https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/ Tue, 05 May 2026 13:39:38 +0000 MyBB https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=19 Tue, 17 Mar 2026 08:57:30 -0700 Dave]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=19

  IMG_3172026105203.jpg (Size: 1.69 MB / Downloads: 1) ]]>

  IMG_3172026105203.jpg (Size: 1.69 MB / Downloads: 1) ]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=18 Tue, 17 Mar 2026 08:36:19 -0700 Dave]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=18

  IMG_3172026105723.jpg (Size: 1.23 MB / Downloads: 3)


  IMG_3172026110108.jpg (Size: 1.26 MB / Downloads: 1) ]]>

  IMG_3172026105723.jpg (Size: 1.23 MB / Downloads: 3)


  IMG_3172026110108.jpg (Size: 1.26 MB / Downloads: 1) ]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=16 Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:32:34 -0800 jhudds]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=16
Looking to get the paperwork done to get titled, but here in NJ its a monumental task.

I have some old door skin material I am going to use to patch floors and get her back to driving around town.

  Rusty 1.jpg (Size: 136.67 KB / Downloads: 3)

  Rusty 2.jpg (Size: 126.51 KB / Downloads: 4) ]]>
Looking to get the paperwork done to get titled, but here in NJ its a monumental task.

I have some old door skin material I am going to use to patch floors and get her back to driving around town.

  Rusty 1.jpg (Size: 136.67 KB / Downloads: 3)

  Rusty 2.jpg (Size: 126.51 KB / Downloads: 4) ]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=15 Sat, 21 Feb 2026 18:14:58 -0800 Dave]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=15 1953-54 Pontiac Production Numbers

(Six & Eight Cylinder – Transmission Breakdown)

---

1953
Six Cylinder
Model: 53-25
Name: Chieftain
Production Run: November 7, 1952 – November 20, 1953

• Standard Transmission: 33,705
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 4,507
  
• Powerglide Transmission: 702
  
• Total Produced: 38,914
  

Eight Cylinder
Model: 53-27
Name: Chieftain
Production Run: November 7, 1952 – November 20, 1953

• Standard Transmission: 68,565
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 293,343
  
• Powerglide Transmission: 17,797
  
• Total Produced: 379,705
  

---

1954
Six Cylinder
Model: 54-25
Name: Chieftain
Production Run: December 1, 1953 – September 1, 1954

• Standard Transmission: 19,666
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 3,004
  
• Total Produced: 22,670
  

Eight Cylinder – Chieftain
Model: 54-27
Production Run: December 1, 1953 – September 3, 1954

• Standard Transmission: 29,906
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 120,080
  
• Total Produced: 149,986
  

Eight Cylinder – Star Chief
Model: 54-28
Production Run: December 1, 1953 – September 3, 1954

• Standard Transmission: 571
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 114,517
  
• Total Produced: 115,088
  

]]> 1953-54 Pontiac Production Numbers

(Six & Eight Cylinder – Transmission Breakdown)

---

1953
Six Cylinder
Model: 53-25
Name: Chieftain
Production Run: November 7, 1952 – November 20, 1953

• Standard Transmission: 33,705
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 4,507
  
• Powerglide Transmission: 702
  
• Total Produced: 38,914
  

Eight Cylinder
Model: 53-27
Name: Chieftain
Production Run: November 7, 1952 – November 20, 1953

• Standard Transmission: 68,565
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 293,343
  
• Powerglide Transmission: 17,797
  
• Total Produced: 379,705
  

---

1954
Six Cylinder
Model: 54-25
Name: Chieftain
Production Run: December 1, 1953 – September 1, 1954

• Standard Transmission: 19,666
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 3,004
  
• Total Produced: 22,670
  

Eight Cylinder – Chieftain
Model: 54-27
Production Run: December 1, 1953 – September 3, 1954

• Standard Transmission: 29,906
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 120,080
  
• Total Produced: 149,986
  

Eight Cylinder – Star Chief
Model: 54-28
Production Run: December 1, 1953 – September 3, 1954

