Washington Post - March 4, 2001

..the 1955 Pontiacs were a classic example of the changes that made
the 1950s a golden decade for U.S. automakers. Imports were still
largely on the horizon and Detroit was in full control. General Motors,
Ford and Chrysler all hit the market with stunning new designs and
Plymouth and Chevrolet both were given V-8 engines to match Ford at the
entry-level market. U.S. auto production jumped 44 percent to a record
7.9 million units, 581,860 of them Pontiacs. Engine power packs and
dual exhausts were as common as two-tone paint. The Star Chief
http://snipurl.com/Star_Chief_1955 was the only convertible Pontiac
offered in 1955. The new V-8 engine and new body styling helped
transform Pontiac's image from a sedate family car to a road warrior.
Optional accessories ranged from power windows and air conditioning to
fender skirts and "Continental" kits for the spare tire.

* Price $2,691
* Engine 287.2-cubic-inch V-8
* Horsepower 173 at 4,400 rpm
* Wheelbase 124 inches
* Overall length 210.2 inches
* Seating capacity 6
==========
Year 1955

* President Dwight D. Eisenhower
* Median family income $4,421
* Dow Jones industrial average (year-end) 488.39
* McDonald's opens first restaurant
==========
Pontiacs of the 1950s: http://snipurl.com/Pontiacs_50s