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.
” 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
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.
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!!