• Standard Transmission: 571
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 114,517
  
• Total Produced: 115,088
  

]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=14 Sat, 21 Feb 2026 18:11:56 -0800 Dave]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=14 1949–1952 Pontiac Production Numbers

(Six & Eight Cylinder – Transmission Breakdown)

---

1949
Six Cylinder
Model: 49-25 
Name: Chieftain and Streamliner
Production Run: January 12, 1949 – November 10, 1949

• Standard Transmission: 40,139
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 29,515
  
• Total Produced: 69,654
  

Eight Cylinder
Model: 49-27
Name: Chieftain and Streamliner
Production Run: January 12, 1949 – November 10, 1949

• Standard Transmission: 60,716
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 174,449
  
• Total Produced: 235,165
  

---

1950
Six Cylinder
Model: 50-25
Name: Chieftain and Streamliner
Production Run: November 10, 1949 – November 17, 1950

• Standard Transmission: 90,612
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 24,930
  
• Total Produced: 115,542
  

Eight Cylinder
Model: 50-27
Name: Chieftain and Streamliner
Production Run: November 10, 1949 – November 17, 1950

• Standard Transmission: 67,699
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 263,188
  
• Total Produced: 330,887
  

---

1951
Six Cylinder
Model: 51-25
Name: Chieftain and Streamliner
Production Run: November 27, 1950 – November 19, 1951

• Standard Transmission: 43,553
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 10,195
  
• Total Produced: 53,748
  

Eight Cylinder
Model: 51-27
Name: Chieftain and Streamliner
Production Run: November 27, 1950 – November 19, 1951

• Standard Transmission: 64,424
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 251,987
  
• Total Produced: 316,411
  

---

1952
Six Cylinder
Model: 52-25
Name: Chieftain
Production Run: November 2, 1951 – November 7, 1952

• Standard Transmission: 15,582
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 4,227
  
• Total Produced: 19,809
  

Eight Cylinder
Model: 52-27
Name: Chieftain
Production Run: November 2, 1951 – November 7, 1952

• Standard Transmission: 32,962
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 218,602
  
• Total Produced: 251,564
  

]]> 1949–1952 Pontiac Production Numbers

(Six & Eight Cylinder – Transmission Breakdown)

---

1949
Six Cylinder
Model: 49-25 
Name: Chieftain and Streamliner
Production Run: January 12, 1949 – November 10, 1949

• Standard Transmission: 40,139
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 29,515
  
• Total Produced: 69,654
  

Eight Cylinder
Model: 49-27
Name: Chieftain and Streamliner
Production Run: January 12, 1949 – November 10, 1949

• Standard Transmission: 60,716
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 174,449
  
• Total Produced: 235,165
  

---

1950
Six Cylinder
Model: 50-25
Name: Chieftain and Streamliner
Production Run: November 10, 1949 – November 17, 1950

• Standard Transmission: 90,612
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 24,930
  
• Total Produced: 115,542
  

Eight Cylinder
Model: 50-27
Name: Chieftain and Streamliner
Production Run: November 10, 1949 – November 17, 1950

• Standard Transmission: 67,699
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 263,188
  
• Total Produced: 330,887
  

---

1951
Six Cylinder
Model: 51-25
Name: Chieftain and Streamliner
Production Run: November 27, 1950 – November 19, 1951

• Standard Transmission: 43,553
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 10,195
  
• Total Produced: 53,748
  

Eight Cylinder
Model: 51-27
Name: Chieftain and Streamliner
Production Run: November 27, 1950 – November 19, 1951

• Standard Transmission: 64,424
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 251,987
  
• Total Produced: 316,411
  

---

1952
Six Cylinder
Model: 52-25
Name: Chieftain
Production Run: November 2, 1951 – November 7, 1952

• Standard Transmission: 15,582
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 4,227
  
• Total Produced: 19,809
  

Eight Cylinder
Model: 52-27
Name: Chieftain
Production Run: November 2, 1951 – November 7, 1952

• Standard Transmission: 32,962
  
• Hydramatic Transmission: 218,602
  
• Total Produced: 251,564
  

]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=13 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:16:16 -0800 Dave]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=13 1952Pontiac.com. What began as a small personal project focused on my own 1952 Pontiac gradually grew into a broader resource covering all 1949–1954 Pontiacs, eventually becoming PontiacChieftain.com.

