1956 Pontiac

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 My ‘56 was much more base than the one above. I couldn’t locate a picture of one with no chrome on the sides. It was the least adorned of the Pontiac’s in 1956, I’m talking really, really a base model.

I bought it in the spring of 1964. It was ugly to the bone, an ugly green. But, it was a good car. It had a small V8 engine and a very rare 3 speed manual shift transmission. A column shift was extremely rare for a Pontiac since by 1956 almost all Pontiac’s, Oldsmobile’s, and Buick’s had automatics as standard fare. Interestingly though, for several years later an automatic was listed on the window sticker as an “option” with a hefty price tag even though every car on the lot that year model had automatics and standard shifts were becoming very rare.

When the cold nights started in the winter of ‘64, likely a few nights in October, when I decided it was cool enough to turn the heater on, boy was I shocked! It didn’t have one! The next day as I inspected it closely in the light of day I found that it was sold originally in Key West, Florida and ordered with no heater, I suppose to save the frugal buyer a few bucks. So, my warm Navy p-coat was standard wear the remainder of that year.

I was in my last year of high school and the Pontiac was not fast, not pretty, but a good, quiet, dependable car which I always enjoyed driving. Thinking back, it was one of the best cars I have owned.

December of 1964 I was badly injured in an auto accident and the Pontiac was sold before I was able to drive once again. As I remember, at that age I was ready for a change anyway. I didn’t like to keep a car very long. Perhaps it was hereditary. My grandfather Ogle traded cars more often than anyone I ever knew, and almost always got tattooed. I have always been pretty fair and making  a good deal, but I have done it a lot.

Next time a 1953 Chevy Bel Air.

Tags: 1956 Pontiac, base model, cars, cars I have owned, no chrome