I think in 55-56 the Chieftains wagons had a 55 Chevy wagon body from the cowl back. The actual Pontiac tail light LENS was slightly different from the Chevy but used the same housing. This car definitely has Chevy lenses. The top trim level Pontiac Safari wagons for those years has a totally different Pontiac specific rear body design not shared with Chevy. Maybe someone who worked for GM or Fisher Body in the 50’s could tell us for sure.
Canadian Pontiac is a Laurentian not a Chieftain. Rear quarters are correct just has 55 Chev taillights. Pontiac taillights for wagons were the same shape but different with a round lens that is wagon specific and hard to get. Pontiac used 55 Chevy quarters in 55 and 56. Hope this helps. Owned a Pontiac wagon for 20 years. 👍
Thank you for the clarifications. Its really cool how much attention this lil hot rod is getting. Its great that so much knowledge is out there as well. Cheers
Yeah, the picture album was so cool for me to find. definitely the next best thing to actually being able to talk to the fabricator, that did the work back in the day as he has since passed away and can no longer tell his story of his vision for the car.
Its a Canadian car . American pontiacs were different front suspension and wheelbase . Brake and heater systems . Canadian was just a chevy with shorter front fenders .
Def agree with the rear wheel is to far forward. That couple inches would make a world of difference. Really enjoy your videos! Especially if you were to move the fender opening back to.
I think it’s the original back-half but with the Chevy taillight lenses(blue dots added). The chieftain lenses were much different but the same shape. To be fair, it was an upgrade. The Pontiac lenses were fugly. VertiGate shifter is cool if it’s not too worn, I drove one for a couple years in a ‘70 Camaro with a big block. They used to sell a inexpensive bushing kit specific to it and you would need one every year or so if you drove the car daily.
Great car man I'd give anything to live close to you to be able to work together I'm 69 and still do body work I've got a 69 ford f350 Holmes 440 wrecker with a 30 over 428 cobra jet engine I'd trade the wrecker is 80 percent ready to paint the problem I live in Cleveland ga I'm on Facebook the rear tire needs center in quarter panel
Being it's a holley carb i'm betting the needle valves are sticking and dumping fuel into the engine making it run like a bag of crap you need to take a screw driver handle and smack the top of them fuel bowls on the carb to unjam the needle valves
Use to be one in town many yrs ago just like that it was red it was call short stuff it was red and then was yellow in color be for that it might be same car if you go to pennfeild drag way you will find picture of it
This is a Cool video. Mostly because as a kid, less than 10 yo, my family had a Pontiac Chieftain four door. I can't remember what year it was, being it was almost six decades ago, and I would stand up in the center of the back and rest my arms on the top of the front bench seat. Also while sitting on the front seat i would use the three circles of chrome inside each other in the middle of the dash, the radio speaker grate, as a steering wheel and pretend I was driving. 😂 Another feature of the car I've not seen since those years was on the rear fin just behind the tail lights that were raised up about an inch and a half and about 6 inches long, at least that's what I remember. Could it have been a short duration model build? I'm thinking it was a 1961 ish model. Very sorry for the long comment BUT I just had to mention this. Thanks for your patience if you have a chance to read it James. 👍🙏🇺🇸
It's weird someone went to all that trouble, even documented the build, but didn't finish. Dude must have died or went to prison. Then someone else put it in storage.
Age catches up to us all my friend. He started the project when he was in good health and it took too long for him to finish and he’s no longer on this planet, but I bet he’s cruising the highway somewhere. peace
This is a good question. The car was found as you see it. When I found the photo album in the car It looked like they just split this car but sounds like they may have put two cars together. Hot Rod guys do some crazy stuff. :)
call me stooopid but uh isnt that a pretty close to proppa altered wheelbase car ? it would handle like a hornets nest yeah but what short wheel base drag car doesnt . //// havent watched the whole vid so if you do discover what i just said well then i spose ill find out , what a find
You really don't know why the bumper don't line up?? Take a look again at the taillights. If you still can't tell, find a picture of 56 Pontiac taillights. That's not a Pontiac rear clip. The whole rear clip is 55 chevy. Pontiac never had a quarter panel like that. Any model.
