2005 POCI Convention
I spend Wednesday to Friday evening at the 2005 Pontiac Oakland Club annual convention in Greenville, SC, and found it to be a wonderful experience. I got to meet a bunch of other old Pontiac owners, learned some new information, and most of all, got to see Mike Kearney's 1936 Deluxe Eight cabriolet in person. Mike's car is the finest restoration in the country, so it was nice to see one finished and looking so good. He won a gold in the points judged show for the car. Here's a couple of pictures of his:
It is painted Silver Streak Metallic, quite a striking color. I guess you would call in gray, but it varies in appearance according to the light conditions. It can look lime greenish as well, or even a little on the brown side. Given the many beautiful colors available that year, it is strange that so many cars came in black. I guess people were really depressed in the Depression!
Although I am not building mine as a show car, I can tell from Mike's that I would do as well in a points judged contest. My car will be a little more complete, with such original parts as a spare tire clamp, side rail knobs, sun visors, rear step pad rubber and some other things that Mike's car doesn't have. That was satisfying somehow! I took a lot of still and video footage to bring home, especially of the top well, rumble compartment, side rails and other parts of the car that we have yet to tackle. Thanks Mike!
GM also had one of their Heritage Cars at the show, a 1936 Pontiac Master Six 4-door touring sedan (36-2619A). It was beautifully restored and had a unique 6-wheel (sidemount) option. I believe the sidemounts were available only on the Master Six sport coupes and cabriolets, but it would be easy enough to add them to any car I guess. I don't care for them on the Six though - makes the hood look too compressed. This car is Wenonah Maroon with the optional ($10) maroon fenders. Standard was black fenders.
The interior was also very nicely done. I really like the banjo steering wheel, but the horn button on this one is not original. It also doesn't have a heater or a radio, and that cigar lighter in the middle of the dash is not factory. We noticed a few other details that weren't correct too, like the hood grill painted body color, not black, and chromed door latch parts (used on LaSalle & Cadillac, but not Pontiac). But hey, no car this age is exactly correct I'm sure.
A few other cars I really like included this 1935 Opera Coupe, one of 50 made. The spare tire and storage compartments behind the seat were removed and a jump seat put in, but the car never produced and sold commercially. It's from Ohio, and original car with 51,000 miles!
And here's a 1948 8-cylinder convertible that was very well done. Actually there were two of these cars there, both maroon.
Andy & Ginny Lee also brought there original 1936 coupe, a former MI state police car, to the show. It got a lot of attention from the crowd and Andy regaled them with the many stories he has uncovered about the car's history. Here he is loading it up for the show. They live in the Greenville area, which got me to the show this year. Andy has two coupe's and a couple of parts cars, plus a bunch of other interesting stuff, especially 5 or 6 1957 Chevies and a 1932 Chevy Deluxe coupe.
Finally, here is a 1931 coupe from Iowa, one of two at the show. It's a lot like Andy's 32 Chevy.
I hadn't been to a POCI convention since 1987 (in MA), but will plan on going to others. It was really a nice event. I hope they have one close enough to let me bring my cars some year. I really recommend POCI membership, at the national and chapter level, to everyone interested in these cars.
It is painted Silver Streak Metallic, quite a striking color. I guess you would call in gray, but it varies in appearance according to the light conditions. It can look lime greenish as well, or even a little on the brown side. Given the many beautiful colors available that year, it is strange that so many cars came in black. I guess people were really depressed in the Depression!
Although I am not building mine as a show car, I can tell from Mike's that I would do as well in a points judged contest. My car will be a little more complete, with such original parts as a spare tire clamp, side rail knobs, sun visors, rear step pad rubber and some other things that Mike's car doesn't have. That was satisfying somehow! I took a lot of still and video footage to bring home, especially of the top well, rumble compartment, side rails and other parts of the car that we have yet to tackle. Thanks Mike!
GM also had one of their Heritage Cars at the show, a 1936 Pontiac Master Six 4-door touring sedan (36-2619A). It was beautifully restored and had a unique 6-wheel (sidemount) option. I believe the sidemounts were available only on the Master Six sport coupes and cabriolets, but it would be easy enough to add them to any car I guess. I don't care for them on the Six though - makes the hood look too compressed. This car is Wenonah Maroon with the optional ($10) maroon fenders. Standard was black fenders.
The interior was also very nicely done. I really like the banjo steering wheel, but the horn button on this one is not original. It also doesn't have a heater or a radio, and that cigar lighter in the middle of the dash is not factory. We noticed a few other details that weren't correct too, like the hood grill painted body color, not black, and chromed door latch parts (used on LaSalle & Cadillac, but not Pontiac). But hey, no car this age is exactly correct I'm sure.
A few other cars I really like included this 1935 Opera Coupe, one of 50 made. The spare tire and storage compartments behind the seat were removed and a jump seat put in, but the car never produced and sold commercially. It's from Ohio, and original car with 51,000 miles!
And here's a 1948 8-cylinder convertible that was very well done. Actually there were two of these cars there, both maroon.
Andy & Ginny Lee also brought there original 1936 coupe, a former MI state police car, to the show. It got a lot of attention from the crowd and Andy regaled them with the many stories he has uncovered about the car's history. Here he is loading it up for the show. They live in the Greenville area, which got me to the show this year. Andy has two coupe's and a couple of parts cars, plus a bunch of other interesting stuff, especially 5 or 6 1957 Chevies and a 1932 Chevy Deluxe coupe.
Finally, here is a 1931 coupe from Iowa, one of two at the show. It's a lot like Andy's 32 Chevy.
I hadn't been to a POCI convention since 1987 (in MA), but will plan on going to others. It was really a nice event. I hope they have one close enough to let me bring my cars some year. I really recommend POCI membership, at the national and chapter level, to everyone interested in these cars.
posted by Bob Shafto at 7:29 PM
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