It has always been a passion project centered around preserving and sharing accurate information for these cars. Over the years I’ve spent countless hours collecting original literature, scanning manuals, building and refining the website, developing VIN and body tag decoders, and organizing technical data so it’s all easy to access in one place.

But this community is bigger than just one person.

I’m reaching out to see if anyone would be interested in helping grow the site in one (or both) of the following ways:

Contribute to the Pontiac Chieftain Library

If you have:

• Original dealership literature
  
• Shop manuals or supplements
  
• Service bulletins
  
• Accessory installation sheets
  
• Sales brochures
  
• Period advertisements
  
• Factory photos
  
• Clear photos of original cars, tags, components, etc.
  

And you’re willing to share scanned copies (or high-quality photos), I would love to include them in the Library so others can benefit.
Proper credit will absolutely be given.

The goal is long-term preservation - making sure this information doesn’t get lost.

Become a Blog Contributor

I’m also looking for anyone interested in writing occasional articles for the site blog. Topics could include:

• Technical how-to articles
  
• Restoration tips
  
• Model year breakdowns
  
• Accessory spotlights
  
• Historical deep dives
  
• Personal ownership stories
  
• Factory documentation analysis
  

You don’t have to be a professional writer - just someone who enjoys these cars and wants to share knowledge.

Why This Matters

The 1949–1954 Pontiacs don’t always get the same spotlight as some other makes. The more information we preserve and publish, the easier it becomes for owners and restorers to keep these cars on the road - and keep their history accurate.

If you’re interested in contributing literature, photos, or writing an article, please reply here, send me a private message or contact me through the main website contact form.

Let’s continue building the best 1949–1954 Pontiac resource on the web.




Special thanks goes out to Jace Allen for his help and contributions to the website.


-Dave]]> 1952Pontiac.com. What began as a small personal project focused on my own 1952 Pontiac gradually grew into a broader resource covering all 1949–1954 Pontiacs, eventually becoming PontiacChieftain.com.

It has always been a passion project centered around preserving and sharing accurate information for these cars. Over the years I’ve spent countless hours collecting original literature, scanning manuals, building and refining the website, developing VIN and body tag decoders, and organizing technical data so it’s all easy to access in one place.

But this community is bigger than just one person.

I’m reaching out to see if anyone would be interested in helping grow the site in one (or both) of the following ways:

Contribute to the Pontiac Chieftain Library

If you have:

• Original dealership literature
  
• Shop manuals or supplements
  
• Service bulletins
  
• Accessory installation sheets
  
• Sales brochures
  
• Period advertisements
  
• Factory photos
  
• Clear photos of original cars, tags, components, etc.
  

And you’re willing to share scanned copies (or high-quality photos), I would love to include them in the Library so others can benefit.
Proper credit will absolutely be given.

The goal is long-term preservation - making sure this information doesn’t get lost.

Become a Blog Contributor

I’m also looking for anyone interested in writing occasional articles for the site blog. Topics could include:

• Technical how-to articles
  
• Restoration tips
  
• Model year breakdowns
  
• Accessory spotlights
  
• Historical deep dives
  
• Personal ownership stories
  
• Factory documentation analysis
  

You don’t have to be a professional writer - just someone who enjoys these cars and wants to share knowledge.

Why This Matters

The 1949–1954 Pontiacs don’t always get the same spotlight as some other makes. The more information we preserve and publish, the easier it becomes for owners and restorers to keep these cars on the road - and keep their history accurate.

If you’re interested in contributing literature, photos, or writing an article, please reply here, send me a private message or contact me through the main website contact form.

