1951 Pontiac Eight Streamliner sedan delivery

Matt Harwood · July 15, 2012

Look through our inventory, and you’ll find only two cars that rival the quality of the work on this stunning 1951 Pontiac Eight sedan delivery: one costs $1.8 million, and the other costs more than half a million. THAT’s how nice this car is, and we have no qualms about calling this the finest 1951 Pontiac sedan delivery on the planet. And before you scoff at the price and call me crazy, note that at least three other inferior examples have sold at auction for bigger numbers. Quite honestly, even if you could find one, you couldn't put even the nicest original car into this condition for less than the asking price.

Anyway, it really is as nice as it looks in every way. Finished in St. Clair Blue, which is a correct 1951 Pontiac color (original color was Palmetto Green), it's simply gorgeous in person. As a California car all its life, there's zero rust and no evidence of any patches or repairs, and if this truck ever worked for a living, that was a long, long time ago and I'm guessing its job was delivering pillows or feathers, because it's immaculate. The bodywork is laser-straight and painted with modern 2-stage urethane, so it does have a hard shine that isn't totally correct, but on the upside, it'll look this good practically forever. The Streamliner models also got plenty of chrome, all of which has been restored to concours levels, including the massive grille and bumpers, delicate 'Pontiac Eight' script, and speed lines on the hood and rear door. There's a Deluxe indian head hood ornament that is just amazing, and yes, it does light up with the headlights. This truck is also loaded with every accessory and option you could get including fender skirts, dual spotlights with mirrors, dual taillights with back-up lamps, and a visor.

The interior is probably a lot nicer than original with correct gray vinyl on the seats and door panels. I'm guessing that a rubber floor mat was standard equipment, but perhaps Deluxe models like this one came with the same carpeting the production cars got, I can't find a source that can confirm or deny this. At any rate, it's just as nice inside as it is outside, with fully rebuilt gauges that all work properly, an AM radio that comes in loud and clear, a heater that will roast a turkey, and impressive attention to detail. In back, there's battleship linoleum on the floor, a taut healiner, and some kind of cardboard-based material protecting the side walls, all of it very correct-looking. There's also a full-sized matching spare under a trap door in the rear.

The engine is Pontiac's smooth, reliable 268 cubic inch inline-eight, which is a flathead design and makes 120 horsepower thanks to a compression bump in 1950. Beautifully detailed and fully rebuilt, it runs smoothly and makes subtle eight-cylinder sounds, but really this is much too luxurious-feeling an engine for a delivery truck. The detailing throughout the engine bay is highly correct, from finishes to hardware, with the only notable deviations from absolute original is a heat shield under the carburetor and incorrect rivets holding the body tag in place if you really want to pick nits. The engine is linked to a 4-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission recently serviced by the experts at Capaldi Enterprises, and it cruises effortlessly because Hydramatics got highway-friendly 3.63 rear gears. The chassis is as highly detailed as the engine bay and needs little more than a wipe-down to be ready for competition at the very highest levels. Five new BFGoodrich wide whitewall bias-ply tires have been fitted to the original wheels.

We're asking $59,900, and given the quality of the restoration, it's a screaming bargain. Pontiac fans will know this is a rare machine, and if you've ever seen one, it was probably modified or cut up, not restored to concours levels. It's also a lot of fun to drive and still every bit as practical as it was 50 years ago. A very cool old car for someone looking for something special. Thanks!

Edited July 16, 2012 by Matt Harwood (see edit history)

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1951 Pontiac Eight Streamliner sedan delivery

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