What Car is this ?

[GeeBee]

And secondly, was there ever a model of it ??

 

[cobraman]

Pontiac ? 

[bbowser]

I think it's a 1953 or 54 Pontiac, the trim strip down the middle is the giveaway.

[espo]

This would be the base model Pontiac. As for year model the grill is the give away. The '54 Pontiac grill would show up on almost any Ford or Mercury Kustom back in the day. That style of California License Plate was used from 1956 until the Black Plates were issued in 1963. So this has to be a photo taken before 1963. At that time everyone just turned in their old plates when the new colored plates were issued. 

[GeeBee]

22 minutes ago, espo said:

That style of California License Plate was used from 1956 until the Black Plates were issued in 1963. So this has to be a photo taken before 1963. At that time everyone just turned in their old plates when the new colored plates were issued. 

The photo was taken earlier tonight by me off the t.v., It's off a programme called "The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco" it's based in 1956, I'm hoping a second series will be coming soon.

 

 

Edited May 15, 2020 by GeeBee

[lordairgtar]

13 minutes ago, espo said:

This would be the base model Pontiac. As for year model the grill is the give away. The '54 Pontiac grill would show up on almost any Ford or Mercury Kustom back in the day. That style of California License Plate was used from 1956 until the Black Plates were issued in 1963. So this has to be a photo taken before 1963. At that time everyone just turned in their old plates when the new colored plates were issued. 

Actually, the tags stayed with the car. When you sold it, you did not keep your tags. That was the way California did it. I lived there for eight years and all my cars came with plates already on the car when I bought them used. At the time, one would see blue with gold letters and the new at the time white plates on cars. Every once in a while one would see the black with gold letters on an older car going down the street. Also about the car, it's a base model or a Canadian made Pontiac Pathfinder judging on the short wheel base as it used the Chevy chassis in Canada. Need to see the rear fenders to be able to determine country of origin as the Canadian car used the Chevy body and the USA made car would have the little fins or bumps on the rear fender. The grille is found in the Revell 49 Mercury custom kit.

Edited May 15, 2020 by lordairgtar
additional info

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, GeeBee said:

And secondly, was there ever a model of it ??

There were 2-door and 4-door promos in about 1/25 scale. But beware. I bought a 4-door made from acetate, and it has disintegrated to dust.

The shots below show the above-referenced rear fender differences.

And shrinkage and warping are almost universal.

                                                                                                                               

 

Edited May 15, 2020 by Ace-Garageguy

[lordairgtar]

 

Top pic is the USA version, bottom is Canadian

[StevenGuthmiller]

Might be a cool project for someone to try to convert a '53 Chevy kit into the Pontiac.

It would require a good bit if trim work, but on the bright side, I know I've seen that grille in a kit somewhere.

Really great looking car!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

[Ace-Garageguy]

4 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Might be a cool project for someone to try to convert a '53 Chevy kit into the Pontiac.

It would require a good bit if trim work, but on the bright side, I know I've seen that grille in a kit somewhere...

I've been working on exactly that off and on for a couple years now.

The acetate promo I bought was kinda krispy when I got it, and during subsequent gentle handling, first it broke into several large chunks, and then essentially turned to dust.

The die-cast bumpers are OK however, and I've been reworking them (and the grille) into accurate plugs suitable for casting from.

Probably not going to bother with the intricate side trim, but the chrome streaks down the center are so much signature Pontiac, it's got to have 'em.

[RichCostello]

3 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Might be a cool project for someone to try to convert a '53 Chevy kit into the Pontiac.

It would require a good bit if trim work, but on the bright side, I know I've seen that grille in a kit somewhere.

Really great looking car!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

I think that grill is in the Revell 49 Merc.

[StevenGuthmiller]

8 minutes ago, RichCostello said:

I think that grill is in the Revell 49 Merc.

I believe you're right.

 

 

 

 

Steve

[Vietnam Vet67]

1954 Pontiac Chieftan Special brochure picture:

[keyser]

It was filmed mostly in Vancouver and BC. Extension of British series. Found this pic of rear fender without  bump, so it's Canadian Pontiac Pathfinder per Greg in earlier post. With Cali plates. 

[GeeBee]

14 minutes ago, keyser said:

It was filmed mostly in Vancouver and BC. Extension of British series. Found this pic of rear fender without  bump, so it's Canadian Pontiac Pathfinder per Greg in earlier post. With Cali plates. 

I watched the original Bletchley Circle,filmed in England, but I've watched the San Francisco series before, but a few days ago the other half treated me to a new t.v., The latest 50 inch 4k version from Samsung, I'm now going through Netflix rewatching my favourites, the difference between the old 1080p and this are worlds apart, the story lines are good, but anyone interested in mid 1950's American cars it's great for "Car Spotting" hopefully a second series will be out soon.

