hey everybody i just picked up a 1950 pontiac silverstreak,it is a four door straight six,3 spd manual.but im having a hard time finding out specific details of this car.like, how many where made?is the silverstreak a canadian exclusive?is the silver streak a base model or where did it fall in the model rankings?what options should/could it have?here are some pics,i wondered if the car might be badged incorrectly as well
Dang, the chrome on that car looks to be in very good condition. Congratulations.
Beaumont4008 said
Jul 25, 2009
Welcome from Winnipeg, Looks in good shape. We got some 50's experts , so you should get a response soon.
dasfoster said
Jul 25, 2009
thanks everybody,i need as much help as i can get lol
65sssd said
Jul 25, 2009
I saw my first 55 Pathfinder today at the Youbou car show and it is very close to this. A nice little ride.
Stephenzone said
Jul 25, 2009
my 50 parts book doesn't show anything for silverstreak. any chance of the first 5 digits of the serial number to see what model it is, and is it a canadian oshawa built car? i found reference to a silver streak on the net but it was a fleetleader de luxe
2drpost said
Jul 25, 2009
welcome! love those '49-'52s, the waterfall chrome, the seats are as comfortable as an old chesterfield.
427carl said
Jul 25, 2009
love it My Dad had a 52 with shirts and sunvisor Welcome
RDubya said
Jul 25, 2009
Welcome to CP!
59poncho said
Jul 25, 2009
very cool ride for sure
Canadian Poncho said
Jul 25, 2009
Welcome aboard. Cool car!
unforgiven said
Jul 25, 2009
welcome from another noob as well from mb. sweet looking car ya got there.
i love the second shot, kinda makes ya think of a crooked toothless grin. lmao
dasfoster said
Jul 26, 2009
thanks everybody!i dont know where it was built yet,here are the first 5 digits of the vin(i think) W0283,the vin is not like current vin numbers so im not sure which are the first 5 lol.ya the toothless grin pic is funny,the old owner was going to start a resoration with his sons but the sons lost interest quickly.the car is also stacked full of extra parts,so im hoping to find some real treasures once i get into it.im actually moving today so im not going to have my computer for a few days,thanks everybody for your help!
Stephenzone said
Jul 26, 2009
I'm thinking you have an american built car. here are 2 tags to help you decide what you have
1st, canadian 50 pontiac
2nd, american built 46 buick
the american ones have a separate tag for the vin
if you have a american built here is a web site to ident GM's from that era
Yes if you could look on the cowl tag and give us your model #"s that would help us to decode you car somewhat.
Rolilk said
Jul 26, 2009
From what I can see you have a 50 Pontiac Chieftain. I'm not sure that if it says silver streak on the fender that its an US chassis car bought in Canada or not. Your cowl tag will let you in on that fact. I know some had the name Silver 8 Streak on the fender when it was a 8cyl under the hood. From as far as I know most Canadian sold cars came with the 239 6cyl. But some did come with 8's in them. Those were most of the time were in the starchief's. I don't think your car is badged incorrectly. Models go like this Chieftain Model # 2500 Starchief Model # 2700
-- Edited by Rolilk on Sunday 26th of July 2009 02:50:14 PM
dasfoster said
Jul 27, 2009
thanks very much guys,the car comes out of storage this weekend coming and i will be able to nget a better look at the tags so i can post them and we can try to decode them as much as i can.does anybody know of an ontario pontiac club(for older pontiacs)?id like to try to meet some local pontiac owners that could help me with my resto.thanks again for everybodys help,im glad i found this site!
Stephenzone said
Jul 27, 2009
ref what Rolilk said. heres a page out of my 37-51 gm parts book. this pg is 46 to 51 canadian pontiac models
dasfoster said
Jul 27, 2009
thanks for all your help steve,the count down is on... i pick up the car from the old owners storage on friday,i will then post a bunch more pics including vins and such.
dasfoster said
Aug 8, 2009
here are some updated pics,unfortunatly as i look closer at the car im a little disheartened by the condition,it needs some substantial work(body mounts and rear quarters)but ti did have a trunk full of goodies like,3 extra wheels,intake/exhaust manifold,cylinder head and whole pile of brake parts and a ton more trim pieces.so im at an impass,do i suck it up and carry on or do i sell the car and look for something in better shape?i cant decide.here are some more pics
good looking car, but it looks to be a 1951 by the grill shape, if I was you I would keep it and restore as required at least to get it up and running, dont know what you paid for it, but if its at least running it will be worth more. I have 1950 canadian fleetleader special with a six in it, mine had a few holes in the same places, and the were not too bad to repair, I am in the process of doing a complete interior changeout, and my carb is away being rebuilt. just take it a little bit at a time, and dont be like me try to do too many things at once
where are you located
bill in red deer
dasfoster said
Aug 8, 2009
hey bill,thanks for the advice.you are correct it is a 51 grille,but the car is a 50.some of the extra stuff i got with it included 2 grilles,both for 51 s for some reason,but i dont have a correct grille at all.in a few weeks in our area is a giant automotive fleamarket called "burls creek "it is a massive out door parts mecca,for new cars and old cars alike.i hope to find some parts there.i live in a city called barrie we are a lake front community about an hour north of toronto.i just saw that california pontiac parts has a body mount kit for 97$u.s. Have you or anyone else out there used them for parts,is it expensive for them to ship to Canada?
Astro Jet said
Aug 8, 2009
Whatever you do, make sure you get it shipped via the post office and NOT UPS under any circumstances. UPS will rape you with brokerage charges that often equal 50% of the value of the parts you purchased. Plus you have to pay GST on their brokerage charge as well as on the value of the goods. Post office only charges $5 plus GST.
dasfoster said
Aug 8, 2009
thanks hillar,good to know!
50torpedo said
Aug 8, 2009
dasfoster, yes I know Barrie, I have a niece who teaches there and family north of Toronto, and in St. Catherines, Many years ago I used to drive from Deep river to st catherines when I was in training as a maintenace tech for ontario hydro, I moved out to Alberta 34 years ago and only get down there every couple of years.
restoring my old 50 is slow going, I just had to send my carburator away today for a rebuild, and I still have to complete the headliner and trim on the inside, but hopefully I will at least get it driving this year
love those '49-'52s, the waterfall chrome, the seats are as comfortable as an old chesterfield.
1st, canadian 50 pontiac
2nd, american built 46 buick
the american ones have a separate tag for the vin
if you have a american built here is a web site to ident GM's from that era
click here
I don't think your car is badged incorrectly.
Models go like this
Chieftain Model # 2500
Starchief Model # 2700
-- Edited by Rolilk on Sunday 26th of July 2009 02:50:14 PM
where are you located
bill in red deer
restoring my old 50 is slow going, I just had to send my carburator away today for a rebuild, and I still have to complete the headliner and trim on the inside, but hopefully I will at least get it driving this year
Good luck with yours
Bill in Red deer