January/February 2019 CP V D Clu Klan B Int Oa Er C- Na Ia Tio P T N N O a P L PCPV Officers C

The Newsletter of the PCPV Chapter of POCI January/February 2019 CP V d Clu klan b Int Oa er c- na ia tio P t n n o a P l PCPV Officers C

H R A E P T President PCPV News Gary Minor 357 Warwick Avenue January/February 2019 San Leandro, CA 94577 Volume 22 ~ Number 1 Phone: (510) 636-1951 [email protected] The Newsletter of the Pontiac Commercial and Professional Vehicle Chapter of POCI Vice-President Wayne Guy 331 Kings Highway The PCPV News is published six times Clarksboro, NJ 08020 a year by the Pontiac Commercial and Phone: (856) 423-3073 Professional Vehicle Chapter of the Pon- [email protected] tiac-Oakland Club International (POCI), a nonprofit organization. Secretary, Editor & The PCPV Chapter (chapter #79, found- Web Site Administrator ed in 1998), is dedicated to the preserva- Paul Bergstrom tion, restoration, education and enjoy- PO Box 68 ment of commercial and professional Maple Plain, MN 55359 Pontiac, Oakland and GMC vehicles, Phone: (763) 242-6734 past and present. These include: lim- [email protected] ousines, taxi cabs, hearses, police and fire cars, ambulances, sedan deliveries, station wagons, trucks, vans and SUVs. Treasurer Pontiac and GMC produced military Terry Columbus items and other special interest items are 7516 Xerxes Avenue N. also included. Brooklyn Park, MN 55444 Phone: (612) 356-8295 Dues are $20 per year (U.S. funds, $25 [email protected] outside of U.S.); $12 for electronic membership. We recommend member- Deadlines for PCPV News ship in the Pontiac-Oakland Club Inter- articles/want ad submissions: national also - see www.poci.org.

Send change of address notices and ar- January/February issue: January 1st ticle submissions to the PCPV News edi- March/April issue: March 1st tor. May/June issue: May 1st July/August issue: July 1st September/October issue: Sept. 1st November/December issue: Nov. 1st

Honorable Mention 2016 Page 1 President’s Message

This is a very unusual time of the year for us. We are finally having a break from the rainy days of the past month and a half. Of course, I can’t complain because it hasn’t gone below 30 degrees above zero and it isn’t flooding.

To you people in the Midwest and East, stay warm and be careful shoveling all the snow and ice. I think that was the main reason I moved from Maryland to California. It has snowed once here since 1970, and it melted by noon.

Enough weather reports and on to Pontiacs. My first engine rebuilder still doesn’t have the motor done after it’s been in his shop for a year. So I bought another rebuildable Pontiac 400 and gave it to another rebuilder. It should be back next week, and I can finally get my ’61 Ventura on the road. Which means, with a little crankshaft work, my Ventura motor will go into my ’61 Catalina wagon and I will be able to get started on it. So this spring looks pretty good if it ever gets here.

Again, stay warm and dry and maybe one of the cars will make it to Gettys- burg which, by the way, is a great place to have a car show. I’ve been to many KKOA shows there in the past. Gary Minor, PCPV President CP V d Clu klan b Int Oa er c- na ia tio P t n n o a P l

H R E A P T

Page 2 CP V d Clu klan b Int Oa er c- na ia tio P t n n o a P l

H R E A P T VP REPORT

My 1986 Parisienne Hearse

Usually, we include a photo of my 1986 Parisienne hearse as the header for this column. So, I was very happy to see a photo of Ray West’s 1986 Parisienne station wagon on the cover of our last newsletter. Thanks, Ray, for submitting your photos and story about the car. Love the vanity plate, btw! Your article made me think again about the modifications which transformed a basic wagon into my hearse.

Eagle Coach Company started with a standard wagon. Funeral directors could specify any options that Pontiac dealers offered to the general public. Unfortu- nately, the original purchaser of my coach, Brooks Funeral Home of Turbotville, PA, did not order the optional 60/40 six-way dual power seats that Ray’s wagon has.

The major body modifications are the raised vinyl roof with landau bars and the lengthening of the rear end. Sometimes called a “tail stretch” design, the rear section has been extended 10” and air shocks were added to handle the heavy load of a casket. The tailgate has been modified to swing open to the left (away from the curb), and the hinges allow for a wide opening to make room for pall- bearers.

