1946 Pontiac Torpedo

Before the United States' involvement with World War II, Pontiac's model lineup included the six- and eight-cylinder Torpedo resting on the GM A-body platform and the larger Streamliner on the GM's B-body platform. The Torpedo had a 119-inch wheelbase and the Streamliner measured 122-inches. The streamlined bodies had built-in headlight fairings, low floors, and 'alligator' type hoods. The Streamliner Torpedo had fastback styling with rooflines that gracefully flowed from the slanted windshield to the rear bumper. For the shortened 1942 model year, Pontiac gave the Torpedo a lower and wider appearance with the hood stretching back to the front doors, negating the cowl. Complimenting the wider appearance, the bumper, hood, and grille were widened, and the headlamps were placed farther apart.

The 1942 models were introduced in September 1941 and production ended a few months later, on February 10th of 1942. Pontiac would not resume civilian automobile production until September 13th, 1945.

When hostilities subsided, automakers quickly resumed vehicle production using pre-war designs, technology, and mechanical components. The value-packed Pontiac appealed to the middle-class, middle-aged buyer who eagerly embraced the mildly updated vehicles created by Pontiac. Just like in 1942, the 1946 Pontaic model lineup consisted of the Torpedo and the Streamliner, and both were offered with either six- or eight-cylinder power. Both had similar styling and several similar body styles, with the most distinguishable feature being the shorter 119-inch wheelbase platform of the Torpedo compared to the 122-inch wheelbase of the Streamliner. The Streamliner was offered as a sedan, two-door sedan coupe, and a station wagon (with six- or eight-passenger seating), with prices that ranged from $1,440 to $2,050.

The coupe body style was priced at $1,300, the sport coupe at $1,350, the sedan coupe at $1,400, the two-door sedan at $1,370, the convertible at $1,630, and the sedan at $1,430. The addition of the eight-cylinder engine boosted the prices by approximately $30. The six-cylinder option was more popular than the eight, with 26,636 units built compared to 18,273 units.

Most customers purchased the larger Streamliner, with 43,430 examples being powered by the six-cylinder engine and 49,301 by eight-cylinder power.

Both the Torpedo and the Streamliner were mildly updated as the years progressed, and in 1949, Pontiac introduced all-new modern envelope bodies. The Torpedo name was dropped, the Streamliner became the new 'entry-level' Pontiac, and the Chieftain was the new top-of-the-line model.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2022