I acknowledged long ago that I have a sickness – I cannot stop shopping for cars. But despite my much-greater-than-normal exposure to online car ads, I’m still amazed by the listing for this 1946 Pontiac Torpedo convertible on eBay. And apparently I’m not the only one, as bidding is currently at $19,802 with nearly five days of bidding left to go.
Only made for 6 years, the Torpedo was Pontiac’s largest and most well-equipped model when it was introduced in 1940. It doesn’t take much imagination to figure out how Pontiac might have come up with the name ‘Torpedo’ – it’s more obvious on the hard-top versions, but even this convertible looks like it’s moving when it’s standing still. Without running boards or visible door hinges, and with the short glass relative to the height of the car, this Pontiac was far more streamlined than models that preceded it.
The seller says this car was driven just under 7,000 miles between being purchased in 1947 and being put into storage in 1955, when the first and only owner started using a pickup for his daily transportation. Based on the condition of the car, as shown in the extremely extensive photographs, the seller’s claims seem credible to me. Besides the condition of this car, I’m also amazed by how much documentation has survived with this car since it was sold in January, 1947. I’d be hard-pressed to produce half as much original documentation on my four-year-old Ford. The seller has included photos of every license plate and registration ever issued to the car, every service receipt, the original purchase receipt, factory brochures, photos of the first owner with the car and even the original spare keys.
The seller says the car is currently having it’s brakes and fluids serviced and getting a full tune-up, so it should be ready to drive by the time the auction ends. The only thing I’d address right away is the tires, which are said to be original. I’m guessing they weren’t great compared to modern tires even when they were new, and I’m pretty sure they haven’t gotten better in 70 years. The roof also has some stains, but I’d want to see it in person before deciding if I’d replace it or keep it for originality’s sake. If everything about this car is accurate as described in the auction, this is an amazing survivor that will make a fantastic collectible for its next owner.
What a fantastic car if I had the cash and a place to store it I’d be bidding. Sadly that’s not the case, well at least I got to see it in a few pictures.
I’ll bet you just couldn’t wait to restore it eh?
Only mechanically on this one Dirk. It looks to be in great shape inside and out. I guys got to be able to dream a little. Its all about what you see in your minds eye. I’ve always thought of restoration as extensive catch up maintenance. I know I can sound like a broken record when it comes to these old cars. I just like seeing them as they were when new.
I live in Massachusetts and I’m less than an hour from Templeton where the car is located. If I had the cash, I’d heavily bid on it since it looks real good. What a time capsule.
Freaking amazing!!!
Doesn’t look to be torpedo back to me. Torpedo is a fastback sloping roofline, which the trunk profile doesn’t possess on this convertible. Beautiful find but. What a treasure
The “Torpedo” designation has nothing to do with the body style. All of the small body Pontiac’s were called “Torpedo”, and the large body styles were called “Streamliner”
JFB!* What a honey! Even a millennial could get excited over this.
(*Just Freaking Beautiful)
AWESOME find! AWESOME car!
Not my era, but this one got my attention. Have two barn finds as it is (one thanks to Barn Finds!), but this is one I’ll wish I had been in position to grab.
I was born in Salem Mass and remember the old inspection stickers that are in these pictures (including the pickup truck he has for sale) These vehicles are true time capsules that will sell for high dollar due to the originality and documentation this seller has. Great Find and beautiful vehicles.
Gorgeous.
Man.the holy grail of originality………the real deal..and my magic year for cars…1947. Now looking through the couch……………….
Amazing car, beautifully preserved, but for the Anoraks out there please note that this is an ORIGINAL car and yet the chrome strips on the left front door don’t line up with the strips on the left front fender. As a Concours judge for many years, this was one of the difficulties that I had to overcome, and if the owner could prove that this was how the car left the production line then it would not lose any points. I remember the case of a TOTALLY ORIGINAL 1929 Packard convertible losing points at one of the prestigious Concours in America because of a mild paint run, although the original owners grandson could prove that it had never been painted, it still had points deducted!
It should be revered for what it is, not what a book says it should be. It’s about $75k away from being concours, right now it’s a survivor.
This car has a lot of aftermarket accessories on it, which will knock it down no matter how original or authentic it is. Most of the stuff bolted to it can be readily found in a contemporary Midwest Auto (or your favorite local parts house) catalog. Cheap customizing, all you needed was a drill and some bits.
During this era, it was quite common for the aftermarket to produce trim pieces that mimicked the original trim for owner installation, so someone could buy a cheapie and make it look like an upmarket model, or replace damaged trim cheaper than using factory parts. It was also not at all unusual for a dealer to put upmarket trim on a car to make a sale or move a real slug.
