Tin Indian
I've seen this green 1960 Pontiac Star Chief at several different car shows and cruise-ins in the Cleveland area. It's one of 5,797 two-door Star Chief Sport Sedans built in that model year.
The Star Chief was distinguished by a row of four-pointed chrome stars on the rear quarter panel.
The Star Chief was Pontiac's top-of-the-line model from 1954 to 1957. The 1957 Star Chief Custom Bonneville was Pontiac's first true high-performance V-8 model, part of division general manager Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen's initiative to transform the Pontiac brand from a sensible-shoes family car to GM's fire-breathing musclecar division.
Beginning in 1958, the "Bonneville" name was used for the top trim level of Pontiac. By the 1960 model year, the Star Chief was the second-rank model in the lineup, better appointed than the Ventura and Catalina, but with a less-powerful engine than the Bonneville. It has the low, wide, relatively clean look that had come into favor after the chrome-and-tail-fins frenzy of the late fifties had run its course.
This particular Star Chief has been given the "lowrider" treatment, with modern alloy wheels, a lowered suspension, a suitably rumbly exhaust system, and a bit of pinstriping.
Pontiac stopped making Star Chiefs in 1967, and GM will soon stop making Pontiacs. I expect that the "Tin Indian" will still roll into the Medina Dairy Queen on Wednesday nights, bringing a measure of joy to its owner and those who stop to admire it, and reminding us all of a time when Pontiac really did build "excitement."
May it ever be so.
--Cookie the Dog's Owner
That Car Guy on April 30, 2009 at 08:53 AM
This 1960 Star Chief has 4-pointed stars on the body side; the 1960 Chevy has a jet plane with a vapor trail. These are styling touches that worked back then, and they work now. There is more chrome on that one car than on every Saturn ever made.
I'm not sure if the styling on the lawn mower next to the car is as timeless and appreciable.
Mochi Mochi on April 30, 2009 at 03:47 PM
that's one nice looking car. i even like the big shiny chrome wheels.
Anthony Cagle on April 30, 2009 at 07:15 PM
Damn, that is an attractive car. I think that 1960-6 period is about my favorite of all time.
Craig on June 07, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Saw this car at East Coast Custard Saturday night. It is awesome! Never saw anything like it before. EXCELLENT restoration. Beautiful car. Nice rims.
Gary & Sheri Dodrill LaGrange, OH on February 26, 2012 at 02:53 PM
Thanks for the compliments, We are the owners of this car. This car was stored for over 30 years. Our son found this car for us, on ebay, while he was serving our country in Iraq. He called us from Bagdad. The car had 28,000 miles on it when we bought it in 2005. We are enjoying the car, it now has 41,000 miles on it. The car is all original; engine, interior and etc. The only change is the exterior color and wheels. I have changed the wheels to 15inch mags with white wall tires.
Myles Heinrichs on March 19, 2012 at 11:51 AM
Do you want to sell the rims in the picture?
Gary Dodrill on August 15, 2012 at 02:39 PM
Myles, I just wanted you to know that the wheels are stored in a rack on the wall in my garage and I am thinking about getting rid of them. My cell is 440-773-7330.