Let’s continue building the best 1949–1954 Pontiac resource on the web.




Special thanks goes out to Jace Allen for his help and contributions to the website.


-Dave]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=12 Sun, 15 Feb 2026 07:43:18 -0800 Fazio]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=12
thanks Fazio]]>
thanks Fazio]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=11 Sun, 08 Feb 2026 11:30:16 -0800 Dave]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=11 PontiacRegistry.com sent me this 1956 Pontiac Drivers Report to share here.


  1956 PONTIAC- MOTOR LIFE REVIEW.pdf (Size: 274.53 KB / Downloads: 2) ]]> PontiacRegistry.com sent me this 1956 Pontiac Drivers Report to share here.


  1956 PONTIAC- MOTOR LIFE REVIEW.pdf (Size: 274.53 KB / Downloads: 2) ]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=10 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:04:53 -0800 Dave]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=10 Welcome to the Marketplace section of the PontiacChieftain.com Forums.

This area is provided as a community-only classifieds space for forum members.

Basic Guidelines:

Please stay within the scope of the forum you are posting in. 

Cars, parts, wanted ads, or services should match the section you’re using, and all listings must be 1949–1954 Pontiac related only.

Be clear and honest in your listings. When possible, include the applicable year(s), condition, asking price (or price range), and your general location. 

Clear details help avoid confusion and keep transactions running smoothly.

Please limit each thread to one item per listing. This helps keep the Marketplace organized and easy to search for other members.

Forum Marketplace vs. Main Website Classifieds

The Forum Marketplace is intended for community-only listings. It is discussion-driven and requires a forum account. If you don’t yet have an account, registration is free and open to all enthusiasts.


The Main Website Classifieds are separate from the forum. No account is required, and listings posted there are publicly visible to everyone on PontiacChieftain.com. 


Forum listings are not automatically posted to the main website.


If you are looking for maximum visibility, you are welcome to post your listing in both the forum Marketplace and the official Classifieds section on the main website.


Don't have an account? Register Today - It's Free!

Want to submit an ad on the main website? (No account required) Click Here]]> Welcome to the Marketplace section of the PontiacChieftain.com Forums.

This area is provided as a community-only classifieds space for forum members.

Basic Guidelines:

Please stay within the scope of the forum you are posting in. 

Cars, parts, wanted ads, or services should match the section you’re using, and all listings must be 1949–1954 Pontiac related only.

Be clear and honest in your listings. When possible, include the applicable year(s), condition, asking price (or price range), and your general location. 

Clear details help avoid confusion and keep transactions running smoothly.

Please limit each thread to one item per listing. This helps keep the Marketplace organized and easy to search for other members.

Forum Marketplace vs. Main Website Classifieds

The Forum Marketplace is intended for community-only listings. It is discussion-driven and requires a forum account. If you don’t yet have an account, registration is free and open to all enthusiasts.


The Main Website Classifieds are separate from the forum. No account is required, and listings posted there are publicly visible to everyone on PontiacChieftain.com. 


Forum listings are not automatically posted to the main website.


If you are looking for maximum visibility, you are welcome to post your listing in both the forum Marketplace and the official Classifieds section on the main website.


Don't have an account? Register Today - It's Free!

Want to submit an ad on the main website? (No account required) Click Here]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=9 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:03:44 -0800 Dave]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=9 Welcome to the Marketplace section of the PontiacChieftain.com Forums.

This area is provided as a community-only classifieds space for forum members.

Basic Guidelines:

Please stay within the scope of the forum you are posting in. 

Cars, parts, wanted ads, or services should match the section you’re using, and all listings must be 1949–1954 Pontiac related only.

Be clear and honest in your listings. When possible, include the applicable year(s), condition, asking price (or price range), and your general location. 

Clear details help avoid confusion and keep transactions running smoothly.

Please limit each thread to one item per listing. This helps keep the Marketplace organized and easy to search for other members.

