Pontiac Streamliner
Pontiac Eight/Pontiac Streamliner | |
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Chronology | |
Successor | Pontiac Star Chief |
The Pontiac Streamliner is a full-size car produced under the Pontiac brand by General Motors from 1932 until 1952. A mass-produced and popular vehicle, it was a significant luxury car during the recovery from the Great Depression, and during and immediately after the Second World War.
Pontiac Straight 8
Series 601
For model year 1933, Pontiac introduced the all-new Economy Eight Series 601 with the 223.4 cu in (3.7 L)
Series 603
The Pontiac Series 603 was the new designation used in 1934 and was the only model offered for 1934. Body style choices continued from the previous year and several appearance, mechanical and equipment changes were introduced. Vehicles equipped as Standard models could be identified with an Indian Brave's head in a circle on a teardrop base, while Deluxe equipment had an Indian Maiden hood ornament. Production began January 1, 1934 and a radio, called the "Air Chief" was on the list of options to include a front bumper, cigar lighter, clock, spotlights and a folding rear trunk rack.[1]
Series 605
The 1935 Pontiac Series 605 Eight was now the senior sedan to the reintroduced
Series 8BA
The 1936 Pontiac Deluxe Series 8BA was introduced with a 116.625 in (2,962 mm) wheelbase to accommodate the longer engine, and the grille had a badge that identified the engine with eight cylinders with an overall length of 194.3125 in (4,936 mm). New standard features included retractable front and rear center armrests installed in the seats on mohair cloth upholstery. The independent front suspension was something GM called "
Series 28
The 1937 Pontiac Deluxe Eight Series 28 was the first year all GM vehicles offered an optional "Dual Safety
Post-depression evolution of Pontiac
As the economy began to recover from the Great Depression, Pontiac in 1938 began to offer more choices in body styles while keeping the overall retail price of their eight-cylinder products under US$1,500 ($32,468 in 2023 dollars [3]). Five 2-door coachwork choices to include the Sport Coupe with rumble seat, Business Coupe, Touring Sedan and Convertibles, and three 4-door choices were offered including a 4-door Convertible Sedan seating five passengers. The options list continued to grow with such items as a tenite shift lever ball for US$0.50 ($11 in 2023 dollars [3]), two passenger compartment heater choices for either the Master or Deluxe trim package, fog lights, license plate frames, seat covers, floor mats, cigar lighters and the rear view mirror was still an extra cost item at US$2.95 ($64 in 2023 dollars [3]). Calendar year production was recorded at 95,128. A new Factory Delivery Program was introduced where custom ordered vehicles would be delivered to the customers address once the car arrived at the selling dealership.[1]
1939
1939 offered appearance changes as usual, such as different types of Indian hood ornaments for the Deluxe Eight and the entry-level Quality Six. The heater and windshield defroster was now called "Weather Chief", two types of radios were offered and continued to install the radio antenna in both running boards, an retractable metal sunroof called "Sunshine Roof" was available, and the gearshift was now permanently relocated to the steering column instead of being floor mounted, called "Safety Gearshift", allowing a third passenger on the front bench seat. Total Pontiac calendar-year production was documented at 170,726.[1]
1940
For 1940,
1941
In 1941 the
1941 was the last year Pontiac offered a model with the GM C-body until the big "
1942
For 1942, the Torpedo name was assigned to the A-bodied Pontiac while the Streamliner became the B-bodied Pontiac.[1]
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1933 Pontiac Economy Eight 2-door sedan
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1934 Pontiac Series 603 Sedan
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1935 Pontiac Series 605 Eight Sedan with Helen Twelvetrees
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1938 Pontiac Deluxe 2-door Sedan
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1939 Pontiac Deluxe Convertible Coupe
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1941 Pontiac Streamliner Torpedo Eight coupe (B-body)
1942-1948
Series 26/28 | ||
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Curb weight | 3,600–4,100 lb (1,600–1,900 kg) |
The Pontiac Streamliner is a
Streamliners used the larger
With the end of the
