Some classics divide opinions, and I suspect this 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible may fall into that category. Its tired paint may lead some to consider restoration as the best option. However, the lack of rust and overall originality will motivate others to argue that preservation is their preferred choice. Both are valid, and the seller’s candid approach suggests it doesn’t hide any nasty surprises. The time has come for the Pontiac to find a new home, and it is worth a close look to determine what you would do if you became the lucky new owner.
Pontiac’s Second Generation Star Chief enjoyed a typically short production run, gracing showrooms from 1955 until 1957. The company sold 103,212 vehicles across all body styles during the final year, with 12,789 buyers selecting the Convertible version. Our feature car is a survivor that appears to be a prime candidate for a faithful restoration. Its Nassau Green paint has deteriorated, sporting scratches, chips, and the occasional matte spot. Returning it to its former glory seems a no-brainer, but there is another option worth considering. The exterior and underside shots reveal no evidence of penetrating rust, only the dry surface corrosion that is often seen on older vehicles from favorable locations. Therefore, preserving this gem is possible without the fear that it might crumble to dust in a few years. The Black soft-top fits as tight as a drum, although the new owner may hand it to a specialist to replace the cloudy back window. The trim looks remarkably good for its age, and the tinted glass is free from significant defects.
One of the most notable changes that appeared in the Second Generation Star Chief was hidden under the hood. The company said farewell to the 268ci straight-eight engine, introducing the new “Strato Streak” V8 to the latest offering. The capacity increased during the three-year production run, with this car housing the 347ci version producing 270hp and 359 ft/lbs of torque. The first owner selected an automatic transmission and power steering to guarantee an effortless driving experience. The Star Chief isn’t fast by modern standards, but that engine provided the 4,140 lb Convertible with surprising performance. The seller’s candor continues when assessing the car’s mechanical health. They admit it drops a little fluid, but the issues aren’t bad enough to require attention. The Star Chief runs and drives as it should, with no smoke, odd noises, or other issues.
I have sometimes wondered whether I was born at the wrong time because I can only imagine driving off the lot in a new car from this era. The exterior styling is one thing, but manufacturers demonstrated an adventurous approach to interior upholstery and trim which is sadly lacking from many new models. This Star Chief features two-tone Green upholstered surfaces, along with the bright trim that was a hallmark of vehicles from the 1950s. There are only a few flaws worth noting, including a large collection of wheel cracks. Whether this is restorable is hard to say, but I suspect the buyer will probably spend time searching for a replacement to improve the situation. The front seat has a seam separation on the driver’s side, and addressing this before it deteriorates further would be wise. An upholsterer might be able to perform a repair, which I feel would be preferable to replacing the cover. Otherwise, this interior appears to need nothing.
The seller listed this 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible here on eBay in Victorville, California. A solitary bid of $29,000 has pushed it past the reserve, meaning it is only hours away from finding a new home. It would be fascinating to learn the winning bidder’s plans for this classic because there are a couple of obvious paths for them to take. To restore or preserve. That is the question. In this case, there are no right or wrong answers, only the varying opinions that make the classic world an interesting place. I hope one of our readers is the winning bidder because I would love to know what the future holds for this Star Chief.
In high school I drove a ‘57 Super Chief that had belonged to my grandfather. It was pink when he had it. I had it painted black (as a teen in the 1980’s I wanted the car, but not the color). My dad still has the car as part of his collection. The 327ci does get the car up-and-going at a healthy pace. You’ll frequently see the chrome bumpers rust where the dual exhaust comes out, but this beauty seems to have avoided that particular problem. Hope she finds a good home.
Nice PONCHO..I’d put a more modern drive train in it… 421 428 455 or an LS with a 6L90E or 6 speed manual and keep the original motor n trans tucked away…then address the brakes…
Great idea! Do all that stuff, decrease the value of the car and decrease the number of folks who might be interested in buying it when you’re done!
It’s not always about value….it’s about enjoyment. If that’s what he wants to do, it’s his car.
This is one of my favorite cars. Only thing I would do is install a set of optional spinner hubcaps which I happen to have hanging on my shop wall:-)
New, this car looked dated. Ford Motor Company offered new rides. Chrysler offered finned fantasies. This ‘57 Pontiac was old school!
Interesting dilemma. I definitely keep the engine. Maybe a few period correct performance parts. A more modern transmission would do wonders for mpg but probably hurt value. How often am I driving this classic? If I’m driving it with any frequency I’m upgrading the brakes. Making the car safer and undamaged more than offsets the loss of originality. I’d certainly try to polish the paint and repair the interior rather than repaint and reupholster.
From when cars were works of art.
Odd the brake pedal is so small – looks like 1/2 of it is missing.
Maybe they used the same pedal as a manual transmission car ?
Preserve…..
This gorgeous pink beauty was at an evening Cruise just last friday, along with a stunning 58 Edsel vert… Don’t know what they sounded like but there was some sort of five horn setup under hood… Such a rare great classic ride… And it even had the spinner hubcaps… Sorry looks like I’m not a paid member and can no longer post pics for everyone’s enjoyment. You’ll have to just use your imagination
My dad paid $50 for his star chief I’m not sure those smooth bench seats had seatbelts but it definitely had a cardboard sun visor with sunglasses same color as the car & the horn or 5 horn set up could wake the dead ours even had 8 track player with chrome foil on the dials & trim I wouldn’t have it any other way the trunk fit my skis & the whole neighborhood for the drive-in movies all the camping gear grocery shopping umm our bikes no problem. It was that slide all the way from 1 side to the other around every corner that did it for me, was it snakeskin seats? or something similar? Oh so hot in the sun. I thought spinners were a modern aftermarket thing wow needs fuzzy dice & an antenna ball gives attention to the cb style spring base antenna that could receive channels from the moon & double as slimjim, hotdog stick, free carwash pass, identity flag, mamas whooping stick, bridges & tunnels height restriction gauge or garage stopper cue heck we scared away some animals while camping it helped gain traction in the ice mud & sand & still spun right back in place with zero damage to the reception.it was so sad to be so hard to find parts or it rotting in the sun I love love cars from this erra & think should be restored without taking away from it’s original American manifest destiny style & family travel togetherness all in easy rival for any muscle car or luxury vehicle’s from back then. oh, if they reimagine this star chief someday it could be closer to the newest Lincoln or Rolls-Royce concept cars I’d be first in line.
Restore, cars are meant to be driven. I think the most important things are comfortable interior and head turning exterior makes middle class feel like upper class on a budget. I want affordable superstar, the chief of all stars, a car to pass on to the kids, it’s a inherited price tag never should cost more than the last purchaser paid although the value is priceless. Auction should b provenance & petina should be period & well worn in the right place or rat rodded TF out with every kind of aftermarket upgrade & custom 1of a kind rebuilds can cost exponentially more& b 50x more fun. I would vote best in show either way Pontiac has a ton of interchangeable parts although a lot of models are not in production anymore legends never die so restore rebuild preserve it’s all a matter of investment how much time & $ will u put in? is the juice worth the squeeze?