In contrast, whether it’s an AMC Gremlin from the ’50s or a Ferrari from the ’50s, any vintage vehicle that has spent decades buried in a garage, barn, or shed deserves to be here. Even while it might not appear so at first, not all ordinary and useless barn finds actually are. You can’t find a better example than this 1957 Pontiac Star Chief.

The Star Chief, a more expensive variant of the Chieftain, first appeared in 1954. Using the same A-body architecture as the Chieftain, it had a longer wheelbase for improved comfort and was slotted right below the Catalina.

When it was in its second generation (1955–1957), Pontiac offered a V8-powered spin on the Chevrolet Bel Air, which was based on the Tri-Five.

When compared to the Bel Air, the Star Chief was a complete bust. In 1955, for example, Pontiac sold 203,404 Star Chiefs compared to 800,000 Bel Airs (in all body styles) delivered by Chevrolet. Up until the 1957 redesign of both nameplates, the spacing was the same. The second-generation Star Chief isn’t exactly a priceless antique, though.

While it’s true that many of them ended up in junkyards or the crusher before 2023, the total of 433,941 units is still quite a few cars for just three model years. That is the total number of Star Chiefs manufactured between 1955 and 1957.

Among the 103,212 four-door sedans sold in 1957, this one is among the most numerous ones. The catch is that this Star Chief is a Custom Sedan, which is a far less common body style compared to the two-door and four-door Hardtop versions.

Although 44,283 units of the four-door Hardtop were manufactured, the Custom Sedan failed to attract the same number of customers. Less than 9% of 1957 Staf Chief production went to this body design, which sold 8,874 cars.

While the 630-unit Bonneville Convertible is far more unusual, now days it’s a real treat to encounter a four-door post car in person.

This 1957 Star Chief is remarkable for more than just that. Here you may see an original survivor that has been restored and is now ready to be enjoyed again after being stored for many decades. In particular, this Poncho lay buried in dirt for half a century on cement blocks after being parked in a barn in the 1970s.

With only 16,478 miles (26,519 km) shown on the odometer as of this writing, it is indeed a low mileage specimen.

Also, take a look at that stunning green color; it’s rare to find that hue on mass-produced American automobiles these days. It was available exclusively for the 1957 model year and is called Limefire Green Metallic. The fact that the inside and outside are identical in color with white accents that match the roof and side trim makes it even better.

The proprietor reveals that he devoted a few years to restoring it. However, he only had one rust hole to fix, so he could get a few replacement parts. Considering the vehicle sat in Indiana for half a century, that is somewhat surprising.

There is still more work to be done on the Poncho. Even without the rear bumper, this Star Chief is more unusual than your typical four-door car; it’s all part of a jigsaw. The reason behind this is that the hauler was originally ordered with a continental kit.

Extra space in the trunk is provided by an extended rear bumper that also serves as a spare tire, in case you’re not familiar with this feature. Although the exact number of 1957 Star Chiefs ordered with continental kits is unknown, it is safe to assume that it was less than 500 vehicles.

When you consider that it has the original 347 cubic inch (5.7 liter) V8 engine, you can see that you are gazing at a magnificent piece of Pontiac heritage. One that is both a genuine barn discovery and really unique. See it for yourself in the video down below.