Handsome 8-cylinder Pontiac coupe. Older repaint, rebuilt engine, runs and drives very well. Mostly original interior in good condition. Lots of extras included, plus manuals and books. Nice entry-level car ready to drive.
This big, handsome Pontiac coupe is a nice blend of functionality and comfort, and it isn’t so perfect that you’ll be afraid to drive it. The two-tone finish is ideal for the familiar GM big coupe bodywork, with Lido Beige over Forest Green giving it a traditional look. It was repainted about 20 years ago as a father/son project, and the workmanship was quite good as it’s holding up well and shows a nice shine that looks period-correct along with plenty of trim. The bodywork doesn’t show any evidence of major trauma in its past and even areas under the trim and along the fender lines is solid. And speaking of the trim, it’s in good original shape with a bright shine on the stainless side trim, nice bumpers, and, of course, the Chief Pontiac hood ornament which does indeed light up with the headlights. It also includes the famous round taillights that are so popular with hot rodders, and they’ve been treated to a set of blue dots just for a period effect.
The interior is largely original and in very good condition throughout. The driver’s seat has some wear on the seat back, so a set of aftermarket seat covers have been installed, but the repair to the original upholstery would be worthwhile and not terribly expensive for an experienced trimmer. Seat belts were added for safety and new carpets were installed when the car was freshened, but everything inside has a consistent look. The horn ring isn’t broken, the steering wheel is in fantastic shape, and the clock/radio/speaker combination in the center of the dash looks like a jet exhaust—purely intentional, I’m sure. The back seat is original and in very good shape, as is the headliner, which was surely replaced not too long ago. The trunk is unfinished, but that also shows off the good sheetmetal underneath (although the spare tire well has some perforation, which isn’t unusual), and it includes a full-sized spare and jack assembly.
The 1952 Deluxe 8 used a 249 cubic inch straight-8 as standard equipment. With a Hydra-Matic transmission, you got four extra horsepower, for a total of 122, as well as about 220 creamy-smooth pounds of torque to get it moving with effortless ease. The added cubes make a difference in the way this car drives, and it’ll happily cruise all day at 60 MPH without effort. The engine was rebuilt and there are plenty of recent parts under the hood, including a full tune-up, belts, hoses, and more, making it ready to drive. The manifolds are in excellent condition and the big straight-8 just whispers along at speed and is incredibly quiet at idle. Aside from the new Optima battery, it’s quite stock, from the oil bath air cleaner to the generator still making six volts of electricity and the detailing is well done.
The 4-speed Hydra-Matic transmission is the right choice, so don’t fret over the fact that you’d rather have a manual. The Hydra-Matic cars are faster, both off the line with a lower first gear, and thanks to 3.08 gears out back, it’s a fantastic highway cruiser that’s happy at 65 MPH. This was a frame-on restoration, so the undercarriage isn’t sparkling and clean, and there are two patches in the floors in the usual spots near the A-pillars, but neither presents any real problems from a durability or usage standpoint. The rockers are solid and aside from a light coating of ancient rust proofing compound, there’s not much to hide the original metal. The suspension is 1950s supple, with GM’s knee-action front suspension and what appears to be the original shock absorbers out back. The exhaust is quiet, the car rides well, and the brakes have been serviced, so mechanically the car is ready to enjoy. Factory steel wheels wear hubcaps and a set of 215/75/15 Goodyear whitewall radials.
This car includes a lot of extras, including an owner’s manual, shop manual, parts catalog, Oldsmobile shop manual (useful for Hydra-Matic information), as well as a fairly substantial cache of spare parts, including a starter, instrument panel, and trim pieces.
From the price, you already know this isn’t a show car. However, it’s a great entry-level driver that isn’t some ‘70s leftover, and the way this Pontiac goes about its business is really impressive. Smooth, quiet, and torquey, it’ll make you a fan of the way GM was doing things just after the war. Add in a handsome color combination, spacious interior, and great road manners, and you get a car that’s easy to enjoy without a major investment. That’s the right way to do the old car hobby. Call today!
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