the newsletter of the pcpv chapter of poci january ......the one going to auction is the one that...

The Newsletter of the PCPV Chapter of POCI

January / February 2015

Robert Compton’s 1954 Wagon

Koenigsmark’s 1929 Henny Hearse

PCPV NewsJan./Feb. 2015

Volume 18 ~ Number 1

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

[email protected]

Vice-PresidentGary Minor

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

[email protected]

Secretary, Editor &Web Site Administrator

Paul Bergstrom1165 County Road 83

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

[email protected]

TreasurerTerry Columbus

7516 Xerxes Avenue N.Brooklyn Park, MN 55444

Phone: (763) [email protected]

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

Cheers! Hello Pontiac Enthusiasts,

Well, how has everyone’s winter been this season? Here in Nebraska it’s been like a yo- yo! Two snowstorms in a week then up to near 70’s that weekend following, crazy! 20’s today. Anyway, if the weather has been mild in your area it would be a fine time to take the ole’ girl out for a little cruise. I’m sure your ride would enjoy the exercise too!

See ya on the Road Less Traveled! Michael LeonardPCPV Chapter President

“Electronic” PCPV News Now available: $12 annual fee for an “Electronic Membership” to the PCPV News. Electronic members will be emailed a .pdf of the newsletter rather than get a printed issue mailed to them. The other $20 annual membership fee ($25 outside of U.S.) for the printed copy of PCPV News is still available (see page 14).

President’s Message

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SAWRUK’S

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Vintage “Old Cars Weekly” Letter to the Editor, from a POCI Chapter newsletter... forgot which one though!

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

THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

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2015 POCI Convention

Louisville, KY

Louisville Fair and Expo Center

July 21-25On-line registration is available at poci.org. The host hotel is the Crowne Plaza-Louisville Airport.

Check the poci.org website for hotel listings and convention updates, or call the the POCI Club Office at (877) 368-3454.

Looking Out The Back Door

Here we are in February and I’m sure we’re all looking forward to Spring. Our first local car show here in Min-nesota with the Tomahawk Chapter is April 25th.

The POCI Convention Activity Packet Guide will be mailed to all pre-regis-tered members on March 15th. If you have not yet registered, now would be a good time to get that taken care of and begin making plans for Louisville!

PCVP OFFICERS FOR 2015- thanks to Mike Leonard, Gary Miror and Terry Columbus for stay-ing on another year to serve the PCPV, we appreciate it!

Thanks to Robert Compton and the Koenigsmarks for sharing their fea-ture vehicle stories, and to John Saw-ruk, Jr for sharing some more vintage photos with us (drivers ed car page 2 and the ‘54 wagon, page 6). There sure are some treasures in that “Sawruk’s Stash.” Until next issue,

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

Robert Compton’s

1954 WagonStyle #54-2562Body 4842

Get this... Robert’s Dad purchased the wagon in the 1960s.... for $50! It was in fair condition- it

sat in a barn since 1969 all the way up to 2013. It was challenging finding parts for the station wagon but it is now restored and shows 77,000 on the odometer! It’s looking good Robert!

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1929 Pontiac Henny Hearse

Reprinted from:

9� Vintage Voice Volume Seven Number One Jan - Feb 2015�

1929 Pontiac Henny Hearse Jim & Alice Koenigsmark�

“B�e prepared”, that is the Boy Scout motto. So in�preparation for our last ride, when the chance to buy�a Pontiac based Henney hearse came up we jumped�at it. We love the late ‘20’s and early ‘30’s cars and�fashion, so a 1929 Henney Model 60 was perfect.�

The Model 60 was built on a Pontiac chassis, but�nowhere in the 1929 Henney sales literature is�

Pontiac mentioned. The sales literature describes the�6 cylinder engine as having 2 cylinder heads, the�10 spoke wheels and other ’29 Pontiac features.�

The frame was cut and pieces were riveted in to�bring the wheel base to 145”. Our 1977 Cadillac�Miller Meteor hearse only has a 144” wheel base, 1”�shorter than the Henney model 60. Besides the�chassis and running gear, the cowl, dash and below�the belt line of the front doors is Pontiac.�

The rear side doors, quarter panels and rear door is�Henney coach work. Everything above the belt line�molding is aluminum, below is steel.�

