Projects my new project: 1951 pontiac chieftain deluxe 2-door sedan

the hunt is OVER...
...and what a shitshow of a rollercoaster it was.

SO excited to have found a pristine, 1-owner, all original, 100% working order poncho.
my only gripe is the color, but I'm embracing it.
this loaded virgin was just too clean to pass up...

I'll keep this thread updated as the build moves forward, but was too stoked not to post up.

[video feature: HERE]


[june 2014]


[SW feature: HERE]




[oct 2013]



[may 2013]



[april 2013]



[Feb 2013]


[Jan 2013]


[Aug 2012]









power train:
-283 '62 vette block pumped up to 292 cubes
-IROC heads w/hardened seats
-forged pistons, korean fireball cam, race ready internals
-vintage cast aluminum valve covers & air cleaner
-rebuilt '54 4-jet
-GM ram horns w/straight piped lakes or glass pack reroutes
-period correct 60's hot rod motor...all vintage/NOS, reclaimed, and/or repurposed parts.
-700R4 w/custom linkage using stock column shifter
-rebuilt OE rearend
-12-volt

suspension:
-slam specialties 6" front bags w/custom cup & perch
-slam specialties 5" rear bags w/custom perch & cross member
-6" progressive semi-truck rubber rear spring bump stops
-mono-leaf, de-arched rear springs & blocks w/custom 4 link
-custom track rod
-custom F&R control arms
-fatman dropped front uprights
-custom shock mounts F&R
-custom front sway bar end links
-notched rear frame
-shortened drive shaft
-tunneled
-rear-end bell trunk notch
-3/8" line
-5 gallon tank
-200lb. blow-off valve w/170-200 pressure switch
-belt driven York AC air compressor/clutch w/oil recirculation kit & under-dash controls for air source.

wheels:
-15x6" chrome steelies
-3.5" wheel vintiques bullet front caps
-smoothie dog dish rear caps
-L78 front/580 rear coker classic wide whites

interior:
-full kustom pleated interior & trunk
-kodiak sparkle vinyl [champagne & blood red] seats, door panels, firewall, rear decklid, & trunk walls
-crushed red velvet marine grade carpet & floor mats, piped in champagne vinyl
-pontiac vanity mirrors
-venitian blinds
-hat holder
-red crystal suicide knob
-6" dash fan
-siren
-yellow/amber crystal door locks, knobs, & valve stem caps
-dash & door panel 1-shot

exterior:
-crystal beth lil' daddy roth flake over metal navy roof
-1.5-2" dropped F&R bumpers
-chevy over-rider plate relocations
-OE silver streak add-on rear trim
-etched roses in glass
-door handle guards
-4" chrome peep mirror
-NOS chevy window vent shade visors
-80" triple lake pipes
-chrome dummy spots
-stainless headlight visors
-stainless breezies
-5 toothed OE bumper guarded front bumper
-smoothed rear bumper
-original front bumper wing guards
-harley eagle plate frame
-black & yellow plate
-blue dot taillights
-original steel visor
-original steel skirts
-chevy bel-air skirt bloomers
-trunk, nose, side trim, & fuel door 1-shot

 

Awesome car. I love early 50s Pontiacs. I like the color!

 

Beautiful car ..... I see nothing wrong with that color. You need to tell us what your plans are.

 

...it's going to be fun.

 

love Pontiacs, and the color is great looking.....nice purchase

 

WOW..... I do say that a find like that only comes along once in lifetime. Looks like maybe there might have been some resto work done at one time... can't tell for sure from the pics. It sure is clean down under.
What are your plans ?? Hope we don't hear chop & bag, it's way too good a car for that. If it were me, the missus & I would drive it to the Red Top Drive Inn tonight for a burger & fries -- just like we did in 1957...

 

geeezus thats clean!!

 

Man that's a beauty, love it. Congratulations on a sweet ride.

 

Someone loved this car!!!! Lots of luck with it

 

Please tell us you are just gonna love it and drive it tenderly! To modify this survivor would be ludicrous!

 

Wow, looks like its been restored,...beautiful.

I like the colour as well,..it could be worse! I would also prefer a mint car that wasnt in my first choice colour over an average car that was anyday,..less tempation to break it down and respray it.

 

Wow. That's super tidy. Great score and wouldn't get hung up on the colour, looks cool to me.
I've got a 51 Chieftain about to cop new front and rear ends and a v8. Look fowrad to seeing what you do with yours but looks a bit too nice to mess with too much!

 

I'm going to daily drive it like it's meant to be and will kustomize it...

 

doesnt look like much of a project to me!!! that car is sweet

 

geeesh that car is amazing , cant get over how clean it is , hate to say it but id be just waxing and driving that one for a bit ,

 

Air in tires-check. Gas-check. Oil level-check. DONE!!!
Let's ride

 

That car needs nothing !!! I see nothing that I would do but drive it.
I love those early 50s tin indian lines.

 

Just amazing! I wouldn't do any changes to her either.

 

Looks in a lot better shape than my '51!

I would drop it a couple of inches & drive the wheels off it...It's too nice to screw with...specially as its a 1 owner car.

BUT...Its your car now...right?

 

That's real cool.

 

fucking beautiful! i love the color..i would leave it as is and drive the crap outta her

 

hey i dont want to be a dick, but thats not a catalina, catalina's are the hardtop line of pontiac in the early 50's, thats a 2 door sedan chieftain/ silver streak


The Pontiac Catalina is an automobile which was part of Pontiac's full-sized line from 1950 to 1981. Initially, the name was used strictly to denote hardtop body styles, first appearing in the 1950 Chieftain Eight and DeLuxe Eight lines. In 1959, the Catalina became a separate model, as the 'entry-level' full-size Pontiac.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference">[1]
</sup>The name Catalina was first used on the 1950 Chieftain Series 25/27 hardtop, Pontiac's top of the line model at the time. Originally referred to as 'hard-top convertibles', these vehicles offered pillarless design in the door and window areas, along with the top-grade convertible appointments. The advantage this fixed-roof design offered was its sporty, airy feeling without the expense and drawbacks normally associated with convertibles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Catalina#Early_History_.281950.E2.80.931958.29

 

here is a picture of my 2 door sedan next to my catalina

 

I wasn't claiming it to be a catalina, rather a chieftain-catalina...

but you're right...it's a chieftain deluxe.
the seller has been referring to it as a chieftain catalina as the upgraded trim level, where as it's just the deluxe package with extra trim & goodies.

funny thing, is I was fooled too as there are plenty of other "chieftain catalinas" floating around online.
I'm waiting to receive package from the seller, of original documentation, window sticker, and brochures and report back with what I find listed there too.

'51 was a weird year, as the streamliner ended and things were kinda of melted together for Pontiac into this chieftain line. streamliner, chieftain, silver streak...all really one in the same to some extent.
...curious as to where this mix-up came about.

 

Holy crap I think that is the car we got out of a garage here a few years ago? here are a few pics from when we first got it out of the garage, was car from Colorado? Awesome car!!

 

^ nope...it's a florida car. same color-way tho!

found THIS (also sold as a catalina) online too...same deal, close but not the same one!

 

Crazy how similar, even the orange tag on key and traffic finder. Mine went to L A area then was sold again? bizarre. Here is my "catalina"

 

^ traffic viewer was a common factory option...it's a visored car.

but damn, that tag does make me wonder!

 

Nice!!

 

Adam, the Chief is right, thats not a coupe, but a 2-door sedan. Either way, its a remarkable car, I love it. If you customize it, I hope you keep it conservative....have fun.