Forum Marketplace vs. Main Website Classifieds

The Forum Marketplace is intended for community-only listings. It is discussion-driven and requires a forum account. If you don’t yet have an account, registration is free and open to all enthusiasts.


The Main Website Classifieds are separate from the forum. No account is required, and listings posted there are publicly visible to everyone on PontiacChieftain.com. 


Forum listings are not automatically posted to the main website.


If you are looking for maximum visibility, you are welcome to post your listing in both the forum Marketplace and the official Classifieds section on the main website.


Don't have an account? Register Today - It's Free!

Want to submit an ad on the main website? (No account required) Click Here]]> Welcome to the Marketplace section of the PontiacChieftain.com Forums.

This area is provided as a community-only classifieds space for forum members.

Basic Guidelines:

Please stay within the scope of the forum you are posting in. 

Cars, parts, wanted ads, or services should match the section you’re using, and all listings must be 1949–1954 Pontiac related only.

Be clear and honest in your listings. When possible, include the applicable year(s), condition, asking price (or price range), and your general location. 

Clear details help avoid confusion and keep transactions running smoothly.

Please limit each thread to one item per listing. This helps keep the Marketplace organized and easy to search for other members.

Forum Marketplace vs. Main Website Classifieds

The Forum Marketplace is intended for community-only listings. It is discussion-driven and requires a forum account. If you don’t yet have an account, registration is free and open to all enthusiasts.


The Main Website Classifieds are separate from the forum. No account is required, and listings posted there are publicly visible to everyone on PontiacChieftain.com. 


Forum listings are not automatically posted to the main website.


If you are looking for maximum visibility, you are welcome to post your listing in both the forum Marketplace and the official Classifieds section on the main website.


Don't have an account? Register Today - It's Free!

Want to submit an ad on the main website? (No account required) Click Here]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:03:21 -0800 Dave]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8 Welcome to the Marketplace section of the PontiacChieftain.com Forums.

This area is provided as a community-only classifieds space for forum members.

Basic Guidelines:

Please stay within the scope of the forum you are posting in. 

Cars, parts, wanted ads, or services should match the section you’re using, and all listings must be 1949–1954 Pontiac related only.

Be clear and honest in your listings. When possible, include the applicable year(s), condition, asking price (or price range), and your general location. 

Clear details help avoid confusion and keep transactions running smoothly.

Please limit each thread to one item per listing. This helps keep the Marketplace organized and easy to search for other members.

Forum Marketplace vs. Main Website Classifieds

The Forum Marketplace is intended for community-only listings. It is discussion-driven and requires a forum account. If you don’t yet have an account, registration is free and open to all enthusiasts.


The Main Website Classifieds are separate from the forum. No account is required, and listings posted there are publicly visible to everyone on PontiacChieftain.com. 


Forum listings are not automatically posted to the main website.


If you are looking for maximum visibility, you are welcome to post your listing in both the forum Marketplace and the official Classifieds section on the main website.


Don't have an account? Register Today - It's Free!

Want to submit an ad on the main website? (No account required) Click Here]]> Welcome to the Marketplace section of the PontiacChieftain.com Forums.

This area is provided as a community-only classifieds space for forum members.

Basic Guidelines:

Please stay within the scope of the forum you are posting in. 

Cars, parts, wanted ads, or services should match the section you’re using, and all listings must be 1949–1954 Pontiac related only.

Be clear and honest in your listings. When possible, include the applicable year(s), condition, asking price (or price range), and your general location. 

Clear details help avoid confusion and keep transactions running smoothly.

Please limit each thread to one item per listing. This helps keep the Marketplace organized and easy to search for other members.

Forum Marketplace vs. Main Website Classifieds

The Forum Marketplace is intended for community-only listings. It is discussion-driven and requires a forum account. If you don’t yet have an account, registration is free and open to all enthusiasts.


The Main Website Classifieds are separate from the forum. No account is required, and listings posted there are publicly visible to everyone on PontiacChieftain.com. 


