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1932 Pontiac Series 302

General Motors introduced the Pontiac brand in 1926 to fill the price gap between the Chevrolet and Oakland brands. Initially priced at $825 for the Coach and Coupe body styles, the six-cylinder Pontiac was very popular with over 204,500 examples built between December 28th, 1925, and October 31, 1927. Its L-head, six-cylinder 186.5 cubic-inch engine offered 40 horsepower and was installed in a 110-inch wheelbase chassis that had an overall length of 151.25 inches. Styling elements included plate glass windows, automatic windshield wipers, drum-style headlamps, and triple-steep front fenders.

Six-cylinder engines would be the sole powerplant offered for Pontiac vehicles through 1932 when V-8s became available from the discontinued Oakland brand (1931 was the final year for the Oakland Model 301 V8; it was renamed the Pontiac Series 302 for 1932). This V-8 engine displaced 251 cubic inches and had an oversquare bore of 3.44 inches and a stroke of 3.375 inches. With three main bearings, solid valve lifters, a Marvel one-barrel carburetor and 5.2:1 compression, the engine offered 85 horsepower at 3,200 RPM.

The 1932 Pontiac models included the six-cylinder Series 402 and the eight-cylinder Series 302. The Series 402 had a 114-inch wheelbase and prices ranging from $645 to $800. The Series 302 rested on a 117-inch wheelbase platform and was priced from $845 to just over $1000. Both the six- and eight-cylinder engines had a three-speed synchromesh transmission, a semi-floating rear axle, and four-wheel mechanical brakes. The body styles were the same, consisting of a coupe, sport coupe, 2- and 4-door sedan, custom sedan, and a convertible coupe.

New features found on the 1932 Series 302 was a slightly raked windshield, door type hood ventilators, new radiator emblems, and a vee-type radiator shell that had a built-in grille. They now had fender lights and dual horns.

6,281 examples of the Series 302 were built in 1932 which accounted for just over 15% of Dodge's total 41,340 vehicles produced. The majority of the cars were the six-cylinder, lower-priced Series 402 which found 35,059 willing buyers.

For 1933, Pontiac switched to a straight-eight engine and it would remain a part of the lineup through 1954. In 1955, Pontiac would introduce all-new chassis, bodies, and a 287.2 cubic-inches V8 engine rated at 173 HP (180 horsepower with the Hydra-Matric transmission).

Fixing the GM Price Gaps

During the 1920s, General Motors identified several gaps in its produce ladder. At the 'bottom rung' was the price-leading Chevrolet marque, followed by Oakland, Oldsmobile, Buick, and Cadillac. Each of these was priced higher than its predecessor and offered a higher degree of luxury and its engine delivered more horsepower. By the mid-1920s, a sizable price gap existed between Chevrolet and Oakland, along with Oldsmobile and Buick, and Buick and Cadillac.

These significant price gaps often meant that its loyal customers began exploring other marques for vehicles - abandoning the General Motors family. General Motors created the Companion Make Program to allow its customers to continue the climb its product ladder, offering customers a variety of vehicles from its different marques to satisfy every budget and need.

The 1926 Pontiac was designed as a 'light six' resting on a shorter wheelbase and priced in the four-cylinder territory, albeit above Chevrolet. Pontiac, the first of the companion marques, sold 49,875 units in its first year; by 1929, Pontiacs eclipsed its Oakland sibling in sales by over 163,000 units. Pontiac would outlast its Oakland sibling and would be the only companion make to survive beyond 1940.

LaSalle was introduced for the 1927 model year to supplement Cadillac (positioned slightly below the top-of-the-line Cadillac marque). Marquette was introduced in 1929 for 1930 to supplement Buick. Viking was also introduced in 1929 to supplement Oldsmobile.

by Dan Vaughan

Sport Coupe

'More for your Money' - This automobile was only in production for 90 days. The Oakland Motor Car Company was founded in 1907 and became part of General Motors in 1909. In 1925, General Motors sought an intermediate car priced between the Chevrolet and Oakland. The V-8 was going to be produced as the 1932 Oakland, though due to Pontiac's popularity General Motors integrated Oakland (Pontiac's parent company) into the Pontiac badge in late 1931. A total of 6,281 Pontiac's were produced of all body styles for 1932. The body is by Fisher. The engine is a 251 cubic-inch V8 that developed 85 horsepower and was capable of 75 miles per hour.

The 251 cubic-inch L-head V8 engine had a 5.2:1 compression ratio, a one-barrel Marvel downdraft carburetor, and produced 85 horsepower. The first Pontiac V-8 began production on December 22, 1931, and was largely carried over from the 1930-1931 Oakland. The engine's unusual vibration-suppression synchronizer, which mechanically pushed in the opposite direction of its inherent rocking, was relocated from the right to the left side of the block.

Coupe

Pontiac was created in 1926 as a companion marque to Oakland and to fill a price niche between Chevrolet and Oakland in Alfred Sloan's carefully orchestrated stair-step brand strategy that had severed General Motors so well. General Motors, like so many others, was faced with many difficult business and product decisions. The company decided to keep Pontiac and end the Oakland marque (in 1931). Pontiac had outsold Oakland and though it was a difficult decision to make, it was the one that made the most sense.

With Oakland's demise, Pontiac's straight-six engine was replaced with the Oakland 85 horsepower 251 CID V8. The V8 engine was expensive so it was replaced the next year with a 223 CID straight-eight. A V8 would not be seen again in a Pontiac engine bay until well into the 1950s. This L-head V-8 used cast-iron construction with a 5.2:1 compression ratio that was fed by a one-barrel Marvel downdraft carburetor. The retail sticker topped out at $845 and included a synchromesh transmission and ride control with adjustable shocks.

This Rumble Seat Coupe was purchased in 2007 by the current owners from the McMullen collection. When new, this coupe, complete with a rumble seat, was reportedly driven as a company car by a Pontiac executive.