by Automotive History Preservation Society Staff - reprint with permission only.

The 1946-1948 Pontiacs were 1942 models all over again in terms of both styling and engineering. Of course, their pre-war selling points as reliable, value-packed cars were still true, but they were also staid and predictable.

Powered by 1930s flathead sixes and eights, immediate post-war Pontiacs had gained a reputation as middle-of-the-road cars best-suited for middle income families and, unfortunately. middle-age buyers. Unlike before the war, this had been a bread and butter market, but afterwards, the American public was looking for some excitement in their vehicles. So by working toward marketing a staid, reliable product at the best possible price, Pontiac suddenly found itself stuck in a place that was quickly becoming out of step with the sporty car boom of the 1949-52 postwar period sparked by OHV V-8s with ever increasing horsepower.

Given the management and strategy that had been the hallmark of Pontiac, reaction to the growing performance-oriented market came slowly. Even though the evidence was right in front of them at Oldsmobile, which had created a huge buzz with its "Rocket 88," there was a reluctance to upset the Pontiac applecart. Although stolidly styled and old-fashioned in engineering, the thirst for cars right after the war still saw Pontiacs selling better than ever.

Not to say that Pontiac wasn't enhancing and making engineering and product changes, such an advancement was the introduction of their own Hydra-Matic transmission in 1948.  The immediate popularity of the new transmission added a sense of complacency among management. And the GM-wide newly redesigned bodies with lower lines and integral rear fenders did make a hit in 1949. Then there was the offering of an attractive Catalina two-door hardtop in 1950.

But these changes were mostly conceived for the entire GM fleet and were not anything special and unique to Pontiac. And there was still that 20-year old inline flathead eight below the hood. Pontiac was just not "current," and the public reacted—badly. Sales took a tumble, and a need for change seemed more than crystal clear.