While waiting for the next round of restoration pics, here's some additional history and period pictures of Adrian. I cannot believe the amount of documentation I have amassed on her, and I am so lucky and blessed for everyone that has been so helpful with the research and contributions on this effort. Thanks go to Bob Wicker, Alan Pound, Dori Asbill Pierce and Pete Ganis Jr. to name a few.
Adrian shipped from the Norwood Ohio plant on April 3, 1972 with an original delivery destination of Friendly Pontiac in Temple TX, as noted on the PHS. Friendly Pontiac was a failing dealership in April 1972. The dealership had gone ‘out of trust’ with GM meaning GMAC financing had been stopped. There were almost no new cars on the lot and precious few used cars. Friendly sold the dealership rights to Farris Pontiac one month later in May, 1972. Due to the financial troubles plaguing Friendly Pontiac in April 1972, it is very likely Pontiac had ceased delivering vehicles to Friendly, and re-directed the delivery of Adrian to another dealership.
Pete Ganis had a working relationship with Carl Womble, the Pontiac District Zone 21 Zone manager. Carl often relied on and coordinated with Pete to move new car inventory from failing dealerships to Pete Ganis Pontiac in Dallas TX. Carl also knew Pete enjoyed driving Trans Am’s. Adrian was probably the only car on the GM transport scheduled for delivery to Friendly, which likely resulted in Carl re-directing Adrian for delivery to Pete Ganis Pontiac.
It was common practice to place dealer badges on all new cars arriving at the Ganis dealership. Pete Ganis Jr. was responsible for installing the badges on new cars as a part time job and remembers how tedious it was drilling in the new paint for the screwed fasteners on the badges. Adrian was no exception, as the Pete Ganis dealer badge was clearly present on Adrian’s tail panel in circa ’98 period pictures. Since Pete Ganis favored Trans Ams and often drove one as a demonstrator for a period of time before selling to the public, Pete probably drove Adrian from April ’72 until sometime in ‘73. In 1973, Andy Steed purchased Adrian from Ganis Pontiac and was Adrian’s first owner.
Thanks to a Forum member here on these boards, Adrian has a new Pete Ganis Pontiac Dealer badge. This badge will be placed back on the car by Pete Ganis Jr. just as he did 42 years ago (with molding tape instead of pins and nuts
) at the conclusion of the restoration. Here's pictures of a painting of the original Pete Ganis dealership and the dealer badge.
