Canadian Pontiac Specialty Chapter

canadian l79 · Addicted!

Canadian Pontiac Specialty Chapter

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Is anyone in SW Ont going?

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Here is a recent comment about a Canadian Pontiac on a US Pontiac Forum:

"A small block Chevy in a '73 LeMans......I know it's Canadian built but that's just not right. It's like putting a skirt on John Wayne...it might fit but it just don't look right."

This one on our forum this week:

1. I just bought this 1972 Grand Prix 455 250HP 3.07 12 bolt rear end, Bench seat car no options cept PS Pb and tilt wheel and rally gauges was built in Pontiac Mich May 2 1972 and sent to Kipp Scott In Red Deer Alberta, I have the GM report on her Very cool sold in Red Deer June 1972.

2, Ah, a true pontiac with a pontiac motor. Very nice car.

I know that Susie's invitation is genuine and a lot of folks are no doubt working hard on this but I sure have my reservations about driving to Ohio to hear comments like these.

-- Edited by 73SC on Saturday 18th of April 2009 09:22:07 AM

forespeed · Poncho Master!

At least your car looks like a U.S. Pontiac. I'm going down there with a car that looks like a Chevy, has a Chevy motor and runs like a Chevy. On top of that the driver is from the U.S. and drinks Canadian beer.
I think I will be "Cruisin for a Bruisin".
Besides that I'm a Michigan football fan in Ohio state Buckeye country.

I MAY NEED A LIFELINE!!

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Your points are well taken forespeed, It would be great to show up with 50 to 100 cars!

455gto · Poncho Master!

Ray....I'm sure if you brought down some beer. Forespeed would make a great wingman. Besides that Chevy motor is a great conversation piece with all those USA boys saying what the H***.

-- Edited by 455gto on Saturday 18th of April 2009 10:31:48 AM

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

forespeed wrote:

At least your car looks like a U.S. Pontiac. I'm going down there with a car that looks like a Chevy, has a Chevy motor and runs like a Chevy. On top of that the driver is from the U.S. and drinks Canadian beer.
I think I will be "Cruisin for a Bruisin".
Besides that I'm a Michigan football fan in Ohio state Buckeye country.

I MAY NEED A LIFELINE!!

I have had tons of fun with my Acadian a 3 conventions and my Grande Parisenne at 1 convention. I would chalk up negative comments to ignorance on the spectator's part, move on and have fun.

Let the diehard US Pontiac guys have their little pouting session about you being there and have fun with the real car enthusiasts gawking at your unique Canadian model.

Besides Norm, you are a fellow countryman anyway, aren't you? You have diplomatic immunity, unlike us aliens!!!

Astro Jet · Poncho Master!

When I showed the Laurentian at the POCI convention in Buffalo 10 years ago, I did not hear anything in the way of negative comments, all were of the variety of that's different, I've never seen one of those before. I've heard similar comments at other POCI conventions. The fact of the matter is these are legitimate GM vehicles by an official GM division, no different than Buicks built by GM of China or Chevys built by GM of Argentina. Furthermore, that is why they are being designated as "specialty" chapter. If people can't understand or accept that, well quite frankly I couldn't care less about them or their opinions.

67HEAVEN · Poncho Master!

Why would POCI have any interest in Acadians and Beaumonts?

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

67HEAVEN wrote:

Why would POCI have any interest in Acadians and Beaumonts?

LOL, maybe they have been told they are Pontiacs ! biggrin

-- Edited by 73SC on Saturday 18th of April 2009 01:17:40 PM

Astro Jet · Poncho Master!

67HEAVEN wrote:

Why would POCI have any interest in Acadians and Beaumonts?

Pontiac Oakland Club INTERNATIONAL

67HEAVEN · Poncho Master!

73SC wrote:

LOL, maybe they have been told they are Pontiacs !

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

I've been busy doing mods on my BBQ this afernoon but I've been thinking about this.

I got this thread off to a bad start so I apologise for that and to Susie and those POCI individuals who are championing this initiative. Even though Canadian Pontiacs have existed 60 or so years it seems to me that the efforts to have them recognized by POCI should be applauded. It obviously took some open minded and liberal thinking to even get this idea to the surface after 60 years of production and I am sure a lot of slugging to bring it to fruition.

The best thing for Canadian built Pontiacs (Acadians & Beaumonts too) would be for us to embrace this opportunity and sign up as members of the POCI Specialty Chapter. Up until now I have felt that we were excluded and moreso not wanted so this is a credit to those leading this new initiative.

Representation of Canadian Pontiacs is the only way that we can gain them any respect. I also do not want to leave the impression that negative comments only come from Stateside, even here in Ontario I have had Bonneville and GTO drivers openly laugh at my car so there are ignorant and narrow minded people everywhere.

One of the things with clubs of any description is the tendency to become self fulfilling but this is a formula for death of the club. By reaching out to new members with related but different interests is a sure way to keep any club current, vibrant and growing. The POCI members leading this initiative are to be congratulated and thanked.

