Our May Feature Car is an exceptional survivor. Bill Januszewski is the proud owner of this unrestored 1958 Pontiac Strato Chief Sedan. This is an example of the majority of Pontiacs that roamed the streets of Canada back in 1958 and your have to admit the 58 Pontiac sedans were one of the prettiest four doors available that year. The proportions seem just right and that two tone paint just pops!  Bill tells us more about this wonderful Poncho:

This is our 1958 Pontiac Strato Chief which we have owned for more than 30 years. 

This car is an all-original survivor (not a restoration) with 55,000 miles showing on the odometer. It is an unusual 7549 EXP L model, that never got exported. Its pretty basic, 261 in3 engine with a 3-speed manual transmission.  Factory options include, clock, AM radio, two tone paint, and deluxe wheel covers.  

We are the car’s third owner.  I don’t know much about the first owner, but I know that the car was sold by Hogan Pontiac in Toronto. 

The second owner was a member of the armed forces and as far as I know he barely drove the car.  When he got posted to a new location, he would take the car with him and arrange storage.  Apparently, that happened several times but when the air force base in Edmonton closed and he got posted to Winnipeg the car didn’t go with him.

Most of my friends are aware of my fixation with 58 Pontiacs and would let me know if they saw one on their travels.  One of those friends telephoned me to let me know of a 58 Pontiac sighting at a consignment car lot in Edmonton.  Off I went to take a look.  It was a white and turquoise Strato Chief 4 door sedan. It looked pretty solid, but not cheap, so I discounted buying it.  A week or so later, I decided to take a second, closer look.  The more I looked, the better the car seemed, and I bit the bullet and bought it.

Car Details

    • With the exception of the hood, the paint is original which was repainted around 2001.  The paint isn’t perfect, there are a few chips, which, given the car’s age is not unusual.

    • There was a rust repair performed in the trunk, on the R.S. where the spare tire wheel well is.  The rusty section was cut out and a new body panel was fit and welded in place.

    • Powered, disk brakes were installed on the front.  Along with that I replaced the suspension and steering linkage.

    • The fuel tank was very recently removed, flushed, and cleaned.  The fuel level sender was also replaced.

    • Windshield was replaced.

    • Back up lights were and I also ungraded the standard stop/taillight lenses to include a chrome ring.

    • The cannister style oil filter was replaced with a higher efficiency remote mounted spin on filter.

    • The AM radio was removed and overhauled to original specifications, and it works.

    • The engine, clutch, transmission prop shaft and differential are all original as is the interior.

The car now resides in North Vancouver, BC in an underground, heated parkade.  We take it out for a spin whenever it isn’t raining, which means that it doesn’t get out much!