Wide Track

I know that Pontiac's famous "Wide Track" slogan was just ad hype except for the first two years ('59-'60) when the wheels were moved outboard to make the cars look right.

What I've always wondered, and can't seem to learn, is exactly what they did to accomplish that. Did the '59-'60s have positive-offset wheels? Are the rearends wider? Wider front A-arms? Exactly what did they do?

I know that Pontiac's famous "Wide Track" slogan was just ad hype except for the first two years ('59-'60) when the wheels were moved outboard to make the cars look right.

What I've always wondered, and can't seem to learn, is exactly what they did to accomplish that. Did the '59-'60s have positive-offset wheels? Are the rearends wider? Wider front A-arms? Exactly what did they do?

Pontiac accomplished the front wide track by lengthening the upper and lower "A" arms and a frame adjustment modification for engine and lower link position. FYI, Positive offset wheels are a no no as they cause premature outer wheel bearing wear, as many 59-60 Chevrolet owners would find out trying to make their cars look and handle like a Pontiac.

In the rear, all third member ( pumpkins ) are interchangeable from 1957-1964 in Pontiac and Oldsmobile. They are very strong and when properly set up can handle over 1,000 HP. Those 9.3" rear end third members were used in many dragsters and early funny cars. In the axle it is the length of the axle and the housing that make the difference.

1959 front track is 63 7/8 inches wide and 1960 is a full 64 inches wide. The rear track is 64 inches wide for both years.

But the hype as you say was not just B/S and Wide Track really did make the cars handle and ride better. For the 59 model the spring rates were reduced from the 58 rate by 9%, but because the track was increased by five inches the roll stiffness was increased by 14% automatically. In severe cornering the wider track disallows steering geometry change because less force is applied to the bushings, and rubber bushings will distort. Fortunately Pontiac has bronze bushings for it's upper front "A" arms. The wider track in the rear allows for less bushing distortion for the rear links as well.

The frame of the 59-60 Pontiac is similar to the new for 1958 X frame, but there are a few differences for the wider suspension and a new engine mounting system. The 58's engine has three mount locations, one to the engine timing cover, and the other two to the rt. & left to the bell housing. The 59-60 and the rest of the real Pontiac engines ever made are two mounts to the side of the block to a new cross member and the trans tail shaft mount serves as the rear stability anchor. Suspension and frame for 59-60 are different from 58 narrow track. To also accommodate the wide track, instead of a single front cross member in 1958, the 59-60 uses a pair of cross members and the lower control arms for the front suspension are anchored between the members and brackets.