1949 Pontiac

Pontiac's first completely new design since World War II was introduced in 1949. Pontiacs featured "envelope styling" where fully articulated fenders and any remnants of running boards had disappeared in favor of a straight-through, slab-side styling. For a lower look, Pontiac went from a 16" to a 15" wheel.

The Torpedia moniker was gone, now the Streamliner was the low-priced line with the Chieftain becoming the top-priced model. Also a sedan-delivery was introduced.

All models were the same length with the Chieftain being 3/4" higher. The Streamliner coupes and sedans used the fastback B body. Chieftains used the GM A body shell with notch-backed styling. Both models kept the "silver streak" design motif on the hoods.

Trim for the standard models consisted of painted headlight rims, no beltline molding and rubber gravel guards. The Deluxe models had chromed headlight rims, beltline molding and chrome gravel guards. Full wheel covers were also available on the Deluxe models.

As in 1948, two versions of both the Six and Eight engines were available.