This is 1926 Pontiac 6640 Body #18190 and Engine #18406 of the 72742 vehicles Pontiac sold in 1926 and remains 1 of fewer than 50 surviving today. This is a very early production Pontiac and features the 1926 newly designed L-Head Type, 6-cylinder engine producing 36HP @2400 RPM.
This vehicle won an AACA Grand National Award in 2010 at New Bern, NC and received the AACA’s prestigious George M Holley Award for excellence the same year. This rare Pontiac also won the Pontiac Oakland Club International (POCI) Senior Award in 2010 and the POCI Concours d’Elegance Award in 2013.
1916 was the first year for Pontiac which were built by the Oakland Motor Car Corp of GM and was a companion car to the Oakland Automobile.
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Introduction and Market Position:
- The Pontiac brand was introduced by General Motors at the 1926 New York Auto Show.
- Positioned as an affordable yet reliable and stylish vehicle, it was designed to fill the market gap between the Chevrolet and Oakland brands within the GM lineup.
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Engine and Performance:
- The 1926 Pontiac Model 6-27 was powered by a 3.2-liter (186 cubic inch) L-head six-cylinder engine, which produced about 40 horsepower.
- This engine was known for its smooth operation and durability, setting it apart from the more common four-cylinder engines of the era.
- The car featured a three-speed manual transmission, which was standard for vehicles of the time.
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Design and Styling:
- The Model 6-27 had a conventional design typical of mid-1920s automobiles, with a solid and sturdy body structure.
- It featured a simple but elegant exterior with a prominent front grille, rounded fenders, and wooden spoke wheels.
- Available body styles included a two-door coupe, four-door sedan, and a two-door coach, catering to various customer preferences.
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Interior and Comfort:
- The interior of the Pontiac 6-27 was functional and comfortable, with cloth or leather upholstery options.
- It offered ample seating space for its occupants and was designed to provide a comfortable ride, even on the rough roads of the 1920s.
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Chassis and Suspension:
- The car was built on a sturdy steel ladder frame chassis, contributing to its robust and reliable performance.
- It used semi-elliptic leaf springs for both the front and rear suspension, which was the standard suspension system at the time.
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Sales and Impact:
- The 1926 Pontiac Model 6-27 was an immediate success, with over 76,000 units sold in its first year, a remarkable achievement for a new brand.
- Its success helped establish Pontiac as a reputable and desirable brand, leading to its longevity and evolution in the automotive market.
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Legacy:
- The introduction of the 1926 Pontiac Model 6-27 marked the beginning of Pontiac's long history as a significant player in the automotive industry.
- The model is remembered for its role in proving that a well-built, reliable, and affordable six-cylinder car could achieve great success in the competitive automotive market of the 1920s.
Taken at the Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival.
You may purchase a print of the 1926 Pontiac 6640 in our dElegance 2016 online gallery.
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