The custom car scene is alive and well, and the vehicles that enthusiasts create within this genre are many and varied. The only limiting factors are typically imagination and budget, although legislative requirements can be a factor in extreme cases. This 1955 Pontiac Chieftain Station Wagon is a prime example of someone pushing the boundaries. Its mechanical specifications provide power and performance far beyond what people imagined when this car was new, while the panels, paint, and interior combine to give this Wagon the “wow” factor. The time has come for this cool custom to find a new home, with the seller listing the Chieftain here on Facebook Marketplace in Stamping Ground, Kentucky. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pnuts for spotting a classic that could be yours for $41,000.
Pontiac started work with virtually a clean sheet of paper when it designed its Second Generation Chieftain range. It featured a new body, frame, and engine. Only a few minor components found their way from its predecessor, making it easy to understand how the company shifted over 350,000 of these classics across all variants in the first year. This Wagon would have been one of them, but much water has passed under the bridge since it left the line. It has been transformed from humble family transport into a cool and potent custom that is loaded with details. However, the first thing to note is the seller’s claim that it isn’t a trailer queen. It features a few minor imperfections, reflecting the fact that it has been driven and enjoyed as its creators intended. The paint shade is a mystery, although it appears fairly close to the Nautilus Blue that was part of Pontiac’s 1955 color palette. It holds a pleasant shine, complemented by a few touches of custom pinstriping. The trim and glass look excellent, while the slammed suspension and American Racing Torq Thrust II wheels give this Pontiac a sense of presence.
The most potent engine a buyer could select to slot under the hood of their ’55 Chieftain Wagon was the 287ci “Power Pack” V8 that delivered 200hp and 275 ft/lbs of torque. This Wagon’s creator has rendered that fact academic, ditching the original engine for something best described as bigger and better. They selected a 400ci V8, adding a Tri-Power setup and headers to improve breathing. They don’t mention internal upgrades, but with the power feeding to the road via a four-speed 700R4 transmission, it should effortlessly eclipse this Chieftain’s original ¼-mile ET of 19 seconds without raising a sweat. The engine bay presents nicely, with no evidence of long-term fluid leaks or other problems. The seller is parting with this gem because they rarely get a chance to enjoy it. They describe it as great to drive, I claim that I find readily believable.
The builder continued to utilize the exterior paint shade to cloak the interior steel, adding upholstery in a similar hue, contrasted by White. The interior looks clean and tidy, with no significant wear or evidence of abuse. They chose to retain the original wheel and radio, adding a new shifter for the upgraded transmission. The buyer doesn’t receive a long list of luxury features like power windows or air conditioning. However, what they receive for their money is an interior that should receive plenty of positive comments and admiring looks.
Okay, I’ve decided that the time is right to encourage you to perform some mental gymnastics. I want you to imagine that this 1955 Pontiac Chieftain isn’t for sale, but you’ve seen it roaming the streets, and wish to create a copy. Your first task is to locate one of the relatively rare 1955 Wagons as a starting point. The next task is to return it to a rust-free state, massage its panels, and apply the paint. An interior retrim will follow, while engineering the car to accept the drivetrain that you have purchased specifically for this build, and sourcing the wheels, are the final pieces of the puzzle. How much will that cost? I suspect that your tally will be higher than the seller’s price, even if you adopt a DIY approach to many of the tasks. That is why this Wagon might be pricey, but it is worth a close look.
This wagon is brilliant. I love Pontiac’s “Silver Streak”-trimmed cars. No quarrel with the price, if this is on your bucket list it is going to be tough to beat this example.
Nice machine. Looks like a quality build with a great color.
Vintage tiki shifter and pinstripes,then stupid big wheels that belong on a ghetto sled,I don’t get it..
Neat longroof but it isn’t a custom.
It would look better (in my opinion) with Pontiac Rally’s and reproduction red line tires. That’s what a lot of the people who would want this car would think it should have. That’s what it would have had in the 60’s and 70’s where I came from.
