aa Pontiac Chieftain 1955 4-door sedan streaks
Pontiac Chieftain 1955 4-door sedan. For 1955 Pontiacs had 8 Silver Streaks in a band running on each side of the bonnet, and also on top of the rear fins.
aa Pontiac Chieftain 1955 4-door sedan streaksr
Pontiac Chieftain 1955 4-door sedan - rear Silver Streaks
aa Pontiac Chieftain 1956 badge
Pontiac Chieftain 1956 Catalina 4-door hardtop - badge on bonnet
aa Pontiac Chieftain 1957 4-door sedan badgec
Pontiac Chieftain 1957 4-door sedan - badge on wing
ac Pontiac Chieftain 1955 4-door sedan head
Pontiac Chieftain 1955 4-door sedan. Under the new bonnet was the new 'Strato Streak V8 4,703cc (287) engine which gave a lot more power than the outgoing unit.
ac Pontiac Chieftain 1956 head
Pontiac Chieftain 1956 Catalina 4-door hardtop. The 1955 Chieftain had wide stainless steel strips running down the bonnet, replacing the 5 'Silver Streaks' that been on the Pontiac centreline since 1935. Bunkie Knudsen took over in 1957 and promptly had these streaks removed at the last minute from the 57 model. A 287 cu.in 'Strato Streak' V8 engine powered the Chieftains until a 316 cu.in unit became available in 1956.
ac Pontiac Chieftain 1957 4-door sedan head
Pontiac Chieftain 1957 4-door sedan. No more Silver Streaks for 1957, although the grille might carry their remnants. Behind the grille the 'Silver Streak V8' gets enlarged to 5,690cc (347)
Pontiac Chieftain 1955 4-door sedan front
Pontiac Chieftain 1955 4-door sedan 1955 Pontiacs shared the GM A-body with Chevrolet, but Chieftains got a 122-inch wheelbase instead of 115-inch (Star Chief 124-inch). Chieftains were 203.2-inches long (Star Chief 210.2-inch) compared to the 195.6-inch Chevrolet.
Pontiac Chieftain 1955 4-door sedan rear
Pontiac Chieftain 1955 4-door sedan. The 1955 Pontiac was all new, though it shared its GM A-body with Chevrolet. Paul Gillan styled the lower parts of the Pontiac to differentiate it, but the top of the car had to stay the same as the Chevrolet. Chieftains were build on a 122-inch wheelbase, Star Chief on 124-inch.
Pontiac Chieftain 1956 4-door Sedan front
Pontiac Chieftain 1956 4-door Sedan. The 1956 Pontiacs had twin silver streaks down the hood and down the rear wings, which 'Bunkie' Knudsen removed for 1957. Engineering by E.M. “Pete” Estes and John Z. Delorian gave Pontiac the 'Silver Streak' 5,195cc V8 engine option and made them into performance cars.
Pontiac Chieftain 1956 4-door Sedan rear
Pontiac Chieftain 1956 4-door Sedan. A new 122-inch body was given to the Chieftain 1955, shared with Chevrolet and Oldsmobile. The 1956 Pontiacs had twin silver streaks down the hood and down the rear wings.
Pontiac Chieftain 1956 4-door Sedan streaks
Pontiac Chieftain 1956 4-door Sedan. The 1956 Pontiacs had twin silver streaks down the hood and down the rear wings, which 'Bunkie' Knudsen removed for 1957.
s Pontiac Chieftain 1956 Catalina 4-door hardtop side
Pontiac Chieftain 1956 Catalina 4-door hardtop. There was a 2-door Catalina hardtop version of the Chieftain and in 1956 a 4-door Catalina hardtop (this model) was added and shared with the GM A-body cars such as the Buick Century Riviera Sedan, Chevrolet BelAir Sports Sedan and Oldsmobile 88 Holiday Sedan.
Pontiac Chieftain 1957 4-door sedan front
Pontiac Chieftain 1957 4-door sedan. Semon 'Bunkie' Knudsen ordered a revamp of 1957 Pontiac models, and took off the Silver Streaks, although these might still be seen in the grille design
Pontiac Chieftain 1957 4-door sedan rear
Pontiac Chieftain 1957 4-door sedan. The 1957 revamp under Semon 'Bunkie' Knudsen gave Pontiacs proper rear wings and new tail lamps. Wheelbase was still at 122-inch for Chieftains, but overall length went up 3-inches to 206.8.
Pontiac Chieftain 1957 4-door sedan tail
Pontiac Chieftain 1957 4-door sedan. Restyled for 1957 with prominent wings and new tail lamps.
Buick Special 1955 Sedan front
Buick Special 1955 Sedan. In 1954 a new Fisher body was developed for GM's B-body cars, and shared between the Buick Special and Oldsmobile 88. In 1955 both cars were given their annual update.
Chevrolet BelAir 1955 Sport Coupe 265 V8 front
Oldsmobile 88 1955 2-door Sedan front
Oldsmobile 88 1955 2-door Sedan. On the 1955 model had this 'tongue-shaped' contrast panel, 1954 and 1956 models had a different contast diagonal. The 1955 model had the O L D S M O B I L E lettering set into the grille.
Oldsmobile Super 88 1956 Holiday Sedan front
Oldsmobile Super 88 1956 Holiday Sedan. The pillarless 4-door coupe 'Holiday' model was introduced in 1955 on both the 88 and Super 88 Oldsmobiles. The vertically split grille was given to all 88 and Super 88 models for 1956.
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