This 1951 is the same year I was born. My grandfather bought a new one in 1953 and kept it until 1962. I grew my childhood fond of that car and memorized many details, as the engine sound and the hot upholstery for our tropical weather (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Another detail that amazed me as a little boy were both rectangular reverse lights attached to the trunk lid. The 1953 was roomier in the front seat than the 1951, after the new design for both 1953 Pontiac and Chevy. It was a black Chieftain, 4-door, 8 cyl, hydramatic
Marcio, we are the same age and my grandpa bought a new 54 2 Dr sedan Chieftain. My favorite part was standing in the back hanging on to the straps behind the front seat. I bought the car back from the second owners niece 20 years ago, still original but hasn't run since 74. Now that I'm retired I gotta get it running:-):-):-):-):-)
@@nigefoxx I understand....owned 2 1953 Pontiacs and each had their own perks...but all in all shifted very well. You can see videos of them on my channel if you havent already.
I loved those Sunday drives as a youngster. Dad would drive for miles just to get us an ice cream cone. Nowadays you have to have a destination. Not many just take a ride anymore.
@@nigefoxx iPhone has in some ways connected us but has also disconnected us. You are right, we’re too busy being busy. The simple pleasures are much different now.
I've got a replacement gearbox governor coming, the car's off the road in pieces right now. Hopefully it'll be even more smooth after this is replaced.
Thank you for this. A car similar would have been my first, in Sydney but my parents wouldn't let me bring it home to restore. I don't know the exact model.
Damn I wish I'd have a chance to drive such a beauty. The oldest car I've ever driven was an E36, pretty much a modern car compared to classics like that.
Nothing wrong with an E36, they're a good car. This is a world apart from the direct, crisp handling the BMW provides, though. More like driving a bus...
I have a regular camera tripod, so attached my phone to it with a couple elastic bands and set two feet on the rear seat and one on the floor. Works, so long as you don't plan on driving too fast. A weight through the legs would probably help greatly.
Why did cars have so few gears then? I realize the need or expectation to drive at highway speeds was less in 1951, but simply from a fuel use perspective and noise perspective I’m surprised cars didn’t have four gears much sooner, commonly.
@@Philacav Simplicity. There were fewer people on the roads to hurry you along, the engines were tuned for flexible torque so a couple low gears to get moving and then spend most the time in top. Fuel economy wasn't a huge issue, gasoline was a cheap commodity.
I drive mine daily; parking can be a little awkward in tight spaces, but once you are moving a few mph the steering isn't bad. They have pretty good brakes but need regular adjustment, overall not a bad car by standards of today. It'll keep up with traffic to 55mph. Limit the roads you use to backroads and you'll enjoy it a whole lot more.
All you need is spark, fuel and compression. Is the distributor indexed correctly? You can put it in completely wrong and all it'll do is spark the wrong cylinder.
@@nigefoxx I thought you could see at least a little of that lit up at night while you're driving, but since the back of it doesn't glow, that makes sense.
This 1951 is the same year I was born.
My grandfather bought a new one in 1953 and kept it until 1962. I grew my childhood fond of that car and memorized many details, as the engine sound and the hot upholstery for our tropical weather (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Another detail that amazed me as a little boy were both rectangular reverse lights attached to the trunk lid.
The 1953 was roomier in the front seat than the 1951, after the new design for both 1953 Pontiac and Chevy.
It was a black Chieftain, 4-door, 8 cyl, hydramatic
Marcio, we are the same age and my grandpa bought a new 54 2 Dr sedan Chieftain. My favorite part was standing in the back hanging on to the straps behind the front seat. I bought the car back from the second owners niece 20 years ago, still original but hasn't run since 74. Now that I'm retired I gotta get it running:-):-):-):-):-)
Thank you for sharing!!! My first car was a 53’ Catalina. Missing it now!!!
Such a beautiful sounding car
I can hear and almost feel the shift points.....old hydramatic fan here 😋
In the recent cold weather we had, it was shifting very very smoothly. The hotter it is outside, the worse the shifts get.
@@nigefoxx I understand....owned 2 1953 Pontiacs and each had their own perks...but all in all shifted very well. You can see videos of them on my channel if you havent already.
@@boots235 I did- they fixed a number of foibles the mk1 valve body (in mine) had with the dual-range. Glad yours is still riding along!
What a beautiful car!