Forum listings are not automatically posted to the main website.


If you are looking for maximum visibility, you are welcome to post your listing in both the forum Marketplace and the official Classifieds section on the main website.


Don't have an account? Register Today - It's Free!

Want to submit an ad on the main website? (No account required) Click Here]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=7 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:56:07 -0800 Dave]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=7 Welcome to the Marketplace section of the PontiacChieftain.com Forums.

This area is provided as a community-only classifieds space for forum members.

Basic Guidelines:

Please stay within the scope of the forum you are posting in. 

Cars, parts, wanted ads, or services should match the section you’re using, and all listings must be 1949–1954 Pontiac related only.

Be clear and honest in your listings. When possible, include the applicable year(s), condition, asking price (or price range), and your general location. 

Clear details help avoid confusion and keep transactions running smoothly.

Please limit each thread to one item per listing. This helps keep the Marketplace organized and easy to search for other members.

Forum Marketplace vs. Main Website Classifieds

The Forum Marketplace is intended for community-only listings. It is discussion-driven and requires a forum account. If you don’t yet have an account, registration is free and open to all enthusiasts.


The Main Website Classifieds are separate from the forum. No account is required, and listings posted there are publicly visible to everyone on PontiacChieftain.com. 


Forum listings are not automatically posted to the main website.


If you are looking for maximum visibility, you are welcome to post your listing in both the forum Marketplace and the official Classifieds section on the main website.


Don't have an account? Register Today - It's Free!

Want to submit an ad on the main website? (No account required) Click Here]]> Welcome to the Marketplace section of the PontiacChieftain.com Forums.

This area is provided as a community-only classifieds space for forum members.

Basic Guidelines:

Please stay within the scope of the forum you are posting in. 

Cars, parts, wanted ads, or services should match the section you’re using, and all listings must be 1949–1954 Pontiac related only.

Be clear and honest in your listings. When possible, include the applicable year(s), condition, asking price (or price range), and your general location. 

Clear details help avoid confusion and keep transactions running smoothly.

Please limit each thread to one item per listing. This helps keep the Marketplace organized and easy to search for other members.

Forum Marketplace vs. Main Website Classifieds

The Forum Marketplace is intended for community-only listings. It is discussion-driven and requires a forum account. If you don’t yet have an account, registration is free and open to all enthusiasts.


The Main Website Classifieds are separate from the forum. No account is required, and listings posted there are publicly visible to everyone on PontiacChieftain.com. 


Forum listings are not automatically posted to the main website.


If you are looking for maximum visibility, you are welcome to post your listing in both the forum Marketplace and the official Classifieds section on the main website.


Don't have an account? Register Today - It's Free!

Want to submit an ad on the main website? (No account required) Click Here]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=6 Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:04:48 -0800 Dave]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=6 1952 Pontiac Chieftain. I won’t dive too deeply into the backstory, but some of you may recognize this car.. it was originally the centerpiece of my old 1952Pontiac.com website.

I found the car in a local trading paper back in 2004 and bought it for $500. At the time, the front drums were buried about four inches into the dirt, the rear was sitting on jack stands, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was actually fairly solid overall. It had the usual floor rust along with some rocker and front fender rust, and it was missing quite a bit of trim. I was told it would run.. and it did.

The original straight-eight only needed minor work: a tune-up, carburetor rebuild, generator and distributor servicing.. nothing major. This car ended up being my only vehicle for several years, and I drove it year-round. In 2009, I replaced the original straight-eight with another rebuilt 1952 engine, while keeping the original Hydra-Matic transmission untouched.

Here are some pictures from the 2004-2012 period.


  52PontiacBefore.jpg (Size: 277.93 KB / Downloads: 1)
  1952_Pontiac.jpg (Size: 35.62 KB / Downloads: 2)
  SC025.jpg (Size: 85.28 KB / Downloads: 1)


  sc0266.jpg (Size: 56.27 KB / Downloads: 1)
  SS000170.jpg (Size: 28.27 KB / Downloads: 1)
  SS000180.jpg (Size: 72.62 KB / Downloads: 2)

By around 2018, after nearly 80,000 miles of driving, I finally parked the car. It was getting pretty rusty and was in serious need of rust repair, but it still ran great and I wouldn’t have hesitated to take it on a long trip.

