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Barn Find: 1950 Pontiac Silver Streak Wagon

The famous “Tin Woody” Pontiac was an elegant way to haul the kids around, much nicer than any car that we had when I was growing up. This 1950 Pontiac Silver Streak wagon is a barn find according to the seller who has it listed here on eBay in Covina, California. The bids are over $7,000 so far.

This car is a barn find according to the seller and it has a great look to it. Of course, restored to perfection would be nice, but normally we’d see it with a super-patina (i.e., surface rust) look which is raging like crazy right now. This is sort of between nicely-restored and dry and rusty. I mean, patina’y… I love the look of this car the way it is now. Hagerty is at $9,000 for a #4 fair condition wagon, for a reference.

The woody part isn’t real wood as with older woody wagons, hence the Tin Woody name. That split windshield is so quaint and it would go away before too long but I like it, it adds to the period feel of a car like this for me. I could picture this car being used at someone’s cabin or “lodge” somewhere. They have the VW bus roof rack loaded down with goodies and I’m guessing that the stuff in the rack doesn’t come with the car but I could be wrong.

While the exterior is original or mostly original other than a couple of touch-ups over the decades, the interior is mostly new. I wonder what the original color would have been inside? I’m guessing not tan and brown with that maroon dash and green exterior, that’s busy even for me, a lover of crazy colors on cars. The back looks good and there’ll be enough room to “stage” this car with the usual wicker baskets, old fishing poles, an old thermos, etc., for car shows.

The engine is the original 268 cubic-inch straight-eight which would have had 102 hp when new. The seller says that it runs great and they replaced the carb, gas tank, brake shoes and hardware, master cylinder and much more. It starts right up and they drive it two or three days a week. Anything that was bad or questionable mechanically has been repaired or replaced it sounds like. Would you keep this Silver Streak maintained and drive it or would you restore it?

Comments

  1. Avatar Rick

    There should be a law, that you can’t put surf boards on your car unless you actually surf…

    Like 18
    • Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

      Ha! That reminds me of our Goddaughter who wears a watch but can’t tell time unless it’s a digital clock. I kid you not – no clue how to read a clock with hands on it. She graduated high school with a 3.99 GPA and finished college a full year early, but doesn’t know how to tell time with a “face” clock and doesn’t know how to light a match.

      Like 12
      • Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

        If you want s real howler,Scotty, show her a ROTARY phone and ask her to make a phone call…😱😆
        Then again, I’ve a goddaughter that knows how to correctly remove & replace the motor in the Capri she drove to HS and still school us on computer research/logistics.

        Like 2
      • Avatar ken tilly Member

        Scotty, My 14 year old grandson is just the same. There is just about nothing he can’t do on a computer but it’s taken me about two years to teach him how to tell the time using an analog watch, even then he has to study it for a few seconds before getting an answer! I love him to death but as Red would say, Dumb ass.

        Like 6
      • Avatar JEFF S.

        Scotty – What does that say about the state of our education system? We are now teaching things in college that used to be taught in High School. I read where they are no longer teaching cursive writing in elementary school. Lazy teachers and students.

        Now back to the car, I hate green on any car, if I bought it I would reverse the color combo and drive the hell out of it.

        Like 2
      • Avatar Stillrunners

        Nice barn that was – can we get a picture of it ? Dang this sites spell check is terrible !

        Like 0
      • Avatar W9BAG

        Scotty, really throw her a curve. Ask her to dial a telephone number on a rotary dial phone. I’ve watched some videos of older teens trying to dial one. It’s hilarious !

        Like 1
      • Avatar PatrickM

        I have worked with some that can’t read a 3-handed clock. Sadly, I am related to two. I thought I taught my family better. Sigh. Anyway, fabulous car. But, listing ended. Sold for $9,301.00!! Wow!! Someone got a great car.

        Like 2
    • Avatar Ghostnote

      Or actually know the correct way to place a surfboard on a car roof—deck down, fins forward.

      Like 5
      • Avatar Mike W H

        Where are you from? As a long time surfer from So Cal, I always put by boards on my rack nose forward, deck down, fins up. The operative theory is the nose catches the wind and the rocker (curve in the board) helps drive it down/stabilize it.

        But come to think of it, the guys up north do it the way you mention.

        Cool ride.

        Like 2
    • Avatar Jack Hammer

      Yes. And a law that you can not have a car unless you drive it.

      Like 5
    • Avatar Will Fox

      I have to admit, the stuff on the roof doesn’t do anything for me. The seller can keep that.

      Like 5
    • Avatar Al

      I don’t know your problem Rick.

      I surf the net regularly and never get bored (or is that board).

