Colorized Mario's Tribute to 1954 Pontiac Strato Star

1954 Pontiac Strato Streak was a four-door pillarless hardtop inspired by the European Lancia and designed by Harley Earl and Art Ross of General Motors and Pontiac Division.

With no center post between the doors, the car could be opened up completely. It had 4 bucket seats and the front seats swiveled sideways 90 degrees for easier entry.

General Motors Vice President and Pontiac General Mgr Robert Critchfield with Pontiac Sales Mgr Frank Bridge.

The Strato-Streak was designed as a fiberglass 4 door hardtop, with four swivel bucket seats for easier entry, no center "B" pillar and the 4 door sedan opened from the center outwards.

The Strato Streak was built on Pontiac’s 124 inch Star Chief’s wheelbase and was only 54.7 inches high, 8.7 inches lower than contemporary production models.

The "Strato-Streak" name was later used on Pontiac's all-new small block overhead valve V-8 engines from 1955–1957.

Intended as a combination between a sports car and a sedan, the 1954 Pontiac Strato Streak was created as a concept car for the 1954 Motorama auto shows. Shown here at the 1954 Chicago Motorama.

The concept car was used to introduce a Space Race inspired marketing approach.

Six-foot-four Harley Earl and designer Art Ross with two 1954 experimental models, the Pontiac Strato-Streak and the Oldsmobile F-88.

Originally it was painted a metallic green, however it was later repainted a metallic red and renamed the Strato Streak II.

The Pontiac sales brochure introduced the Strato Streak concept car.

Hemmings magazine June 2009 had a large write up on the Pontiac Strato Streak.

Hemmings magazine June 2009 had a large write up on the Pontiac Strato Streak.

Space age all padded Instrument panel and multiple gauges including an AM radio.

Fiberglass body on a 124-inch wheelbase. Center-opening side doors without a B-pillar. Swivel front seats. Wraparound windshield.

The Strato Streak touring at the Miami GM Motorama car show.

The interior featured beige leather and a special nylon fabric with gold metallic threads. The rear doors opened into the wind, with special locks to prevent opening unless the car was stopped and in neutral.

Equipped with a straight-eight 268.4 cubes, 122 hp; 1954 was the final year of this engine. The fate of this car is unknown.

The Strato Streak’s backlight pillars were as narrow as possible. The wide rear window was supplemented by quadrant shaped sidelights.

Pontiac Strato Streak advertisement touring dealers and GM Motorama shows.