The Pontiac Chieftain is an automobile which was produced by Pontiac from 1949 to 1958. The 1949 Chieftain and Streamliner models were the first all new car designs to come from Pontiac in the post World War II years. Previous cars had been 1942 models with minor revisions.
In 1949 the A-body Chieftain replaced the Pontiac Torpedo as Pontiac's smaller and lower priced model. However, the newly redesigned B-bodied Pontiac Streamliner was now very similar (if not exact) in dimensions, engines, trim levels and options. This was the first time since 1934 that all Pontiacs had the same wheelbase. They had standard automatic interior lighting.
The Chieftain was initially introduced with four models: Sedan, Sedan Coupe, Business Coupe, and Deluxe Convertible Coupe. In 1950, a Catalina Coupe was added to the range while a station wagon was added in 1952, with the demise of the top-of-the-line Streamliner wagon.
The Star Chief was added to the Pontiac line in 1954 and the Chieftain was moved down to entry level status. Both cars were built on the A-body shell, but the new Star Chief had an 11 in (279 mm) extension added to its frame.
The 1955 model Chieftains featured completely new chassis, body and engine. The engine was the biggest news as this was Pontiac's first V8 called the Strato Streak V8. The last time Pontiac had offered a V8 was in 1932 when the Oakland Model 301 with a flathead V8 was renamed Pontiac. The 287.2 cu in (4.7 L) engine made 173 or 180 horsepower (130 kW) at 4400 rpm depending on which version was ordered (again, the difference was due to changes in compression ratios). Later in the year, a 200-horsepower four-barrel version was added. Six cylinder models did not return and the 1955 lineup was V8-only. A six-cylinder model had been considered, but Pontiac management decided not to retain it due to slow sales—six-cylinder Pontiacs had accounted for only around 10-15% of volume since 1951. The traditional "Silver Streak" appearance five-chrome strips running down the hood and trunk were updated with a twin-stripe design.
Chieftains went through another major styling change in 1958. All models were given honeycomb grilles, quad head and tail lamps, concave rear fenders. The Super Chief sub-series was promoted to full model status leaving just the standard array of Chieftains as the entry level Pontiac. The "Sportable" transistor radio became an option (a portable, removable radio), along with air-suspension and a limited slip differential.
As in years past, the V8 engine was enlarged. For 1958 it grew to 370 cu in (6.1 L) and made 240 horsepower (180 kW) and 270 horsepower (200 kW) depending on version. The 1958 models were the last Chieftains to be produced. It was replaced with the all-new Catalina in 1959.
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Subject: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising 
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe · 3,657KB |
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Subject: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe · 3,042KB |
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Subject: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe · 3,335KB |
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Subject: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe · 3,908KB |
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Subject: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe · 3,530KB |
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Subject: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe · 3,145KB |
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Subject: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe · 4,481KB |
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Subject: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe · 4,328KB |
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Subject: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe · 4,175KB |
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Subject: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe · 3,391KB |
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Subject: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe · 3,491KB |
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Subject: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe · 4,186KB |
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Subject: 1955 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Magnus Jonasson
Publication Date: 25 May 2025
Location: Landvetter, Sweden 
License: Unsplash
View photo of 1955 Pontiac Chieftain · 2.4MB |
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Subject: 1955 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Magnus Jonasson
Publication Date: 25 May 2025
Location: Landvetter, Sweden
License: Unsplash
View photo of 1955 Pontiac Chieftain · 1.7MB |
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Subject: 1955 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Magnus Jonasson
Publication Date: 25 May 2025
Location: Landvetter, Sweden
License: Unsplash
View photo of 1955 Pontiac Chieftain · 1.8MB |
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Subject: 1955 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Magnus Jonasson
Publication Date: 25 May 2025
Location: Landvetter, Sweden
License: Unsplash
View photo of 1955 Pontiac Chieftain · 1.7MB |
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Subject: 1955 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Magnus Jonasson
Publication Date: 25 May 2025
Location: Landvetter, Sweden
License: Unsplash
View photo of 1955 Pontiac Chieftain · 2.5MB |
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Subject: 1955 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Magnus Jonasson
Publication Date: 25 May 2025
Location: Landvetter, Sweden
License: Unsplash
View photo of 1955 Pontiac Chieftain · 1.9MB |
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Subject: 1955 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Magnus Jonasson
Publication Date: 25 May 2025
Location: Landvetter, Sweden
License: Unsplash
View photo of 1955 Pontiac Chieftain · 1.7MB |
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Subject: 1955 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Magnus Jonasson
Publication Date: 25 May 2025
Location: Landvetter, Sweden
License: Unsplash
View photo of 1955 Pontiac Chieftain · 1.7MB |
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Subject: 1955 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Magnus Jonasson
Publication Date: 25 May 2025
Location: Landvetter, Sweden
License: Unsplash
View photo of 1955 Pontiac Chieftain · 1.4MB |
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Subject: 1955 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Magnus Jonasson
Publication Date: 25 May 2025
Location: Landvetter, Sweden
License: Unsplash
View photo of 1955 Pontiac Chieftain · 2.3MB |
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Subject: Green Bay Packers-themed 1955 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2012 The Cars Time Forgot
View photo of Green Bay Packers-themed 1955 Pontiac Chieftain · 4.4MB
View photo of Green Bay Packers-themed 1955 Pontiac Chieftain Description Board · 1.6MB |
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Subject: Green Bay Packers-themed 1955 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2012 The Cars Time Forgot
