What a little polising can do! 1956 Star Chief content!
59paris said
Jul 31, 2020
Still assessing the shape of my new purchase, a 1956 Star Chief Custom Catalina.
Here's what a good polishing of an old (partly original) paint can do:
Canadian Poncho said
Jul 31, 2020
Fantastic!
cdnpont said
Jul 31, 2020
How satisfying is that! She must really drive smooth now, and it feels better putting your arm out the window and touching that smooth roof.
jmont64 said
Aug 1, 2020
Wow, very nice.
Glenn Musgrave said
Aug 1, 2020
Beautiful!!!
Taylor55 said
Aug 1, 2020
The beauty of Nitrocellulose lacquer paint. Americian built pontiacs used lacquer paint and Canadian cars used Dupont enamel
Very nice shine !
Al
73SC said
Aug 2, 2020
Is that ever a nice looking car, wow!
long stroke said
Aug 4, 2020
What a B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. 56 Pontiac (sport sedan). Any engine bay photos of that sweet looking car. I think that year American Pontiac's had a 287 V-8. What are the future plans for the car and any story tied to it. Is there a write some where else on C.P.
59paris said
Aug 4, 2020
Thanks for the good words! I did not do a write up on this car, yet. I will start a thread devoted to it in a few days.
Indeed. Would have been crushed by now if I had not Bought it.
long stroke said
Aug 5, 2020
59paris wrote:
Canadian Poncho wrote:
And to think this car was headed to the junkyard!
Indeed. Would have been crushed by now if I had not Bought it.
WHAT THE HELL !!!!! What am i missing hear. What is the story on that. What kind of numb skull would have trashed this beauty.
59paris said
Aug 6, 2020
long stroke wrote:
59paris wrote:
Canadian Poncho wrote:
And to think this car was headed to the junkyard!
Indeed. Would have been crushed by now if I had not Bought it.
WHAT THE HELL !!!!! What am i missing hear. What is the story on that. What kind of numb skull would have trashed this beauty.
Hahaha! I don,t mean to be such a teaser, I just did not have time to do it. I will tell the wole story in a coming thread! But, Todd is right, it was an estate sale, the widow is rich, did not care about her late husband's cars. She crushed 13 of them before I got there (not all as nice as this one though).
58 poncho fan said
Aug 6, 2020
Hello what a beautiful car you now own. One thing though if you would like to replace the silver Mylar trim on the interior door panels I have enough new old stock to do the four doors. Would let it go for $50.00 plus shipping. It would really spruce up the interior. PM me if your interested. Thanks from Bob in South Western Ontario.
-- Edited by 58 poncho fan on Thursday 6th of August 2020 02:53:28 PM
long stroke said
Aug 6, 2020
59paris wrote:
long stroke wrote:
59paris wrote:
Canadian Poncho wrote:
And to think this car was headed to the junkyard!
Indeed. Would have been crushed by now if I had not Bought it.
WHAT THE HELL !!!!! What am i missing hear. What is the story on that. What kind of numb skull would have trashed this beauty.
Hahaha! I don,t mean to be such a teaser, I just did not have time to do it. I will tell the wole story in a coming thread! But, Todd is right, it was an estate sale, the widow is rich, did not care about her late husband's cars. She crushed 13 of them before I got there (not all as nice as this one though).
I can not say here on C.P. what i think of this poor dead guys wife. She should have kicked the bucket long before him.
long stroke said
Aug 6, 2020
58 poncho fan wrote:
Hello what a beautiful car you now own. One thing though if you would like to replace the silver Mylar trim on the interior door panels I have enough new old stock to do the four doors. Would let it go for $50.00 plus shipping. It would really spruce up the interior. PM me if your interested. Thanks from Bob in South Western Ontario.
-- Edited by 58 poncho fan on Thursday 6th of August 2020 02:53:28 PM
Sounds like a super deal on that original interior material and by the way, Bob is a super guy to deal with. Bob is beyond being honest.
58 poncho fan said
Aug 10, 2020
Jerry 1956 I sent you a PM please respond if you are still interested in the Mylar. Thanks from Bob.
59paris said
Aug 11, 2020
Okay, I am finding some time to do a proper write-up on this car.
Story is that the 56 Pathfinder Deluxe sedan I bought two months ago (canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t66666777/well-just-bought-a-1956-poncho/) needed a bit more work than first expected (as usual!).. I am currently having the floor braces, inner rocker panels and small sections of the floors repaired, as these were too rusty to pass the safety inspection required here in Quebec to put a car back on the road after it's been in long term storage.
While searching for parts for the Pathfinder, I stumbled upon an ad on Kijiji for a 1956 Pontiac Star Chief in eastern Quebec for a really cheap price. The photos showed a very nice looking car, and the description said "Estate sale, needs carburetor work". Ad had actually been pulled for a couple of days, but still visible in Google cache.
It so happens that I am originally from that part of the Province, and if other provinces are anyhting like Quebec, in these remote rural areas, everybody knows somebody who knows the person you are trying to contact... So a few telephone calls later, we were on the phone with the widow. Car was not sold, but a local kid wanted it, so she pulled the ad. I said I was very interested, and would pay right away, no negotiations. She checked back with the kid, who had changed his mind, and the deal was settled. My dad, who lives closer to the car than me, went to see it and arrange a cash deposit. The lady explained that her husband was into cars a lot, but it was not her cup of tea. He had been ill for the last couple of years, and neglected the cars, which were an eyesore for her in her backyard. He owned 18 old cars and trucks, most from the 1970s to the early 1990s, but this 56 was the oldest. The other one that had some interest (it's probably still there) is a 1962 Buick Electra 225 hardtop coupe.
