1956 Pontiac Chieftain 2-Door Post

Description for Pontiac Catalina 1956

Automatic V-8 5.2L 316 CI .
Very nice interior and a good exterior. Originally a California car for most of its life. Runs well and a pleasure to drive. Overall a very solid car that had been enjoyed by mature owners. Undercarriage is solid and has a very very good frame with but a few spots on floorboards where it has begun to show its age. Good looking car that gets thumbs up from the young and old wherever it goes. Timeless enjoyment from day's past that evokes good memories from a great decade. Iconic in design and stands out against other brands of the ever popular tri-five american beauties. The 1955 model Chieftains featured completely new chassis, body and engine. The engine was the biggest news as this was Pontiac's first V8. The 287.2 cu in (4.7 L) engine made 173 or 180 horsepower (130 kW) at 4400 rpm depending on which version was ordered (again, the difference was due to changes in compression ratios). A 6-cylinder engine was no longer offered. The traditional appearance five-chrome strips running down the hood and trunk were updated with a twin-stripe design. The biggest change for 1956 was again in the engine. The new for 1955 V8 was drastically enlarged to 316.6 cu in (5.2 L). Horsepower made a considerable increase, jumping to 192 and 205 respectively. Otherwise, the 1956 model Chieftains received only minor updates. A padded safety dashboard was added as an option.