The first postwar Pontiac available (September 13, 1945) was the Streamliner coupe, which remained the sole product for a time.[2] The Chieftain trim level of 1942 was renamed the Deluxe trim level in 1946. Styling highlights of Pontiacs were wraparound bumpers, a massive 14-blade grille, new nameplates and concealed safe-light parking lamps.[2] Streamliners could be identified by straight back Indian moldings on the rear hood ornament chrome beltline moldings and bright moldings on the "speedline" fender ribs.[2] They also had longer front fender crown moldings and were generally larger in size.[2] Lettering on hood emblems and badges placed forward of the "speedlines" identified Eights.[2] Interior trim on passenger cars were in gray striped cloth.[2] Station wagons had three seats in standard trim, two seats in Deluxe trim and used imitation leather upholstery and passenger car style interior hardware.[2] Ranging in price from $1942 for a standard Six to $2,047 for a Deluxe Eight, Streamliner station wagons continued to be the most expensive Pontiac model.[2] A total of 92,731 Streamliners were sold in 1946, accounting for over two thirds of all Pontiacs.[2]
In 1947 the "
In 1948 a new Pontiac styling included triple "Silver Streaks," a horizontal grille theme with vertical shaft, and round taillights.[2] The word "Silver Streak" was carried on the sides of the hood with eights having an "8" placed between the two words.[2] Streamliners were again larger and more expensive than other Pontiacs.[2] All Streamliners, be they 2-door or 4-door fastbacks, or station wagons, now came standard or Deluxe.[2] Deluxe models were distinguished by spear moldings on front fender, bright gravel guards, and chrome plated wheel discs on all cars except wagons.[2] Deluxe interiors had two tone trims with pillow-and-tuft seatbacks, quarter sawed mahogany dash and window trim, electric glovebox door clocks, Deluxe steering wheels and other rich appointments.[2] Standard Streamliner station wagons had tan imitation leather seats and Deluxe wagons had red upholstery of the same type.[2] Station wagon prices ranged from $2,364 for a standard Six to $2,490 for a Deluxe Eight, making them Pontiac's most expensive model.[2] In 1948 160,857 Streamliners were sold, accounting for nearly 66% of all Pontiacs.[2]
Perhaps the biggest story of 1948 for Pontiac was the addition of an imported engine and transmission out of Italy. This changed the name for General Motors perhaps because their cars were not made fully domestic. In 1950 they decided to go back to domestic-made motor and transmission as a result of people protesting about having a car from “Italy”
1949-1951
Series 25/27 | ||
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Curb weight | 3,600–4,000 lb (1,600–1,800 kg) |
The 1949 Pontiacs featured low sleek envelope bodies.
The 1950 Pontiacs utilized the popular 1949 envelope bodies with revisions to trim and appointments.[2] The horizontal center grille bar now wrapped around the corners of the body.[2] Deluxes had a chrome body strip, chrome wheel rings, chrome headlight rings and stainless steel gravel guards.[2] Eights had an "8" between the words. Streamliners (except for station wagons and sedan delivery trucks) had fastback styling.[2] The price of Streamliner station wagons fell to a range of $2,264 for standard Sixes to $2,411 for Deluxe Eights[2] due to the fact all-metal construction did not require final work be done at Hercules Body Company or Iona Manufacturing. Nevertheless, the Streamliner station wagon remained the most expensive Pontiac model.[2]
The 1951 "Silver Anniversary" Pontiacs reflected 25 years of advanced engineering.[2] A wing-shaped grille was seen and a Silver Streak theme continued. Streamliners again used the B-body shell with sloping fastbacks on coupes.[2] Deluxes had chrome body strip, bright gravel guards, and headlight rings.[2] Belt line moldings on all Deluxe passenger cars (not station wagons) had a dip behind the doors.[2] Standard belt moldings were straight.[2] A script plate reading Pontiac was used on Series 25 Sixes and on Series 27 Eights a different script read Pontiac Eight.[2] In its final year, the Streamliner station wagon continued to be Pontiac's most expensive model, ranging in price from $2,470 for a standard Six to $2,629 for a Deluxe Eight.[2] Pontiac's headquarter operations at the Pontiac, Michigan plant was responsible for 49.2% of all Pontiacs built in 1951.[2]
With the demise of the Streamliner, 1951 would be the last time Pontiac offered a
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 0-87341-478-0.
- ^ ISBN 0-87341-521-3.
- ^ a b c d e f g 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.