A Picture Review of the Pontiac from 1926 to 1949

The first Pontiac car made it's debut in 1926, but the Pontiac division's history actually dates back to 1893, when Edward M. Murphy established the Pontiac Buggy Company in Pontiac, Michigan. This company produced horse drawn carriages. It wasn't long before it became clear that motorcar sales were going to out distance the carriages. In 1907 Murphy started the Oakland Motor Car Company as an offshoot of the buggy company.

In 1909 General Motors acquired half of Oakland Motor Car Company. GM's founder William Durant, a friend of Murphy's, was actually more interested in his talent and expertise than his Oakland cars. But before Durant could use these talents, Murphy died. Shortly after this GM purchased full control of Oakland. The Oakland was very successful car through 1920. Then, a minor economic depression combined with inefficient production weakened Oakland and GM.

General Motors was in disarray by 1920 and Durant who had founded the company 12 years earlier lost control of it again after loosing and regaining control several times before. The problem was that all the company's seven divisions were fighting for the same customers, and none were trying to gain the Model T Fords customers, which had the largest market share.
GM's prices ranged from $795 for the lowest end Chevrolet, to $5,690 for the highest priced Cadillac. Since GM wasn't in the position to go after the Model T, a committee of company executives led by the new GM President Alfred Sloan, decided to create a car to fill a long-standing price gap between Chevrolet and Oldsmobile. Besides being a gap filler this new car would serve as a platform to share vehicle components. This would improve volume efficiency.
The Pontiac was created in 1926 as a replacement to the Oakland.
The Pontiac had the distinction of being the first General Motors car to be designed to fit in a specific market slot.
The first Pontiac was the Series 6-27, debuted at the 1926 New York Auto Show. It was built on a 110 inch wheelbase and it featured a Fisher designed body and a six cylinder Lead engine.

Demand soon outpaced capacity and by mid 1926, the division began plans to build a $15 million assembly plant in Pontiac, Michigan.

In 1927 Harley Earl created an Art & Color studio, which was an industry's first. Earl first designed the highly successful LaSalle, and he later became head of GM Design. Art & Color and designed all GM models, including Pontiac.
Harley Earl was with GM for many years and was responsible for such cars as the Corvette.
He stayed with General Motors until his retirement in 1959.
For a more detailed history of the Pontiac please visit


1910 Oakland Model 24 Runabout
These pictures were submitted by Paul Black, Tampa, FL They were taken at a car show in Lakeland, FL back on Oct. 18th.

1910 Oakland Model 24 Runabout	1910 Oakland Model 24 Runabout

1910 Oakland Model 24 Runabout	1910 Oakland Model 24 Runabout

1910 Oakland with Owners in period dress	1910 Oakland Model 24 Runabout
For the complete story on the Oakland click here
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1911 Oakland	1911 Oakland
These pictures were submitted by Ron Shelby, Salt Lake City, Utah

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1926 Pontiac 2 Door Sedan	1926 Pontiac 2 Door Sedan
These pictures were submitted by Nanci Dunham They were taken in 1928 taken in Boonville, NY and show her grandfather, Arthur C. Meurer standing by the car he just bought. It still has the dealer plates on it.

1926 Pontiac Coupe	1927 Pontiac 4 Door Sedan

1927 Pontiac Roadster	1928 Pontiac Model 370 4 Door Sedan
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1928 Pontiac Landau Sport Sedan as it arrives from the USA This car is owned by Frank Stirling from Langley, British Columbia Canada	1928 Pontiac Landau Sport Sedan as it arrives from the USA This car is owned by Frank Stirling from Langley, British Columbia Canada
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1928 Pontiac Landau Sport Sedan	1928 Pontiac Landau Sport Sedan
This car is owned by Mark Stroop, The Netherlands	Mark is looking for some rear end parts for this car. If you can help please email me:
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1928 Pontiac Landau Sport Sedan at the Steamworks show This car is owned by Frank Stirling from Langley, British Columbia Canada Frank did the restoration work on this car.	1928 Pontiac Landau Sport Sedan at Concours D Elegance Show 08/03 This car is owned by Frank Stirling from Langley, British Columbia Canada

1928 Pontiac Coach	1929 Pontiac Series 6 29 Big Six

1929 Pontiac Roadster	1929 Pontiac Roadster
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1929 Pontiac 4 Door Sedan	1929 Pontiac 4 Door Sedan
These pictures were submitted by Eddie Anderson. That is Eddie at 2 years old in front of the car.	This picture shows Eddie and his grandfather.

