Pontiac Star Chief

Pontiac Star Chief
Overview
Manufacturer	Pontiac (General Motors)
Production	1954–1966
Assembly	Pontiac, Michigan, United States Flint, Michigan, United States Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States Wentzville, Missouri, United States
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Body style	2-door convertible 4-door sedan 2-door coupe 4-door station wagon
Layout	FR layout
Chronology
Predecessor	Pontiac Streamliner

First generation
Overview
Model years	1954
Body and chassis
Platform	A-body
Powertrain
Engine	248.9 cu in (4.079 L) 122 hp straight-8 (1954)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	124 in (3,150 mm)

Second generation
Overview
Model years	1955–1957
Body and chassis
Platform	A-body
Powertrain
Engine	287 cu in (4.70 L) 193-200 hp V8(1955) 316.6 cu in (5.188 L) 216-227 hp V8(1956) 347 cu in (5.69 L) 270-317 hp V8(1957)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	124 in (3,100 mm)
Length	213.7 in (5,430 mm)
Width	76.6 in (1,950 mm)

Third generation
Overview
Model years	1958
Body and chassis
Layout	FR layout
Platform	GM B platform
Related	Chevrolet Bel Air Chevrolet Impala Pontiac Bonneville
Dimensions
Wheelbase	122 in (3,100 mm) (Safari) 124 in (3,100 mm)
Width	77.4 in (1,966 mm)

Fourth generation
Overview
Model years	1959-1960
Body and chassis
Layout	FR layout
Platform	GM B platform
Related	Chevrolet Bel Air Chevrolet Impala Pontiac Bonneville
Dimensions
Wheelbase	124 in (3,150 mm)
Length	215.5 in (5,474 mm) (cars) 210.5 in (5,347 mm) (wagons)
Width	80 in (2,032 mm)
Height	56.4 in (1,433 mm)

Fifth generation
1961 Star Chief Vista 4-door sedan
Overview
Model years	1961–1964
Body and chassis
Layout	FR layout
Platform	B-body
Related	Chevrolet Bel Air Chevrolet Impala Pontiac Bonneville
Dimensions
Wheelbase	123 in (3,124 mm)
Length	218.6 in (5,552 mm)

The Star Chief is an automobile model that was manufactured by Pontiac in the time period between 1954 and 1966.

Between 1954 and 1957, the Star Chief was Pontiac's prestige model; the car was easily identified by its chrome star trim along its sides. When the storyline of I Love Lucy pointed towards a Hollywood setting in the 1954-1955 season, the characters "drove" (in episode 110, "California Here We Come") to the West Coast in a 1955 Star Chief convertible, that in the previous episode "Lucy Learns to Drive" was "bumped together" with a 1922 Cadillac Type V-63. In 1954, Pontiac also introduced air conditioning with all the components under the hood, a first for the price range. Seat belts were added as options in 1956. The Star Chief was available in Deluxe and pricier Custom trim, with the top trim level hardtop called the Catalina.

Prior to the introduction of the Star Chief, all Pontiacs had shared the modest wheelbase of the Chevrolet. The introduction of this new premier model in 1954 was the first application of the longer 123.5 inch (313.7 cm) wheelbase of the junior Oldsmobiles and Buicks to the Pontiac division. The car was still on the A platform, but with 11 in (28 cm) added towards the rear of the frame. Power the first year came from Pontiac's venerable straight eight engine, with the six-cylinder not available.

Along with an all-new body, the straight-eight was superseded by the new V-8 power in 1955. Typical for the 1955 Pontiacs is the design with two wide "Silver Streaks" running the length of the hood. Also for 1955, the new Star Chief Safari two door hardtop wagon, which was similar to Chevrolet's Bel Air Nomad, was introduced. This variant lasted through 1957; after that the Safari name was used for all of the division's standard four door wagons. The Safari was introduced on January 31, 1955, over three months behind the rest of the 1955s.

The Safari was not quite part of the Star Chief line, as it sat on the shorter 122 in (3,100 mm) wheelbase. It was officially part of the "27 series", whereas the longer Star Chief received the "28 series" designation. In January 1957, some time after the rest of the new models, the four-door "Custom Safari Transcontinental" was introduced.

For 1956 the design was lightly revised, with heavier looking bumpers and a vertical slash on the front door above the swage line. In 1957, the high performance Star Chief Custom Bonneville was introduced as part of its divisional head's push to raise the marque out of the doldrums. The silver streaks running down the hood were dropped for the new "Star Flight" design. All gauges were placed in an oval on the dash and the side trim had a missile-shaped spear behind the front door.