I loved those Sunday drives as a youngster. Dad would drive for miles just to get us an ice cream cone.
Nowadays you have to have a destination. Not many just take a ride anymore.
Everybody's too busy. That's never changed, what seems to have is the willingness to stop for a while.
@@nigefoxx
iPhone has in some ways connected us but has also disconnected us. You are right, we’re too busy being busy.
The simple pleasures are much different now.
@@nigefoxx
Thanks for the ride Phil.
Every kid should have the opportunity to ride in a “old” car.
@@grampy2014 I think mine prefer the milkshake over the ride in the car, but you can't have it all!
@@nigefoxx
Different times Phil.
Take care of yourself
& that Pontiac. :)
Very nice drive in a comfortable car. 👍👍
I've got a replacement gearbox governor coming, the car's off the road in pieces right now. Hopefully it'll be even more smooth after this is replaced.
Amazing car! I really enjoyed the video!
Thank you for this. A car similar would have been my first, in Sydney but my parents wouldn't let me bring it home to restore. I don't know the exact model.
Awesome ! I have a 1954 Pontiac Chieftain that I'm working on.
They're fun cars, I passed someone who braved I-10 at rush hour in New Orleans yesterday! Still such a useable classic.
Very nice old Pontiac I love G M cars 1949 to 1954
Damn I wish I'd have a chance to drive such a beauty. The oldest car I've ever driven was an E36, pretty much a modern car compared to classics like that.
Nothing wrong with an E36, they're a good car. This is a world apart from the direct, crisp handling the BMW provides, though. More like driving a bus...
I am looking at a 52. Where have you found is the best supplier for parts?
For all the individual difficult to find bits, California Pontiac Restoration. Auto transmission, Fatsco.
How did you mount the camera? Because I would like to start making driving videos of my 1951 Pontiac Chieftain standard shift?
I have a regular camera tripod, so attached my phone to it with a couple elastic bands and set two feet on the rear seat and one on the floor.
Works, so long as you don't plan on driving too fast. A weight through the legs would probably help greatly.
I have a flawless horn button w with Chief Pontiacs head,and the two words power steering,for a 53.
By the way what a beautiful car.
Why did cars have so few gears then? I realize the need or expectation to drive at highway speeds was less in 1951, but simply from a fuel use perspective and noise perspective I’m surprised cars didn’t have four gears much sooner, commonly.
@@Philacav Simplicity. There were fewer people on the roads to hurry you along, the engines were tuned for flexible torque so a couple low gears to get moving and then spend most the time in top.
Fuel economy wasn't a huge issue, gasoline was a cheap commodity.
My grandpa has one of these. I'm said to get the car. It such a boat of a car. Is it hard to turn? Eazy car to drive? Never drove it tbh
I drive mine daily; parking can be a little awkward in tight spaces, but once you are moving a few mph the steering isn't bad.
They have pretty good brakes but need regular adjustment, overall not a bad car by standards of today. It'll keep up with traffic to 55mph. Limit the roads you use to backroads and you'll enjoy it a whole lot more.
@@nigefoxx ya he only really takes back roads. He put disk breaks all around it. Maybe I'll talk em into power steering. But ok glad to hear man thx
Wish mine ran. It doesn’t want to start for some reason.
All you need is spark, fuel and compression. Is the distributor indexed correctly? You can put it in completely wrong and all it'll do is spark the wrong cylinder.
Excited to see mine running. It’s a thousand miles from me right now. Am I right in assuming that it is really quiet inside on the road?
It's a quiet car, yes. Mine starts to get a bit noisy from wind above about 45mph but the door and window seals are past their prime.
where is this ? Florida ? (just a German guy beeing interested)
ahh... Louisiana! checked another video
@@nachbarnachbarsens7433 Beat me to the reply. Yes, south-eastern Louisiana, about 60 miles south of New Orleans.
Mr. Andrews, make a video of this car at night with The Chieftain glowing on the hood at night. Trust me, it will be a very big hit.
You can't see it from this perspective inside the car, I'd have to start going all Hollywood with multiple camera angles and a film crew.
@@nigefoxx I thought you could see at least a little of that lit up at night while you're driving, but since the back of it doesn't glow, that makes sense.
We would like to see the car, doofus!
th-cam.com/video/HRyQ8Wx6lgc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Tohxkl1Ipd9SR14d
Did that already, on this channel :)