1940 Sports Coupe Manual

1940 Pontiac Torpedo Eight Sports Coupe Description

This lovely little 1940 Pontiac Deluxe Eight business coupe features the all-new A-body, which was shared with Chevrolet in 1940. Stylish, reliable, and practical, the Pontiac line had something for everyone in 1940, and the result was some of the most attractive cars of the era. Finished in what might be close to Luddington Green, a popular 1940 Pontiac color, this handsome coupe looks fantastic driving down the road or parked in your driveway. The restoration is now several years old and showing its age in some areas, but it certainly falls under the category of a fine ten-footer with great eye appeal. The sleek bodywork looks sporting and trim, a great look for Pontiac because it sold a lot of cars in 1940. It retains all its original chrome and trim, including the trademark Pontiac streaks running down the center of the hood, and the front bumper is a triumph of pre-war design with three bumper guards and a pair of accessory fog lights. A red strip along the side trim adds some contrast and teardrop fender skirts are a period-correct accessory that make this modest car look big and expensive. It remains in ideal condition for club events, touring, and local shows, and it means you'll never have to fret about bugs, rain, or dirt while driving your vintage Poncho. The interior has obviously been restored using tan fabric for the seats that's both attractive and durable. The original pattern was used, which offers plain seating surfaces front and rear and some subtle stitching on the seat backs and contrasting piping on the sides. For a coupe, the back seat is spacious and will be remarkable to those only familiar with today's cars, where rear passengers are almost an afterthought. The dash is beautifully woodgrained and houses the original gauges, which cover all the vitals and flank a large speedometer with wonderful art-deco numbers cut into the plastic trim. The steering wheel is unquestionably original and showing its age, but it's the only part that really needs some TLC; even the trunk is neatly finished with new materials and a correct spare tire stowed underneath. Making an even 100 horsepower from the 249 cubic inch flathead straight-8, performance is lively, thanks to a set of steep gears in back (remember that there were no highways in 1940 and most cars never saw more than 50 MPH). The engine bay is not detailed for show but looks period-correct, showing and many authentic components including the oil bath air cleaner and downdraft carburetor. Wearing blue engine enamel, which is perhaps a shade or two brighter than original, the engine runs beautifully with a wonderful mechanical sound that's sadly absent from our cars today. A big part of these cars' appeal lies in the way the machinery does its work, and enjoying one as it was built is a true pleasure. Three-on-the-tree shifting was actually pioneered by Pontiac in 1938, and it works as well here as anywhere else, and with good gearing and lots of torque, shifting is not really necessary most of the time. It fires up easily and idles with a nice eight-cylinder grumble from the single tailpipe and wears a set of older 6.50-16 wide whitewall tires. If your interests run to pre-war cars, this Pontiac makes a fantastic starter collectable. Parts are still easy to find, and there are enthusiasts everywhere. Performance will keep you from being a rolling roadblock, and its good looks will win you friends everywhere you go. This is a lot of car for not a lot of money. Call today!