The Newsletter of the PCPV Chapter of POCI

July / August 2015

Trans Sport Concept Vehicle2015 POCI Convention

PCPV NewsJuly/August 2015

Volume 18 ~ Number 4

The Newsletter of the PontiacCommercial and Professional

Vehicle Chapter of POCI

The PCPV News is published six times a year by the Pontiac Commercial and Professional Vehicle Chapter of the Pon-tiac-Oakland Club International (POCI), a nonprofit organization.

The PCPV Chapter (chapter #79, found-ed in 1998), is dedicated to the preserva-tion, restoration, education and enjoy-ment of commercial and professional Pontiac, Oakland and GMC vehicles, past and present. These include: lim-ousines, taxi cabs, hearses, police and fire cars, ambulances, sedan deliveries, station wagons, trucks, vans and SUVs. Pontiac and GMC produced military items and other special interest items are also included.

Dues are $20 per year (U.S. funds, $25 outside of U.S.); $12 for electronic membership. We recommend member-ship in the Pontiac-Oakland Club Inter-national also - see www.poci.org. Send change of address notices and ar-ticle submissions to the PCPV News edi-tor.

Page 1

PCPV Officers

PresidentMichael Leonard

PO Box 14, Wood River, NE 68883Phone (308) 391-3833

mchlleonard421@outlook.com

Vice-PresidentGary Minor

357 Warwick AvenueSan Leandro, CA 94577Phone: (510) 636-1951

mary.minor@sbcglobal.net

Secretary, Editor &Web Site Administrator

Paul Bergstrom1165 County Road 83

Maple Plain, MN 55359Phone: (763) 479-2248

pontiacpaulb@gmail.com

TreasurerTerry Columbus

7516 Xerxes Avenue N.Brooklyn Park, MN 55444

Phone: (763) 566-0293terry1939@comcast.net

Deadlines for PCPV News articles/want ad submissions:

January/February issue: January 1stMarch/April issue: March 1st

May/June issue: May 1stJuly/August issue: July 1st

September/October issue: Sept. 1stNovember/December issue: Nov. 1st

Hello Pontiac Enthusiasts,

I hope everyone that made it to Louisville had a great time at the POCI Convention. I was not able to attend this year as my son was getting married that same week in San Diego.

As I mentioned in the last newsletter we’re working on getting my son’s ‘72 Nova engine in and running. Well, we did accomplish that, but not without com-plications. That 454 Chevy was a tight squeeze in that chassis. Trying to get the headers to clear the power steering and control arms on the front suspension was very challenging. We ending up putting in taller engine mounts, a smaller oil pan, and when that still ended up too close for comfort, we dimpled the headers! That was the last thing we wanted to do, but we couldnt make it work any other way. When it came to starting it up, the mechanical fuel pump wasn’t pumping. The push rod was stuck in the up position and we couldn’t get it to come down. We ending up putting on in-line fuel pump on it. What a sweet sound to finally hear it fire up! The very next day we loaded it up on a two-wheel dolly and headed to

San Diego. We cleaned it up when we arrived at the motel, and then pulled it to the other side of the motel. When my son and his fian-cee arrived to meet everyone we gave them time to say hello. Then I grabbed my son and said, “Let’s

take a walk.” He had no clue we were bringing the ‘72 Nova. When we walked out to the parking lot were the car was, he just stopped dead in his tracks, “On man! Oh man!” was all he could say. We pulled it off!

The car still needs lots of work but my son can do it as time permits. They had a great wedding and I wish all the best for them. Also, I’m going to be a grandpa!Well, take care everyone and “see you on the road less traveled! Michael Leonard

PCPV Chapter President

Page 2

President’s MessagePCPV

CH

A P T ER

Po

ntiac-Oakland Club International

On the Sand dunes in Southern Calif.

Page 3

Hi Paul, I was going through my literature trying to find a picture of a ‘65 horn ring and ran across this nifty old ad. In ‘59 and ‘60 Superior coach tried to market a version of their professional cars to large families and antique dealers and such. They are super rare and never really caught on as the public thought they looked like hearses. (What’s wrong with that, I might ask?) Anyhow, this is an old two-sided dealer ad for the version offered in 1960. I thought mem-bers might get a kick out of it. Most sincerely, Karl Eisbrenner

Page 4

If your PCPV Chapter dues are due, we have enclosed a renewal form inside this newsletter.

THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

PCPV

CH

A P T ER

Po

ntiac-Oakland Club International

Looking Out The Back Door

The Louisville convention is behind us now as I write this report, I am a bit late in mailed out this issue, but it’s worth the wait! See the “Wagons Ho” photos on pages 9-10. I wanted to give a special thanks to John Sawruk, Jr. for displaying items from his Dad’s collection. Here is one of my favor-ites, a scale model of the Trans Sport:

Here is my ‘92 Trans Sport, fully load-ed with the POCI Convention materi-als, on the way to the 2014 Covention in Witchita, it went to Louisville too!

