1955 was a big year for Chevrolet, which introduced the Tri-Five. Available in three trim levels and various body styles, the full-size car sold like hotcakes. The range-topping Bel Air was also highly popular. Drivers who wanted more pizzazz could take it to Pontiac for a Star Chief, which debuted in 1954 as the company’s top-tier model.
While the Star Chief and the Bel Air shared underpinnings, the Poncho wasn’t available with an inline-six, and its V8 mill provided extra oomph. Naturally, the Star Chief was also notably more expensive, so Pontiac couldn’t compete with Chevrolet sales-wise.
Pontiac sold 433,641 Star Chiefs of all body styles from 1955 to 1957. By comparison, Chevrolet moved nearly five million Tri-Fives. The Bel Air alone found 2.2 million customers over the same period. Come 2024, the Bel Air remains far more popular than the Star Chief on the classic car market. And as much as I like the Bel Air, I feel that the Star Chief deserves more time in the spotlight.
Looks are definitely subjective, but the Star Chief is the better-looking car in my book. What’s more, the Poncho was pretty much a hot rod in standard trim. By 1957, the Star Chief came with 244 horsepower on tap in base form, while the Tri-Power version of the 347-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) V8 delivered 290 horsepower. That’s enough to send the vehicle flying down the quarter-mile in less than 16 seconds.
Sadly, the large production numbers and reduced desirability compared to other nameplates resulted in many 1955-1957 Star Chiefs ending up neglected in junkyards and barns. Many of them are damaged beyond salvation, but some Poncho can still be revived and returned to the road. This 1957 two-door coupe is one of those cars.
Waiting for a second chance in Sunnyside, Washington, this Star Chief has been sitting in someone’s backyard for several years. Not long enough to turn into a rust bucket, but long enough to need a serious overhaul. The exterior looks solid apart from the flat tires and weathering on the paint and chrome trim, but rust could be hiding under the wheel arches.
The interior looks surprisingly good for a vehicle that sat outside. The upholstery doesn’t have noticeable wear and tear and looks like it would come back to life with a thorough cleaning. The same goes for the floor mats and the door panels. On the flip side, it’s unclear if this cabin is still original. While the upholstery wears a red-and-white combo, the dashboard is gold. I’m pretty sure this combination wasn’t available from the factory, so the seats may have been reupholstered.
The mystery continues under the hood, where this Star Chief hides a V8 engine with a trio of two-barrel carburetors. This configuration was indeed available in 1957, but this Poncho no longer relies on the original 347-cubic-inch V8. This mill appears to be a later version, and it’s unclear whether it’s a Pontiac or a Chevrolet powerplant. But I bet it will deliver solid oomph once it’s cleaned up and fed gasoline and oil.
If you want to save this still-gorgeous 1957 Star Chief, it’s under the hammer via barnfinds.com as we speak. No bids have been submitted as of this writing.