Like most vehicles from the ‘20’s and early ‘30’s the�Henney has (had) a fabric top and a wood frame�body. Once the top starts to leak water into the�vehicle, the interior and wood are quickly damaged.�So now we are faced with the decision of whether to�preserve what we have or do a total restoration. The�hearse is totally original, unmolested and complete�(less casket table).�

Henney Motors Co. was in Freeport Illinois. They�started out making buggies, then custom funeral�vehicles. In the late ‘30’s they started using Packard�chassis and were then known as Henney-Packard.�

Exit Strategy� By Jim and Alice Koenigsmark�


1929 Pontiac Henny Hearse Jim & Alice Koenigsmark�

“B�e prepared”, that is the Boy Scout motto. So in�preparation for our last ride, when the chance to buy�a Pontiac based Henney hearse came up we jumped�at it. We love the late ‘20’s and early ‘30’s cars and�fashion, so a 1929 Henney Model 60 was perfect.�

The Model 60 was built on a Pontiac chassis, but�nowhere in the 1929 Henney sales literature is�

Pontiac mentioned. The sales literature describes the�6 cylinder engine as having 2 cylinder heads, the�10 spoke wheels and other ’29 Pontiac features.�

The frame was cut and pieces were riveted in to�bring the wheel base to 145”. Our 1977 Cadillac�Miller Meteor hearse only has a 144” wheel base, 1”�shorter than the Henney model 60. Besides the�chassis and running gear, the cowl, dash and below�the belt line of the front doors is Pontiac.�

The rear side doors, quarter panels and rear door is�Henney coach work. Everything above the belt line�molding is aluminum, below is steel.�

Like most vehicles from the ‘20’s and early ‘30’s the�Henney has (had) a fabric top and a wood frame�body. Once the top starts to leak water into the�vehicle, the interior and wood are quickly damaged.�So now we are faced with the decision of whether to�preserve what we have or do a total restoration. The�hearse is totally original, unmolested and complete�(less casket table).�

Henney Motors Co. was in Freeport Illinois. They�started out making buggies, then custom funeral�vehicles. In the late ‘30’s they started using Packard�chassis and were then known as Henney-Packard.�

Exit Strategy� By Jim and Alice Koenigsmark�

Jim & Alice Koenigsmark

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1929 Pontiac Henny Hearse


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Interior & Dash is all ‘29 Pontiac� Original Upholstery with Divider Window in Place�

Rear Door notice the gas filler plate on the floor�Because the body is so long For the standard�sedan this is outside behind the body�

The wide side doors allow for casket removal�However, use of rear door was recommended�

PCPV & GMC Potpourri

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

Contact Paul B., editor.

12 Vintage Voice� Volume Seven Number One Jan - Feb 2015�

Ed Note: I know that the Futurliner was not directly�related to Oakland/Pontiac but it was a GM venture�in the era of our OPW cars. When I saw that a�Futurliner was going up for auction in January, I�thought this would be an interesting story. Paul�Prinzing, a diehard Pontiac man, is part of the team�who restored Futurliner #10 supplied the information�below.�

The Futurliner that is going to auction is not the�one I worked on. The one I worked on is Futurliner #10�and that is in Washington D.C. right now to be inducted�into the HVAC honors vehicles this spring. During the�summer it will be out on the road to car shows, etc. and�now that NATMUS has remodeled it will be on display�there in Auburn, IN each winter.� The one going to auction is the one that sold�back in 2006 for $4.2 million! From what we understand�the current owner has a new woman in his life who isn't�into the whole car collection thing. Not only is he selling�off the Futurliner, but he is also selling off most of his�collection as well.�I guess we're really lucky we have�understanding wives that will put up with our hobby!� The body and chassis of all the Futurliners can be�traced back to 1939 when they were originally built to go�out on the Parade of Progress tours starting in 1940.�They were originally all red, had bubble tops and�different drive trains. They were moth-balled during the�war and refurbished in 1952 to head back out on the�tour starting in 1953. They were repainted the red and�white they now have. The bubble top was replaced with a�metal lid and air conditioning was added for the drivers�who had suffered from sun exposure and heat stroke�with the bubble top. Also the engines and drive train was�replaced as they now have with basically the deuce and�1/2 Korean war set up used; six cylinder with hydramatic.�You can check out the Futurliner site�at �www.futurliner.com� �

