1957 Pontiac Star Chief Hardtop Coupe
Observe: The next story was excerpted from the June 2017 subject of Collectible Car journal
The 1957 Pontiac was the primary Pontiac since 1934 with out “Silver Streaks” on the hood. Earlier than Cadillac had tailfins and Buick had portholes, Pontiac had its signature chrome band (or bands) adorning the hood. Nonetheless, Semon E. “Bunkie” Knudsen arrived as Pontiac’s new basic supervisor simply because the ’57 fashions had been prepared for manufacturing, and he was decided to alter that.
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Pontiac’s place within the trade had been slipping. Knudsen believed a more energizing, younger picture was wanted. Eradicating the Silver Steaks was seen as a break with the previous—and a convention that began whereas Knudsen’s father, William S. Knudsen, was operating Pontiac. It was additionally about the one change he may moderately make at so late a date.
1957 Pontiac Star Chief Hardtop Coupe
Truly, Pontiac’s transformation from an “outdated man’s automotive” had began in 1955. Pontiac shared Chevrolet’s “A” physique, which was new for ’55. That 12 months’s Pontiacs had been decrease, sleeker, and extra trendy than earlier than. Simply as Chevrolet had a brand new ohv V-8 for ’55, so did Pontiac. Actually, the Chevy engine’s efficient valve gear with light-weight, stamped rocker arms was borrowed from designs developed in Pontiac’s engineering division. Pontiac’s V-8 proved long-lived and versatile. The fundamental design lasted till Pontiac stopped constructing its personal V-8s in 1981. Whereas Chevrolet would finally construct “small-block” and “big-block” V-8s, Pontiac’s sole V-8 design supported displacements from 287 as much as 455 cubic inches.
Picture Function: 1962 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire Hardtop Coupe
1957 Pontiac Star Chief Hardtop Coupe
The brand new V-8 vehicles had way more efficiency than the outdated straight-eight Pontiacs. To show the newfound energy, Bonneville Salt Flats legend Ab Jenkins was recruited to set a world document. In his fingers, a 1956 Pontiac averaged 118.375 mph for twenty-four hours—the final of many information set by Jenkins, who died later that 12 months at age 73.
Picture Function: 1953 Dodge B-4-B-116
1957 Pontiac Star Chief Hardtop Coupe
Bunkie Knudsen wished to foster a efficiency picture for Pontiac. Promoting in 1957 proclaimed Pontiac “America’s No 1 Highway Automotive.” Backing up that declare, Pontiac had elevated the dimensions of its V-8 to 347 cid, which helped it develop from 227 bhp as much as 317 bhp. Styling was additionally extra thrilling for 1957. Nonetheless, regardless of a great product, Pontiac gross sales had been down for ’57. Knudsen’s efforts wouldn’t really begin to bear fruit till 1959 when the “Vast Monitor” Pontiac rose to quantity 4 in gross sales.
Picture Function: 1956 DeSoto Firedome Seville
1957 Pontiac Star Chief Hardtop Coupe
Our featured automotive is a 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Customized Catalina hardtop coupe. Star Chief was the highest trim with a selection of cloth-and-leather or—as on this automotive—full-leather upholstery. The bottom value was $2901 and 32,862 had been constructed. The engine developed 270 bhp when paired with a Hydra-Matic transmission.
When photographed, the automotive was owned by Andy Linsky of Palm Springs, California. Linsky says the Star Chief was a great driver: “The facility was fairly nice. It moved.” He favored the Fontaine Blue/Kenya Ivory coloration mixture—and he says he’s sorry he doesn’t have the automotive right this moment.
Picture Function: 1953 Kaiser Dragon
1957 Pontiac Star Chief Hardtop Coupe
