1950s Cars – Pontiac

Welcome to 1950s Cars – Pontiac

1950 Pontiac Streamliner DeLuxe

Fastbacks were still popular and would be until ’53
styling touches included wide access doors with floor mating to avoid “heel catching”
and wide horizon windshield with slim corner posts for improved viability
the bright red Chiefton emblem badge lit up when the headlights were turned on

Cost: $1,910.00

This Pontiac Emblem glowed bright red at night

1951 Pontiac Chieftain

This season Pontiac celebrates its 25th Anniversary
and its four-millionth car off the production line
Pontiac was GM’s most conservative division and it showed in the designs

Cost: $1,985.00

1952 Pontiac Chieftain DeLuxe

A new grill and hubcaps were the only exterior changes this year
under the hood though 80% of new Pontiac’s came equipped
with the new Dual Range Hydra-Matic transmission
which gave quicker acceleration and better grip on wet or slippery roads

Cost: $2,115.00

1953 Pontiac DeLuxe Catalina

A redesign and a longer wheelbase helped to shed
the stodgy image people had of Pontiac’s but the problem
was that under the hood they still used the L-head engines
which the other car manufacturers had replaced in prior years

Cost: $2,290.00

1953 Ad Proclaiming Pontiac’s Dependability

1954 Pontiac Star Chief

Star Chief’s were known as “the big Pontiac”
they grew 11 inches this year mostly in the rear deck for gargantuan trunk space
full leather upholstery with power seats and windows were optional

Cost: $2,550.00

Pontiac Star Chief Interior

The optional fine leather in these models came in three shades
with ivory bolsters and matching Wilton Wool carpets
notice the crank vent window but power side window

1955 Pontiac Star Chief

The Custom Catalina hardtop was the top seller
a new engine called the Strato-Streak V-8 helped Pontiac’s “slow poke” image
this model sold nearly a hundred thousand units

Cost: $2,610.00

1956 Pontiac Star Chief Safari Wagon
Two-toning was very popular even in wagons
this was a new model, made to compete with Chevy’s Nomad Wagon,
if first year results were any indicator it only sold 4000

Cost: $2,965.00

1957 Pontiac Bonneville

When Pontiac rolled out the Bonneville it started a new era for them
gone was the stodgy boxy car with the little engine that almost could
in was a new 310hp, fuel injected monster
that would forever change the image to one of performance

Cost: $5,780.00

1958 Pontiac Bonneville

This Sport Coupe was the most popular Bonneville model
it was billed as “America’s Hot Road Car”
and with the Rochester fuel injection system it was a bit of a hot rod

Cost: $3,480.00

1959 Pontiac Catalina

Catalina was a full two inches shorter than Star Chief or Bonneville
new Wide Track engineering increased tread width by nearly five inches,
improving stability and ride, a new split grille theme became a Pontiac trademark
and would differentiate it from other car brands for generations

Cost: $2,860.00