It’s important to note that the wheelbase and window glass are unchanged from the basic wagon. This could be helpful in finding replacement parts. Older Pon- tiac hearses built by Superior Coach and others had longer wheelbases and larger glass than the standard passenger cars. continued on page 5

Page 3 Looking Out The Back Door

The PCPV Chapter annual meeting will 2019 be held at the POCI Convention in Get- POCI Convention tysburg this summer. See details on page 10. Give me a call or email me if you are Gettysburg, PA planning to attend. We are looking for July 16-21, 2019 your input on the meeting agenda. POCI’s 2019 Convention announce- Thanks to the PCPV Officers and Tom ments are being published in the Young for article and photo submis- Smoke Signals. See pages 60-61 in the sions. December issue for the latest update on events and tours being planned. Until the next issue... let’s all do our best to keep the PCPV Legacy Alive! Registration for the event is available on line ($65) at www.poci.org. Paul Bergstrom, PCPV News Editor The two host hotels (Wyndham Get- tysburgand the Courtyard Marriot) ON THE COVER: are sold out. There is a list of over- A couple of ‘58 Pontiac pro-car flow hotels and campground informa- images found on the internet. tion on the poci.org website.

Activity Packet Guides will be mailed out March 15th to all members who are registered for the convention.

Page 4 VP REPORT continued from page 3

Interior modifications complete the transformation of the wagon into a hearse. A partition with sliding glass window is installed behind the driver seat. The wagon seats are removed and replaced with a floor containing rollers, bier pins, etc. Side lighting is added. The wagon’s rear passenger compartment, originally designed to hold six passengers, now can accommodate only one. That rear passenger, however, now rides in a private and more lavish setting!

I enjoy learning about the conversions which were done to make Pontiacs into professional cars. This appeals to me as an engineer, although I am not a big fan of those highly modified and customized cars, which I consider more as works of art. I try to keep my professional cars original, meaning just as they came from the coachbuilder. Wayne Guy, PCPV Chapter VP

PCPV CHAPTER DUES If your chapter dues are due, we have enclosed a renewal form for you to use. We hope you are able to continue supporting the PCPV Chapter!

Out and About As you venture out and about, or as you explore cyber-space, let us know if you come across any interesting Pon- tiac professional cars, station wagons, sedan deliveries, etc.

Email the link, photo or story to the PCPV News editor at: [email protected]

Attention PCPV Chapter members! Please vote in POCI’s 2019 Board of Directors election (ballots were mailed with the 2/19 Smoke Signals). Indi- cate that your Chapter Affiliation is “PCPV Chapter”. We may win a $100 award for the chapter with the highest # of members voting!

Page 5 Pontiac Pro-cars in the safari News

Reprinted from the “Safari News” Fall 2018 Page 6 PCPV eMail-Bag Paul:

Inspired by your chapter’s newsletters, I decided to expose the Custom Safari Chapter members to a feature article on ‘55-’58 Pontiac professional vehicles. Although ‘55-’57 Pontiac Safari Custom 2 door and 4 door wagons are very unique, the true custom wagons are made by Superior, National and other coach buildings. Using Dennis Statz’s wonderful ‘57 Pontiac Regency ambulance as inspiration, Custom Safari Chapter members get to see these some really unique professional vehicles in their newsletter for the first time ever! Tom Young

Reprinted from the “Safari News” Fall 2018

Page 7 1957 Pontiac Pro-Cars

TheThe 1957 Superior Coach Coach Corporation Corporation offered offered several several ambulance ambulance configurations configurations for for theirtheir 19571957 Pontiac Pontiac models. models. Many Many came came with with 4-speed 4 speed automatic automatic transmissions. tranmssions..

This 1957 Pontiac ambulance was parked near Sacramento, CA circa early 1980s. At the time, it was a running vehicle that had a 3 speed manual transmission. The owner was Richard Grob of North Highlands, CA who recently recalls that it was last known to be in the SF Bay Area in the 80s. Where is this ambulance now?

Submitted by: Tom Young

Page 8 Custom ‘51 Pontiac SD For Sale

For more details on the chopped-top ‘51 SD visit:

Looking for FEATURE STORIES on members and their vehicles, contact the editor at : [email protected]

Page 9 Winter Wonderland

PCPV Chapter Annual Meeting

The PCPV Chapter Annual Meeting will be held at the POCI Convention in Gettysburg on: July 17th 10:00 - 11:30 a.m Wyndham Hotel (Salon A)

Please email Paul B. ([email protected]) if you are planning to attend. Also, let us know if you have suggestions for the meeting agenda.

