The original car in 1946

The San Joaquin Sheriff's Department
fleet in 1948

Identification plate from restored vehicle.

The finished Pontiac Streamliner
Ready to cruise!

1946 PONTIAC STREAMLINER

WHEN the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department
started its search for a 1946 Pontiac, we had no idea what kind of condition the car we found would be in.  The search lasted over a year, but the results were beyond even our expectations!  Here is a brief chronology of our search and the results.  We hope you enjoy this page of history.

In 1945, a Virginia farmer welcomed his son home from WWII.  Venturing into the workforce, the son began selling new cars.  To ensure his son's success, father bought a 1946 Pontiac Streamliner on his sons' first day of work.  At home, dad parked it in the barn and covered it with a tarp. Occassionally driven on Sunday outings and always washed before being put back in the barn, the car lived a pampered life.  In the early 1950's, the father passed away, and the car sat unused in the barn until 1960. 

In 1960, the farmers' grand-daughter was presented with the car as a gift when she became old enough to drive.  But, even before the official transfer of title was started, the grand-daughter returned the car saying it was just too big and scared her to drive it.  Since the grandmother also did not drive, the car returned to the barn.

Deputy Michael Padilla, who had started in 1995 searching for a 1946 Pontiac finally found this car in Pounding Mills, Virginia, available for purchase.  With the car located, (and apparently in very good shape) it was time to negotiate the purchase.  The owner wanted $6,500 US dollars for the car.  'NO PROBLEM' Mike told the owner, 'Just give me a week to come up with the money.' 

The owner, with offers all ready rolling in said, 'No, first come first buy'.  Mike pleaded with him, explaining the reason why he wanted the car. Intrigued with the notion that the car would become more than just another old Pontiac rusting away, he relented.  Given the week to raise the funds (there was NOTHING in the account), Mike began a search for funds to pay for and ship the car to California. 
 

FOR THE REST OF THE STORY>>>

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