1955 was the year Pontiac finally let go of the straight-eight and gave the Star Chief its first V8, a 287-cubic-inch Strato Streak good for up to 180 horsepower. Positioned as Pontiac’s prestige model above the Chieftain, it came in five body styles, from a plain sedan to a Safari wagon to a full convertible, and drew more than 200,000 buyers that year alone. Here’s what made 1955 the turning point for Pontiac’s lineup.