For Sale: 1950 Pontiac Silver Streak in Ft Worth, Texas

This seldom-seen 1950 Pontiac Silver Streak convertible does everything right. It's got an honest '50s look that takes no liberties with the original design, but underneath there's a strong 350 small block V8 plus a handsome and tasteful A/C interior, making it the ideal cruiser that's up for anything you'd like to do.

At first glance, most people might not realize just how special this car really is. Paint and bodywork are very stock, and while a red convertible is hardly a sleeper, nobody will ever guess the firepower living within. The finish was completed several years ago so it's no longer perfect, but it's still heck of eye catcher with just the right soft gloss that works so well on older cars like this. Someone invested a lot of time and effort in this finish because it's held up to the test of time, showing only expected signs of use, and if you wanted to kick it back up a notch, a professional cut-and-buff would do exactly that. Door gaps are good and all the sheetmetal is straight, so you know this car has led an easy life. Even more remarkable is the chrome and stainless trim, which is comprised of mostly original and NOS (new-old stock) parts, so the detailing is crisp and you don't see a lot of the usual pitting and deterioration you get on older trim pieces. The beautiful speed streak still wraps around the hood and decklid, and the gorgeous Pontiac hood 'Chief' ornament is remarkably still in place (so many of these were lost on the street or flat out stolen in the parking lot) and beautifully preserved. Out back you'll recognize the round taillights, as they're quite popular with hot rodders, and only the modest chrome exhaust pipes give anything away about the beefed up powerplant inside.

One glance inside will convince you that someone really cared about keeping this one looking mostly stock throughout the years. That's plush replacement upholstery on the factory bench seats, which means that when it needed some TLC, they elected to find materials that were close to what the car was born with it, although we'll admit that the plush red vinyl is more comfortable than anything from the era. Everything was attended to - that includes the seats, carpets, and door panels. Is it seamless and 100% stock? No, but it does show a dedication to the spirit of originality that many restored cars seem to overlook. The dash is pure jet-age cool, with a giant radio speaker that looks like an airplane's exhaust, and a slick pod of gauges ahead of the driver. Stylish bright trim on the door panels give a hint of things to come in the fabulous '50s, and the back seat is incredibly well preserved. More evidence of the car's easy life can be found in the steering wheel and horn button, which are in outstanding condition when you consider that they're likely original. Options were sparse in 1952 as you might expect, although in this restored beauty you get an underdash, R134-powered A/C system that's blowing nice and cold, a set of seatbelts up front, and a power actuated convertible top - although it will need to be serviced as it is currently inoperable. Even the trunk was attended to during the restoration, and its spacious floor is now protected by a black carpeting and also houses a full-size spare tire in the original grooved location.

The original flathead six is gone, replaced by a strong 350 cubic inch V8. Installed with added power and dependability in mind, it runs superbly with the kind of effortless torque that makes this luxury ragtop feel comfortable in any condition. The block was neatly installed and lightly dressed for effect, and the rest of the workmanship is quite good. You'll note the accessories are tucked in close to the block and all the wiring and plumbing is neatly routed. It's backed by a sturdy TH350 3-speed automatic transmission and a modern front clip that includes A-arms and a sway bar. It's nicely detailed, with clean black paint throughout, plus a custom dual exhaust system with glasspack mufflers for a little extra volume and rumble from the V8. Red steel wheels are adorned with correct Pontiac hubcaps, all of which are wrapped with 235/75/15 white-line radials that finish of the awesome original look.

This is really a well-built and very rare car that does everything right. Fast, smooth, competent, and just plain beautiful, it's exactly the right way to build a seldom-seen, but never forgotten classic. Call today!