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1957

1957 Style Numbers are located on the firewall data plate...

      2737                                              CHIEFTAIN SERIES CAT COUPE (no post)
      2739                                              CATALINA SEDAN (no post)
      2711                                              2-DOOR SEDAN (post)
      2719                                              4-DOOR SEDAN (post)
      2762FC                                         4-DOOR STA WAG (post)                                    
      2763F                                            2-DOOR STA WAG (post)                            
      2737D                                           SUPERCHIEF SERIES  DLUX CAT COUPE (no post)       
      2739D                                           DELUXE CATALINA SEDAN (no post)                                    
      2719D                                           DELUXE 4-DOOR SEDAN (post)
      2762DF                                         DELUXE 4-DOOR STA WAG (post)     
      2762SDF                                      STAR CHIEF 27s  4-DR SAFARI CUST STA WAG (post)
      2864DF                                         4-DOOR SAFARI CUSTOM STA WAG (post)
      2867DTX                                      STAR CHIEF 28s    CONVERTIBLE COUPE
      2867SDX                                      BONNEVILLE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE COUPE
      2837SD                                         CATALINA CUSTOM COUPE (no post)
      2839SD                                         CATALINA CUSTOM SEDAN (no post)
      2819SD                                         CATALINA CUSTOM SEDAN (post)

Paint Information.

The paint code on the vin plate consists of 3 letters, these correspond to body, roof and spear colours in that order. The letters are as follows;

A        raven black

B        chevron blue metallic

C        nassau green

D        sapphire blue    

E        chateau grey metallic

F        fontaine blue metallic

G        tartan red

H        charcoal grey metallic

J        lucerne blue    

K        sheffield grey

L        braeburn green metallic

M        Starlight yellow

N        cordova red metallic

P        kenya ivory

Q        silver grey metallic

R        carib coral

S        limefire green metallic

T        seacrest green

U        sage blue metallic

"Solid" IS YOUR BASIC ONE-COLOR CAR.  EXAMPLES: F or FF or FFF
            
            "Accent" TWO-TONE COMBOs WERE USED WHENEVER THE ROOF
            AND BODY WERE THE SAME SHADE.  EXAMPLE: PAINT=FP
            F IS UPPER BODY/LOWER BODY COLOR (BLUE)
            P IS HARMONIZING/CONTRASTING INSERT COLOR (KENYA IVORY)
            
            "Starlight" TWO-TONE COMBOs WERE USED WHENEVER THE ROOF
            AND THE "SPEAR" WERE THE SAME COLOR AND THE REST OF THE
            BODY WAS DONE IN A SECOND COLOR.  EXAMPLE:  PAINT=FFP
            FF IS THE UPPER BODY COLOR AND SPEAR COLOR (BLUE)
            P   IS THE LOWER BODY COLOR (KENYA IVORY)

NOTE1:  THIS WAS HOW IT WAS "SUPPOSED" TO BE.  HOWEVER, MORE THAN
            ONE ASSY PLANT (P and T) DID NOT ALWAYS FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES.
            AS A RESULT, OWNERS OF P AND T CARS OFTEN RUN INTO 'AUTHENTICITY'
            PROBLEMS AT POINTS-JUDGED EVENTS, EVEN THOUGH THEIR CAR MAY
            BE 100% ORIGINAL....  

NOTE2:  ALTHOUGH THE THREE (3) TYPES OF COLORS COULD BE HAD ON ANY
            STYLE NO, NOT ALL PONTIAC COLORS WERE AVAILABLE ON EVERY STYLE
            NO (STAR CHIEF CUSTOMS WERE THE TYPICAL EXCEPTION)...

NOTE3:  HIGH-VOL DEALERS AND ZONE OFFICES COULD OVER-RIDE THESE
            PAINT SCHEMES, INCLUDING HAVING THE CAR PAINTED A GM COLOR
            OTHER THAN OFFERED BY PONTIAC DIVISION.  ON SOME CARS I'VE
            JUDGED WHERE THIS OCCURED, THE DATA PLATE MAY BE STAMPED:
            PAINT = SPECIAL

HOPE THIS HELPS!

RICK
CO-FACILITATOR
pontiac-1950s group

Accessory codes.

Accessories were available both singly and in four money saving groups as listed;

Basic group BA

underseat heater and defroster, deluxe radio and manual antenna, front seat latex foam cushion, oil bath air cleaner and full flow oil filter.

De-luxe basic group DB

underseat heater and defroster, deluxe electramatic wonder bar radio and electric antenna, Hi-Fi dual rear seat speakers, front seat custom lounge latex foam cushion, oil bath air cleaner and full flow oil filter.

Lamp group LM

back up lamps, glove compartment lamp, luggage and utility lamp (under hood and utility lamp used on safaris), ashtray lamps (inc R.H. ash tray on chieftain models) and  parking brake warning lamp.

Mirror group MR

outside rear view mirror, inside non-glare tilt mirror and visor vanity mirror.

----------------------------------------------------------

Group        Description                                                            Model

1958

VIN decoding for 1958:

First digit is the assembly plant:
Atlanta, Ga - A           Kansas City, Ks - K
South Gate, Ca - C        Linden, NJ -      L
Framingham, Ma - F        Pontiac, MI -     P
Arlington, Tx -  T        Wilmington, De -  W

Second digit identifies the series:
5 = series 25, Bonneville/Chieftain conv.
7 = series 27, Chieftain/Star Chief station wagon
8 = series 28, Star Chief, Super Chief

Third and forth digit identify the model year (1958)

Fifth digit identifies the transmission type:

H = hydra-matic     S = syncro-mesh

Last four digits represent the basic production number