[Ace-Garageguy]

14 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Might be a cool project for someone to try to convert a '53 Chevy kit into the Pontiac...

And speaking on that a little more...though it's been some time since I worked on the thing and took dimensions from a real one, I'm reasonably sure the hood and front fenders and wheelbase (120"-122" for Pontiac, 115" or 116" for Chevy) are considerably longer on the Pontiac.  The Poncho was still running an optional straight-eight in '53-'54, and all that engine length had to go somewhere.

Edited May 16, 2020 by Ace-Garageguy

[NOBLNG]

20 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

And speaking on that a little more...though it's been some time since I worked on the thing and took dimensions from a real one, I'm reasonably sure the hood and front fenders and wheelbase (120"-122" for Pontiac, 116" for Chevy) are considerably longer on the Pontiac.  The Poncho was still running an optional straight-eight in '53, and all that engine length had to go somewhere.

It looks like a lot of extra length, but the wheel opening shape gives the illusion of a lot more. These are ‘54s.

Edited May 16, 2020 by NOBLNG

[GeeBee]

16 hours ago, lordairgtar said:

 

Top pic is the USA version, bottom is Canadian

Another shot from an episode I'm watching just now 

Edited May 16, 2020 by GeeBee

[lordairgtar]

1 hour ago, GeeBee said:

Another shot from an episode I'm watching just now 

Yup, it's a Canadian made Pontiac on Chevy frame with Chevy engine

[thatz4u]

looks line a Chevy body with a Pontiac nose...

[StevenGuthmiller]

3 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

And speaking on that a little more...though it's been some time since I worked on the thing and took dimensions from a real one, I'm reasonably sure the hood and front fenders and wheelbase (120"-122" for Pontiac, 115" or 116" for Chevy) are considerably longer on the Pontiac.  The Poncho was still running an optional straight-eight in '53-'54, and all that engine length had to go somewhere.

Well, then maybe the Canadian version would be in order.

 

 

 

 

Steve

[Mike999]

Here are some pics of the '53 Pontiac resin body I have.  It looks like it was mastered off the AMT promo, but I know nothing about it.  I got it in a big box full of old resin bodies a long time ago.

I'm guessing it was done in the 1980's, when resin re-popping was just taking off.  It's molded in a strange Metalflake-looking dark green resin. Except for the grille/rear bumper, which are molded in tan resin. Now to find an interior...

Edited May 16, 2020 by Mike999
goof

[Bills72sj]

The pictures appear that it has great potential. I would suggest 53 54 Chevy kit as a donor.

[espo]

On 5/15/2020 at 4:44 PM, lordairgtar said:

Actually, the tags stayed with the car. When you sold it, you did not keep your tags. That was the way California did it. I lived there for eight years and all my cars came with plates already on the car when I bought them used. At the time, one would see blue with gold letters and the new at the time white plates on cars. Every once in a while one would see the black with gold letters on an older car going down the street. Also about the car, it's a base model or a Canadian made Pontiac Pathfinder judging on the short wheel base as it used the Chevy chassis in Canada. Need to see the rear fenders to be able to determine country of origin as the Canadian car used the Chevy body and the USA made car would have the little fins or bumps on the rear fender. The grille is found in the Revell 49 Mercury custom kit.

I didn't pickup on the Pathfinder connection until others pointed out the tail lights which aren't visible in the first picture. You also mention the California license plates. I'm not sure of the time frame of when you were a resident there but you mention the blue plates with the yellow numbers. My personal residency was from '53 to '57 and '62 till '96. You are correct about the plates staying with the vehicle as it changed owners, the interesting part there is that the new owner didn't have to pay renewal fees or Property Taxes as it is called in many other states until they were due again.  One of the main reasons for the blue plates was based on the number of cars and trucks on the road. The old three letter and three number system was reaching its limit. In the past when the color changed the old plates were removed and you would get a new number for your car with the new color scheme. When they started issuing the blue plates it was with the idea that they would start the numbering all over again but with the intent to start using 7 digits as the number of vehicles increased and save the cost of a complete plate change. When they went to the white plates with the sunrise on the top and red California lettering they just kept issuing new numbers and the old blue plates stayed in circulation. Some time in the '80's they dropped the sunrise and started just plan red California across the top, much like some US Government license plate. Then they started the theme plates with palm trees and whales and such. I had already left by the time they started letting people reregister old yellow or black license plates with a little tag mounted on the top. I understand that at one time they were even going to issue new black or yellow plates for older collector type vehicles, I'm sure at a premium price.     

[64Comet404]

10 hours ago, lordairgtar said:

Yup, it's a Canadian made Pontiac on Chevy frame with Chevy engine

The Canadian-made Pontiacs kept the flathead six through the '54 model year, then went to the Chevrolet engines for '55.