In 1958, Pontiac offered something genuinely futuristic on the Chieftain: a portable transistor radio you could pull out of the dash and carry with you, sold as the 'Sportable.'
Lead trim: Chieftain 370 cu in V8
Pontiac Chieftain1958–1958
- 0spots by members
- Unclaimednobody has spotted one yet
- 0sets it belongs to
Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Pontiac Chieftain yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactIn 1958, Pontiac offered something genuinely futuristic on the Chieftain: a portable transistor radio you could pull out of the dash and carry with you, sold as the 'Sportable.'
The 1958 Chieftain was the third and last generation of the name (replaced by the all-new Catalina in 1959), on the GM B platform: all models were given honeycomb grilles, quad head and tail lamps and concave rear fenders, and the Super Chief sub-series was promoted to full model status, leaving the standard Chieftains as the entry-level Pontiac. The "Sportable" transistor radio became an option along with air suspension and a limited slip differential, and the V8 grew to 370 cu in (6.1 L) and made 240 or 270 horsepower depending on version. Wheelbase 122 in, length 210.5 in, width 77.4 in, height 55.7 in.
Collectors Spotted in the Pontiac Chieftain Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Pontiac Chieftain yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chieftain 370 cu in V8 | 1958–1958 | 6.1 L V8 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
In 1958, Pontiac offered something genuinely futuristic on the Chieftain: a portable transistor radio you could pull out of the dash and carry with you, sold as the 'Sportable.'
1955 was the year Pontiac finally let go of the six-cylinder Chieftain for good — the brand-new Strato Streak V8 took over the entire lineup, no exceptions.
The 1954 Chieftain beat every other American car to a feature we now take for granted: in-dash, modern-style air conditioning controls.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
It briefly served as senior sibling to Marquette, a GM companion brand cancelled after just one year.
Nissan hired former BMW engineers to help develop the 510's suspension, which is why period reviewers frequently compared its handling to the BMW 1600/2002.
A Trabant 601 won its class at the 1970 Monte Carlo Rally, with a second 601 right behind it in second.
The 600 was a stopgap: the P50's body over the 601's mechanicals, and for a while its estate was built alongside the new 601 saloon.
The G80 Sport brought a 370 PS twin-turbo 3.3 V6, a mesh grille and copper-tinted chrome with copper stitching to match.
The Vigor was sold only with a five-cylinder engine, an unusual configuration Honda used to fit a longer engine transversely under a short hood.
The GS/E coupe earned the nickname "German Charger" for its long hood, short deck stance borrowed from Detroit muscle cars.
This DeVille/Fleetwood was the first production car anywhere to mount its V8 sideways, Cadillac's front-drive gamble on the new C-body.