September 17, 2024

Hail to the Chieftain – a Custom 1953 Chieftain Convertible for the Family

Mick Even is proud to claim, “I grew up in a Pontiac dealership!” So, it would seem logical that he might have crafted several cars from that brand during his decades of playing with hot rods and customs. Not so. This 1953 Pontiac Chieftain convertible is his first custom built to sport the Chief badge.

Mick came of age in the years when Pontiacs were tearing up the NASCAR tracks and NHRA drag strips. Despite that, and his family’s Pontiac business, he says he cut his teeth on “quite a few Chevys from ’48 to ’54 – but no Pontiacs until this one!”

In a way it’s not surprising. This ragtop in a dealer’s showroom would barely have rated a second glance from a young gearhead back in the day. When Mick’s grandfather obtained a franchise to sell them in Alton, Iowa, in 1946, Pontiacs were a step-up model from Chevrolet. Young guys in the 1950s and ’60s were interested in hot rods and cool customs, and pre-1955 Pontiacs were neither. Offering only an inline flathead six or eight engine, they were super-sluggish, and removing the silver streaks from the hood and trunk, plus side trim and emblems, left too many holes to fill.

Mick’s father and uncles joined their dad to sell and service Pontiacs and used cars until the business was sold in the 1980s. Mick learned the trade by sweeping floors, changing oil, washing windshields, and working in the body shop. He ultimately wound up with his own shop offering paintless dent repair and media blasting.

Ten years into the 21st century, Mick’s good friend John Britton found this 1953 Pontiac Chieftain convertible online in Nebraska. “It needed everything,” Mick says – front and trunk floors, in addition to bodywork on every exterior panel. However, everything appeared to be there, even the Pontiac’s considerable amount of stainless.

The seller accepted their offer of $2,500, and Mick and John hauled the hulk home, intending to flip it for a profit. But as time went by, “John convinced me to keep it and build it,” Mick says. “Since we’d never done a Pontiac, or a convertible, it would be a new experience.”

Sadly, John died before the six-year project was finished, but Mick had a network of friends who contributed. Rocky Fey grafted a GM G-body front subframe to the Pontiac frame, giving it a more contemporary suspension with disc brakes and helped install a ’57 Chevy rearend. QA1 coil-over shocks gave the Poncho a modern, modestly lower ride finished off with Diamondback Classic wide whitewalls on chrome 16- and 18-inch Wheel Vintiques wheels.

A 2012 Camaro SS gave up its LS engine to the drop-top project. It remains mostly stock but has been detailed, fitted with a CVF Racing accessory drive system, and topped with a custom engine cover that incorporates silver streak trim like that found on the hood. A 4L80E transmission handles shifting chores and is controlled by a Lokar shifter.

Bodywork, which included custom touches like ’55 Olds headlights and shaved door handles, was done by Lanny Ioos and Jeff Roling. Josh Leners machined a gas filler cap incorporated into the Chieftain emblem on the left rear fender, plus the steering wheel centerpiece. All the stock Pontiac stainless trim was meticulously straightened and polished by Pat Halter. The original bumpers, grille, and other chrome trim was replated, even the factory-accessory lighted Indian-head hood ornament.

“My wife, Gayle, helped pick the colors,” Mick says. The choice of Sherwin Williams Jaguar Caviar Pearl is as classy and distinctive as the car itself and was applied by Jeff Roling at Classic Auto.

Darren Carlson was responsible for the upholstery, dressing ’65 Thunderbird front bucket seats and a ’65 Riviera rear seat in brown leather with wicker-pattern inserts. A ’64 Dodge Polara console divides the seats. The original dash was updated with Dakota Digital instruments in the original cluster, a Vintage Air under-dash A/C system, and an Ididit tilt column topped with a custom wheel. Darren also engineered the unique “fitted luggage” in the trunk, which helps hide the fuel tank that had to be raised up through the floor for ground clearance after lowering the rear end.

Mick is quick to point out that this 1953 Pontiac Chieftain was built for his son, Jake, who will eventually get the keys to this cool convertible. And he’s already at work on another first – a ’59 Rambler American two-door station wagon – for his daughter Gina.

It’s easy to see that the completed convertible is a tasteful mild custom with plenty of class, but Mick’s satisfaction with his 1953 Pointiac Chieftain project goes much deeper than that. “Everyone who worked on the car is a good friend,” he says. “I think my grandpa, dad, and uncles would be happy with the way the car turned out.” We think they would, too.