1957 Pointiac Chieftan Convertible
Car provided by San Diego Classics, Cycles & Muscle Cars
For more information regarding purchasing this vehicle
contact Glenn at 561-376-4206
Photos copyright by Sean Callahan for
San Diego Classics, Cycles & Muscles Cars
& SoCal Beaches Magazine
A special thanks to Jay and Charlie Dwyer
for their help with this shoot!
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1958 Pontiac Chieftan Convertible History
With the help of Bonnie Knudsen Pontiac was able to produce the Chieftan and begin to rid themselves as an automobile manufacturer for "old stodgy men".
Bonnie knudsen changed the style of the cars and began the
Pontiac marqee of " Pontiac Excitement".
The 1958 Chieftan was one of the newer renamed models of cars that
he built when he took over the Pontiac Motor Division.
Produced by the Pontiac Motors Division of General Motors from 1949 until 1958, the Pontiac Chieftain was introduced. Five years later, the Pontiac Star Chief Custom Safari was unveiled to the public. A variation on the Chieftain Super Deluxe Catalina Coupe, the Pontiac Star Chief Catalina Coupe was introduced in 1956.
Part of Pontiac's full-sized automobile line, the Catalina was a name that was initially used strictly to denote hardtop body styles. Originally appearing in the 1950 Chieftain Eight and DeLuxe lines, the Catalina eventually became its own separate and unique model in 1959, as the ‘entry level' full-size Pontiac.
The top of the line model at the time for Pontiac, the 1950 Chieftain Hardtop, Series 25/27, was also dubbed the name Catalina. Featuring pillar-less design in both the door and window areas, along with the top-grade convertible appointments, these ‘hard-top convertibles' were both airy and had a hard to resist sporty-feeling.
Rather than having a fixed-roof design, these models offered the appeal of the sport car without the drawbacks and expense that was normally associated with convertible top vehicles. From 1950 to 1958, all Pontiac hardtops were designated 'Catalina' with the exception of the 58 Bonneville hardtop. At the time of its debut, the Chieftain Hardtop was powered by a straight-8 ‘flathead' engine, before eventually receiving Pontiac's new V8, the 287 in³ OHV four years later.
The Chieftain name for Pontiac's entry level model was dropped in 1959, and renamed Catalina. The once top-line Star Chief was dropped to mid-line status as the Bonneville nameplate was expanded to encompass a full series that included sedans, coupes, convertibles and Safari station wagons. The Catalina, as well as the more luxurious Bonneville, was eventually discontinued following the 1981 model year as part of GM's continued downsizing program, Pontiac strove to abandon the full-sized car market.
Car provided by San Diego Classics, Cycles & Muscle Cars
For more information regarding purchasing this vehicle
contact Glenn at 561-376-4206
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