Fast-forward to 2022: I pulled the car out of hibernation, got it into my garage, and started tearing it down for a full rebuild. That’s where this thread begins.

It’ll take me a bit of time to catch up to where I’m currently at, but I’ll start by sharing photos of the car as it came out of storage, along with some early shots of it in the garage as the disassembly began. I bought a mostly solid 1951 Pontiac out of Nebraska to chop up for patch panels. The 51 was mostly a roller/shell and was best used as a parts car anyhow.

Here's the 52 just pulled out of storage


  20211225_152221.png (Size: 1.41 MB / Downloads: 2)

And with the front clip removed as I start the rebuilding process.


  20220101_105458.png (Size: 1.19 MB / Downloads: 2) ]]> 1952 Pontiac Chieftain. I won’t dive too deeply into the backstory, but some of you may recognize this car.. it was originally the centerpiece of my old 1952Pontiac.com website.

I found the car in a local trading paper back in 2004 and bought it for $500. At the time, the front drums were buried about four inches into the dirt, the rear was sitting on jack stands, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was actually fairly solid overall. It had the usual floor rust along with some rocker and front fender rust, and it was missing quite a bit of trim. I was told it would run.. and it did.

The original straight-eight only needed minor work: a tune-up, carburetor rebuild, generator and distributor servicing.. nothing major. This car ended up being my only vehicle for several years, and I drove it year-round. In 2009, I replaced the original straight-eight with another rebuilt 1952 engine, while keeping the original Hydra-Matic transmission untouched.

Here are some pictures from the 2004-2012 period.


  52PontiacBefore.jpg (Size: 277.93 KB / Downloads: 1)
  1952_Pontiac.jpg (Size: 35.62 KB / Downloads: 2)
  SC025.jpg (Size: 85.28 KB / Downloads: 1)


  sc0266.jpg (Size: 56.27 KB / Downloads: 1)
  SS000170.jpg (Size: 28.27 KB / Downloads: 1)
  SS000180.jpg (Size: 72.62 KB / Downloads: 2)

By around 2018, after nearly 80,000 miles of driving, I finally parked the car. It was getting pretty rusty and was in serious need of rust repair, but it still ran great and I wouldn’t have hesitated to take it on a long trip.

Fast-forward to 2022: I pulled the car out of hibernation, got it into my garage, and started tearing it down for a full rebuild. That’s where this thread begins.

It’ll take me a bit of time to catch up to where I’m currently at, but I’ll start by sharing photos of the car as it came out of storage, along with some early shots of it in the garage as the disassembly began. I bought a mostly solid 1951 Pontiac out of Nebraska to chop up for patch panels. The 51 was mostly a roller/shell and was best used as a parts car anyhow.

Here's the 52 just pulled out of storage


  20211225_152221.png (Size: 1.41 MB / Downloads: 2)

And with the front clip removed as I start the rebuilding process.


  20220101_105458.png (Size: 1.19 MB / Downloads: 2) ]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=5 Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:19:00 -0800 54starchief]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=5
I have a 1954 Pontiac Star Chief and my body info tag is corroded where the style number is and I cant read the last digits. What should they be? I want to put it in correct in the decode tool.

Heres a picture


  20160716_130107.jpg (Size: 91.54 KB / Downloads: 5) ]]>
I have a 1954 Pontiac Star Chief and my body info tag is corroded where the style number is and I cant read the last digits. What should they be? I want to put it in correct in the decode tool.

Heres a picture


  20160716_130107.jpg (Size: 91.54 KB / Downloads: 5) ]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=4 Tue, 27 Jan 2026 04:58:22 -0800 JJones]]> https://pontiacchieftain.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=4