View photo of Green Bay Packers-themed 1955 Pontiac Chieftain · 3.6MB
View photo of Green Bay Packers-themed 1955 Pontiac Chieftain Description Board · 1.6MB |
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Subject: Green Bay Packers-themed 1955 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2012 The Cars Time Forgot
View photo of Green Bay Packers-themed 1955 Pontiac Chieftain · 3.7MB
View photo of Green Bay Packers-themed 1955 Pontiac Chieftain Description Board · 1.6MB |
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Subject: 1956 Pontiac Chieftain drag racing survivor
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 31 July 2010
View photo of 1956 Pontiac Chieftain Drag Racing Survivor · 4,601KB |
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Subject: 1956 Pontiac Chieftain drag racing survivor
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 31 July 2010
View photo of 1956 Pontiac Chieftain Drag Racing Survivor · 4,174KB |
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Subject: 1956 Pontiac Chieftain drag racing survivor
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 31 July 2010
View photo of 1956 Pontiac Chieftain Drag Racing Survivor · 4,095KB |
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Subject: 1956 Pontiac Chieftain drag racing survivor
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 31 July 2010
View photo of 1956 Pontiac Chieftain Drag Racing Survivor · 3,885KB |
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Subject: 1956 Pontiac Chieftain drag racing survivor
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 31 July 2010
View photo of 1956 Pontiac Chieftain Drag Racing Survivor · 4,061KB |
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Subject: 1956 Pontiac Chieftain drag racing survivor
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 31 July 2010
View photo of 1956 Pontiac Chieftain Drag Racing Survivor · 4,085KB |
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Subject: 1956 Pontiac Chieftain drag racing survivor
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 31 July 2010
View photo of 1956 Pontiac Chieftain Drag Racing Survivor · 3,991KB |
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Subject: 1956 Pontiac Chieftain drag racing survivor
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 31 July 2010
View photo of 1956 Pontiac Chieftain Drag Racing Survivor · 4,511KB |
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Subject: 1956 Pontiac Chieftain drag racing survivor
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 31 July 2010
View photo of 1956 Pontiac Chieftain Drag Racing Survivor · 4,476KB |
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Subject: 1956 Pontiac Chieftain drag racing survivor
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 31 July 2010
View photo of 1956 Pontiac Chieftain Drag Racing Survivor · 2,226KB |
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Subject: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1957 Pontiac Chieftain · 3,580KB |
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Subject: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1957 Pontiac Chieftain · 4,185KB |
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Subject: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1957 Pontiac Chieftain · 3,948KB |
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Subject: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1957 Pontiac Chieftain · 4,214KB |
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Subject: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1957 Pontiac Chieftain · 4,682KB |
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Subject: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1957 Pontiac Chieftain · 3,566KB |
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Subject: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain Safari
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Location: DuPage County, Illinois
Date: 28 March 2010
View photo of 1957 Pontiac Chieftain · 3,553KB |
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Subject: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain Safari
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Location: DuPage County, Illinois
Date: 28 March 2010
View photo of 1957 Pontiac Chieftain · 3,521KB |
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Subject: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain Safari
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Location: DuPage County, Illinois
Date: 28 March 2010
View photo of 1957 Pontiac Chieftain · 3,091KB |
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Subject: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain Safari
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Location: DuPage County, Illinois
Date: 28 March 2010
View photo of 1957 Pontiac Chieftain · 3,284KB |
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Subject: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain Safari
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Location: DuPage County, Illinois
Date: 28 March 2010
View photo of 1957 Pontiac Chieftain · 3,364KB |
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Subject: 1957 Pontiac Chieftain Safari
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Location: DuPage County, Illinois
Date: 28 March 2010
View photo of 1957 Pontiac Chieftain · 2,930KB |
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Subject: 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible · 4,034KB |
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Subject: 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible · 2,547KB |
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Subject: 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible · 2,608KB |
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Subject: 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible · 2,794KB |
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Subject: 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible · 3,622KB |
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Subject: 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible · 3,824KB |
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Subject: 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible · 2,954KB |
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Subject: 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible · 3,569KB |
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Subject: 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
Note: T395 A "PM" Engine Option (370 cu. in. NASCAR Engine)
View photo of 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible T395 NASCAR Engine · 4,369KB |
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Subject: 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible · 4,237KB |
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Subject: 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
Note: T395 A "PM" Engine Option (370 cu. in. NASCAR Engine)
View photo of 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible T395 NASCAR Engine · 4,677KB |
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Subject: 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible
Photographer: Bill Crittenden
Event: 2010 Indian Uprising
Date: 1 August 2010
View photo of 1958 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible · 3,087KB |