      Like 9
  2. Avatar TimM

    Great looking car in really good condition or so it seems!! Hasn’t been molested!! Looks like a time machine!!! The front bumper looks like it could mow down anything in its way!!

    Like 3
  3. Avatar Ken Kittleson

    As a kid in the late ’50s, I remember riding in my friend’s mother’s twin of this car except it was light green. As we drove down the Iowa gravel road, clouds of dust billowed up around us in the back seat,probably a sign that the tin worm already had a firm grasp of that one.

    Like 1
  4. Avatar Kurt Member

    That faux wood panel can be redone by a casket manufacturer if you can find one old enough to remember the fine art of wood graining using various different animal hair.

    Like 2
    • Avatar ken tilly Member

      Or you could watch the episode of Wheeler Dealers where it shows you exactly how to do it. Even Mike Brewer managed to do half of the rear woodie tailgate so it can’t be that difficult.

      Like 3
    • Avatar Lance

      I think this stuff was called Dynoc. Was used for years up to I guess the Mopar early 80’s minivans. Looks like wood grain contact paper.

      Like 0
      • Avatar Bill McCoskey Member

        Lance,
        You are correct, and most automotive paint suppliers can provide it in several different shades of brown. in late1998 I restored a ’54 Ford wagon with the original fiberglass & Dynoc wood, and had no problem finding the correct grain.

        Like 1
  5. Avatar Johnmloghry

    Nice Poncho wagon. If wagons are your thing (not mine, had enough raising kids) but this has lots of possibilities. I’ve got a 51 2 dr hdtp Poncho, but it’s in need of full restoration. I once owned a 59 Poncho wagon 389 auto. And a 69 Firebird 400. But for the most part I’ve always been a Buick man and or Ford, with some AMC’s in the mix.
    God bless America

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Glen Riddle

    This one sure brings back memories. My parents were lifelong Pontiac owners who bought 22 new sedans and wagons from a 1946 Streamliner through a 2009 Torrent; I still have the ’09. When I was a tyke of 4 they bought a 1949 wagon much like the featured car. They kept it till I was 10 and replaced it with a 1955 wagon, which became my first car another six years on. Thanks for the post.

    Like 2
  7. Avatar Tort Member

    A beautiful 59 Pontiac Bonneville convertible yesterday and today a really nice 50 Pontiac wagon. Yes the seller can keep the surf boards.

    Like 2
  8. Avatar Jim

    I am currently in the process of redoing my 1950 Pontiac Deluxe Tin Woody.
    The one you show here is the cheaper 3 seat version. The Deluxe had a body side molding that ran from the front wheel opening all the way back, it had a real leather interior with cloth inserts. The cheaper version had full vinyl seat in a brown color. Yes they used Maroon on the upper dash and a champagne beige on the lower half. Mine is the lighter green color they used with the Maroon dash and Red Leather with beige cloth. They are nice cars and you never run into another when you go to a show or cruise.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

      Jim, that is great info, sir – thanks for adding that. I know that there were 9-passenger and 6-passenger versions and that this was a 6-passenger, but I love learning the difference between the base and Deluxe and about the dash colors, etc. Thanks much!

      We should have a database of experts for each make or type of vehicle.

      Like 2
  9. Avatar W9BAG

    I would prefer to have the seat upholstery to be of OEM design, but the re-do appears to be of such high quality, I could easily learn to like it. A wonderfully designed wagon ! Has anyone seen the movie Julie/Julia about Julia Child ? The wagon featured in the film was very similar in design. I believe that it was a Buick.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar Keefer F Zeller

    That is one ugly roof rack. It would be removed immediately. Otherwise, very nice.

    Like 3
    • Avatar ken tilly Member

      @keefer. The biggest problem when using this type of roof rack is that by fitting it to the drip rail/gutter the paintwork invariably gets damaged, which is a sacrilegious thing to do to such a beautiful wagon.

      Like 2
  11. Avatar ken tilly Member

    Hi Guys up top. In the meantime, what happened to the availability of posting a photo with our comment?

    Like 2
    • Avatar Glen Riddle

      We must now pay for that privilege. Apparently the thinking is that by taking away things it will lead us to send in our money to get them back. Are you reaching for your credit card yet? Me neither.

      Like 3
  12. Avatar ken tilly Member

    @Glen Riddle. Yep, and I see that the thumbs down option has disappeared again as well.

    Like 3
  13. Avatar leiniedude Member

    Ended: Jun 12, 2019 , 7:38PM
    Current bid:US $15,100.00
    Reserve not met
    [ 15 bids ]

    Like 1

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