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1957 Pontiac Models Described

The 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible was a bombshell when announced.
Aside from its great looks, there was a fuel-injected 347 CID V-8 developing 300 HP!
Every available Pontiac option except air conditioning as standard!

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1957 Pontiac Production - All Series
1957_Pontiac_Production.pdf

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1957 Pontiac - General

Pontiac introduced new "Star Flight" styling for 1957. General features included missile-shaped side trim, flatter, more rocket-like tail fins, extended rear fenders with V-shaped tips, lower hoods, an even more massive bumper and grille, longer horizontal taillights and, in a GM-wide switch, 14-inch wheels.

The budget-priced line was now called the Chieftain series. The "Super Chief" name now replaced the previous Chieftain 870 designation. A unique, limited-edition model called "Custom Bonneville Convertible" was announced in early December 1956, released on January 11, 1957, and was added to the Custom Star Chief line. Production was limited to 630 examples and two prototypes, the latter with four bucket seats. A fuel-injected, 347 CID V-8 was standard and fitted only to Bonnevilles. This new Bonneville, body Style 2867SDX, came standard with all top-line options and accessories except air-conditioning.

All Pontiac station wagons were called "Safari" this year, but only those in the Star Chief Custom line had Star Chief Super DeLuxe appointments. The two-door Star Chief Custom Safari remained on the Series 27 122" wheelbase platform and continued with the four-barrel V-8 as its base engine.

The two-door Star Chief Custom Safari, body Style 2764DF, had special styling and appointments. The four-door Star Chief Custom Safari, body Style 2762SDF, had special exterior and interior trim and was called "Transcontinental." This Custom Safari Transcontinental station wagon was announced in late December 1956.

In December 1956, three different triple two-barrel engines were released. The first was an option for the standard Hydra-Matic V-8. The other two were options for the "extra horsepower," NASCAR-certified V-8s with either Synchromesh or Hydra-Matic transmissions.

1957 was the beginning of a deep recession, and all auto manufacturers suffered as a result. Thus, model year production peaked at 333,473 units, a decrease of 71,956 over 1956.

Pontiac Models –

1957 CHIEFTAIN LINE (V-8) – SERIES 27

Chieftains had small hub caps, three stars on rear fenders, and Chieftain front fender scripts. Super Chiefs had full wheel discs, upper belt moldings, three stars on rear fenders, and Super Chief front fender scripts. The distinctive Custom Safaris had Star Chief trim.

1957 STAR CHIEF LINE (V-8) – SERIES 28

Star Chiefs were identified by suitable front fender scripts, four stars on rear fenders, chrome semi-cylindrical trim at the back of missile-shaped inserts, and full wheel discs. The Custom (Super DeLuxe) sedan was reintroduced and was distinguished by what was called"off-shoulder" interior styling patterns. The Custom Bonneville Convertible was now part of the line.

Body Colors -

A Raven Black
B Chevron Blue
C Nassau Green
D Sapphire Blue
E Chateau Gray
F Fontaine Blue
G Tartan Red
H Charcoal Gray
J Lucerne Blue
K Sheffield Gray
L Braeburn Green
M Starlight Yellow
N Cordova Red
P Kenya Ivory
Q Silver Gray (Silver Beige)
R Carib Coral
S Limefire Green
T Seacrest Green
U Sage Blue
V Cascade Blue
W Mayfair Yellow
X Iris
Z Bonneville Red

