The Pick of the Day was the top-of-the-line Pontiac back in 1955. It’s a 1955 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Catalina, a 2-door hardtop offered for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private owner in San Antonio, Texas.
The Catalina name was added to the high-trim Pontiac Star Chief Custom coupes for that model year.
While the seller doesn’t know the car’s history, “I bought it as you see it here,” the advertisement says, adding that it had been part of a private collection and was restored by the previous owner.
Based on the photos with the advertisement, that restoration was well done.
“The car has come nice factory options like an exterior visor coupled with a dash-mounted traffic light viewer, a GM branded spotlight, rear seat speaker, electric clock, rear bumper ‘Wing Guards,’ ‘No-Mar Fuel Door Guard,’ exhaust deflector, and courtesy lights,” the seller points out.
“All major components on the car are in working order to include interior and exterior lighting, speedometer, and the horns. The spotlight, radio, and clock do not work but this can be readily corrected.”
The coupe is two-tone inside and out. Outside the colors are Firegold and White Mist, and inside there is leather in Copper and White.
“The paint is glossy and has a fresh coat of wax,” the seller notes. “The car looks great from any angle and only upon close inspection are the few imperfections visible.”
The car has the new-for-’55 Pontiac Strato-Streak overhead-valve V8 engine, which was rated at 180 horsepower when linked to a 3-speed Hydra-Matic transmission, the automatic that was put into nearly every ’55 Pontiac.
The seller says the car gets driven “every few weeks.”
“I have had the fuel pump professionally rebuilt to accept modern gas and just overhauled the front brakes with new shoes, springs, adjusting wheel, and replaced a wheel cylinder,” the seller notes. “Bearings were repacked and new seals installed.
“We just returned from a 40-mile drive and the car ran beautifully. I’ve had the big Pontiac on the freeway where it can keep up with traffic with no problem. There are no overheating issues and the engine runs well. Transmission shifts as it should.”
The seller also has recently added a set of Coker wide-whitewall radial tires, but kept the vintage spare “to maintain the 50s look.”
While “the car is a joy to drive,” it’s being sold to make room for the seller’s next purchase.
The asking price is $24,500, but “reasonable cash offers considered.”
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS, FROM FRAME, EXHASUT SYSTEM, AND DASHBOARD. PLEASE..DO YOU STILL HAVE ORIGINAL CAR MANUAL ???? AC WORKING ???
OR JUST HEAT ??
Ummm….what kind of crankcase ventilation system does this engine have, since the OEM vented oil filler cap, which allows air to enter the crankcase for ventilation, has been replaced with a sealed cap?
Cool car! Are more pics available of the frame? Is the front end tight? Did the previous owner do a frame off restoration?
Hyromatic transmissions used by GM in several Cadillac, Oldsmobile and some Pontiac models were 4 speed automatic transmissions.
Very nice car,worth the money! And not a cookie cutter..
Larry: What a great pick. Seems most of the time, cars from private viewers really are taken care of; by the way nice clear photos of the Pontiac; some car dealers are very shady. Great pick, now if my wife allows me to look into the Pontiac? (probably not).
Hi,I’m very intrested in your car my question is dose it have power string and power brakes
NICE detective work Mr. Palma !!!!