[BOB VIDAN]

Remembering the old times with my 98 1/2 year old mother today, a couple of interesting things came up. 1st was why my father, who passed 23 years ago, gave me the wrong combination to their safe. We handled that this last summer but God love her she had forgot that he wrote down the wrong combination on the piece of paper he gave me.

More interesting was when I asked her how I got involved in Pontiacs? Did some aunt or uncle have one? Did we have one? She replied "I don't know for sure but it was after the 2nd grade." I asked, "how do you know that for sure?" She said wait a minute, went into her bedroom and brought back 2 2nd grade drawings I guess I made and she said "see". I'm not sure what she thought I had asked her but after I looked at the pictures, I'm thinking what was wrong with me as early as the 2nd grade?

Yes/no?

Don't even ask me what was going through that 2nd grade mind at the time. Most interesting to me is: #1, why are the scarecrows pants separate from him and #2, what is the chicken or turkey doing with whatever is going up under the guys arm pits? OK, I give up.

[60sstuff]

What was wrong with you ....... anyone’s guess.

We have all wondered about how you function?

Sounds like it started around second grade and you haven’t recovered.

My sympathies, Chris.

PS, why would anyone give YOU the combination to a safe?

[gtokid1968]

Don't ask why!
U love Pontiacs, that's all that matters!

[242177P]

Originally Posted by BOB VIDAN

Yes/no?

I had a team of scientists (yes, Scientists!) enhance the picture using Hi-Tek Sofwear™.
The only thing we can agree on is that's a really big dog.

[racegto65]

Pontiac's snuck into my life when buying my first car(I was 14). I went to look at a 1955 Chevy with a blown up motor that I really wanted. My mother was with me as she was fronting the money. The guy that was selling the Chevy also had a 1960 Ventura 389 tri-power 4 speed posi that he convinced my mother would be a better deal. Bought that car for $200.00 and never regretted it.

[trophy421]

When I was a kid, there were some Pontiacs in our neighborhood and I could just see that they were cooler than all the other cars. The ones I remember are a '62 Grand Prix, '66 LeMans, '60 Ventura, '66 Grand Prix. Relatives and friends had a '64 Grand Prix, '66 Bonneville wagon, '67 Firebird. Probably others I am not remembering. Plus we had a '64 Tempest Custom and later a '68 GTO.

[60sstuff]

Uncle Bob,

On a serious note.

I must have been around 11 years old when a guy (Tom Sherwood) came to our home in Illinois to pick up my older sister (18 yrs) for a date.

He pulls up in our gravel driveway in a dark green (maybe Teal Turquoise) ‘65 GTO.

When he went in to meet my parents (poor guy), I stood right in front of that car staring at that GTO name plate on the LH grill, and also glancing at the hood scoop.

I thought that car was way cool. I’ve loved the early GTOs ever since.

Sad note,

This Mr. Sherwood traded in that GTO on a Jaguar XKE and then was called to Vietnam.

Unfortunately he never made it back.

Chris.

[OCMDGTO]

In the early 80s the older kid across the street had a first gen bird 4spd/OHC6 and he swapped a 400 from a Grand Prix. That thing would scream but he never got it legal. In the late 80s I got my 1st Pontiac after a few Chevies, 70 GTO 400/auto, and have been hooked ever since. I had that car for almost 10yrs and put over 100k miles on it. I got my 69 in 2007

[Simple Man]

Second car in high school was a 69 GTO. Bought it for $575.00 in 1977. 400/T400 had a rear judge spoiler, rally II's, power trunk, and A/C. I bought it from an older guy, who used to tow a camper to Florida with it, he liked the power it had! Had been painted several times, was bronze when I got it. I had it painted a Cadillac blue.

[nashcar]

For me it was only 11 years ago when I found (or it found me) my one owner Firebird 400 in a barn where it sat for years buried under boxes. I’ve always liked them but never had the chance to own one. My father had a 66 Tempest with a 389 from his Bonneville after the six went bad, it was impressive.

