Pontiac Streamliner

Pontiac Streamliner
1948 Pontiac Deluxe Streamliner Sedan-Coupe
Overview
Manufacturer	Pontiac (General Motors)
Production	1941-1951
Assembly	South Gate, California Wilmington, Delaware Atlanta, Georgia Kansas City, Kansas Framingham, Massachusetts Pontiac, Michigan Linden, New Jersey
Designer	Harley Earl
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Body style	4-door sedan 2-door coupe 4-door station wagon
Layout	FR layout
Platform	B-body
Powertrain
Transmission	3-speed synchromesh manual 4-speed Hydra-Matic
Chronology
Predecessor	Pontiac Streamliner Torpedo
Successor	Pontiac Star Chief

First Generation
Overview
Model years	1942-1948
Body and chassis
Related	Cadillac Series 61 Buick Century Buick Special Oldsmobile Series 70
Powertrain
Engine	239 cu in (3.9 L) Flathead I6 249 cu in (4.1 L) Silver-Streak I8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	122.0 in (3,099 mm)
Length	All but station wagon: 210.3 in (5,342 mm) Station wagon: 215.8 in (5,481 mm)
Height	65.3 in (1,659 mm)
Curb weight	3,600–4,100 lb (1,600–1,900 kg)

The Pontiac Streamliner is a full-sized car that was produced by Pontiac from the 1942 to the 1951 model years.

Along with Oldsmobile, Pontiac had the distinction of having all three of General Motors' mainstream platforms in 1940, but this would last only one more year. In 1940 Pontiac introduced its first B-bodied car, the Deluxe Series 28 Eight. Also in 1940, Pontiac introduced the Torpedo on the C-body. The new C-body featured cutting-edge "torpedo" styling. Shoulder and hip room was over 5 in (127 mm) wider, running boards were eliminated and the exterior was streamlined and 2–3 in (51–76 mm) lower. When combined with a column mounted shift lever the cars offered true six passenger comfort. These changes had clearly been influenced by the Cadillac Sixty Special.

In 1941 the A-body and B-body were similarly redesigned. Consequently Pontiac renamed its entire line-up "Torpedo", with models ranging from the low-end A-bodied Deluxe Torpedo (with a 119.0 in (3,023 mm) wheelbase), the mid-level B-bodied Streamliner Torpedo (with a 122.0 in (3,099 mm) wheelbase up 2.0 in (51 mm) from the previous year), and the high-end C-bodied Custom Torpedo (with the same 122.0 in (3,099 mm) wheelbase as the previous year).

1941 was the last year Pontiac offered a model with the GM C-body until the big "Clamshell" tailgate Pontiac Safari and Grand Safari station wagons of 1971-76. For 1942, the Torpedo name was assigned to the A-bodied Pontiac while the Streamliner became the B-bodied Pontiac.

Streamliners used the larger B-body and, except for the station wagons, used fastback styling. The 1941 Super models with folding center armrest were known as Chieftains in 1942. All Pontiacs looked lower, heavier and wider. Extension caps on the front doors lengthened the forward fender lines. The hood extended back to the front doors, eliminating the cowl. The grille, bumper and hood were widened and headlamps were further apart. Long horizontal parking lamps sat just above the vertical side grilles. The horseshoe shaped center grille had horizontal bars and a circular emblem in the middle of the upper main surround molding. The word Pontiac appeared on the hood side molding of six-cylinder models, while the moldings of the eight-cylinder cars said Pontiac Eight. After December 15, 1941, wartime "blackout" trim was used. All parts previously chrome plated were finished in Duco Gun Metal Grey.