Chris Chastain's 1952 Pontiac Chieftain - Roddin' Arizona Newspaper

Chris Chastain’s

1952 Pontiac Chieftain

We purchased this beauty in 2024 while attending the Rockabilly Bash at Lake Pleasant in Peoria, Arizona. The moment we laid eyes on it, we fell in love—the unique flat green body paired with the metallic green roof and interior just stood out. And the fact that it’s a Pontiac sealed the deal— everyone knows how rare and hard-to-find these old Pontiacs are.

Originally found in a barn in Bullhead City, Arizona, the car had been sitting untouched for nearly 40 years. The previous owner brought it to Justin at JG Design & Fabrication in Ventura, California. Justin and his team handled all the custom fabrication, bodywork, and paint. They also completed a full powertrain conversion, swapping in a Chevy Small Block 350 pushing 290 HP, backed by a 700R4 transmission with a floormounted Lokar shifter.

After taking ownership in 2024, we began adding our touches. We brought in Ron Hernandez from Glendale, AZ, for custom pinstriping. We then installed a complete Vintage Air system with heat and upgraded the engine bay with a fully polished serpentine drive belt system from CVF Racing, a radiator overflow tank, HEI spark plug wires, and a polished upper radiator hose for a modern, clean look.

To handle Arizona’s summer heat, our friend Paul Wilson, owner of Mr. Wilson Window Tinting in Peoria, AZ, tinted the windows and windshield. We also swapped out the Pontiac hubcaps for classic 1956 Lincoln Premier hubcaps, added three Pontiac stars to the fender skirts, and installed 1958 Pontiac Bonneville interior door trim emblems on the front fenders.

The car sits frame-low thanks to extensive chassis work—C-notched, channeled, with a Mustang II front end and custom 2-link rear suspension. “El Greengo” has become more than just a car to us—it’s a family project, a labor of love, and an awardwinning head-turner that wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing help of: