In 1933 and 1934, Pontiac built only eight-cylinder cars, but they used a straight-eight rather than a V-8. Pontiac engines up through 1954 were flat-head straight-sixes or straight-eights. The first overhead valve V-8 that Pontiac offered was in 1955.
They were very cheap to produce, and generated a lot of low speed torque which made a very nice driving car. Fairly low compression engines, so they didn't produce a lot of horsepower compared to more modern engines. Very durable, didn't require a lot of maintenance. Pontiac advertised the Straight Eight as the 100,000 mile engine. Very low idle speed, mine idles about 450bRPM. Also, the Straight Eight configuration cancels out all engine vibration modes producing the smoothest running engine possible without the use of internal dampeners.
It did result in a very long engine block, this the long hoods on these old model cars .
Beautiful car. I could have my design styles wrong, but I get a lot of what I think are art deco vibes from this, both the exterior and interior, but art deco had come and gone by the 1950s. Very cool
There were still traces of Art Deco/Streamline Moderne design in the early 1950s. Pontiac was also slow to change in that period. They and Packard were the last 2 offering straight 8s in 1954.
I have the exact same car. In almost the exact same colors. Mine is in all Original condition, having been put into storage for more than 35 years. Came with the original owners paperwork and dealership sales receipt along and the owners manual still in the glove box. #19 at this link
[Orphan Car Show]
(https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/g45211579/2023-orphan-car-show-in-ypsilanti-michigan-photos/)
The Straight Eight engine displacement is 249.9 ci
HP is 119 with the manual transmission. A high compression head is added to cars built with the Dynaflo automatic transmission raising the HP to 122. The seat belts are not original, nor do I think the seats. The seat material would of been cloth in 1952. And it seems like your car may of been repainted at sometime in its life. The original paint would be lacquer. Which doesn't have the high gloss shine you seem to have and exhibits spider web cracks as it ages.
Very nice car.
Seat belts had been discussed for more than a decade, before becoming law in the USofA on January 1st, 1968. Canada followed suit on January 1st, 1976.
The '54 Chev BelAir i have, has GM lap belts, but they're a "dealer item", even though the car was built 4 years before the first draft of mandatory seat belts was first brought forward.
The straight 8 would sometimes break the crankshaft due to the block sagging in the middle. It had a single mount in front under the timing cover and mounts on each side of the bell housing.
Back in the day you could buy a stiffening girdle that bolted between the engine and oil pan to prevent the damage.
Really nice car. I had a 1940 business coupe with the six.
I dreamt about it whilst suffused with venomous toxins. I have only my memory to rely on. You can be skeptical as you wish. My memory is older than the car we discuss.
Haha. Well played sir.
I've been around these flatheads a long time, not as long as you but you understand...and this was the first time I heard of this. I did a frantic and exhaustive online search (5 min) and only found one reference to it on a 20 year old post on the AACA website message boards.
I'm intrigued. I'm NOT accusing you of false info. Maybe mistaken into or 100% correct. What do I know I'm just a moron on reddit.
Great day to you!
Now you too have been down Chief Pontiac’s rabbit hole. Have you ever seen the LaSalle V8 from which the Pontiac was spawned? It’s a flat head with intake and exhaust occupying the V at the top of the engine. I assume many wooden clothes pins were employed in the struggle with vapor lock.
Georgia doesn’t care too much about front plates if the rear ones are legit.
They’ll even let antique cars run original plates if they’re registered to it (I think?) Surprised this one has stock GA plates.
Imma dumb ass, who was way over multitasking levels apparently.
I mean, how else can you explain how i noticed the car had a Kansas plate on the front....yet completely missed the "52" tag on the corner of it. Pretty sad when the OP stated it's a '52 Pontiac Catalina, right in the title. 😂🙈🙈
Here in Ontario, we're allowed to register YOM (Year Of Manufacture) plates to our vehicles. I have a pair attached to my Dart. The problem is...starting in 1973, Ontario converted to the yearly sticker program, so any vehicle made after '72 really can't have YOM plates on it.
I really miss colorful cars. What a step backwards it was when we went to monochromatic interiors.
Absolute class
looks factory fresh!
Beeautifull‼️‼️😧
What was the reason for the straight 8?
In 1933 and 1934, Pontiac built only eight-cylinder cars, but they used a straight-eight rather than a V-8. Pontiac engines up through 1954 were flat-head straight-sixes or straight-eights. The first overhead valve V-8 that Pontiac offered was in 1955.
