1939 Pontiac Deluxe

The 1939 Pontiac model lineup included the Quality 115 and the Deluxe 120. Both wore General Motors A-body with the Deluxe 120 being the larger of the two, resting on a 120-inch wheelbase platform versus the 115-inch version of the Quality. The Deluxe was available with either a six- or Eight-cylinder engine, while the Quality was offered solely with a six. Both of the six-cylinder engines were the same, an L-head inline unit with a 222.7 cubic-inch displacement, four main bearings, solid valve lifters, a Carter one-barrel carburetor, and delivering 85 horsepower at 3,520 RPM. It was backed by a three-speed, column shift, synchromesh transmission with a dry disc clutch, Hotchkiss drive, and a semi-floating rear axle. Braking was handled by hydraulic drum brakes located at all four corners. The inline eight-cylinder unit displaced 248.9 cubic-inches and delivered 100 horsepower, also backed by a three-speed gearbox. Body styles on the Deluxe included a coupe, sport coupe, convertible, and a two- and four-door touring sedan. Prices ranged from $760 to $990 for the Quality 115, from $815 to $990 for the six-cylinder Deluxe, and $860 to $1050 for the Deluxe Eight. 34,774 examples of the Deluxe eight were produced, and 53,830 of the six-cylinder Deluxe. 55,736 examples of Quality 115 were constructed for the 1939 model year.

The Pontiac marque had originated from another member of the General Motors family - Oakland - which itself had grown out of the Pontiac Buggy Company. Located in Pontiac, Michigan, it used the name of the eponymous Indian Chief and was conceived as a quality six-cylinder model priced in the four-cylinder territory. From the start, it was successful with nearly 77,000 units sold, more than its Oakland parent achieved that year. Part of the Pontiac Six's success was its modern styling, conventional mechanical components, and attractive pricing.

The Pontiac models received the nickname, the 'Silver Streak' in the mid-to-late 1930s due to the distinctive multi-groove chrome strip that bisected their bonnets. Both the 1939 Qualit and Deluxe models had similar Art Deco styling, while the Deluxe's had larger windshields, V-shaped windows openings, wider back windows, and additional chrome trim around the beltline. They could be ordered with or without running boards, or streamlined 'body skirts.'

With the eight-cylinder engine installed, an Indian head ornament was placed on the hood. Six-cylinder models had a straight-back feather design while eight-cylinder models had fin-like feather designs. A 'Pontiac Eight' emblem was placed on the cars' rear deck, further distinguishing them from its six-cylinder siblings.

General Motors contracted with two companies in 1939 to produce wood bodies for Pontiac station wagons, including the Hercules Body Company in Evansville, Indiana. Though Pontiac did not maintain exact body production numbers in 1939, total Pontiac station wagons numbered no more than a couple thousand.

by Dan Vaughan

Touring Sedan
Chassis number: 3113436

The 1939 Pontiac Series 26 Deluxe 120 was available in several body styles, most had two doors. There was one four door body style (the Touring Sedan), a two-door coupe, sport coupe, convertible coupe, and a two-door touring sedan. Pricing ranged from $815 - $1,000 and there were a total of 53,830 examples produced during the 1939 model year. Powering the Series 26 was an L-head six-cylinder engine that displaced 222.7 cubic-inches and produced 85 horsepower; it was the same engine found in the Series 25. The transmission was a synchromesh three-speed manual gearbox with a dry disc clutch. The wheelbase was the largest Pontiac had to offer, measuring 120 inches and the same platform used for the Series 28. The Series 26 was longer, lower, and wider than the Quality Six models.

The highlight of the Series 26 lineup was a special vehicle that was designed specifically for general Motors 'highways and Horizons' pavilion at the 1939-40 New Yorks World's Fair.