Page 10 Visit The Pcpv Web Site pcpvchapterpoci.wordpress.com

Visit Our Web Site pcpvchapterpoci.wordpress.com Please continue sending in photos of your vehicles and I’ll get them posted to the “Chapter Member’s Ride” page. Let me know what else you’d like to see on our web site. Email to: [email protected] - thanks!

Page 11 Classifieds Pontiacs For Sale Parts For Sale 1955 Pontiac Star Chief 4-door: no rust, new interior, sitting w/engine & For sale: My collection of over 2,000 trans out. Mike Koch (937) 572-8035 GM shop manuals 1970-99. Also 200 [email protected] Motors, chiltons and Micthell reppair books 1970-2000. retired bpok ven- 1957 Pontiac Combination: not run- dor, all must go. Best fair offer. Value ning, needs restored, excellent interior. of over $20,000+. Can help deliver. H. Lee Hadley (740) 350-5522 had- Rodney Brockman, 24862 Ridge, El- [email protected] wood, IL 60421 (815) 478-3633

1949 Pontiac: NOS rear bumper over riders $150/pr. Mike Theim, yellow- [email protected] (920) 261-6724

1955 Pontiac parts: complete under seat heater system, radiator; 1955 pontiac Star Chief 4-door sedan (motor. trans out for rebuild) no rust, new in- 1964 Bonneville Ambulance: This is a terior $3,800. Mike Koch (937) 572- solid ambulance. mostly complete less 8035 (OH) the motor & transmission. $750. Ken Freeman, parts@eastwestautoparts. 1956 Pontiac SDL & station wagon com (918) 832-7070 (OK) tail light assemblies: used, nice and shiny. No lenses. $285/pair OBO 1964 Bonneville Limousine: Com- Rodney Brockman, 24862 Ridge, El- plete, body solid, motor turns over, wood, IL 60421 (815) 478-3633 $8,000. Contact Greg Johnson (701) 318-2164 (ND)

KEEP OUR CLASSIFIEDS “CLEAN”!

Please - let the editor know if your want ad needs to be Pontiacs Wanted modified or deleted.

1957 Ambulance or 9 passenger sedan by National Body Manufacturing Company. Any style and leads ap- preciated. Tom Young (805) 375- 1320 leave a message. pontiactom@ Send want ads to: ix.netcom.com (CA/KS) [email protected]

Page 12 Restoration Tips

1926-1958 Pontiac parts: Free parts catalog available from California Pon- tiac Restoration. Contact Richard Plastino, (714) 245-9800 email rich@ Parts/Pontiacs Wanted pontiacparts.net, mailing address: 820 Poinsettia Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701 Canadian Pontiacs and GMCs: wanted 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: [email protected] (M)

1956 Pontiac 3-seat wagon: need 3rd PCPV News seat for pattern. Have 4 wagons with no Classified Ad Rates: rear seats! Chevy will also work. Perry (for 6 issues) Eaton (530) 534-5510 (CA) $200 full page 1962 Superior Criterion Ambulance: $100 half page 15” Deluxe wheel covers, ‘62-era Su- $50 quarter page perior Coachworks assembly manu- $25 business card size als or photos to help with restoration. Matt Planning (262) 646-3363 mat- [email protected] (WI)

1938 Pontiac: “8” lower Grille Bar and crank cover in restored or restorable condition. John Dornbush 563-593- 1032 (IL)

Wanted: 1937 Pontiac, Stan Felipe Newsletter Contributions email: [email protected] Wanted Wanted: 1961 Bonneville Superior Send photos, stories, want ads, resto- Ambulance driver’s side door glass. ration tips, or just drop a note to say I would also be interested in the red hello. Tell us what’s happening on the light for the roof and the siren. does not Pontiac/Oakland/GMC scene in your have to be in working order or correct area! but something close. Todd Zimmer- E-mail submissions to man (920) 526-3454 or (920)889-0895 [email protected] [email protected] Page 13 RECRUIT A NEW MEMBER! PCPV Chapter Membership Form ___ NEW MEMBER ____ RENEWAL POCI 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

Page 14 CP V PCPV Chapter of POCI d Clu klan b Int Oa er c- na ia tio P t n n o a P l c/o Paul Bergstrom, Editor C

H R PO Box 68 E A P T Maple Plain, MN 55359

Pontiac Commercial and Professional Vehicle Chapter

2019 POCI Convention Gettysburg, PA July 16-21, 2019

Pontiac-Oakland Club Intl.