Pontiac Star Chief

Pontiac Star Chief
Production period:	1954-1966
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Previous model:	Pontiac Chieftain
Successor:	Pontiac Executive

The Pontiac Star Chief was an upper mid -range model built by the US automobile manufacturer General Motors under the Pontiac brand and offered from 1954 to 1966.

Year by year

1954

Star Chief Deluxe Series 28 (1954) Star Chief Custom Series 28 (1954)

Production period:	1954
Body versions :	Sedan , coupe , convertible
Engines:	Petrol engines : 4.4 liters (90–93 kW)
Length:	5428 mm
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	3150 mm
Empty weight :	1597-1711 kg

In 1954, Pontiac introduced the new Star Chief with a longer wheelbase as the top-of-the-line model, in addition to the Chieftain , the brand's only model for a number of years. Like the smaller Chieftain, the Star Chief had a massive pontoon body with molded rear fenders and a hood that was reminiscent of the alligator hood with its pointed structure. The Star Chief Deluxe was available as a 2-door convertible and a 4-door sedan , the better equipped Star Chief Custom as a 2-door hardtop coupé with no B-pillar or a 4-door sedan. The hardtop model also had the additional designation Catalina .

In contrast to the Chieftain of the Star Chief was only available with an eight-cylinder engine, the displacement cc from 4,398 a power from 122 to 127 bhp (gross SAE-HP ) (90-93 kW) at 3,800 min ^-1 developed.

1955-1957

Star Chief Custom Safari Series 27 (1955–1957) Star Chief Series 28 (1955–1957) Star Chief Custom Series 28 (1955–1957)
Pontiac Star Chief Custom Safari (1957)
Production period:	1955-1957
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 4.7-5.7 liters (127-199 kW)
Length:	5154-5431 mm
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	3099-3150 mm
Empty weight :	1661-1941 kg

Pontiac Star Chief Catalina Hardtop (1955)

In 1955 a completely redesigned Star Chief was introduced. The cars were much slimmer and lower; the molded rear fenders were gone, as were the pointed alligator shape of the bonnet. What remained was the shark's mouth and the car grew small tail fins . The panorama windshields were also new . In addition to the body shapes known from the previous year, there was a 3-door station wagon, which, however, was offered on the shorter chassis of the Chieftain as a series 27 custom model. The biggest change, however, concerned the drive: the old, side-controlled in-line engine had been omitted and was replaced by a new V8 engine with OHV valve control. The 4706 cc made large motor 173 hp (127 kW) at 4400 min ^-1 or 180 hp (132 kW) at 4600 min ^-1 .

In 1956 the cars got rocket-shaped inserts on the front bumpers and there was an additional body shape, a 4-door hardtop sedan, which replaced the previous sedan in the custom version. All Star Chiefs got a larger V8 engine, which delivered an output of 216 to 227 bhp (159-167 kW) with a displacement of 5188 cm³.

In 1957 the design was slightly revised again: the cars were given larger tail fins and a side stripe in a contrasting color, which was widened in the area of the tail fins. The Series 27 safari station wagon was now available with a choice of 3 or 5 doors and the Series 28 Star Chief Custom as a 4-door sedan, hardtop with 2 or 4 doors and (only 630 times produced) as a 2-door convertible with the Additional designation Bonneville . A larger engine with an injection system was also installed. The V8 now made 244–270 bhp (179–199 kW) and had a displacement of 5,686 cc.

1958

Star Chief Custom Safari Series 27 (1958) Star Chief Super Deluxe Series 28 (1958)
Pontiac Star Chief Catalina Hardtop (1958)
Production period:	1958
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:	Petrol engines : 6.1 liters (187.5–210 kW)
Length:	5347-5436 mm
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	3099-3150 mm
Empty weight :	1744-1941 kg

In 1958 there was a completely new styling. The cars received double headlights, panoramic windows at the rear and even wider side strips in the area of the tail fins. The V8 engine was also enlarged again and now developed 255–285 bhp (187.5–210 kW) with a displacement of 6063 cm³.

With the short wheelbase of the 27 series there was only the 5-door station wagon as a custom safari , with the long series 28 two hardtop models with two or four doors and a 4-door sedan as a super deluxe .

1959-1960

Custom Star Chief Series 24 (1959) Star Chief Series 24 (1960)
Pontiac Custom Star Chief Vista Hardtop (1959)
Production period:	1959-1960
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 6.4 liters (158–208 kW)
Length:	5606 mm
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	3150 mm
Empty weight :	1771-1830 kg

In 1959 the Star Chief was completely revised again. The shark's mouth disappeared in favor of a two-part radiator grille in the form of elongated horseshoes with inserted double headlights. A lacquered bridge remained in the middle. The Star Chief was only available with the long wheelbase as a 2- or 4-door sedan and as a 4-door hardtop model (nicknamed Vista ). The large 6,375 cc engine delivered 245 bhp (180 kW) at 4200 min ^-1 or 280 hp (206 kW) at 4400 min ^-1 .

In 1960 there were few stylistic changes. Instead of the two-part, horseshoe-shaped grill, there was a continuous one with horizontal chrome strips. The tail fins got a little smaller. The engine remained unchanged in size, but now made 215–283 bhp (158–208 kW).

1961–1962

Star Chief Series 26 (1961-1962)
Pontiac Star Chief Vista hardtop
Production period:	1961–1962
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 6.4 liters (158-223 kW)
Length:	5512-5588 mm
Width:	2001 mm
Height:	1417 mm
Wheelbase :	3124 mm
Empty weight :	1740-1787 kg

In 1961 there was only a slight facelift in which the radiator grille was given a V-shaped, painted bar in the middle. The wheelbase was shortened by 1 "and the 2-door sedan was discontinued. The engine remained unchanged. The new series was assigned the number 26.

In 1962 there were few cosmetic changes.

1963-1964

Series 26
1964 sedan
Production period:	1963-1964
Engines:	6.4 liters (175–208 kW)
Length:	5588 mm
Width:	2001 mm
Height:	1417 mm
Wheelbase :	3112 mm
Empty weight :	1762 kg

In 1963 another major revision was due. The previously side by side double headlights have been replaced by one on top of the other. The tail fins got even smaller and carried vertical taillights, the housing of which continued in bumper horns. The vehicles were also slightly longer.

In 1964, the changes were again of a cosmetic nature. The center bar in the radiator grille became more pointed and the lower twin headlights were enclosed by the front bumper.

1965-1966

Star Chief Series 256 (1965) Star Chief Executive Series 256 (1966)
Pontiac Star Chief Executive Hardtop Coupe (1966)
Production period:	1965-1966
Body versions :	Limousine , coupe
Engines:	Petrol engines : 6.4 liters (188–213 kW)
Length:	5631-5634 mm
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	3150 mm
Empty weight :	1748-1803 kg

The revision in 1965 was limited to the increase in the wheelbase by 1 "to the old value of 3,150 mm. The unchanged 6375 cc big injection engine produced 256-290 hp (188-213 kW) at 4,600 min ^-1 . The serial number now was the 256th

In the last year of production there were also hardly any stylistic changes. The third model was a 2-door hardtop coupé and the entire series was nicknamed Executive .

In 1967 the series was replaced by the Pontiac Executive . A total of around 850,000 Star Chiefs have been created in 13 years.

Web links

Commons : Pontiac Star Chief - Collection of images, videos and audio files

swell

Gunnell, John: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975. Krause Publication, Iola (2002), ISBN 0-87349-461-X .