Norman Bel Geddes designed the GM Pavilion, known as 'Futurama', which foretold the transportation and communities systems of 1960. This peak into the future included 'Previews of Progress,' with items such as 'Yarns made of Milk! Glass that Bends! The Frig-O-Therm that cooks and freezes at the same time! The Talking Flashlight transmitting speech over a light beam!' Sharing the spotlight was the 'Glass' Car - The first full-sized transparent car ever made in America.' General Motors along with Rohm & Haas, the chemical company that had recently developed Plexiglas, built a one-off special body using the chassis of a 1939 Pontiac Deluxe Six. Rohm & Haas, using drawings for the Pontiac four-door Touring Sedan, constructed an exact replica body using Plexiglas in place of the outer sheet-metal. All the hardware, including the dashboard, was chrome plated. The structural metal underneath was copper washed. The rubber moldings were made in white, as were the car's U.S. Royal all-white tires. The result of the work was an exterior that allowed onlookers to view the cars innards. Fittingly, the car is commonly known as the 'Plexiglas Pontiac' or 'Ghost Car.' It reportedly cost $25,000 to build.

A second Plexiglas car was later built, using a Torpedo Eight chassis, and hurriedly constructed for the 1940 Golden Gate Exposition on Treasure Island, a man-made island in San Francisco Bay. The 1939-40 Deluxe Six is the only one known to survive.

After the New York World's Fair, the Series 26 Ghost Car went on a dealership tour, and then retired to a special display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. where it remained until 1947. It was later owned by a succession of Pennsylvania Pontiac dealers. It appeared at the first annual meet of the new Pontiac-Oakland Club International in 1973 and was purchased by Don Barlup of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. Barlup commissioned a partial restoration from S&H Pontiac of Harrisburg and sold it to collector Leo Gephart in 1979. The current owner's father purchased it from Gephart in the early 1980s, and it has remained in the same family ever since.

Source: RM Auctions

by Dan Vaughan

Touring Sedan
Chassis number: P6EA-35162

This Pontiac Silver Streak Deluxe Six Station Wagon was built in only the third year of Pontiac's Woodie production. This Deluxe Six was sent as a chassis to the Hercules Body Company in Evansville, Indiana - one of two companies that were contracted by GM in 1939 to produce wood bodies for Pontiac station wagons. This Woodie was acquired by a Connecticut owner and was used for many years as an estate vehicle, primarily during the summer months. It is believed that during the winter months, the car was stored on block.

In recent years, it has been owned by a Southern California collector. It was the poster car for the 2003 Wavecrest Woodie Meet in Encinitas, California. The Wavecrest meet is generally recognized as one of the foremost exhibitions of quality wood- bodied station wagons.

This Deluxe Six features period GM fog lights, bumper guards, mirrors, a Deluxe Safety steering wheel, a heater, and a cabin fan that is mounted on the dashboard. It has a recent repaint in the original color.

Though the correct numbers is not known, this station wagon is likely one of no more than a couple thousand examples originally produced. It is one of only seven 1939 examples of the Pontiac Woodie that are registered with the National Woodie Club.

Power is from a 223 cubic-inch L-Head six-cylinder engine breathing through a single-barrel Carter carburetor. It produces 85 horsepower and is mated to a three-speed Synchromesh manual gearbox. There are four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes and a semi-floating rear axle.

In 2012, this car was offered for sale at Gooding & Company's Scottsdale, Arizona auction. It was estimated to sell for $125,000 - $185,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $68,200 inclusive of buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Touring Sedan

The 1939 Pontiac's featured three model lines, the Quality Six, the Deluxe Six and the Deluxe Eight. The Deluxe Six shared the frame and wheelbase of the Eight and the six-cylinder engine of the Quality Six. The engine generated 85 horsepower. For 1939, the Deluxe Six accounted for 53,830 units out of a production run of 144,340.

One feature of the Deluxe Six was a Hypoid rear axle. This enabled a lower position for the driveshaft, which resulted in a lower hump in the passenger compartment. This was the first year for the link-parallelogram steering system. This system stayed in production on GM rear drive cars until the 1990's. The shifter moved from the floor to the steering column and was adjustable to fit the drivers reach.

The only restoration on this vehicle has been some paintwork. It retains its original glass and interior. It also has the original owner's manual, a complete tool kit, clock, radio and heater.