In the classic world, some survivor-grade vehicles are so stunning that they almost defy description. Such is the case with this 1957 Pontiac Chieftain Catalina. That a vehicle of this vintage could survive in such remarkable shape speaks of a life of care and protection. It seems to need nothing and is ideal for someone seeking to enjoy the heady days of the 1950s. The seller has listed the Pontiac here on eBay in Waterford, California. Bidding has raced to $11,111, and with the reserve met, a new home for this two-owner classic is mere days away.
Pontiac started with an almost clean sheet of paper when it launched its Second Generation Chieftain range for the 1955 model year. The frame, body, and engine were new, with our feature Chieftain Catalina rolling off the line during the final production year in 1957. This is a two-owner vehicle with a known ownership history. It remained in Detroit, Michigan, until it was purchased by its second owner in 1990. That was when it left Michigan, migrating to the sunny and dry climes of California. It has been garage-kept and protected from the harsh elements throughout its life, allowing the Pontiac to avoid the rust issues that were common in cars from this era. The Carib Corral paint and the Sheffield Grey insert are both original, with this Catalina having never undergone any form of restoration or repairs. The seller confirms that the paint is thin on the driver’s door, where the first owner used to drive the car with their arm hanging out the window. Otherwise, there are no significant flaws or defects. The trim looks exceptional, the glass is clear and free from cracks, while the spinner hubcaps and whitewalls add the ideal finishing touch to the exterior.
Perusing Pontiac’s Sales Brochure for the 1957 Chieftain range is interesting, because there is much to learn about these classics. The wording is elegant and isn’t as cold and clinical as found with most modern vehicles. It confirms that this car’s 347ci “Strato-Streak” V8 should produce 252hp and 354 ft/lbs of torque, which is fed to the rear wheels via a four-speed Hydramatic transmission. The company doesn’t quote a curb weight, although several sources suggest that it should be around 3,800 lbs. Therefore, performance would be pretty respectable in a 1957 context, allowing this classic to cruise all day at freeway speed. This Catalina’s odometer reads 66,688 miles, which the seller states is verified as a genuine figure. The sale includes the original Dealer Invoice and factory Build Sheet, providing documentation dating back to Day One. The listing suggests that the Pontiac is a turnkey proposition that has been meticulously maintained throughout its life.
The first thing that caught my eye when I examined this Pontiac’s interior images was the dealer-fitted plastic slipcovers on the seats. These often crack and split with age, but the ones inside this Catalina are in good condition and are doing a sterling job of protecting the original Dark Grey pattern cloth and Pale Grey imitation leather from wear and tear. The remaining upholstered surfaces are equally impressive, with the same true of the carpet, dash, and pad. The plated components will make every journey feel special, an impression enhanced by factory options that include a radio with twin “Hi-Fi” rear speakers, the clock, the underseat heater, and the vast array of courtesy lights.
This 1957 Pontiac Chieftain Catalina is a stunning car, and it is easy to see why it has generated healthy interest since it hit the market. The fact that bidding has passed the reserve confirms that it will soon find a new home and its third owner in sixty-eight years. I would typically quote a potential value or sale price at this point, but I have decided not to do so on this occasion. This is a chance for you to have your say. What do you think the bidding will reach before the hammer falls? It will be fascinating to see if any of our Barn Finds readers can hit the nail on the head with their guess. So, it’s over to you.
Wow! That’s the same 4 speed Hydromatic I put into my Olds powered Studebaker and it helps get this car off the line ahead of even the floor shifters. Nice!
All I can say is wow!!! This being all original, with just a thin spot from the driver hanging his arm out the window? I’d leave it all alone, and preserve it as is. This is around the time Semon “Bunkie” Knudeson came aboard and starting changing Pontiacs image into a performance brand. ( the removal of the chrome suspenders on the hood for
starters). This is just beautiful. Fantastic write up Adam, I enjoyed it!!! Thank you!!!
-Dave
I tried looking up who “W.H. and Alice Wright” of Detroit might have been. Inconclusive. I’m thinking “WH”( Wally or William) had to be a big shot in the auto biz, and this was probably Alices car. The color and the outstanding condition is conducive to a woman’s touch, and rarely driven. Certainly not in any inclement weather, not an easy task in Michigan. Men rarely keep a car like this, and seems Wally got everything he could( minus a/c, not needed in Mich.) for his lovely Alice. She returned the favor by keeping it like this.
What’s that barnacle on the air cleaner? It’s a baffle, I believe, these made a howl when floored, if a mans car, that would have gone missing years ago. While the ’57 Chevy got all the thunder, this car was 10 times the car, when a Pontiac was not a rebadged Chevy. For ’57, I can’t think of a nicer car, okay, maybe an Olds, point is, there was more to 1957 than a Chevy or a Ford.
My Dad’s ’57 Olds 98 hard top went hand in hand with the Pontiacs as the boss of the streets.
Again a great write up on this stunning car. I’d rather have this than the best ’57 Chevy, or maybe any 50s GM. You never see one let alone a survivor like this. Made my day…
Beautiful car, and that color, so 50s!
Hmm, last oil change Oct. 5, 74, was it Shell premium or the old standby for most of us–Pennzoil 10/30 with Z7? Probably due for a change by now. And what about that Triad T3 headlamp? 57 was the best looking, most desirable Pontiac until the 64 GTO version Tempest which cemented the identity of modern Pontiacs, shame that died. This is an exceptional car, has had exceptional care and appreciation. Would love to have it and hope it lands in a way that preserves it’s condition and care.
