Pontiac does not build many cars like the Pontiac Torpedo: a Custom: / 2-door sedan / 4-door 4-window sedan / 4-door station wagon / Streamliner: / 2-door fastback Sedan coupe / 4-door fastback sedan / Deluxe: / 2-door Business coupe / 2-doo with 239 cuin Flathead I6, built from 1939 to 1948 when streamlining and independent suspension were arriving together. Its designer of record is Harley Earl.
How it came about
The Pontiac Torpedo is a full-sized car produced by Pontiac from the 1940 model year until February 2, 1942. Civilian car and truck production ended during World War II, and companies shifted to supply the war effort. Assembly of nearly identical to the pre-war Pontiacs restarted in 1945; however, it was not until June 1946 that Torpedo models were available. Production continued through 1948, after which the Pontiac Chieftain replaced the Torpedo for the 1949 model year When released, the Torpedo was the largest Pontiac, featured an eight-cylinder engine, and had more standard equipment than other Pontiacs.
The Torpedo name was exclusive to Pontiac's highest line in 1940. In 1941, the name was applied to all Pontiacs in three separate lines. The Custom Torpedoes were now the top-of-the-line model, while the DeLuxe Torpedo became the baseline, and the Streamline Torpedo became the middle line of Pontiacs. All Torpedo models were available with either a straight six- or eight-cylinder engine beginning in 1941. From 1942 through 1948, the Torpedo name designated only the base Ponieac models.
The hardware
Under the skin sits 239 cuin Flathead I6; other versions carried different engines, listed in the specification table below. Kerb weight is 1940: 3600 -. The gearbox is a 3-speed synchromesh manual. The layout matters: a front engine drives the rear wheels, the classic proportion — long bonnet, cabin set back — that most people picture when they picture a sports saloon or a grand tourer. The wheelbase is 1940: 122 in / 1941 Deluxe and Custom: 122 in / 1941 Special: 119 in. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
Family and rivals
Where it sits in Pontiac's history is not in doubt: the Pontiac Six came before it; the Pontiac Chieftain followed it; it was built at Pontiac, Michigan. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Lincoln Continental, the Volkswagen Beetle, the Rolls-Royce Phantom III berline. Its Pontiac stablemates include the Pontiac 2+2 and the Pontiac 6.
The money
There is no federal ownership record for the Pontiac Torpedo — it predates the complaint database or was never sold in the United States — so MotorJury publishes no running-cost figure for it. For a car of this age the price is set by the collector market and the condition of the individual example, not by a formula.