Pontiac Silver Streak

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Launched in 1935, the Silver Streak was marketed by GM as 'the most beautiful thing on wheels'. It got its name from the parallel chromium ribs that raced up the vertical grille and streaked on across the bonnet to give an impression of speed and glamour. 

They cost a bit more to buy than GM’s budget Chevrolet models, but a few dollars less than the more upmarket Buick marque, occupying a space in the market for the ‘blue collar’ buyer willing to spend just that little bit extra for a few of life’s luxuries. The Pontiac still offered plenty of performance from its 3.9-litre flathead six engine which was mated to a three-speed manual column-change gearbox and they sold in their tens of thousands.

Despite Pontiac's huge sales volumes, the vendor confirms that this 1942 model year two-door is one of just 402 such examples made. The American military were sucking up everything that could be obtained in the immediate aftermath of Pearl Harbor, requisitioning all of these two-door models from factory stocks for military use, ordering fresh supplies of the more practical four-door sedan thereafter. 

During 1945, the US Government issued an edict to destroy vast numbers of now redundant military vehicles in a bid to control the supply of used vehicles onto the home market. This two-door therefore had a lucky escape, ending up in a museum at Travis Airforce Base, California, making it a rare survivor indeed.

Liberated when the museum closed and imported into the UK in 2004, it was acquired by the vendor with no brakes or working electrics. He set about its renovation, a process that included recommissioning the car for the road, fitting new tyres, a 12 volt alternator conversion and a brand new carburettor. It was given a bare-metal professional respray and painted in 101 Airborne Division livery which it wears to this day, the seats being retrimmed in an appropriate material at the same time.

The vendor reports that it drives just as it should, the engine sounding commendably sweet when started during our visit. Ready for show, this fine looking, extremely rare Silver Streak two-door has huge street presence and will certainly get you noticed!