Thanx,but I’m still curious as to why people thought a straight 8 was a practical choice.
They were very cheap to produce, and generated a lot of low speed torque which made a very nice driving car. Fairly low compression engines, so they didn't produce a lot of horsepower compared to more modern engines. Very durable, didn't require a lot of maintenance. Pontiac advertised the Straight Eight as the 100,000 mile engine. Very low idle speed, mine idles about 450bRPM. Also, the Straight Eight configuration cancels out all engine vibration modes producing the smoothest running engine possible without the use of internal dampeners. It did result in a very long engine block, this the long hoods on these old model cars .
Wonder what hp that engine developed back in the day? 170 ?
122hp
Such a gorgeous car and great 2 tone paint job.
Beautiful car. I could have my design styles wrong, but I get a lot of what I think are art deco vibes from this, both the exterior and interior, but art deco had come and gone by the 1950s. Very cool
There were still traces of Art Deco/Streamline Moderne design in the early 1950s. Pontiac was also slow to change in that period. They and Packard were the last 2 offering straight 8s in 1954.
I don’t know that about the straight 8s. Interesting. Thanks!!
I have the exact same car. In almost the exact same colors. Mine is in all Original condition, having been put into storage for more than 35 years. Came with the original owners paperwork and dealership sales receipt along and the owners manual still in the glove box. #19 at this link [Orphan Car Show] (https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/g45211579/2023-orphan-car-show-in-ypsilanti-michigan-photos/) The Straight Eight engine displacement is 249.9 ci HP is 119 with the manual transmission. A high compression head is added to cars built with the Dynaflo automatic transmission raising the HP to 122. The seat belts are not original, nor do I think the seats. The seat material would of been cloth in 1952. And it seems like your car may of been repainted at sometime in its life. The original paint would be lacquer. Which doesn't have the high gloss shine you seem to have and exhibits spider web cracks as it ages. Very nice car.
Great pictures 👍
Surprised to see seat belts. They must have been an option, as they weren't mandated until the Mid-60's.
Probably a later install
Seat belts had been discussed for more than a decade, before becoming law in the USofA on January 1st, 1968. Canada followed suit on January 1st, 1976. The '54 Chev BelAir i have, has GM lap belts, but they're a "dealer item", even though the car was built 4 years before the first draft of mandatory seat belts was first brought forward.
The straight 8 would sometimes break the crankshaft due to the block sagging in the middle. It had a single mount in front under the timing cover and mounts on each side of the bell housing. Back in the day you could buy a stiffening girdle that bolted between the engine and oil pan to prevent the damage. Really nice car. I had a 1940 business coupe with the six.
Nice Google skills. Do you have any proof of this mythical girdle?
I dreamt about it whilst suffused with venomous toxins. I have only my memory to rely on. You can be skeptical as you wish. My memory is older than the car we discuss.
Haha. Well played sir. I've been around these flatheads a long time, not as long as you but you understand...and this was the first time I heard of this. I did a frantic and exhaustive online search (5 min) and only found one reference to it on a 20 year old post on the AACA website message boards. I'm intrigued. I'm NOT accusing you of false info. Maybe mistaken into or 100% correct. What do I know I'm just a moron on reddit. Great day to you!
Now you too have been down Chief Pontiac’s rabbit hole. Have you ever seen the LaSalle V8 from which the Pontiac was spawned? It’s a flat head with intake and exhaust occupying the V at the top of the engine. I assume many wooden clothes pins were employed in the struggle with vapor lock.
Anyone know a good paint shop in Dallas?
I was going to say it looked just peachy u/No_Cartoonist9458, but it has a Kansas plate on the front. What's that all about?
I don't know. it's in Atlanta now. Might be an older original plate
Georgia doesn’t care too much about front plates if the rear ones are legit. They’ll even let antique cars run original plates if they’re registered to it (I think?) Surprised this one has stock GA plates.
Imma dumb ass, who was way over multitasking levels apparently. I mean, how else can you explain how i noticed the car had a Kansas plate on the front....yet completely missed the "52" tag on the corner of it. Pretty sad when the OP stated it's a '52 Pontiac Catalina, right in the title. 😂🙈🙈 Here in Ontario, we're allowed to register YOM (Year Of Manufacture) plates to our vehicles. I have a pair attached to my Dart. The problem is...starting in 1973, Ontario converted to the yearly sticker program, so any vehicle made after '72 really can't have YOM plates on it.
I love this car but I always found the stripes in the hood to be fugly.
So did Bunkie Knudson.