Oh, I’ve seen why my friend it needs all of those things. It does have lots of custom work like different tail lights and rear quarter panels and is missing the exact width of one door down the center of the car and the work was all done in the 80s. the story I got behind This car is the fellow that built the car and his best friend were riding bikes before they ever had licenses as kids and went to the A&W I think to see all of the sweet cars back in the day and seen one of those wagons, shortened and fell in love with it and told his buddy right there that he was going to build one one day unfortunately he never got it finished and it ended up in that C can. So he never got to finish his dream, but at least he started it
I'm close to 80 and had a 55 chevy when it was about 8 years old. Pontiac and Dodge and just about any car you can think of. I may not be good with todays cars but 40s 50s and 60s I know well. Even model T's. My dad taught me about them. His cars were 20s and 30s
They say what makes the total woman attractive is proportions. Not only are the rear wheels to far forward in the opening but the opening itself needs to go back 6-12 inches. The car needs to be lower and while a 50's thru 70's car typically looks better with a deeper dished wheel (like the Cragers it has) in this case the dish needs to be mild. And the wheels need to move outward so the track width compliments the perceived stubbiness. Lastly, and I'm sure this wouldn't be popular..., the rear wheel openings need to be more rounded like a '55 Nomad. As it is the rectangular opening contrast far too much with the more rounded front openings. It is a super cool car for its uniqueness, but it needs proper proportions to keep it from looking odd. And, yes the back end looks like a Chevy. I hope something good comes of this car. It has potential, it just needs to be played right.
Yep that’s just something someone built like that because they wanted it like that, makes sense to me, it be like don’t put a Chev in a Tbucket but that’s what hotrodding is all about, giving it ya own flavour and don’t matter what anyone else thinks, this is a cool as project, cool score Dude ✌️😎👍🇳🇿
Was once a station wagon, and is now a hatchback. Love it.
I think in 55-56 the Chieftains wagons had a 55 Chevy wagon body from the cowl back. The actual Pontiac tail light LENS was slightly different from the Chevy but used the same housing. This car definitely has Chevy lenses. The top trim level Pontiac Safari wagons for those years has a totally different Pontiac specific rear body design not shared with Chevy. Maybe someone who worked for GM or Fisher Body in the 50’s could tell us for sure.
Making this a street car would be very cool. This is a awesome build. Would love drive this around town
Ya, its different and such a conversation piece.
I'd move the rear wheel wells back toward the bumper. Proportions would look better and give a little longer wheel base.
Canadian Pontiac is a Laurentian not a Chieftain. Rear quarters are correct just has 55 Chev taillights. Pontiac taillights for wagons were the same shape but different with a round lens that is wagon specific and hard to get. Pontiac used 55 Chevy quarters in 55 and 56. Hope this helps. Owned a Pontiac wagon for 20 years. 👍
Thank you for the clarifications. Its really cool how much attention this lil hot rod is getting. Its great that so much knowledge is out there as well. Cheers
That car is totally awesome man that thing looks cool!!
Pretty cool that picture album was in the car
Yeah, the picture album was so cool for me to find. definitely the next best thing to actually being able to talk to the fabricator, that did the work back in the day as he has since passed away and can no longer tell his story of his vision for the car.
@@dubskustoms yes I agree. I can't wait to see this completed and on the road
Its a Canadian car . American pontiacs were different front suspension and wheelbase . Brake and heater systems . Canadian was just a chevy with shorter front fenders .
Def agree with the rear wheel is to far forward. That couple inches would make a world of difference. Really enjoy your videos! Especially if you were to move the fender opening back to.
Cheers Steven
Really cool, at first glance it looks like the rear wheels are too far forward in the wheel wells
You are correct. I mention that right at the end of the video and how it drove me crazy. Cheers
@@dubskustomsmy bad some how I missed that, can't wait to see what you do with it
Good to see you again james looking forwards to your content lad 🤟😉
Thanks Jason. Cheers
Missing a center section to make a altered wheel base! Possibly a race car or show car project
AWESOME!
Paint it school bus yellow, call it _Short Bus._
Unless I skipped over that part, no mention that the rear half is 55 chevy, with a 55 rear bumper.
I don't know. Did you see that part where I find the photo album?
I think it’s the original back-half but with the Chevy taillight lenses(blue dots added). The chieftain lenses were much different but the same shape. To be fair, it was an upgrade. The Pontiac lenses were fugly.
VertiGate shifter is cool if it’s not too worn, I drove one for a couple years in a ‘70 Camaro with a big block. They used to sell a inexpensive bushing kit specific to it and you would need one every year or so if you drove the car daily.
Great car man I'd give anything to live close to you to be able to work together I'm 69 and still do body work I've got a 69 ford f350 Holmes 440 wrecker with a 30 over 428 cobra jet engine I'd trade the wrecker is 80 percent ready to paint the problem I live in Cleveland ga I'm on Facebook the rear tire needs center in quarter panel
55 Chev rear end.
Being it's a holley carb i'm betting the needle valves are sticking and dumping fuel into the engine making it run like a bag of crap you need to take a screw driver handle and smack the top of them fuel bowls on the carb to unjam the needle valves
Asome car
I agree the rear end does look to far forward. looks like he goofed up when it was cutting the frame or something going on there
Never saw a hockey card, but am familiar with baseball cards, guessing about the same
Yup same thing. :)
Use to be one in town many yrs ago just like that it was red it was call short stuff it was red and then was yellow in color be for that it might be same car if you go to pennfeild drag way you will find picture of it
Does it have a front sump oil pan?
oh you are in canadaville that means i have to sub
This is a Cool video.
