1931 Pontiac 5-Passenger 2-Door Sedan

The Tupelo Automobile Museum Auction|27 April 2019, 10:00 CDT|The Tupelo Automobile Museum

1931 Pontiac 5-Passenger 2-Door Sedan
Engine no. P684018

200ci L-Head Inline 6 Cylinder
Single Carburetor
60bhp at 3,000rpm
3-Speed Manual Transmission
Front Beam with Semi Floating Rear Axle Suspension
4-Wheel Drum Brakes

*Attractive Blue paint
*Early example of the Pontiac marque
*An excellent introductory vintage automobile

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

The Pontiac companion marque originated within another member of the General Motors family: Oakland. Located in Pontiac, Michigan, Oakland had grown out of the Pontiac Buggy Company and thus the name of the eponymous Indian Chief seemed a natural choice for its new model. The latter had been conceived as a quality six-cylinder car for the price of a four and was a runaway success, setting what was then a record for debut-year sales of almost 77,000 units, which was more than its Oakland parent achieved that year. Contributing to the Pontiac Six's success was the fact that it boasted up-to-the-minute styling yet was mechanically entirely conventional. Developed at Chevrolet, it was, in essence, a Chevrolet chassis re-engineered to accommodate a six-cylinder engine, the latter being a 186.5ci (3,057cc) sidevalve that produced 40bhp at a leisurely 2,400rpm. There was a three-speed gearbox and brakes on the rear wheels only. The first open Pontiacs were offered in 1927 and four-wheel brakes arrived the following year. There was a larger (200ci) engine on the 'New Big Six' for '29. More than half a million Pontiacs had been made by the time of the Wall Street Crash of October that year, and although Pontiac would survive that catastrophe, its less-successful Oakland parent was axed.

On offer here is a 4-door sedan variant of this depression era piece of American history. Sporting a two-tone blue exterior with matching blue cloth seats inside, the car presents in lightly worn condition. Its simple, almost austere interior features seating for five with its double bench seats and a manual transmission with a floor shifter. Sitting a step above the Model A Ford, the 6 Cylinder power of this Pontiac provides a more usable driver experience to those willing to take cruise on the open road.

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