Vehicle Description
OK, admit it: you haven't seen many Pontiac hot rod before. That's
okay, because there aren't a lot of them at the cruise-ins, but
there certainly should be. This 1940 Pontiac Deluxe 2-door sedan
makes it easy to love the Excitement Division and its slick pre-war
shape. With reliable small block power, a family-friendly interior,
and an awesome fat-fendered look, nobody will blame you for falling
in love.
Although the GM intermediates shared bodies, they each had their
own unique look, and many will argue that the 1940 Pontiacs were
the best-looking of the bunch. The front end was quite distinctive
with its faired-in headlights and horizontal grilles, and body
details like the famous Pontiac "silver streak" chrome running down
the center of the hood look downright awesome. Magnetic Red paint
from a C5 Corvette is gorgeous and suits the big Poncho just fine,
showing off its more interesting features without being
overpowering. Finish quality is quite good, although it's been
driven and enjoyed, so it's not really a show car today. The doors
fit well and the long pointed hood snugs up tightly to the cowl, so
no unsightly gaps there, more indications of careful workmanship.
The original chrome and trim remains largely intact, including the
strips of brightwork running along the flanks from nose to tail as
well as the original hood ornament and grilles. The bumpers have
been shaved which makes a remarkable difference in the sleek look,
but that's about it for body mods. The sucker just looks right.
For a lot of folks, a full-sized hot rod makes a lot of sense, and
this two-door sedan is a fantastic road trip machine. The original
seats were reupholstered in durable, handsome tan fabric which
retains the vintage look without being excessively customized.
Simple door panels with original moldings and billet hardware help
keep the link to the past alive and the color-matched dashboard is
rather nicely done. Factory gauges are pure art-deco style and are
augmented by additional gauges under the dash. Add in a handsome
leather-wrapped steering wheel on a tilt column, an AM/FM/cassette
stereo radio, and that huge back seat and you have a no-compromises
Pontiac that's ready to rock. There's even a good-sized trunk out
back making it ideal for long-range cruises.
A Chevrolet 350 cubic inch V8 replaces the Pontiac's original
straight six flathead engine, and it's a neat fit in the pointed
engine bay. You can see that the work was thoughtfully done, with
nice service access and a clean, well-organized look that suggests
a careful builder at work. There's an Edelbrock carburetor on a
matching aluminum intake manifold, chrome valve covers, and an
open-element air cleaner on top. Custom headers fit tight to the
block for good clearance and a rumbling dual exhaust system reminds
onlookers that this is no stock Pontiac. A TH400 3-speed automatic
transmission spins a Ford 9-inch rear, while the front suspension
was replaced by a late-model front clip. Leaf springs in back carry
plenty of weight and the sturdy original frame doesn't seem to mind
the extra horsepower flowing through it. Cool American Racing
wheels look great and carry 195/60/15 front and 215/60/15 rear
BFGoodrich T/A radials for a sporty look.
Attractive, practical, and fun to drive, this slick sedan will make
you rethink everything you think you know about Pontiac. With
restoration photos and a great look, it's ready to drive and enjoy
any time. Call today!