And God made Pontiac.
Wow. Beautiful. Optioned into SuperChief territory.
I had a four door 57 chieftain catalina (aka Hardtop) with a cam and tripower. sorely missed… except for the single piston subfloor master cylinder and manual drum brakes.
My grandparents had a ‘57 Pontiac Super Chief that was the same color as this car. It became mine when I turned 16 in the mid 1980’s, but it was restored and painted black. My dad still has the car today and is working to get it back on the road. Despite my misgivings of being a teen guy driving a pink car back then, I’d put it back to coral in a heartbeat today. Thanks for the memories. Hope it goes to a good home.
This car looked old when new. GM was so out of step with big car design in 1957. Longer, lower and wider were lost on GM for 1957-58 compared to their rivals. There are so many better looking 1957 cars from Chrysler Corporation or Ford Motor Company that I would have bought. I’m surprised that GM cars sold as well as they did!
Dave,
It’s all because they were GM.
This is a gorgeous car. Wish I had the space.
A 57 Pontiac and a 60 Rambler on the same day on Barn Finds. My dad traded his 57 Pontiac in on a 60 Rambler station wagon he always said the Pontiac would fly and got tired of the gas it used so the Rambler replaced it.
i love it. i would lose the skirts though
Beautiful car!! Gonna sell quick! Back in the 70s the 57 and 58 Pontiacs and same year Plymouth where big at the local Albany Saratoga dirt track. Boy did they race hard. Good memories! Glwts! Peace!
I had Star Chief convertible in this color in 1978. It had continental kit and a 4 bl carb. It was a blast to drive with the top down. This color you don’t see often. Nice!!!!
I nice upgrade from the ubiquitous ’57 Chevys that populate cars and coffees.
IMO the Chrysler cars of the era were some of the ugliest vehicles on the road!!!! I’d take this Pontiac over athose skirts look great!. !nything Mopar you can find!! The skirts look great!
IMO the Chrysler cars of the era were some of the ugliest vehicles on the road!!!! I’d take this Pontiac over anything Mopar you can find!!
Was the data plate always painted the car color? I would take this in a heartbeat!
To David Michael Carroll: I certainly agree wirh you!!! I well remember when the hideous 1957 Plymouth showed-up, with those billboards declaring, “Suddenly… it’s 1960!” I thought to myself, if THAT is what 1960 is going to look like, then Heaven Help Us! The entire Chrysler “Forward Look” thing, with the ugly fins — YOU could KEEP it!!! The same goes for the G.M. ’59s (except for Pontiac’s Wide Tracks, which weren’t TOO bad). Ford got the “fin” thing right, with the 1957 Fairlane 500 and the Meteor Rideau 500 (Canada). This, here, 1957 Pontiac is one beautifully-preserved car! — and it shares its body with 1955-’57 Chevrolets and Pontiacs. In my view, the 1955 Pontiac was nicer-looking, but that’s me. Two of my favourite years for Pontiac were 1946 and 1953. And I confess, I utterly HATED this coral-pink colour which was all the rage in the mid-to-late 1950s. I miss the Indian-head hood ornament that used to light-up amber-orange on Pontiacs. Though I could not afford to feed this car’s thirst, I’m afraid. Pontiac was never a gussied-up Chevrolet — the Pontiac Division always maintained its own identity. Would that Americans still built cars with character and individualised visions of what motoring is all about! In 1962, I had a neighbour who drove a 1933 Pontiac sedan, complete with old mohair smell and rear window curtains/blinds with fringes, which you could roll down if you wished. That was “another world” 29 years later; whereas, cars such as this one were all over the roads, then. Somehow, we never thought ahead to when these, too, would be ancient historical strangers on the roads. But then again, we never imagined our own old age, back when we were young, either; neither did we appreciate how incredibly short that life truly is. I bought a lot of popular music records when I was young — the greater number being 78s. Who else cares about them now? When do you hear Guy Lombardo or Phil Harris or Rosemary Clooney or The Four Tunes or the Charioteers on the radio THESE days? It’s as if the 1936-1954 era in music dropped off the face of the earth. I feel utterly “obsolete” sometimes; that said, I’m grateful to still be here, and sadly, most people my age are no longer around.
In approximately 1970, a friend in high school had a 1957 2dr. sedan. That was originally a 3 on the tree. He changed it over to a 4 speed and replaced the “heavy” front and rear bumpers with ones from a ’61 Impala. It was different looking but wasn’t terrible. He also installed a 3 2 bbl. Rochester carbs. One day after school and on our way to work. He decided to race a 1968 400 Firebird. He was about a fender ahead when the police came out of nowhere and shut that run down. We were late to work, so everyone (including the boss) figured we got nailed by the cops. They all want to know how bad the ticket was and if he had won the race. The boss never said a word about being late. So I have a soft spot in my head about 1957 Pontiacs.
Seller presented a first class advertisement. Beautiful car and I would love to have it. My guess on the hammer price is $24,500. GLWTS.
I have a 1957 Pontiac Starchief and I’ll figure out how to attach a pic here.
Power brakes, power steering, power windows, 6 way power seat, electric clock and wonderbar radio not bragging just wanted to share. If this is your style of 57 comfort and looks… buy it!
Around 1974 I had a high school classmate that had a mildly souped-up 57 Chieftain Wagon that he took to the local (Fremont) dragstrip one night. His time was 17+ seconds in the quarter mile. Not quick but it sounded great.