She said if these older ones did not sell, she would have them towed to the junkyard and crushed like the 13 other cars before... Sad, but true.
Anyway, I'm glad I saved the Poncho. A friend of mine bought a 1993 Buick Roadmaster wagon.
Turns out this Star Chief is a real gem: new radiator, gas tank, brakes, etc.. It does need carb work, but nothing too complicated. I am waiting on a rebuilding kit to do it.
Car has a couple of patches in the floors, not perfect work, but ok. I will probably have it done correctly, as I believe it's the only thing it really will eventually need. Interior is also getting a new correct coral-colored carpet to replace the black one in it now.
I will keep you guys posted.
long stroke said
Aug 11, 2020
Thank you sir for saving that beauty from that wicked old witch. Looking forward to updates on that 56 Pontiac time machine. Cheers.
Still assessing the shape of my new purchase, a 1956 Star Chief Custom Catalina.
Here's what a good polishing of an old (partly original) paint can do:
How satisfying is that! She must really drive smooth now, and it feels better putting your arm out the window and touching that smooth roof.
Very nice shine !
Al
Is that ever a nice looking car, wow!
What a B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. 56 Pontiac (sport sedan). Any engine bay photos of that sweet looking car. I think that year American Pontiac's had a 287 V-8. What are the future plans for the car and any story tied to it. Is there a write some where else on C.P.
Thanks for the good words! I did not do a write up on this car, yet. I will start a thread devoted to it in a few days.
engine is a 317 c.i.
Wow wow and wow, that car is a major league beauty. You are making me kind of jealous right.
Thanks!
I really love it too! It might become my number one over my 59 actually!
the interior is just superb! I just have to replace the black carpet with a correct pink one...
Indeed. Would have been crushed by now if I had not Bought it.
WHAT THE HELL !!!!! What am i missing hear. What is the story on that. What kind of numb skull would have trashed this beauty.
Hahaha! I don,t mean to be such a teaser, I just did not have time to do it. I will tell the wole story in a coming thread! But, Todd is right, it was an estate sale, the widow is rich, did not care about her late husband's cars. She crushed 13 of them before I got there (not all as nice as this one though).
Hello what a beautiful car you now own. One thing though if you would like to replace the silver Mylar trim on the interior door panels I have enough new old stock to do the four doors. Would let it go for $50.00 plus shipping. It would really spruce up the interior. PM me if your interested. Thanks from Bob in South Western Ontario.
-- Edited by 58 poncho fan on Thursday 6th of August 2020 02:53:28 PM
I can not say here on C.P. what i think of this poor dead guys wife. She should have kicked the bucket long before him.
Sounds like a super deal on that original interior material and by the way, Bob is a super guy to deal with. Bob is beyond being honest.
Story is that the 56 Pathfinder Deluxe sedan I bought two months ago (canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t66666777/well-just-bought-a-1956-poncho/) needed a bit more work than first expected (as usual!).. I am currently having the floor braces, inner rocker panels and small sections of the floors repaired, as these were too rusty to pass the safety inspection required here in Quebec to put a car back on the road after it's been in long term storage.
While searching for parts for the Pathfinder, I stumbled upon an ad on Kijiji for a 1956 Pontiac Star Chief in eastern Quebec for a really cheap price. The photos showed a very nice looking car, and the description said "Estate sale, needs carburetor work". Ad had actually been pulled for a couple of days, but still visible in Google cache.
It so happens that I am originally from that part of the Province, and if other provinces are anyhting like Quebec, in these remote rural areas, everybody knows somebody who knows the person you are trying to contact... So a few telephone calls later, we were on the phone with the widow. Car was not sold, but a local kid wanted it, so she pulled the ad. I said I was very interested, and would pay right away, no negotiations. She checked back with the kid, who had changed his mind, and the deal was settled. My dad, who lives closer to the car than me, went to see it and arrange a cash deposit. The lady explained that her husband was into cars a lot, but it was not her cup of tea. He had been ill for the last couple of years, and neglected the cars, which were an eyesore for her in her backyard. He owned 18 old cars and trucks, most from the 1970s to the early 1990s, but this 56 was the oldest. The other one that had some interest (it's probably still there) is a 1962 Buick Electra 225 hardtop coupe.
She said if these older ones did not sell, she would have them towed to the junkyard and crushed like the 13 other cars before... Sad, but true.
Anyway, I'm glad I saved the Poncho. A friend of mine bought a 1993 Buick Roadmaster wagon.
Turns out this Star Chief is a real gem: new radiator, gas tank, brakes, etc.. It does need carb work, but nothing too complicated. I am waiting on a rebuilding kit to do it.
Car has a couple of patches in the floors, not perfect work, but ok. I will probably have it done correctly, as I believe it's the only thing it really will eventually need. Interior is also getting a new correct coral-colored carpet to replace the black one in it now.
I will keep you guys posted.
Thank you sir for saving that beauty from that wicked old witch. Looking forward to updates on that 56 Pontiac time machine. Cheers.
officially back on the road!
Wowee! That's all I can say!