Mostly because as a kid, less than 10 yo, my family had a Pontiac Chieftain four door.
I can't remember what year it was, being it was almost six decades ago, and I would stand up in the center of the back and rest my arms on the top of the front bench seat.
Also while sitting on the front seat i would use the three circles of chrome inside each other in the middle of the dash, the radio speaker grate, as a steering wheel and pretend I was driving. 😂
Another feature of the car I've not seen since those years was on the rear fin just behind the tail lights that were raised up about an inch and a half and about 6 inches long, at least that's what I remember. Could it have been a short duration model build?
I'm thinking it was a 1961 ish model.
Very sorry for the long comment BUT I just had to mention this.
Thanks for your patience if you have a chance to read it James. 👍🙏🇺🇸
I did read this and quite enjoyed your trip down memory lane. Thanks for this.
@@dubskustoms
Thank You for the quick response and You are ABSOLUTELY welcome.
It was a pleasurable trip for me too. 😁
Are u going to make any crazy builds like u did on rust bros ?
I do have some big builds happening. You will see one in the fall when the show comes back. Cheers
I think the rear-end looks messy, needs pulled back a little
It's weird someone went to all that trouble, even documented the build, but didn't finish. Dude must have died or went to prison. Then someone else put it in storage.
Age catches up to us all my friend. He started the project when he was in good health and it took too long for him to finish and he’s no longer on this planet, but I bet he’s cruising the highway somewhere. peace
why does it have 1955 chevy tail lights if it is a 1956 pontiac
This is a good question. The car was found as you see it. When I found the photo album in the car It looked like they just split this car but sounds like they may have put two cars together. Hot Rod guys do some crazy stuff. :)
make a wheel stander out of it
That would be sweet!
call me stooopid but uh isnt that a pretty close to proppa altered wheelbase car ? it would handle like a hornets nest yeah but what short wheel base drag car doesnt . //// havent watched the whole vid so if you do discover what i just said well then i spose ill find out , what a find
You really don't know why the bumper don't line up?? Take a look again at the taillights. If you still can't tell, find a picture of 56 Pontiac taillights. That's not a Pontiac rear clip. The whole rear clip is 55 chevy. Pontiac never had a quarter panel like that. Any model.
Oh, I’ve seen why my friend it needs all of those things. It does have lots of custom work like different tail lights and rear quarter panels and is missing the exact width of one door down the center of the car and the work was all done in the 80s. the story I got behind This car is the fellow that built the car and his best friend were riding bikes before they ever had licenses as kids and went to the A&W I think to see all of the sweet cars back in the day and seen one of those wagons, shortened and fell in love with it and told his buddy right there that he was going to build one one day unfortunately he never got it finished and it ended up in that C can. So he never got to finish his dream, but at least he started it
I'm close to 80 and had a 55 chevy when it was about 8 years old. Pontiac and Dodge and just about any car you can think of. I may not be good with todays cars but 40s 50s and 60s I know well. Even model T's. My dad taught me about them. His cars were 20s and 30s
Did the other owner have a pink helmet, to get on the bus. Glad to see this stupidity faded away. Just my two cents you all.
The back half is Chevy look at the tail light
They say what makes the total woman attractive is proportions. Not only are the rear wheels to far forward in the opening but the opening itself needs to go back 6-12 inches. The car needs to be lower and while a 50's thru 70's car typically looks better with a deeper dished wheel (like the Cragers it has) in this case the dish needs to be mild. And the wheels need to move outward so the track width compliments the perceived stubbiness. Lastly, and I'm sure this wouldn't be popular..., the rear wheel openings need to be more rounded like a '55 Nomad. As it is the rectangular opening contrast far too much with the more rounded front openings. It is a super cool car for its uniqueness, but it needs proper proportions to keep it from looking odd. And, yes the back end looks like a Chevy. I hope something good comes of this car. It has potential, it just needs to be played right.
I can see that buddy. That would look wicked for sure. Im just glad we got it back out into the world.
Yep that’s just something someone built like that because they wanted it like that, makes sense to me, it be like don’t put a Chev in a Tbucket but that’s what hotrodding is all about, giving it ya own flavour and don’t matter what anyone else thinks, this is a cool as project, cool score Dude
✌️😎👍🇳🇿
Speaking of Women the front of the car has breast like features but not that well done.
:-( would rather it be original 4 door
Nothing wrong with that comment. Its different for sure.
looks like a clown car
That wheel is way to far forward first thing i seen was that.