common.” Four-door hardtops look custom. For a four-door hardtop door hinges to survive was not expected on the used car market in the early 60’s; nor to provide the side-impact desired by the late 60’s. They are unique and rare. Sign me up to admire.
Love the lines of these, but always felt they had a bit to much trim BTW “short shrift” is not hyphenated in this context.
Take it up with Grammarly.
JO
I just hope something like this will be available in 2 years when I am ready to get one. I know I am hoping for an older Buick Special but a car like this, at
$16000, regardless of whether it is a good buy or not, would be so much wonder to drive. I only drive 8000 miles a year and have gotten used to not using any air conditioner all the time. So a daily driver this could be. Just won’t fit into the garage.
Body length 206 inches. Over 17 feet. My wife’s BMW X5 is 16 feet long and it barely fits. I just need to clean out the shelves and figure it out. That car is a beauty. If it was a different color I would consider begging to put the X5 out in the driveway.
I’d love to make this my daily driver. I also prefer the 4 door for passenger comfort .💞🌹
Says it is being auctioned at a new site and currently sits at $10200. Looking better now.
If I could swing the cash this would be my daily driver . I’m 72 and I drive less than 4,000 miles a year . It would more than last me the rest of my life .🤠👌💃💃💃