43 replies to this topic

[Art Anderson]

I must disagree with this one: All my references, including Collectible Automobile, and an excellent Wikipedia along with several owner-identified photographs online, refer to this car as a 1948 Pontiac Streamliner Custom Coupe. "Torpedo" was used on this body style when it was introduced in 1941, and for the truncated 1942 model year. Beginning with 1946, Pontiac labeled the car "Streamliner", which name carried over through the last of the fastback Pontiacs in 1952.

Art

Edited by Art Anderson, 06 April 2012 - 04:33 AM.

[Harry P.]

I must disagree with this one: All my references, including Collectible Automobile, and an excellent Wikipedia along with several owner-identified photographs online, refer to this car as a 1948 Pontiac Streamliner Custom Coupe. "Torpedo" was used on this body style when it was introduced in 1941, and for the truncated 1942 model year. Beginning with 1946, Pontiac labeled the car "Streamliner", which name carried over through the last of the fastback Pontiacs in 1952.

Art

Here is the 1948 Pontiac brochure.

http://www.oldcarbro...e/dirindex.html

[Thom]

My first guess a Streamliner. From the angle of the picture it was difficult to tell a 122" wheelbase from 119".

[sjordan]

http://commons.wikim..._1948_-_006.jpg

http://commons.wikim...r_streak_-_1948

http://www.artfact.c...-1-c-31b4299988

The description of the "Silver Streak" name in the 3rd link above seems somewhat dubious in saying that the name referred to the chrome stripes. Wikipedia says it's the Straight-8 engine. However, the brochure shown by Harry shows the Silver Streak script on the Fleetleader, which is described as a six-cylinder car. As far as "Torpedo" is concerned, I would think that an auction house like Bonham's would have the paperwork to prove it.

http://en.wikipedia....raight-8_engine

It's all very confusing.

Edited by sjordan, 06 April 2012 - 06:37 AM.

[mikemodeler]

I must disagree with this one: All my references, including Collectible Automobile, and an excellent Wikipedia along with several owner-identified photographs online, refer to this car as a 1948 Pontiac Streamliner Custom Coupe. "Torpedo" was used on this body style when it was introduced in 1941, and for the truncated 1942 model year. Beginning with 1946, Pontiac labeled the car "Streamliner", which name carried over through the last of the fastback Pontiacs in 1952.

Art

I hear you Art as I made about 6 attempts at the correct model and year before getting it correct. Ironically enough, I found the very image online that Harry used and it was from that I was finally able to submit the answer.

This one was a tough one because of the exact nature of the model and the fact that there were a bunch of other models that looked similar. If I hadn't found that same image online, I don't know if I would have been able to get it right.

At least next week we just have to figure out if it is real or model!

[MikeMc]

For 1942, the Torpedo name was assigned to the A-bodied Pontiac while the Streamliner became the B-bodied Pontiac. The grille got horizontal bars, while the headlamps were placed farther apart. Most Torpedoes continued to have the notchback styling found on the Deluxe Torpedoes. However a new body style to the A-bodied Pontiac was a 5-passenger 2-door Sedan Coupe which had fastback styling similar to the Streamliner. After Dec. 15, 1941, the Torpedo received wartime 'black-out" trim, which meant that all the chrome pieces were painted in Duco Gun-Metal Grey.[1]

In 1946, the first postwar Pontiac's looked very similar to the pre-war models. The dash contained full instrumentation with round gauges. The engines were the same. The 4-window 4-door Metropolitan Sedan and the 2-door Club Coupe were discontinued.

1947 Torpedoes received a new "Chief Pontiac" hood ornament. An 8-tube radio became optional.[7]

1948 was the last year for the Torpedo. The Hydramatic automatic transmission became optional.[9] Base price was $1,500.

http://en.wikipedia....Pontiac_Torpedo

Edited by MikeMc, 06 April 2012 - 06:15 AM.

[my66s55]

It is clearly a Torpedo as that is the model by brochure. The Silver Streak issue is an a subject that Harry and I went back and forth on for a number of pm's. The name silver streak, as pointed out by Skip, was in reference to the silver streaks on the car and absolutely correct. Wekipedia was incorrect, again. The name Silver Streak was promoted in the ads by Pontiac in 1937, and appeared on the car for many years as the only name besides Pontiac. When, as a you boy, I was learning the names of cars by appearance in the early 1950's, we always referred to Pontiacs as Silver Streaks. Even to this day, ads for this vintage Pontiac refer to them as Silver Streaks.