-- Edited by 73SC on Saturday 18th of April 2009 10:26:51 PM

Elroy · Poncho Master!

Well put ! At first I wondered why Canadian Poncho would be interested in aligning themselves with another organization like this , but your explanation makes sense. Exposure makes our site better and recognition of the Canadian product is important to our survival.

455gto · Poncho Master!

73SC wrote:
even here in Ontario I have had Bonneville and GTO drivers openly laugh at my car so there are ignorant and narrow minded people everywhere.

These forum has educated me that Pontiac's can have Chevy motors. I don't think it is being ignorant, moreso the fact of never hearing of this before. I've been corrected a few times on here and learn everyday. It's kinda like having a 1972 GTO convertible. Is there one made or not.

pontorquer · Poncho Master!

Some of these American Pontiac Forums don't even want to answer my PMs It's like they don't want to have anything to do with us in the Cold Canadian North like they say ??? Oh well, takes all kinds to make this world go round, me I like pretty much all antique, vintage cars, 60's and 70s musclecars...but specialize in Pontiac GTO-Lemans, Firebird... To each is own taste, choice.

canadian l79 · Addicted!

Thanks 73SC. We are only trying to do this to get the Canadian Pontiacs, Acadians, and Beaumonts the recognition they deserve and POCI has extended a hand to the owners of these rare cars to have their own site in the POCI Club what we need is help to get this thing rolling. Please email or call with your thoughts, opinions, or comments. Thanks

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

I haven't been personally approached by POCI about the new division so there really isn't any alignment between them and this site. It does seem a bit of a coincidence that for years these cars were never recognized by anyone and it isn't until a website such as this starts up and we have almost 900 members in 15 months then we see a unique chapter for our cars. That's a lot of potential memberships!

Todd

ARCADIAN · Poncho Master!

Isn't it up to us to educate those that are unaware of what we have? I think we have a golden opportunity here, I am looking forward to this show in Dayton Ohio and I hope others will attend.
ARCADIAN
Chris

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

canadian l79 wrote:

ATTENTION: Canadian Pontiac Owners. POCI (Pontiac Oakland Club International) is looking to form a new non-regional, specialty chapter for Canadian Pontiac, Oakland, Acadian, & Beaumonts.

Lately there as been a lot of interest in the Canadian Pontiacs because of there low production numbers and unique

Don't suppose the "lot of interest" is because of Canadian Poncho website???

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

427carl wrote:

canadian l79 wrote:

ATTENTION: Canadian Pontiac Owners. POCI (Pontiac Oakland Club International) is looking to form a new non-regional, specialty chapter for Canadian Pontiac, Oakland, Acadian, & Beaumonts.

Lately there as been a lot of interest in the Canadian Pontiacs because of there low production numbers and unique

Don't suppose the "lot of interest" is because of Canadian Poncho website???

Carl you are on the money with this one, 900 members generates a lot of interest and all credit to Todd St. Clair for germinating this site of good friendship and fellowship. It is getting crazy all the interest that has been generated, POCI invitation to Ohio and GTO Club of Ontario invitation to Hamilton. It's a bit overwhelming to go from Zero to Hero in such a short time.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

Thanks again Todd, AND the 900 members!!

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Elroy wrote:

Well put ! At first I wondered why Canadian Poncho would be interested in aligning themselves with another organization like this , but your explanation makes sense. Exposure makes our site better and recognition of the Canadian product is important to our survival.

Hey Elroy, just to clarify, I wasn't suggesting that www.canadianponcho.ca align itself with the POCI endeavour. I think what we have on this website is truly unique and Canadian, because we have been open to world wide membership from day one and valued everyone's contributions no matter where their Pontiac came from, we even have many non Pontiac owners on here too which is a huge testament to the openess and inclusiveness of this site.

POCI specialty chapter membership may not be for everyone but for those who join it will be a way to begin to legitimize 60+ years of Canadian built Pontiac cars in the US.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

forespeed · Poncho Master!

In terms of the Acadian, Beaumont, Canso, etc, etc, I like to tell those people looking down their noses that the Acadian is just another GMC. When the decision was made at GM to build and market the Acadian, they could have just as easily called it a GMC. The GMC sprint (el camino) was sold by Pontiac, Buick, Olds & Cadillac dealers yet none of the Pontiac people said "yuck, it has a chevy motor".

Think about it, a chevy chassis with styling changes and chevy drivetrain. People, at least in the states have held the GMC truck line in high regard over the years. They somehow felt because it was sold at Pontiac, Buick, Olds & Cadillac dealers, it must be a little better than a chevy. I have grown up with Chevrolet in a Chevrolet town and yet there always were people that bought only GMC because they regarded it a better product.

The Acadian and Beaumont are the same as a GMC. They were built with chevy parts and sold by BOP dealers. If they had built them under the GMC line I think they would be better understood today.

My thoughts, what are yours, agree or not?

-- Edited by forespeed on Tuesday 21st of April 2009 08:10:59 AM