The 1950s Chieftain appealed to Pontiac buyers who were budget conscious. Its last model year in 1958, the car (along with all Pontiacs) was all-new and struggled a bit in sales as the U.S. economy was suffering through its biggest recession since World War II. This Chieftain Catalina coupe looks to be in solid cosmetic and running condition and would present nicely at Cars & Coffee and other show venues. Located in Grand Mount, Iowa, this white-over-pink Poncho is available here on eBay for $19,500. Kudos to Larry D for another nifty find!
As was the case with other General Motors siblings, the 1958 Pontiac would be a one-year wonder. The cars would be all-new once again in 1959, responding to the radical approach to styling that Chrysler unfolded in 1957 (Virgil Exner’s “Forward Look” finned wonders). Pontiac’s contribution to GM’s 50th Anniversary celebration was the upscale Bonneville, much like Chevy was doing with their new Impala. To help propel the bigger, heavier cars was another increase in engine displacement at 370 cubic inches. Pontiac only delivered 216,982 new automobiles in 1958, of which more than half (121,460) were Chieftains. The seller’s Catalina coupe is one of 26,003 assembled.
The seller is rather short when it comes to describing this car. The interesting color combination is dominated by what may be Reefshell Pink on the lower extremities. Whether the car has ever been repainted is up for speculation, but the machine looks too nice not to have had any some cosmetic work done in its 65 years. The interior seems to be equally tidy. Paired with the 370 V8 is likely Pontiac’s 4-speed Strato-Flight Hydra-Matic transmission which was a $231 extra back in ’58.
My parents had a 1958 Chieftain from around 1963 to 1968. It was a 4-door sedan that also wore two-tone paint, though the lower half was light blue. I remember it being a solid performer though as a child it was my least favorite car as I managed to slam a door on one of my hands. Funny the things that old cars will make you remember! The seller has been using this Pontiac for the car show circuit and – hopefully – that will continue to be its mission in life.
Cool, the guy on the corner had the blue with white coves ’58 Bonneville with fuel injection, similar to this car. Some may laugh at the color, but before it was reserved for Mary Kay sellers, pink was a popular color. I remember lots of Ramblers that had pink somewhere on them. This, like all ’58 GMs, had chrome applied with a patching trowel, heck, they chromed things you didn’t see. I think Pontiac was best rendition of this era, and was one heck of a car. I miss Pontiac most of all the defunct makes. You shan’t be disappointed here.
My first car was a 1958 Pontiac Bonneville Sport coupe White with gray through the rocket side trim and a gray top my car when I purchased it had a 389 engine and a 60 transmission the car ran like a rocket and was a gorgeous automobile I wish I would have kept that car maybe in the future I’ll look and try to purchase another one if I can’t afford it happy trails to y’all Big Joe Longview Texas
True, Howard, GM went chrome-happy in 1958. And indeed, that year’s Pontiac, though liberally adorned, wasn’t nearly as baroque as its cousins in the Buick and Oldsmobile divisions.
Very nice car owner.Love the color combo.
I had a ’58 Chiertain back when they were cheap (early 70s). Three things I remember: how wide the front seat was (no seat belts); how dangerously inadequate the brakes were; and the stylish dashboard.
Mine was two-tone pink and charcoal. Can’t get more Fifties than that!
The price is very good if it’s really as rust-free as it appears, but the two sentence description makes me wonder. It also appears to lack power steering.
I don’t know why sellers advertise cars using sparse descriptions and a relatively small number of photos. This seller doesn’t even offer up his phone number. Does he really not want to sell it?
My first car was a 1958 Pontiac Bonneville Sport coupe it was all white the side trim in the rocket was like a charcoal gray and a roof was the same the car came with a 389 engine and a 60 transmission the guy raced it when I bought it it was like new ran like a rocket was a gorgeous automobile I’m sorry I ever sold it maybe someday I can purchase another one thank you big Joe Longview Texas
All the seller says that it an “original” – but the car has been repainted, and looking at the strikers , door tags and dome light switches, not very well .Pink is definitely a 50s color ( my parents house was pink back then) ,but it really does this car no favors – too much pink imho
I agree Don. If repainted it isn’t original any more. That word is used rather loosely by some sellers. Maybe unmodified is a better descriptor. This car has had a repaint. Rust free? Hard to know from the photos. Although I like the color I suspect something is lurking below that nice fresh paint job. If buying, I’d want to see this one for myself. Nevertheless, I like the look of these cars. Had a ’58 Pontiac Pathfinder two door post. That was a Canadian model – basically a ’58 Chev with a Chevy frame, drive train and Chevy engine, but looked like a Pontiac.
I had a 57 Chieftain 2dr, 3spd manual, nice car, paid $250 for it back in the 70s. GM’s 58 offerings were definitely better looking than the 59 monstrosities that followed.
Amen to the monstrosities comment,,!!!
I owned a 58 Chieftan purchased new for $2600. 370. Strat trans. Marlin Turquoise. The car screamed. Could not keep rear tires on the car. Even General Dual 90’s. No power brakes or steering.
Back when I was a young buck struggling to make ends meet, I bought a 58 Olds Fieste station wagon for $50.00. It was pink and white, ugly as a mud fence but ran really good. I drove that car car for a couple years before it gave up the ghost on one snowy night while driving home after working the swing shift. It met its final fate at a wrecking yard soon afterward, and was dismantled for parts before being crushed.
God Bless America
I had a ’58 Star Chief in 1969, it was a 2 door hard top, 3 speed on the column, 2 tone Blue, Dark Blue body, Light Blue roof & coves. It was one of the best winter cars I’ve ever owned, the heater worked excellent and it plowed thru the snow like it had 4WD. The body was rust free and straight as an arrow but the paint was faded, it was a very good fill in for my ’69 Road Runner that rested for the winter, the backseat was huge. I loved that car and should have kept it. I think I bought it for $250.00 & sold it for $500.00
Picture number 7 shows a VERY sloppy repaint, and they didn’t even degrease the door jamb which is what caused the spotty paint. And let’s not miss the fact that the drivers door does not have any weatherstrip…bet it’s wet, cold and drafty to drive.
If a person says they don’t use profanity-slam their hand in a big old car door like that and see… Yes I remember slamming my hand in the hood of a 72 Olds Delta and never forgot it…
My dad’s friend had a 58 and I remember going on a hunting trip with six people in 1961. The car had a great ride, and it was very powerful as we had to pass on a two-lane road and quickly got up to about 80.
I personally never owned a ’58 year model car but always liked them, had a good friend in HS that owned a ’58 Impala hardtop copper color, had a lot of fun back in the day in that car especially double dates to the drive-in theater. My BIL (when dating my sister) drove his parents ’58 Olds 4 dr beast that was a very similar color to this back in the mid 60’s. My research on this old Poncho lists the color as Reefshell Pink, and the vin tag would show a code KKK for this color, No kidding. It was the only pink shade that year.
GMC should have installed a red light inside the “jet” part of the “rocket”, or at least offered it as an option. I saw one on a new black ’58 Bonneville with red two-toning. Very dramatic.