This was somewhere in Missouri... buffalo country I guess! Enjoy the rest of the Summer, and please keep in touch. Until next issue,

Let’s keep the Pontiac legacy alive....Paul Bergstrom, Editor

2016 POCI ConventionIsle Hotel & CasinoBettendorf, Iowa

July 12-16

Visit www.poci.org for on-line reg-istration, information on the planned activities, hotel availability and other updates- or call the the POCI Club Office at (877) 368-3454.

Page 5

PCPV eMail Bag

Dave Roper from New Zealand emailed in this vintage photo of these shark-nosed’60 Pontiacs in transport, do you suppose someone is driving one of these today as a restored collector car? Also, check out his 1929 Pontiac Pick Up:

PCPV

CH

A P T ER

Po

ntiac-Oakland Club International

Dave writes: “I was told that this ‘29 was a Canadian built right hand drive pick up. It is registered as a 1929 Pontiac Pick Up . I can’t be sure if it wasn’t a sedan originally though I bought it of the second owner who bought it from the original owner and he says it was a pick up from birth. Either way it’s cool. There are photos of the truck from the day I purchased it on the PY Forum under 1929. It was a wood frame cab with the panel at-tached. I am repowered with GM 6 cylinder for reliability.”

Vintage Truck

Page 6

Hi Paul, After our article appeared in The Vintage Voice, we received an E-mail from Richard Farnsworth in Freeport, IL. He said that John Henney Smithe (a descendant of John Henney) owns a Henney/Pontiac hearse that was con-verted into a truck many years ago. (was found in Kansas) The truck is now in the museum in Freeport. He asked if we would bring our hearse to Freeport to show at the County Fair along side the truck.

See you in Louisville, Jim & Alice Koenigsmark

A 1928 Pontiac Series 6-28 that ap-pears in the July/August 2014 issue of Vintage Truck magazine is owned by Bob Johnson, who takes much pride and pleasure in keeping his great-grand-father’s legacy on the road. Originally a four-door sedan, the Pontiac Six was converted into a flatbed truck after World War II to be used on the berry farm owned by Johnson’s grandfather.

Call 800-767-5828 to order this back issue.

Vintage Truck

Page 7

Trans Sport Concept Vehicle

Many of you have seen our 1992 Pontiac Trans Sport at the POCI Conventions. It was a “Road Warrior” in Louisville (the 5th convention we drove it to) and it’s still going strong. In fact, it’s a daily driver for us.

I recently purchased a PMD Press Release package for the Trans Sport concept vehicle, some very cool photos and information are included. I remember seeing the Trans Sport prototype on display at the new car show in Minneapolis (prob-ably in the fall 1986) and saying to myself, “I hope they put that baby into produc-tion, someday, I’d love to own one!” And now I’ve owned 2 or 3 over the years.

Page 8

Press release stated: “A gull-wing door accesses the six-passenger interior of Pontiac’s futuristic front-wheel-drive multi-purpose concept vehicle, the Trans Sport. A CRT and personal computer display operational controls and a variety of information, a cassette player and televsion set are mounted overhead and fully articulating seats have individual radio controls and ear phones. The sleek aerody-namic exterior features extensive use of glass, doors which curve over the roofline and flush-mounted headlmaps and taillamps. For Release: January 10, 1986”

Page 9

Wagons Ho!

2015 POCI

Convention

Page 10

Page 11

I sure enjoyed visting with the Sawruks in Louisville. John Jr. brought lots of cool stuff and it was fun talking with James. I’m glad I took some time away from the registration desk to stop in!

Here are some of the interesting things John Jr. brought to share.

PCPV

CH

A P T ER

Po

ntiac-Oakland Club International

Left to right:Paul Bergstrom, James Sawruk, John Sawruk, Jr.

Page 12

Sawruk’s Stash

Page 13

PCPV Potpourri

Share your PCPV-related photos, stories and vintage ads with the us! Items can be scanned and returned.

Contact Paul B., editor.

PCPV treaasurer Terry Columbus is working on fitting a Fulton sun visor on his ‘39 Pontiac hearse.

I can’t wait to see it when it’s done!

Page 14

PCPV Potpourri

POCI member Nick Mann (MN) saw this ‘62 Pontiac Ambulance in South Bend, WA. I wonder if someone has plans to restore it, or maybe it will be up for sale soon!

These pics are from the Loudonville, OH car show July 4th. Over 600 cars showed up! The 56 Pontiac coach is my jalopy. Ron Himes.