The good news is wheels and tires are one of the easiest things to change on a car like this. The new owner could get most, if not all, of the money back by selling the current wheels and tires to somebody with a lowrider.
I always liked the looks of the ’55 Pontiacs better than the Chevys. But for ’55 thru ’57 Pontiac used Chevy bodies on the wagons with a Pontiac front end. The only Pontiac wagon that used all Pontiac sheet metal was the Safari. I think Pontiac built a lot less wagon than Chevrolet and there sure ain’t too many left, especially 2door wagons like this one. If you think the price is steep try to find another one. About 15 years ago I saw a ’56 Safari at a car show, had a crazy 60’s custom paint job on it, but was otherwise stock. He wanted 22k for it and people thought it was too much. I don’t see prices going anywhere but up. (unless I buy something then the bottom will fall out)
The rims always get dated very quickly. Buy something more vintage looking.
It’s a beauty. The seller seems pretty honest by showing some flaws in the paint and scratches in the chrome. Adam is right, you can easily have more into building one yourself than the cost of this one, especially with the cost of everything nowadays. I get sticker shock every day.
BTW, I like the wheels and I think they look great on the car.
CT Dave
Someone put a lot of time, money, and effort into this wagon, but left the rust and dirt in the front wheelwells. Makes me wonder what other little details they missed.
The seller, whom I find to be refreshingly honest, says that it’s a driver so it doesn’t concern me in the least that the wheel wells are dirty (I have a 24 year old Corvette that I have always tried to keep out of inclement weather, but since I lived in Oregon for 10 of those 25 years, that was impossible as the car is a “driver”) I totally agree with other comments regarding what it would cost to build this car, so I don’t find the price to be out of line. Very cool car, although personally I would have to lose the shifter. Maybe try to rig something up on the column. If I was about 25 years younger not already “car poor” I would definitely give this a long, hard consideration.
There’s no reason a driver can’t be nicely detailed. None of my cars look like that inside the wheelwells. It’s such an easy thing to take care of, why wouldn’t you?
Beautiful wagon I love them, and this one now finds me with no funds. AND its too bad GHETTO is deemed to be such a negative. THATS where many like me had to live.
Some people just can’t handle real exuberance and joy.
Ugly wheels 🤮
Pontiac’s answer to the Chevy Nomad.
Actually, that would be the Safari wagon.
This is an interesting wagon, it appears to me to be a late 80’s-early 90’s build and “updated” with the wheels, which do it no favors at all. Easy to change, maybe some steelies?
I would have a hard time driving it with no outside mirrors.
I would have a hard time driving it with no outside mirrors.
Agreed, but adding them would be about a 10 minute job.
CCFisher: I don’t know where you live and what you consider a “driver” but I do know that when I lived in Oregon even though I did my best to not drive in the rain, sometimes it happened and many times I had to drive on wet roads. And when that happened, the wheel wells got muddy. Oregon and Kentucky are both “wet” states. I now love in Arizona and keeping the wheel wells clean is a breeze. I wouldn’t judge a car that is driven by the condition of the wheel wells.
The rear is all ’55 Chevy. Pontiac had little fins decked in more chrome ribbing, like the chrome on the hood. Those taillight although all Pontiac look like custom ’55 Chevy. Same basic shape.
VERY reasonable price in today’s market. With it’s already existing flaws, I’d make it a daily driver, too. Some changes: 4WDB conversion, outside rearview mirrors, change the shifter to a more traditional one and add appropriate (for the existing interior) bucket seats and a console, A/C & heat, and shoulder belts all around. I’m not fond of the wheels either. Those American Racing ones are sooooo overused. I’d get a set of McLean cross laced wires with whitewall tires, a set of 16 or 17 in. Pontiac 8-lug repros, and a set of wheels that look like steelies with dog dish caps except they’re larger, single piece, and made of aluminum.