1955 chieftain walkaround ep02

Welcome to the 1955 Pontiac Chieftain restoration project or rather survivor project. This episode contains the first walk around the car and delving into the truck for treasures.
At this point the car has been here a couple weeks, and I've finally got a break in the rain to take a good look at the car.
Hope you enjoy the video!
-bish

[@garyg684]

Awesome. My first car was a 55 Star Chief, purchased in 1968 from my grandparents with 36,000 original miles on it. Two door, but otherwise nearly identical, in the brown/tan two-tone paint color. What a great car that was.

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

That is so cool, I really do like the look of the Chieftain. So many good stories of them getting a chance at a second road-life. Right on Gary!

[@garyg684]

@@bishopofrustyiron3101 I love what you're doing to keep this classic alive. I'll be watching your videos with great pleasure. I loved the comment about the "Flintstone holes" in the floorboards! That was a new one for me!

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

@@garyg684 hehehehe ya thats going to be a fun replace! Time to hone my sloppy welding skills! hahaha

[@paulknapp7756]

ALL 5O'S & 6O'S & 7O'S CARS WAS A BEAUTIFUL & GORGEOUS & HANDSOME CARS I L ❤ ❤VE IT.

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

Thanks I agree! Like a sculpture, they were works of art!

[@3713msg]

Love the 1955 Pontiac! Power windows is a rare option in 1955, even more so in a four door Chiefttain.

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

Thanks ya its a joy to drive, a work in progress for sure. I am hoping to get going more on it once the weather gets a bit better. Two more motors to replace and should be all back to fully electrical ups and downs!

[@madmaxcars9653]

Beautiful old warrior there. Can't wait to see how it comes along....

[@edwardfigueroa9813]

Always loved these model year Pontiacs, always got a kick out of the thermometer style speedo. All the best to you & your new toy!

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

Thanks Edward! The gauge cluster is fun and old school for sure. I am lucky its in pretty good shape, needs some scrubbing though!

[@kennetharthur5188]

Sorry to be off topic but does anyone know of a way to log back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly forgot the account password. I love any assistance you can give me.

[@houstonlochlan9001]

@Kenneth Arthur instablaster :)

[@kennetharthur5188]

@Houston Lochlan Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site thru google and Im in the hacking process atm. Takes quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@kennetharthur5188]

@Houston Lochlan It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy! Thanks so much, you saved my ass !

[@hussamal-takriti8792]

Nice clean car ☺️

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

Thanks! So lucky to have it fall into my hands.

[@chriskuehl2288]

I LOVE IT!!!!! I CAN'T FIND ONE ANYWHERE! A '55 OR '56!!! WHERE ARE THEY ALL!!!! I LIVE IN OREGON!

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

Thanks! Ya its a rare find indeed. 55 and 56 are just not around any more...mine was a total accident on finding. Look around on facebook, there is a pontiac group you can join, that'll get more eyes hooked onto looking for one for you!! Cheers! -bish

[@rickwilson8354]

I have a nice 55 no rush been stored in a barn it's it was a race car in the 60s house for sale

[@adamhughes1593]

Yo, cool car! I saw this when it was on Craigslist, can’t believe it showed up on my suggested, glad someone’s getting it going😎

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

haha that's awesome, man what a small world. Hoping for some better weather soon so i can extract the vile interior, welcome aboard!

[@craigjorgensen4637]

Restoration costs will exceed the finished value. Rust is a killer. The “amp” in the trunk is actually an old Vibrasonic unit! The switch for it is lying on the front seat! Very popular back in the 60’s!

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

Holy smokes really? Hahaha that is wild, such high tech! I'll have to keep a hold of that then, haha awesome, ty!

[@hughdudley1792]

Yep...a reverberator..

[@firebreathinggarage2117]

I have an Amber Indian chief head that must have been put up for years because it looks brand new. That one is faded really bad it doesn't appear to have any color that resembles the original. That's a beautiful chief you have.

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

Thanks so much! As i recall, originally they were offered as clear and an option for amber way back in the 50's....people re-pop them now for about $250 each. I think i'll leave mine old school here...although I really do like the look of amber, kinda fits running lights.

[@firebreathinggarage2117]

@@bishopofrustyiron3101 , yeah the original one is better. Great looking car.

[@rayeller7192]

Those are factory dealer installed seat covers. In the 50’s GM offered these in an effort to save the interior for when it was traded in. When traded in they could take the seat covers off and sell the car as if it had a beautiful new interior.

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

HA! that is so cool to know, man, well later this summer I play on taking out the interior, ill see how much of those I can preserve, a lot of the interior is shabby =(

[@raymccollum5921]

Had a '55 Star Chief back in high school, 1977, Dad paid $75 for it, drove it for 3-4 years, can't do that now, LOL!

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

Wow 75$ hahaha, man o man, bet it was in pretty decent shape too! Yup, can't do that today at all!

[@stephenwilliams5201]

Close to 12 vdc. If not already. The radio has vibrator power supply. Ash trays on each window in the back. And some how a stop sign disappeared down the back road near home. Made good floor repair. Hi hi! Got new carpet/head liner from the place in Chicago. Dog food dish hub caps from dealer. Kinda looks like offering plates in the church. Autolite sparks. And filter. Fram® FILTER" sam calls"and my corvairs and Pontiac goes the way of the boards. Tks Fer walk down the memory lane. SGT williams retired

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

You are welcome SGT Williams! This car has some stories, almost all will not be able to be told, no one kept the record, it wil have new ones very soon! Enjoy the vids on the chief, more to come in the summer!

[@1boatsailor]

Thats a nice car, 287 CI OHV Hydramatic? Does the engine crank over? What are your plans? original, resto rod with LS 0r 389 maybe or are you a Flipper? ....dont keep us in suspense, do a video when you start engine

[@1boatsailor]

Ok, my bad ............. just watched the rest of your videos..."Good Job" Great videos, thanks for posting keep us updated

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

Plans are keep it original. My first video here was its first engine crank over and start in 30+years! Yup a hydromatic 4 speed, thats getting rebuilt now and I have just posted the extraction video for it!

[@lochnessfox3441]

I love it. Hopefully you’re gonna put him back to stock. I’m looking for a wagon like this.

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

Yup, back to stock or rather not away from stock hehe. MY buddy not but a mile from me has a wagon! Ill get some pics, its original stock too.

[@lochnessfox3441]

@@bishopofrustyiron3101 my uncle had one back in 1970 in Indiana and I still remember getting in the back hatch as a kid and I’ve wanted one all my life. Now I’m retired and I want one of my own. I don’t care about rust I’m gonna wind up taking it off the frame anyway so I’m planning on floors and rebuilding it from there !

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

@@lochnessfox3441 That is awesome man, it really is all about the memories. If I ever see one for sale i'll ping ya, and if my buddy at madmaxcars ends up parting with his, ill ping you too.

[@20alphabet]

Cool

[@dentoncustoms]

Fender skirts!

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

Hehe yes I think they would look great!

[@albertogonzales2854]

is there a difference in the star chief and chieftain? I have a 56 star chief

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

Trim package really thats about it =) Chieftain was the entry level, star chief was the fancy pants trim package. A 56 nice!

[@albertogonzales2854]

@@bishopofrustyiron3101 I’m looking for the front signal lenses, any help?

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

@@albertogonzales2854 Ill ask around in my circle up here, give me a day or two to get back to this thread =)

[@zurcherzurich213]

My year of birth :)

[@bishopofrustyiron3101]

awesome! I suspect your seats are in better shape than mine hahaha!