Page 15

Route 66 Swap Meet and Show & Shine, Oct. 4, 2015 at the Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, IL for more details contact Rodney Brockman (815) 478-3633

Open

Upcoming Events

Grand Am-amino?

Judge-amino?

PCPV Idea Factory...

Page 16

PCPV

CH

A P T ER

Po

ntiac-Oakland Club International

PCPV Classified Ads

Parts For Sale

For sale: GM Shop Manuals, book vendor sale. Almost 2,000 books 1960-2000. In good condition. Ideal money maker for young vendor. Priced to sell all at $1 each, $2,000 buys all. Also, Motors, Chilton, Mitchell books in this pile. Rodney Brockman, 24862 Ridge, Elwood, IL 60421 (815) 478-3633

Parts/Pontiacs Wanted

1951 Pontiac Sedan Delivery: 8 cyl., manual trans. I need dash components, exterior stainless, steering wheel and a radio. Dennis Statz, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Phone (920) 559-0561 or Romance@WhitelaceInn.com

Pontiacs For Sale

1956 Pontiac Hearse - Superior Body #7. Less motor & trans, needs restora-tion. Car has a solid body but does need front floors. Reduced to $2,500

1964 Pontiac Bonneville Ambu-lance Good Solid Rust Free Body, No Engine, less fronty end sheet metal. Speedometer reads 59,962. $1,500

East West Auto Partswww.eastwestautoparts.com

(800) 447-2886

1949 Pontiac Sedan Delivery: 350/330 hp Chevy crate motor, Fat Man III front clip, 700 R4 trans, Ford 9” rear, dual exhaust, Vintage A/C & heat, new instruments, chrome tilt steering col-umn with Billett Banjo steering wheel, much more. Asking $26,500 Gordon Garnett (757) 838-1716, mgarnett1@cox.net (VA)

Newsletter Contributions Wanted

Send photos, stories, want ads, resto-ration tips, or just drop a note to say hello. Tell us what’s happening on the Pontiac/Oakland/GMC scene in your area!

E-mail submissions to pontiacpaulb@gmail.com

Page 17

Parts/Pontiacs Wanted Canadian Pontiacs and GMCs: want-ed light-duty GMC sales brochures 1937-1958 showing panel trucks and sedan deliveries; Canadian Pontiac brochures 1937 - 1962; 2003 Vibe manuals and dealer literature. Contact John Preikschat, Phone (306) 771-2929 email: bigjohn@sasktel.net (M)

1956 Pontiac 3-seat wagon: need 3rd seat for pattern. Have 4 wagons with no rear seats! Chevy will also work. Perry Eaton (530) 534-5510 (CA)

Literature/info wanted - for ‘66 Bonneville Superior Embassy limou-sine. Contact Joe Sharpnack (402) 789-3015 (NE)

1962 Superior Criterion Ambulance: 15” Deluxe wheel covers, ‘62-era Su-perior Coachworks assembly manu-als or photos to help with restoration. Matt Planning (262) 646-3363 mat-thew@brewcityengineering.com (WI)

Restoration Tips

1926-1958 Pontiac parts: Free parts catalog available from California Pon-tiac Restoration. Contact Richard Plastino, (714) 245-9800 email rich@pontiacparts.net, mailing address: 820 Poinsettia Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701

Wanted: any literature for the 1955-56-57 Pontiac Sedan Delivery. Rod-ney Brockman, 24862 Ridge Road, Elwood, IL 60421

PCPV NewsClassified Ad Rates:

(for 6 issues)

$200 full page $100 half page $50 quarter page $25 business card size

Page 18

RECRUIT A NEW MEMBER!PCPV Chapter Membership Form

___ NEW MEMBER ____ RENEWALPOCI Membership # _________________ (if applicable) Annual Dues = $20.00 Outside of U.S. = $25.00

Electronic Membership = $12.00 (newsletter received via email)

NAME: ________________________________________________

ADDRESS: _____________________________________________

CITY: ___________________________ STATE/PROV. _________

ZIP/POSTAL CODE: ____________ PHONE: ________________

email: _________________________________________________

Vehicles owned: _________________________________________

Send check or money order made out to: PCPV Chapter of POCI, c/o Terry Columbus

7516 Xerxes Avenue N.Brooklyn Park, MN 55444

PC

PV C

hapt

er o

f PO

CI

c/o

Paul

Ber

gstro

m, E

dito

r

11

65 C

ount

y R

oad

83

M

aple

Pla

in, M

N 5

5359

Po

nti

ac-O

akla

nd

Clu

b I

ntl

.

Po

nti

ac C

om

mer

cia

l an

dP

ro

fess

ion

al V

ehic

le C

hap

ter

PC

PV

C H

AP

TE

R

Pontia

c-O

akla

nd C

lub

Inte

rnat

ional

Join

us i

n 20

16!