Engines –

Chieftain Standard Transmission V-8: Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Displacement: 347 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.9375" x 3.5625". Compression ratio: 8.5:1. Horsepower: 227 @ 4600. Torque: 333 @ 2400 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Carburetor: Rochester 2GC two-barrel.
Chieftain Hydramatic Transmission V-8: Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Displacement: 347 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.9375" x 3.5625". Compression ratio: 10.0:1. Horsepower: 252 @ 4600. Torque: 354 @ 2400 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Carburetor: Rochester 2GC two-barrel.
Star Chief and Safari Standard Transmission V-8: Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Displacement: 347 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.9375" x 3.5625". Compression ratio: 8.5:1. Horsepower: 244 @ 4600. Torque: 350 @ 2800 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Carburetor: Rochester 4GC four-barrel.
Star Chief and Safari Hydramatic Transmission V-8: Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Displacement: 347 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.9375" x 3.5625". Compression ratio: 10.0:1. Horsepower: 270 @ 4600. Torque: 359 @ 2800 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Carburetor: Rochester 4GC four-barrel. Some cars were also equipped with Carter AFB model four-barrel.
Optional "Extra Horsepower" Hydra-Matic Transmission V-8: Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Displacement: 347 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.9375" x 3.5625". Compression ratio: 10.0:1. Horsepower: 290 @ 5000 RPM. Torque: 375 @ 2800 RPM. Five main bearings. Special high lift, long duration camshaft with Hydraulic valve lifters. Carburetors: three 2-barrel Rochester carburetors and single-breaker ignition.
Bonneville Fuel Injected V-8: Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Displacement: 347 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.9375" x 3.5625". Compression ratio: 10.25:1. Horsepower: 300 @ 5200 RPM. Torque: 375 @ 2800 RPM. Five main bearings. Special high lift, long duration camshaft with Hydraulic valve lifters.Induction: Rochester mechanical fuel-injection (similar to that of the Corvette).
Optional "Extra Horsepower" Hydra-Matic Transmission V-8: Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Displacement: 347 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.9375" x 3.5625". Compression ratio: 10.0:1. Horsepower: 314 @ 4800 RPM. Torque: 375 @ 2800 RPM. Five main bearings. Special high lift, long duration camshaft with Hydraulic valve lifters. Carburetors: three 2-barrel Rochester carburetors and single-breaker ignition.
Optional "Extra Horsepower" Standard Transmission V-8: Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Displacement: 347 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.9375" x 3.5625". Compression ratio: 10.0:1. Horsepower: 317 @ 5200 RPM. Torque: 375 @ 2800 RPM. Five main bearings. Special high lift, long duration camshaft with Hydraulic valve lifters. Carburetors: three 2-barrel Rochester carburetors and dual-breaker ignition.

Chassis –

Wheelbase: Series 27 - 122", Series 28 - 124".
Overall length: Series 27 passenger cars - 206.8", Series 27 station wagons - 207.7", Series 28 - 213.8".
Front tread: (All) 59.0".
Rear tread: (All) 59.4".
Tires: Chieftain with Synchromesh 7.50 x 14 station wagons and Bonneville 8.50 x 14; all others 8.00 x 14.

Powertrain Options –

Hydra-Matic transmission was again considered "standard", but cost extra.
Strato-Flight Hydra-Matic ($231) was used in all lines.
A three-speed Synchromesh gear box with column shift was the base price transmission.
Four-barrel carburetion was optional in Chieftains (Star Chief V-8s fitted)
Dual exhausts were $24 extra.
Rear axle ratios: Synchromesh 3.42:1, Hydra-Matic 3.08:1. In Decemeber 1956, a 3.23:1 axle was made standard for all Hydra-Matic equipped cars a 3.08:1 axle was made a "Plains Ratio" option for all cars except Safari models.

Significant Options –

Air-conditioning ($431).
Cowl vent chrome trim and Custom wheel discs ($21.80).
DeLuxe basic group ($255.50).
DeLuxe carpet floor mat ($11).
DeLuxe steering wheel and padded dash ($31.70).
Eight-way power seat ($97).
Electric clock ($10.50).
Heater and defroster ($91).
Lamp group ($23.10).
Mirror group ($12.35).
Power brakes ($39).
Power steering ($108).
Power Sweep Contour electric wiper/washer ($25.25).
Power windows ($102).
Radio, deluxe ($125).
Radio, standard ($99)
Six-way manual seat ($41).
Tinted glass ($34)
Whitewalls ($58.70).

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Another new-for-1957 model was the upscale Safari 4-door wagon, referred to as the "Transcontinental" when released in December 1956. Confusion abounded in the public when Pontiac renamed all wagons "Safari."

The 1957 Star Chief Convertible was still an elegant machine and sold well - 12,789 were delivered.

The exciting 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Safari 2-door hardtop had its sales hurt by the recession, confusion over the Safari naming, and the new 4-door upscale Safari.

The 1957 Star Chief 2-door hardtop was still sought after—32,862 were sold.

The 1957 Star Chief Catalina 4-door hardtop was the second-best seller in the line at 44,283 units.

The 1957 Pontiac La Parisienne was a dolled-up Star Chief Catalina 4-door hardtop Motorama show car.

In 1957 there were two versions of the Star Chief 4-door sedan, the difference being interior and exterior trim only.

The 1957 Super Chief sat between the Star Chief and Chieftain and, as a result, had disappointing sales.

The 1957 Super Chief 2-door hardtop suffered the same fate as the 4-door.

The 1957 Super Chief 4-door sedan found itself delivering tepid sales.

The 1957 Chieftain 4-door Catalina was the no. 3 seller for Pontiac that year with 40,074 units delivered.

The 1957 Chieftain 2-door Catalina hardtop was the best-selling Pontiac with 51,017 delivered.

The 1957 Pontiac Chieftain was the "hot rod" of choice for Pontiac racers. With the "extra horsepower" engines of 290, 314 and 317 HP, they could scoot.

For 1957, there were too many Safari wagons. While the same number of this body style were offered as before, the public was confused. As a result, only about half of 1956's production was delivered.

1957 Pontiac Production - All Series