FuturLiners�

Original 1940 Futurliner - Note the Bubble top�

Refurbished post war Parade of Progress Futurliner�

1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special with Futurliner�

Futurliner #10�On Display at Hershey�Search NATMUS on the�Internet to see more�Photos of this #10 of�the 12 Futurliners�built�

MEMBER CLASSIFIEDS

1951 Pontiac Sedan Delivery: Six Cylinder. Straight Body – has paint is-sues, Include (1) rebuilt 6-cylinder motor (may be frozen), (2) 6-Cylinder blocks with NOS Parts for one rebuild. LOTS of NOS Trim. LOTS of used parts includ-ing a complete rear axle (disassembled) and extra 3-speed transmissions.

I have owned this vehicle since 1964. Asking $5,000. Call for Jack for full details (805) 929-2671 (CA)

1967Pontiac Catalina StationWagon

Complete, 100 % of parts there. 43,000 original miles. Nevada Car - ABSOLUTELY NO RUSTNew Currie Ford 9” w/3.89 Tru-Trac Posi

Disc brakes all four wheels, dash and door panels mint, no cracks etc.NIB carpet set. I’m the 2nd owner, it’s been in safe, dry storage all these years.

Price reduced to $4,100 Call for more info 715-343-5460 Phillip Manti

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 [email protected]

Upcoming Events

SOLD = $20,500eBay ad stated: “This is my slightly custom 1955 Pontiac Safari wagon, powered by a Pontiac 400 with a Muncie 4-speed.”

Tri-Chevy Association Car Show & Swap Meet, June 14, 2015 at the Will County Fair-grounds, Peotine, IL, more details at trichevy.org

Route 66 Swap Meet and Show & Shine, Oct. 4, 2015 at the Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, IL

PCPV NewsClassified Ad Rates:

(for 6 issues)

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

eBay watch

Firebird III photo

(at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair)

This really interested me because I

was at that fair... I was 3 years old....

I wonder if I was somehow drawn to

Pontiacs after this experience. I’ll

have to ask my Dad if he remembers

seeing the Firebird III!

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PCPV Classified Ads

Parts For Sale

(1) 1955 Pontiac complete rolling chassis including non-running engine/trans/brakes and rear end on wheels & tires.” $550. (2) 1955 Pontiac com-plete rolling car (a 4-dr changed to a 2 door) w/non running Pontiac 400 cu (missing distributor) & 68-72 trans. Front/rear windows, good, fenders/hood/trunk/excellent floors/1/4’s/auto floor shifter. $575 Mike Koch, more info at cell: 937-572-8035 (H) 937-486-1303. Both cars $1000. Photos on request. [email protected].

For sale: my collection of over 1,600 GM shop manuals, Motors, Chiltons, Mitchell Repair books 1960-2000. All in good condition. Great money maker for young vendor. $3,500 you pick up. Rodney Brockman, 24862 Ridge, El-wood, 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 [email protected]

Pontiacs For Sale

1956 Pontiac Hearse - Superior Body #7. Original 316 V8, 3-SPD Manual Trans. Needs Restoration. Car has a solid body but does need front floors. Reduced to $2,900

1964 Pontiac Bonneville Ambulance Good Solid Rust Free Body, No En-gine. Speedometer reads 59,962. Very Restorable Project Car. Reduced to $2,500

East West Auto Partswww.eastwestautoparts.com

(800) 447-2886 (918) 832-7077

1957 Pontiac Sedan Delivery, excel-lent condition. $23,000. For info call-Doug McCurdy (519) 473-8668 or for additional photos email [email protected].

Parts/Pontiacs Wanted 1953 Pontiac Sedan Delivery: tail lights, rear bumper, rear pan, gas tank, head light bezels, grille. Contact Ru-ben Garnica (435) 272-4230 (Utah)

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: [email protected] (M)

1956 Pontiac 860 Station Wagon: third seat wanted. Contact Mike Wamboldt, (262) 914-3355 or email [email protected] (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 [email protected] (WI)

Restoration Tips

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

Wanted: 1960s-70s Pontiac ambu-lance. Robert Flesh (909) 673-0777 or email [email protected]

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

Please review your want ads, send in new ads, and tell us

about any “Pro-car” Pontiacs for sale in your area!

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

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the newsletter of the pcpv chapter of poci january ......the one going to auction is the one that...

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