Hi Dave,

Great website. It’s a blast to see all of these vintage Pontiacs. I’ve had mine in one form or another for about 21 years from age 15. My Dad started a resto on it in 1979 and then moved on to other projects. It started as a ragged out ‘51 Chieftain 4 door sedan Deluxe. In college, we decided to build and drop in a cammed-up Pontiac 455 with Ram Air III heads and TH400. I know, horrible for the street with this combo because of the high compression, but what a blast it was for 10 years. Then in 2001 I bought a complete but horribly rusted ‘50 2 door Streamliner and my Dad and I decide to do a body swap, and fully bag the stock ‘51 frame with an Air Ride technologies 4 link and Air Pod, do custom 3″ exhaust, and wiring from Painless. It still looks like hell inside and out, but it’s back to all-steel with ongoing improvements every week.

I am still in search of a few body trim pieces especially the outboard grille moulding for a ‘51 or ‘52 if anyone has suggestions. I am also looking for a reputable interior shop to do a great job on an original-looking interior restoration in 2009.

I am 36 now and I have loved these cars since a teenager for obvious reasons. I grew up in Western New York and ended up in Detroit about 12 years ago and now live about 5 miles from where the old Pontiac, MI plant once stood. There’s alot of history here and it is very cool to be in Detroit with a car as great as this era of Pontiacs, no matter what you see on TV about the auto industry. I hope to enter the 2009 Autorama in the old skool rust bucket class, so look for us. Thanks again for a great online resource. Merry Christmas!

- Steve