Runs and Drives: 1939 Pontiac Sport Coupe
Pontiac fans owe a lot to Frank Hershey. During the Great Depression, sales of all cars plunged. So dire was the situation that to save money General Motors resorted to combining Pontiac and Chevrolet, and then considered killing the Pontiac brand altogether. But for the 1935 model year, Hershey came up with a clever branding tactic to disguise the “Chevy-ness” behind the Pontiac badge: the Silver Streak. The broad silver trim flowing over the hood and down the trunk evoked the emerging “streamliner styling” and gave the new cars an air of sophistication. Sales surged. While this result was welcome, the slack economy lasted far longer than anyone expected, and by late 1937, Pontiac was once again struggling. A lower-priced model was needed, and so by 1939, Pontiac had split its six-cylinder offerings between two bodies – the “A” at a 115″ wheelbase, and the “B” at 120″. The fuel filler position reveals which one you’re seeing: the larger-bodied cars fill from the driver’s rear fender, and the smaller “A” bodies fill through the passenger’s rear quarter. Two coupes were available – the business and sport. Here on craigslist is what our seller describes as a 1939 Pontiac business coupe, but with that back seat, I think it’s a sport coupe. The asking price is $11,500 and the car is located in Valley View, Texas. T.J. found this excellent tip for us – thanks T.J.!
The car runs and drives, but the seller provides scant information regarding repair or service history. Beneath this swanky hood should be Pontiac’s 222.7 cu. in. L-head straight six engine, good for about 85 hp. Rowing through the column-shift three-speed manual will take the car comfortably to 50 mph – about what drivers could tolerate on the roads of the day. While we’re staring at the front end, it’s worth noting how straight the grille and bumper are. Ok, the paint isn’t great, but mine isn’t either after a few decades here on Earth.
The interior is missing the armrests on both door panels (hard to find) and there are a couple of holes in the dash, but for an eight-decade-old car, this isn’t bad at all. The gauge set even includes a clock, which is one way car makers were starting to differentiate their better trim lines in the 1930s. Though it’s hard to see here, the driver’s side wiper arm is missing.
Here’s that capacious trunk, and the fender-mounted fuel filler. From this angle, we can see the paint issues, and perhaps the beginnings of rust on the lower rear quarter. The seller hasn’t provided undercarriage or engine bay photos, and these coupes really look great from a straight-on side view – also missing. Meanwhile, the price seems high to me, but perhaps the seller is counting on a hot rod fan snapping this up – what do you think?
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Comments
Well, a business coupe and what do they claim? 18K miles? Good heavens, this car could have 2 or 318K. Texas a BIG state, and someone went back and forth selling their wares. Hello, BUSINESS coupe. Before any media, salesfolks had to “hit the road”, and a business coupe fit the bill. Those traveling salesman stories? Right here.
I had a friend who had a ’38 4 door, pretty much the same, it actually was quite modern, but above 50mph wasn’t pleasant. An amazing find, how it escaped being turned into a hot rod, must have been well concealed. I say, repower it, with a PLAUSIBLE swap, even a small V8, or a slanty, point is, this setup won’t cut it today, and be a really neat ride if updated.
Looks perfect as is to me. What a great driver !
Ahh, fond memories. I bought a black one nearly identical to this example. Flathead six that smoked like it was on fire. Drove great and survived with drain oil from the seller’s Sinclair gas station. I only had it for a few months and sold it for $50 over the $75 I paid for it. Many years later in California I bought a second 39 Pontiac. This time it was a convertible with factory radio and heater. There was a radio volume control on the engine. It was a spring loaded vane mounted near the carburetor attached to a rheostat. It would increase the volume as the engine speeded up and reduced the volume when stopped. Another interesting fact is that Even though it shared the Chevrolet body, only Pontiac had a convertible that year. Chevy skipped 1939 and resumed convertible production in 1940. Sold that one to a guy in West Sacramento. He turned it into a really nice street rod.
Web site Survivor Classic Cars shows a business coupe, no rear seat, just upholstered panels to the floor.
Aren’t business coupes also shortened in the rear seat area?
My 49 Plymouth coupe looked longer in the B to C post dimension than the corresponding business coupe.
GM just moved the package shelf forward on some models to make more room in the trunk area. The roofline was the same. Ford had a longer roof line in the club coupe over the short roofed business coupe. Chrysler corporation also shortened the roof and made the trunk deeper in their business coupes.
This 1939 Pontiac is a Business Coupe as described. The firewall tag model designation shows it to be a 26 series 27 which means Coupe and B is for business. The rear seat must have been added along the way. I have a 1941 Pontiac Business Coupe and note also the quarter windows are stationary here like mine while the sport coupe quarter windows slide open a little for ventilation. Package shelves were very deep on the Business Coupes but the trunk partition is easily removed to position deeper in the trunk to install a rear seat.
Thanks for the info.
Larry
These very low mileage business coupes in Texas were owned by bible salesmen that only drove them after church on Sunday . . . and only within a 25 mile radius of the church they attended.
I can’t see how sport could be part of the title for this car a Chev two door with the trusty 216 would run rings around this car, Pontiac was suppose to be a higher level than the Chev but the Chev was far more advanced, Pontiac didn’t do themselves any favours although this was an attractive style with a decent motor what a winner
Lowest price car in the line for the old school teacher….
My ’42 Dodge business coup had no rear seat but a trunk you could put a family in. It also lacked windows except the two in front. I believe the front end and the rear end were almost the same length. An oddity but cool in it’s own way. Wish I still had it.
Kinda reminds me of a 1939 Chevrolet.
Good thing it has a fuel cell.
shop online at PONTIACPARTS.NET
armrest $90 for the pair