[tooski]

The first time I heard and saw a car called 'Firebird'. Early teens. At the time I didn't know the platform was the same as camaro's. To me, it's looks were better than the other sporty cars.
Also, my parents had a '58 Strato Chief which was replace by a 66 (maybe 64) Laurentian. I thought they were nice cars, but not into cars until Firebirds came along.

[Heybuck]

All my working life I've been involved with old lighting and old furniture. Our family business has been involved in the supply and restoration of the above for 50+ years. One of our old clients, an eccentric old antique dealer had a 1964 Parisienne Convertible. I was VERY impressed with it.

One day I saw a 1965 Parisienne Convertible for sale in the newspaper. These were (and are) very rare cars here in Australia.
I bought it. That was May 1985. I remember it so well as my wife was within a day or so of giving birth to our youngest daughter. She was plenty pissed off that I was out buying a new toy while she was struggling in the last stages.

The Pontiac disease has never left me.. But I still get reminded about leaving her at home while I went out.. Women NEVER forget.

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by Heybuck

Women NEVER forget.

Except when you ask them how long that dashboard oil light has been on.

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by Heybuck

Women NEVER forget.

Except when you ask them how long that dashboard oil light has been on.

For me, it would have to be when I was 9 or 10 years old and a neighborhood guy who'd gone off to the army came home with a new '67 or '68 Firebird 400 in Mayfair Maize with black interior. Cherry Bombs, Cragars, etc. It was a real thumper. I had never stood next to a car that I could feel in my chest as it idled.

[george kujanski]

Way back my dad had a '53 Chieftain, i think, with the straight eight, two of my uncles had '57s. Later on our family car was a '59 Cat pretty good size for a family with 5 kids, always seemed roomy. Did my driver's license in that car.

Later on I took over my sister's car, a '63 Dodge dart 4 door with 170 cu. in. of Slant Six power. Ihanded that one down to my brother and went looking for a '65 Dart GT with a V8 and manual with white interior, but couldn't find one. Stopped at a Pontiac dealer one day, saw a Lemans Sprint, had all options but the V8, but ran nicely, and I was hooked.

george

[TROYBOYONE]

Shortly after graduating from high school I bought a 1941 Chevy for $65.00. A year later It blew up, so I followed my older brothers lead. He had bought a new 1962 Catalina tri-power 4-speed. While looking for a replacement for my Chevy, I found a used 1964 Gto tri-power 4-speed. I was 20 years old ! Fast forward 54 years, I now own a '65 GTO

[poncho-mike]

My dad never bought a new car. Before he bought Pontiacs, he had an odd taste in cars. He liked Hudson Hornets, early Cadillacs, and Studebakers.

Some time around 1966 or 1967 dad bought a 64 Grand Prix with a 421HO automatic. His brother was always over at our house and was about ten years younger. He was impressed with the GP, so he bought a 1964 GTO tri-power 4-spd. The GP was black with a red interior, my uncle's GTO was dark blue with black interior. My dad drove conservatively, my uncle beat the crap out of GTO. My uncle took me on a ride a couple of times, and his drives were more exciting. My uncle totalled the GTO trying to beat a train across a railroad track about 1/2 mile from our house. He got hit right behind the driver's door.

When I was 14, I saw a white 71 T/A smoke a built Chevy Nova, and I was in love.

Mike

[stevep]

I came home from the hospital when I was born in a Pontiac.

[Pecosbill]

Originally Posted by stevep

I came home from the hospital when I was born in a Pontiac.

We’re you born in the front seat or the back?

[blue67gtoragtop]

We had a 67 Tempest Custom 2dr HT, grey with a white painted top and black interior when I was in elementary school. I always liked the styling of the car and the family wasn't happy when it was traded for a 71 Datsun B210 wagon between 71 & 72. Aroung 1978-79, I saw a gold/white top 67 GTO convertible on a bank reposession lot and wanted it, but couldn't afford it. about 2 years later, it showed up for sale about 2 miles down the road from us and I bought it. I repainted it black and sold it in 1989 with much regret. I have owned the current 67 GTO convertible (tyrol blue/white top/black int) since 2001 and have no plans of letting it go.