1957 Pontiac Chieftain | London, Surrey

A 1957 Pontiac Chieftain, a full-sized American car from the years Pontiac moved fully to V8 power. The 1957 models are known for their missile-shaped side trim and the generous, chrome-bright proportions of the mid-1950s. This car is black with a black interior, a deep, even scheme that sets the chrome against a plain background. A 5.7-litre V8 sits under the long bonnet, and the cabin has room for six. It is left-hand drive: the driver sits on the kerb side and the front passenger steps out on the road side, which gives each arrival an American look. Advertising and film and TV productions set in the 1950s get a period shape with long, flat panels that fill the frame. Music video, photography and fashion and editorial shoots get bright chrome on a black body, which reads cleanly beside colour. Events gain a formal vintage arrival car, and weddings and personal hires share that sense of occasion. The car is based in London, Surrey.