1930 Pontiac 4 Door Sedan	1931 Pontiac 5 Window Rumble Seat Coupe This car is owned by James A. Dixon, of Dixon Auto Sales The car has a factory heater and is a great driving car.

1932 Pontiac 2 Door Sedan	1932 Pontiac 2 Door Sedan

1932 Pontiac Convertible Coupe	1933 Pontiac 8 Brochure

1933 Pontiac 8 Brochure	1933 Pontiac 8 Brochure

1933 Pontiac Roadster	1933 Pontiac Convertible

1933 Pontiac Coupe	1933 Pontiac Coupe

1933 Pontiac Coupe	1933 Pontiac Coupe

1933 Pontiac Coupe	1934 Pontiac Eight 4 Door Sedan

1934 Pontiac Model 34-603 Touring 2 Door Sedan	1934 Pontiac 3 Window Rumble Seat Coupe
This car is owned by Michael Turner. He tell me that it is the that BONNIE AND CLYDE drove before stealing the 1934 Ford they were later killed in. It was in the automobile history museum in Syracuse New York from 1968-thru-2005.

1934 Pontiac Deluxe Eight 4 Door Sedan	1934 Pontiac Deluxe Eight 4 Door Sedan

1934 Pontiac 8 Touring 4 Door Sedan	1934 Pontiac Deluxe Eight 4 Door Sedan
	This picture was submitted by Carlos Molina of Buenos Aires, Republic Argentina. The car was owned by his parents
	Roy from Massachusetts submitted these pictures of his 1934 Pontiac Five Window coupe He had the following to say about his car. " IT SEEMS TO BE AN "EXTREMLY RARE" COUPE... IT IS ALL ORIGINAL STEEL, NO RUST EVER... IT LOOKS LIKE YOU MAY LIKE THE STOCK MODELS, THIS ONE IS 99% STOCK ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT ITS GOTTAH VORTEC CORVETTE DRIVE TRAIN, POWER WINDOWS 700R4 TRANY, A/C, TILT ,COLUMN, RACK AND PINION. IT CRUSES DOWN THE HIGHWAY LIKE A RRROLLS RRROYCE !!!


1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe	1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe

1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe	1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe

1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe	1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe

1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe	1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe

1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe	1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe
	Roy submitted these out door pictures of his car on a beautiful New England fall day
1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe

1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe	1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe

1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe	1934 Pontiac Five Window Coupe
The car shown below is owned by Michael Turner. He bought it is gavverston TX and towed it home to Chattanooga TN. These pictures show the loading and arriving home
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1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603	1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603
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1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603	1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603
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1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603	1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603
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1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603	1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603
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1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603	1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603
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1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603	1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603
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1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603	1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603
This next series of pictures show the car after it was restored and ready for the road.

