I’ve always been a strong advocate for long-term ownership when considering purchasing a classic car. That is one of the things that makes this 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible attractive to me. Apart from being a handsome vehicle, it has been part of the same family for the past forty-five years. All good things must come to an end, so the family has decided to part with this classic. It isn’t perfect, but it is ready to be driven and enjoyed by a lucky new owner. Located in Golden, Colorado, you will find the Star Chief listed for sale here on eBay. The seller has set a BIN of $39,500, but there is the option to make an offer.
The seller indicates that when it was shiny and new, this Star Chief’s panels wore Raven Black paint. Somebody performed a color change to what appears to be Tartan Red but retained the Black inserts along the rear quarter panels. The paint shines nicely, although it does exhibit a few chips and marks. Addressing these without performing a complete repaint would be possible, although the new owner may choose to restore the car to its former glory. The panels are pretty straight, but I think I may have detected some small spots of rust developing in the lower extremities. These seem to be confined to the passenger side, with bubbles visible just ahead of the rear wheel arch, the bottom corner of the door, and the lower front fender. None of these are bad, and small patches should see them right. We receive no information on the floors or frame, so an in-person inspection may be warranted. The Black power top looks free from tears or other problems, although the rear window is cloudy and it needs a new motor. The trim and chrome are acceptable for a driver-grade car, and there are no glaring faults with the glass.
The interior photos of this Pontiac brought me up short because it is a genuine mixed bag. The Trim Tag indicates that it originally featured Red and Pale Grey imitation leather, but someone has ditched this in favor of Black custom upholstery. They have also added a wood-rimmed wheel, a console, and a radio/cassette player mounted under the dash. Most of the upholstery looks respectable, although the way someone has made the aftermarket slipcovers on the front seats a more permanent fixture suggests that the upholstery hiding beneath could be suspect. The carpet looks good, but the dash pad is beyond salvation. The buyer could have several paths to consider. It is serviceable, so using the Star Chief untouched is viable. Locating a dash pad could be challenging, especially if affordability is a crucial requirement. An online search uncovered a NOS pad, but at $1,000, that’s enough to make your eyes water. I had no luck locating reproduction pads, although I admit my search was brief. I also came up short on upholstery, so the buyer may need to perform a more thorough investigation to achieve success. Failing that, they could ascertain the state of the front seats and employ an upholsterer to repair any damage.
This Star Chief’s listing suggests that the car features a 347ci Tri-Power V8. However, since I can only spot one carburetor, I believe that this motor probably produces 270hp. That power feeds to the rear wheels via a four-speed Hydramatic transmission, while power steering should make light work of the driving experience. While it may not have been the most potent combination in the Star Chief range, it should still storm through the ¼ mile in 17.5 seconds. Potential buyers won’t need to spend a lot of money on the car’s drivetrain. The owner suggests that it would benefit from a tune-up, but since they use it for weekend outings, it indicates that it is overall good health.
While it isn’t perfect, this 1957 Star Chief Convertible appears to be a classic that a new owner could drive and enjoy immediately. The buyer may elect to perform an interior retrim, but since it is serviceable, that could occur as time and circumstances allow. With no immediate needs, the new owner could enjoy this classic during the upcoming warmer weather before spending the following winter months treating it to a birthday. I can think of worse ways to spend those colder days, can’t you?
The ’57 Chevy stole all the thunder, but if you ask me, and nobody does,,no wait, Todd asks my input on some trucks,( and ahem,,,it’s been a while since any trucks,,,just sayin’) but the ’57 Chief was the nicest of the bunch. Heck, it looks like it’s going 50 standing still( note inoperative ribbon speedo stuck on 50) I read, this was the 2nd most expensive car Pontiac sold at $3100 bucks. A Safari wagon was the most, at almost $3400. I know, doesn’t sound like much difference, but a couple hundred bucks was a big deal for most. I’m happy to see no tri-power, much more user friendly, even though, the tri-power only operated on the center carb, so IF you could keep your foot out of it, and good luck with that, the tri-power would get the same mileage as the 2bbl. version here. Nice car, dang, my favorite Poncho. Now, to replace those stock rims with some 22″ clown wheels,,,,NOT!!! Even as is, looks sharp, that’s what a great style it is.
The tri power would get better mileage than a single 2 barrel since thejets were smaller and did not have to cover the full power range. I would find it it hard to keep my foot off the hammer.
Nicest car my Dad ever had,blue and white 4 dr. fender skirts,spinner hubcaps.Sold it before I started driving.Blue and white leather seats.The one for sale has a cheesy looking steering wheel:-)
Putting you own personal stamp on the
interior of a car ruins it for everyone else.
But that’s the point normad, you put that personal stamp on the interior for yourself. Not for everyone else.
Tacky as it may be.
The car has Tri-Power badges on both front fenders…
A later add-on.
When I was very young my dad had a Pontiac Dealership in Lisbon Ohio and my mom had one of these. It was red with white inserts and convertible top.
Nobody wants to be stranded at the drive-in in a 57 Poncho ragtop with bucket seats and a center console.
They would have to go pronto.
The description omitted the ‘elephant in the interior’, the bucket seats. Step one would be to find a new front seat, but since the seat itself should be the same as a Chevy, it might make it easier.
Bought a 4-door hardtop like this from
a friend of mine I knew as Jonesy. He bought the car for his wife in late
’56 and owned it 18 years when I bought it from him. Now bear in mind
that this old man drove a beater ’51
Plymouth 3-window business coupe
and that was the car I really wanted.
When I asked him about it, he said he
wasn’t interested in selling it but he
offered me the Star Chief for $600
as his wife had passed away and he
couldn’t bear to see it sitting in the
garage anymore. Oddly enough, it
had a 347 tri power V-8 paired with a
Hydramatic tranny. It was a very deep red with a cream top and side
spear. It looked spectacular after I
cleaned it up too. And when I took
the quilts off the seats, they looked
brand new too. Sure wished I had it
now.