For Sale: 1950 Pontiac Chieftain - "rare rear window windshield wiper" - White Plains, NY - Not Mine

[6T-FinSeeker]

For sale on Craigslist: 1950 Pontiac Chieftain 2-door in White Plains, NY  -  $14,589  -  No phone # provided.  Reply to Seller through Craigslist email to:  bae1d51d110f375397138b911eb1a119@sale.craigslist.org

 

Link: https://newyork.craigslist.org/wch/cto/d/west-harrison-1950-pontiac-chieftain/7323494012.html

 

Seller's Description:

1950 Pontiac Chieftain 2-door

• condition: good
• cylinders: 8 cylinders
• transmission: automatic
• odometer: 50,000
• odometer rolled over
• type: coupe
• paint color: grey
• title status: clean

1950 Pontiac Chieftain, runs and drives excellent. Straight 8 with and automatic 3 speed transmission. New interior, rare rear window windshield wiper. The paint is not "show room" quality, but all not missing any parts or trim and all original except for interior and paint.

Asking $14,589 OBO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[trimacar]

Ok, so the experts need to step up to the plate on this one. I’ve never seen a car of the 40s or 50s with a rear wiper.  Factory or an add on?

[58L-Y8]

50 minutes ago, trimacar said:

Ok, so the experts need to step up to the plate on this one. I’ve never seen a car of the 40s or 50s with a rear wiper.  Factory or an add on?

Factory option, a number of makes offered them in those years.

[kingrudy]

Wow, the size of those rear bumper guards are huge. This must have been another option. Nice looking car IMO. 

[roysboystoys]

1 hour ago, 58L-Y8 said:

Factory option, a number of makes offered them in those years.

Quite a few Hudson stepdowns had the option added at the dealership.

I remember seeing the boxes with the kits at swap meets in the 70's.

Bring big dollars now

[The 55er]

Rear window wipers were available on Chevrolets & Oldsmobiles up to 1948, Pontiacs until 1952, don't know about Buicks or Cadillacs. First time I've ever seen one on a Pontiac newer than 1948. Very unusual. 

[m-mman]

Mercury offered rear wipers at least 1952 through 1954.

Ran a vacuum hose all the way to the trunk to make it work. I never thought it was worth the effort. 

I haven't felt the modern rear wipers are worth it either, but I live in California. 

 

Would a sedan have had a vinyl (originally leather?) interior?

Catalina hardtops certainly, but I would think a sedan would be all cloth. 

Edited May 19, 2021 by m-mman (see edit history)

[GARY F]

My uncle bought a new 48 Pontiac and always remember the rear wiper.

[trimacar]

Thanks, never knew they were an option.  Learn something every other day!

 

[The 55er]

6 hours ago, m-mman said:

Mercury offered rear wipers at least 1952 through 1954.

Ran a vacuum hose all the way to the trunk to make it work. I never thought it was worth the effort. 

I haven't felt the modern rear wipers are worth it either, but I live in California. 

 

Would a sedan have had a vinyl (originally leather?) interior?

Catalina hardtops certainly, but I would think a sedan would be all cloth. 

Pontiac sedans in 1950 would have had cloth interiors. Wagons and trucks had a tan/brown imitation leather and Catalina hardtops had an optional all-leather interior available.

[Hudsy Wudsy]

And don't forget Nash! The rear window wiper was popular on '48 and '49 Hudsons, but not on '50s. Can anyone say why?

[B Jake Moran]

11 hours ago, The 55er said:

Pontiac sedans in 1950 would have had cloth interiors. Wagons and trucks had a tan/brown imitation leather and Catalina hardtops had an optional all-leather interior available.

Right. Another seller that went the cheapest least authentic route to reupholster a car.