Video: Engineering the All-New 1955 Pontiac

Here’a a rare look behind the scenes at the R&D process that created the all-new 1955 Pontiac.

 

 

Much like Chevrolet, its sister division at General Motors, Pontiac received an all-new chassis, body, and V8 engine for 1955—a bold stroke indeed. But for Pontiac, the stakes may have been even higher, as the smaller division had more to prove. Sales had been flat at Pontiac for several years, falling behind Oldsmobile and Buick, and the brand’s identity seemed to be adrift. There was even some talk on the 14th floor of the GM Building about eliminating Pontiac entirely. But with the all-new product line for 1955, and the arrival of a new general manager, Bunkie Knudsen, in 1956, Pontiac was soon reborn as the corporation’s youth and performance brand. (See our feature on the 1955 Pontiac V8 here.)

This original GM film goes behind the scenes at the automaker’s Michigan and Arizona proving grounds to show the extensive research and development process that went into the ’55 car line. And as old shop rats ourselves, we just love this stuff. Check out the segments showing the old-school engine dyno and instrumentation, the body shaker rig, and the cold room. Here you are: This is the state of the art in automotive product development in the mid-twentieth century. Pontiac was proud of its all-new product line for ’55, and it had every right to be. Video below.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITFtZJK84n0

5 thoughts on “Video: Engineering the All-New 1955 Pontiac

  1. ” But for Pontiac, the stakes may have been even higher, as the smaller division had more to prove. Sales had been flat at Pontiac for several years, falling behind Oldsmobile and Buick, and the brand’s identity seemed to be adrift. There was even some talk on the 14th floor of the GM Building about eliminating Pontiac entirely. But with the all-new product line for 1955, and the arrival of a new general manager, Bunkie Knudsen, in 1956, Pontiac was soon reborn as the corporation’s youth and performance brand. (See our feature on the 1955 Pontiac V8 ”

    Buick Division had quite a domination of the # 3 and #4 spot in sales since the thirties, However it is really Oldsmobile that lags behind Pontiac and the exception to this would be 1954. Even with the Rocket V-8 introduced in 1949, Pontiac with the exception of 1954 still out performs Oldsmobile. It would seem to me Oldsmobile would be the one to be in fear of it’s demise. Here hare the stats:
    Production Figures for 1948

    Production Figures for 1949

    Production Figures for 1950
    Chevrolet
    696,449

    Ford
    1,118,308

    Chevrolet
    1,498,590
    Ford
    430,198

    Chevrolet
    1,010,013

    Ford
    1,208,912
    Plymouth
    412,540

    Plymouth
    520,385

    Plymouth
    610,954
    Dodge
    243,340

    Buick
    409,138

    Buick
    588,439
    Pontiac
    235,419

    Pontiac
    304,819

    Pontiac
    446,429
    Buick
    213,599

    Mercury
    301,319

    Oldsmobile
    408,060
    Studebaker
    184,993

    Oldsmobile
    288,310

    Dodge
    341,797
    Oldsmobile
    172,852

    Dodge
    256,857

    Studebaker
    320,884
    Chrysler
    130,110

    Hudson
    159,100

    Mercury
    293,658
    Hudson
    117,200

    Nash
    135,328

    Chrysler
    179,299;
    Nash
    110,000

    Studebaker
    129,301

    Nash
    171,782
    DeSoto
    98,890

    Chrysler
    124,218

    DeSoto
    136,203
    Packard
    92,251

    Packard
    116,955

    Hudson
    121,408
    Kaiser
    91,851

    DeSoto
    95,051

    Cadillac
    103,857
    Cadillac
    52,706

    Cadillac
    92,554

    Packard
    42,627
    Mercury
    50,268

    Kaiser
    79,947

    Lincoln
    28,190
    Frazer
    48,071

    Lincoln
    73,507

    Kaiser
    15,228
    Crosley
    26,239

    Frazer
    21,223

    Crosley
    6,792
    Lincoln
    7,769

    Crosley
    7,431

    Frazer
    3,700
    Production Figures for 1951

    Production Figures for 1952

    Production Figures for 1953
    Chevrolet
    1,229,986

    Chevrolet
    818,142

    Chevrolet
    1,346,475
    Ford
    1,013,381

    Ford
    671,733

    Ford
    1,247,542
    Plymouth
    611,000

    Plymouth
    396,000

    Plymouth
    650,451
    Buick
    404,657

    Buick
    303,745

    Buick
    488,755
    Pontiac
    370,159

    Pontiac
    271,373

    Pontiac
    418,619
    Mercury
    310,387

    Oldsmobile
    213,490

    Oldsmobile
    334,462
    Dodge
    290,000

    Dodge
    206,000

    Dodge
    320,008
    Oldsmobile
    285,615

    Mercury
    172,087

    Mercury
    305,863
    Studebaker
    246,195

    Studebaker
    167,662

    Chrysler
    170,006
    Nash
    205,307

    Nash
    154,291

    Studebaker
    151,576
    Chrysler
    163,613

    Cadillac
    90,259

    DeSoto
    132,104
    Kaiser
    139,452

    DeSoto
    88,000

    Nash
    121,793
    Hudson
    131,915

    Chrysler
    87,470

    Cadillac
    109,651
    Cadillac
    110,340

    Hudson
    70,000

    Packard
    90,252
    DeSoto
    106,000

    Packard
    62,921

    Hudson
    66,143
    Packard
    100,713

    Kaiser
    32,131

    Willys
    42,224
    Henry J
    81,942

    Willys
    31,363

    Lincoln
    40,762
    Lincoln
    32,574

    Henry J
    30,585

    Kaiser
    27,652
    Frazer
    10,214

    Lincoln
    27,271

    Henry J
    16,672
    Crosley
    6,614

    Crosley
    6,614

    Metropolitan
    743
    (calendar year sales)
    Production Figures for 1954

    Production Figures for 1955

    Production Figures for 1956
    Ford
    1,165,942

    Chevrolet
    1,704,667

    Chevrolet
    1,567,117
    Chevrolet
    1,143,561

    Ford
    1,451,157

    Ford
    1,408,478
    Plymouth
    463,148

    Buick
    738,814

    Buick
    572,024
    Buick
    444,609

    Plymouth
    705,455

    Plymouth
    571,634
    Oldsmobile
    354,001

    Oldsmobile
    583,179

    Oldsmobile
    485,458
    Pontiac
    287,744

    Pontiac
    554,090

    Pontiac
    405,730
    Mercury
    259,305

    Mercury
    329,808

    Mercury
    327,943
    Dodge
    154,648

    Dodge
    276,936

    Dodge
    240,686
    Chrysler
    105,030

    Chrysler
    152,777

    Cadillac
    154,577
    Cadillac
    96,680

    Cadillac
    140,777

    Chrysler
    128,322
    Nash
    91,121

    Studebaker
    116,333

    DeSoto
    109,442
    DeSoto
    76,580

    DeSoto
    115,485

    Nash
    83,420
    Studebaker
    68,708

    Nash
    96,156

    Studebaker
    69,593
    Hudson
    50,660

    Packard
    55,247

    Lincoln
    50,322
    Lincoln
    36,993

    Hudson
    45,535

    Hudson
    22,588
    Packard
    31,291

    Lincoln
    27,222

    Clipper
    18,482
    Metropolitan
    13,162

    Imperial
    11,432

    Imperial
    10,684
    Willys
    11,856

    Willys
    6,565

    Packard
    10,353
    Kaiser
    8,539

    Metropolitan
    6,096

    Metropolitan
    9,068
    Henry J

  2. Although well documented, Don’s post didn’t format well, so I’ll summarize.

    Per Wikipedia, Pontiac led Oldsmobile from 1939 through 1953, usually 5th in sales behind Plymouth and Buick respectively. There were four years in the Forties when they slipped to 6th behind Dodge.

    Buick’s position became inconsistent after 1958 but they still often held the 4th spot quite often up through the 1990s. Pontiac surpassed them in 1959 and remained there except for the period 1980-1986.

    If one of the marques had been killed in the Seventies, GM likely would have been a much stronger and more cohesive company. Those were strong years for all of the GM brands, but the others would have taken up the slack. One of them might have even beaten Chevy.

  3. In hindsight, while tri-5 Chevys ruled the collector car roost for many years, Buick late 50’s models have come surging back like a tidal wave in the last decade, and their cars speak for themselves! Much as I like Pontiac, and no disrespect is intended, but their models are unlikely to have much of a renaissance…

    • I keep a close look at Hemmings and I just don’t see that. Pontiac’s from 49-56 except certain models are hard to come by in decent shape . 57-59 are quite pricey and certainly offer more performance and handling and ride than Buick. Overall years at Hemmings today we are talking a 2 to 1 ratio of Pontiac’s for sale over Buick.

      • Well you are well informed if you get your info from HMN. My comment was more of a ‘feeling’ i guess. My Parents drove Pontiacs. Cheers!!

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