CPSC Member's RidesRobert Kirk's
Here are a few pictures of my 1958 Pontiac Strato Chief Model# 7541 I bought this car in Whitby in 1994 at a Mazda Dealership would you believe. I was told that the car was parked in a garage in Ajax for 11 years. It had, at that time, 58,000 miles on the car. I had the car painted the original colours, re-chromed the bumpers, and had the seats redone. My thought at the time was to replace the 261, 6 cylinder engine with a V8 as soon as that motor gave me any trouble. Well, 15 years later, the motor still runs great, so I guess the matching number motor stays with the car. The 261 engines were originally GMC Truck engines in early 50’s and was sought after as a stock car engine as well in the 50’s. Put in Canadian Pontiacs from 1955 to 1962.
My Pontiac Strato Chief was built in Oshawa, and sold new from Cliff Mills Motors in Oshawa. 3,004 model 7541 (Strato Chief 2 doors) were built that year. I wonder how many are left. We have had this car for 15 years at car shows and cruises all over Ontario, and have not seen another 2 door Strato Chief. I did hear of a couple that are not running, and saw a couple with 4 doors.We drove the Pontiac to Grand Rapids for the 2000 POCI Convention. We took 3rd place in the 58 Pontiac section. A lot of nice folks there said: “What is a Strato Chief ?”, then I opened the hood and received lots of stares and head scratching. All V8’s in US 58 models. My biggest problem, other than trying to find some rare Pontiac parts, is getting a proper appraisal for the car. Appraisers usually try to compare my Strato to US built Chieftans or Star Chiefs. But “it isn’t” I say, “It’s a Canadian Built Strato Chief, and I don’t think there are many left.” Possibly now that the CPSC is established, we will soon see what Canadian Pontiacs are worth. I am a proud owner of this fine Canadian car, and I love to drive it and show it off.
If anyone out there owns a 58 Strato Chief 2 dr., please send email, if possible, with a picture.
Photo taken at the 2000 POCI Convention in Grand Rapids, MI
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