1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603	1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603

1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603 in Gatlinburg Tn.	1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603

1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603	1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603

1934 Pontiac 2-Dr Sedan, Model 34-603

1935 Pontiac Improved 8 Touring Sedan This picture was submitted by John Wallace	1935 Pontiac Improved 8 Cabriolet This picture was submitted by John Wallace
	The following series of pictures of a 1935 Pontiac Convertible were submitted by Eric Gordon who has his 1954 Kaiser Manhattan Rebuild, his 1954 Kaiser Convertible conversation and his 1951 Kaiser shown on these pages. This 1935 Pontiac was owned by his parents when they first married.
1935 Pontiac Convertible

1935 Pontiac Convertible	1935 Pontiac Convertible

1935 Pontiac Convertible	1935 Pontiac Convertible
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1935 Pontiac Convertible	1935 Pontiac Convertible
	This picture was submitted by R.Philbert. The picture shows Sudan's general governor Abdel Latif Pasha grandson in Cairo Egypt at age 15 in his 35 Pontiac The picture was taken in 1937

1936 Pontiac Master Deluxe 6cyl	1937 Pontiac 224 Sedan

1937 Pontiac Deluxe Eight Convertible Sedan	1937 Pontiac Silver Streak 4 Door 6 Cylinder


1938 Pontiac Woody Station Wagon Advertisement	1938 Pontiac Convertible
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1938 Pontiac DeLuxe 2 Door Sedan	1938 Pontiac DeLuxe 2 Door Sedan Street Rod
This car as shown was owned by Jim Bohn, Roseville MN but has since been streetrodded as shown on the right.
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1938 Pontiac DeLuxe 2 Door Sedan Street Rod Interior	1938 Pontiac DeLuxe 2 Door Sedan Street Rod

1939 Pontiac DeLuxe 8 Convertible	1939 Pontiac DeLuxe Six 4 Door Sedan

1939 Pontiac Deluxe 2 Door Coach	1940 Pontiac 2 Door Sedan

1940 Pontiac DeLuxe Eight 4 Door Sedan	1940 Pontiac 2 Door Sedan

1940 Pontiac Silver Streak Convertible	1940 Pontiac Transparent Car


1941 Pontiac Deluxe Streamliner 4 Door Sedan

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1946 Pontiac Torpedo Streamliner	1946 Pontiac Torpedo Streamliner
This car is owned by Lynn and Doug MacDonald, Burnaby, BC. Canada	This car is owned by Lynn and Doug MacDonald, Burnaby, BC. Canada

1947 Pontiac Torpedo Back	1947 Pontiac Streamliner Woody Wagon

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1947 Pontiac	1947 Pontiac

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1947 Pontiac	1947 Pontiac

1947 Pontiac	1947 Pontiac

1947 Pontiac	1948 Pontiac Deluxe Torpedo Eight Convertible

1948 Pontiac Deluxe Torpedo Streamliner Sedan	1948 Pontiac Deluxe Torpedo Streamliner Sedan

1948 Pontiac Silver Streak 4 Door Sedan	1948 Pontiac Silver Streak

1948 Pontiac Silver Streak This car is owned by Ernie Dau Sr. of Surrey, B.C. Canada	1948 Pontiac Silver Streak
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1948 Pontiac Streamliner This car is owned by Bob Crocker of Ontario, Canada	1948 Pontiac Streamliner This car is owned by Bob Crocker of Ontario, Canada

1948 Pontiac Silver Streak	1948 Pontiac Silver Streak
These pictures were submitted by Don Pate, Arkansas City, Kansas

1948 Pontiac Silver Streak	1948 Pontiac Silver Streak

1948 Pontiac Silver Streak	1948 Pontiac Silver Streak

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1948 Pontiac Torpedo Silverstreak 2 Door Sedan 6 cylinder	1948 Pontiac Torpedo Silverstreak 2 Door Sedan 6 cylinder
This car is owned by Justina Garcia	This car is owned by Justina Garcia
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1948 Pontiac Silver Streak 4 Door Sedan	1949 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe Sedan
This picture was submitted by Tim Collins. The car was owned by his father and was taken in Bay City, MI around 1949

1949 Pontiac Streamliner De Luxe Sedan Coupe	1949 Pontiac Chieftain Deluxe Woody Station Wagon

1949 Pontiac Streamliner De Luxe Sedan Coupe	1949 Pontiac Streamliner De Luxe 4 Door Sedan

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	The Pontiac from 1950 to 1959
	The Pontiac from 1960 to 1970