Just randomly looking at pix of ’46 Pontiacs, they seem to show some kind of emblem at the front of the fender spear set, which are not present on this car, so there is no way of knowing at this point if they are even genuwine GM.
This is an example of why I quit judging cars and became a customizer. I grew weary of trying to reconcile the realities of a car against the fantasy of the judging book.
Like the old saw says “You can’t judge a car by its picture”.
Drive’m, don’t show’m.
“It was also not at all unusual for a dealer to put upmarket trim on a car to make a sale or move a real slug”
Sadly enough, times haven’t changed much. $200 pinstripes and $500 Scotchguard, anyone?
The Torpedo name lasted until at least ’49, ’50 at the latest. My Grandpa bought
my Mom one of these in the late ’50’s.
Mom’s was a 2-door fastback with a
straight 8 a 3-speed tranny. It was
light grey over dark blue which to me
looked pretty sharp. It also had fog
lamps, a driver’s side spotlight, metal
windscreens mounted just ahead of
the front vent windows, bumper guards,
and curb feelers. It also had that funky
old mohair smell too. The seats were
large and comfy–just what my sister and I needed to nap on after visiting my uncle’s farm after a fun filled day. Only
thing is I don’t recall Mom’s car ever having those little stars just above the
chrome speed lines on the front doors.
I would love to be the caretaker of this
handsome old ragtop! Would have to
teach Sis how to drive a 3 on the tree,
but no worries there. Just drop the top
and enjoy the ride.
@Kenneth Carney. Evidently the owner was a military man and had the stars put onto the car to show his patriotism as an American and his admiration for General Douglas MacArthur
The man was Navy and those are battle stars earned by the ship he was posted on. A very common practice after WWII.
Back when someone bought a car and intended to keep it for a long time, not a disposable car, respected it for what it was and took good care of it,…….. different time to say the least.
I looked at the GMC 3100 that also came from the owner. Impressive! 30 years of use and looks brand new after the seller cleaned it up and polished it. That’s what I call “perfect patina.” That’s the way a barn find, garage find, should be presented.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1948-GMC-3100-Deluxe/132636280348
Great original car except for the geegaws the owner slapped on the hood, front fenders and rear fenders. Problem removing them is that the paint below will not match and need to be repainted thus loss of originality. The added geegaws are such a distraction I think I’d have to pass. Nice car though.
Looks like the owner got caught up in a JC Whitney catalog, judging from the stars on the front fenders and fake exhaust pipes on the rear fenders. Still an amazing time capsule and worthy candidate for cleanup and preservation, including the stained top.
You’re right, JC Whitney in spades. But consider that this was the popular thing at the time, and the gizmo’s are history along with the car, all period correct. I’d be proud to show the car just as it is and all of the period additions. What a conversation piece!
I wouldn’t change a single thing. It really takes you back as opposed to restored iron.
Love it and is my favorite American oldie as of this presentation.
And the nice thing is he’ll jump the title so you don’t have to pay a lot of taxes……………..
This is what dreams are made of. For me and that is what it would be about me if I could own this, I would change nothing except return the beautiful hood ornament and proudly display the Packard one and find some method to repair the stains on the original top replacing it only as a last resort, and proudly show it every chance I could. What a fantastic piece of History and collection of wonderful data. Congratulations to the next owner and to the family that started this wonderful journey. ENJOY!!!!!
What a time capsule that one is! Absolutely gorgeous! As stated, that’s what dreams are made of.
Very interesting…. And maybe a bit sad?
The top bid of $51,850 didn’t meet the reserve.
OK, I understand the rarity, the condition, etc…..
But it will still take quite a bit of time and $ to bring the car along as a museum-piece, yes? I do not know the market for this type of car, but it seems as though there were a number of strong and willing bidders. I’d like to know how much the seller thinks it is worth?
It’ll take $50,000 to $75,000 to make this car barely presentable . When done you’ll still have a thing that,s worth 1/3 of yo investment and something not able to be more than an old unsafe junker that doesn’t handle, brake,accelerate or have any needed safety features needed for even parade use..
This car is a rare jewel, just as it is. It would be criminal to alter the car. I’ll endorse measures to insure original mechanical specs. “Unsafe old junker” could be applied to any old car, 1990’s and older, but if you’re an old car lover, you’ll have the common sense to drive any older vehicle safely, if you hate and despise any old car like Charles does, you have no business having anything old at all.