Attached Files

•  1937 pontiac silver streak add 1.JPG   142.95K   3 downloads
•  1937 pontiac silver streak add 2.JPG   34.83K   4 downloads
•  1937 potiac silver streak add.JPG   35.99K   2 downloads

Edited by my66s55, 06 April 2012 - 09:44 AM.

[Harry P.]

Even to this day, ads for this vintage Pontiac refer to them as Silver Streaks.

There's no mention of "Silver Streak" anywhere in the 1948 sales brochure.

[my66s55]

Give it up Harry. You'll never convince me. Your too young.

[Harry P.]

So the Pontiac brochure is lying?

[my66s55]

You just don't get it Harry. Silver Streak was a name Pontiac associated with there cars as a sales gimmick. You show me where on the 1948 Pontiac it says Torpedo on the body and I'll show you where it says Silver Streak. It's a concept that you just can't seem to grasp.

Edited by my66s55, 06 April 2012 - 11:11 AM.

[Harry P.]

You just don't get it Harry. Silver Streak was a name Pontiac associated with there cars as a sales gimmick. You show me where on the 1948 Pontiac it says Torpedo on the body and I'll show you where it says Silver Streak. It's a concept that you just can't seem to grasp.

From all the references I found, the term "Silver Streak" was a marketing catch-phrase that referred to the car's engine, it was not the car's model name. There is absolutely no mention of a "Silver Streak" Pontiac in the '48 brochure. If Pontiac sold a "Silver Streak" model in 1948, don't you think it would have been included in the sales brochure?

The brochure shows Fleetleaders, Torpedos, and Streamliners. No Silver Streaks.

People may refer to the cars as "Silver Streaks" because of the scripts on the fenders, but those are like "Hemi" decals on a muscle car-era Road Runner or 'cuda. They refer to the engine, they are not the car's model name.

[MikeMc]

Gotta stick with Harrys facts this is from a '67 CHALLENGER...



And this is from a '49 Torpedo...



I too said "Silver Streak" and found the facts.....

[MikeMc]

You just don't get it Harry. Silver Streak was a name Pontiac associated with there cars as a sales gimmick. You show me where on the 1948 Pontiac it says Torpedo on the body and I'll show you where it says Silver Streak. It's a concept that you just can't seem to grasp.

Ahhhh Doug....Harry does get it, and you do to, as I quote you "Silver Streak was a name Pontiac associated with there cars as a sales gimmick"

I think all the factory sales brochures I have now seen show its a Torpedo ..... badge or not.

"The name Silver Streak was promoted in the ads by Pontiac in 1937" and was changed in '41 to Torpedo.

Edited by MikeMc, 06 April 2012 - 02:57 PM.

[my66s55]

You still refuse to get it Harry. You refuse to acknowledge what was going on. It's not a model name. It's a name attached to the vehicle by pontiac for advertising purposes and it caught on. You are so thick and determined that you can't get that concept through you heads. That plus the fact that you are too young to know how it was referred to during this period and in fact, believe it or not, still is to this day. Do a google search and enlighten yourself. Silver streak is as scotch tape for cellphone tape and Reynolds wrap for aluminum foil. Get a clue.

Edited by my66s55, 06 April 2012 - 12:06 PM.

[MikeMc]

GOOGLE DECIDES

[my66s55]

Mike, I got it with the first guess, if that's what you want to call it. The problem was that I added Silver Streak to the answer and that's where Harry and I got into it. It's not like a hemi insignia on a Chrysler product. The general public didn't elude to a car as a hemi plymouth, etc. like the Pontiac was/is referred to as a Silver Streak. Wekiopedia states in it web page that it is in reference to the straight eight engine, yet all Pontiacs bore the Silver Streak name, incluing the sixes. Apples and oranges for a different time and era in automotive history. The google search bears witness to the popularity of the term to this day.

[Harry P.]

Doug... I think we'll just have to agree to disagree.

[my66s55]

Agreed Harry

[CorvairJim]

I can't resist... I just CAN'T! Just for the heck of it, I went to Google images too and looked up "1948 Pontiac Silver Streak", and found THIS on the second page:



Look familiar? It should, because it's this week's "Mystery car"! Hey, I don't care one way or the other. Harry showed the Pontiac sales brochure which clearly shows absolutely NO reference to the "Silver Streak" as a model name, and that's good enough for me. This photo just goes to show how the name has ingrained itself in the typical car guy's lexicon. It may not have been a Silver Streak when Pontiac built it, but it is one now (at least to the average old car nut... ).