"Old Skool" rods and customs are so cool. They are the epitome of the blue collar builder. Although these cars are often built on a shoestring budget, they aren't lacking in style and innovation. Take Jeff Whitby's 52 Pontiac Fleetleader Deluxe custom for example. At first glance you might think this is a clean stocker. A closer look reveals several custom touches that makes this car ooze with coolness. These touches also caught the eye of the judges at this year's World of Wheels show in Winnepeg as Jeff's car won "Outstanding in Class" for Traditional Custom. The '52 will also be featured in an upcoming movie. Congratulations Jeff!
Jeff tells us more about the car:
Since recently moving to the area from out of province, and always being a car nut, I soon realized that I had once again been bitten by the car bug and needed to get involved in the local car scene. . Luckily I found this gem for sale online and immediately knew that I had to have it. I have always been partial to the Tri 5 Chevys, specifically the 57s, which I have a couple of, but there was something about the Poncho that drew me to her. You seem to see a lot more Chevys of this age than Pontiacs, so I knew she was different . After a little bit of dealing, I was able to bring her home.
Although my 1952 Pontiac Fleetleader Deluxe was pretty much stock, I decided to add a few of my own personal touches. I lowered it about 3 inches in the back and about 2 inches in the front. I also added a couple more "teeth" to the grill, but unless you were a 52 Pontiac fan, you would never know. Wanting to keep with the "Old School" theme, I added the wide white wall tires, the chrome beauty rings and the ribbed baby moon caps topped off with 3" chrome bullets. I especially like the different colored rims, it seems to set them off. Always wanting to do something a little unique, I found an old glass claw foot from an old table, and used it as my shifter knob. The "hula girl" came directly from Hawaii thanks to my father in law, and the original 1955 air freshener came from the glove box of an old 47 Plymouth that I discovered years ago.
The drive train is basically stock except for the modern 2 barrel carb and intake, and my recent upgrade to a newer rear differential out of a 54 Chevy. Since my top speed with my original rear diff and a 3 speed standard, was about 55 or so, I got the opportunity to use a freshly swapped rear end out of one of my fellow car club members cars, and since it was an automatic torque tube, I couldn't pass it up. At this time, I haven't yet driven her with her new gears, but I'm assuming she"ll be happier than with the stock 4-11's. The 239 flat head six, although, no speed demon, is quite a brute. It never fails to amaze me how after 2 hours, you still can't touch the engine without getting burnt. Good old cast iron I guess.
Although the electrical system was converted to 12 volts from 6 volts by the previous owner, I added a single wire GM internal regulator alternator to keep her charging properly.
The most unusual accessory that I have installed is a White Lubricator which was manufactured by Whiz in the 40's and 50's and were advertized in Popular Mechanics. It works by delivering a mist of "Special Lubricating Oil" into your fuel system, which was supposed to lubricate your engine cylinders to eliminate dry start ups. I found this while at a car show in Carman Manitoba last spring, not knowing what it was at the time, but I knew that it would be cool to have. Not many people have ever seen one, so it always gets alot of notice at car shows.
I would like to give out a special thanks to my wife Tracy for understanding how important the car culture is to me, and allowing me to enjoy my "mistress". Also, I would like to thank my fellow Riff Raff Car Club members for accepting me and my car into their organization, and finally a huge thanks to Brent Hoitink for all the parts and technical support to help keep the old girl rolling. It wouldn"t have been nearly as rewarding without all of you!
I recently toyed with the idea of selling the Poncho and starting on one of my many "projects", but I have since realized by numerous positive comments, a recent feature in a small local advertising magazine, the acceptance into the 2011 World of Wheels in Winnipeg, and the fact the I was asked to use her as a Feature car of the Month here on Canadian Poncho, there is no way she"s getting sold. She has definitely made me think twice about parting with her...the other projects can wait. I"m very happy with my 52, certainly not as many of them around as the Tri 5"s that I used to be crazy about, and I"m proud to be able to share this piece of Canadian Iron with the other car nuts out there. She deserves it.
Looks awesome Todd...a few things have changed since these photo's, such as the interior and those hideous rear signal lights....thanx for considering us as your feature....Cheers
Growing up in the late 50's and 60's I never really gave this era of car a second look until I started going to cruise ins over the past number of years. I have to say that I stop and look at them all the time now and would love to own one. This is a very nice example. Congratulation Jeff.
I'm curious about the White Lubricator. Looks mint! Is it actually functional? Can you post a close up of it?
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
I love it !!!!..........what colour blue is that ?..........my dad had a 52 torpedo-back.......my younger bro used to stand on the trans hump & pretend he was driving using the speaker grill as a steering wheel while dad drove ( instant ticket now !! )...........great car, love the wheel colour choice !!!
Thanx everyone...I'm really proud of the old girl! Just a note, I've driven her quite a bit since I submitted the write up and the new rear end makes a world of difference...the other night coming home from the car show, my buddy in his 54 Kaiser and I decided it was time for an old school drag race...we both left the light like a couple of turtles, but he with his auto and me and my 3 speed had an awesome time...another couple buddies behind us said it was priceless...wish I could have seen it from their angle. About the Whiz lubricator, it's just mocked up at the moment, but it was never installed, came with the original box and everything...pretty good investment for $20...I'll find more pics and post them....The color is from a 94 Caravan or something like that..kinda a teal blue green ...she was painted about 17 years ago, so she's holding up pretty good. Thinking of a color change in the future, possibly more like the rim color, but a little flatter and the roof would get a wicked metal flake in some sort of green...can't do anything with it until after this summer, since they need her again for some more movie shots in a few months.
Here are a few pics of my Whiz Lubricator....don't know much about them...haven't seen another one.
Thanks for the pics ... cool device.
That little copper coil is under vacuum, I take it.
Oil is sucked through it from the jar at start-up only ... or is there a manual vacuum switch?
Then a shot of the oil enters your fuel line and is deposited evenly into the cylinders ... is that how it works?
Does Carl Shelby (V-MAX) know about this yet?
Again, nice car Jeff.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Very nice I have also loved the 49-52 styling. Congratulations, you are doing what the original car hobby started out as , driving showing and enjoing your car.
Here are a few pics of my Whiz Lubricator....don't know much about them...haven't seen another one.
Thanks for the pics ... cool device.
That little copper coil is under vacuum, I take it.
Oil is sucked through it from the jar at start-up only ... or is there a manual vacuum switch?
Then a shot of the oil enters your fuel line and is deposited evenly into the cylinders ... is that how it works?
Does Carl Shelby (V-MAX) know about this yet?
Again, nice car Jeff.
As for as I can tell, it sucks up the "lubricant" on start up...And it would run off the vacuum...there is no manual switch...As for V-Max, I'm not sure...
Great pictures. Hope you don't mind, but I saved the grille pictures. I was wondering what I was missing. Now its up to the boxes of parts to see whats there & whats not!!!
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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
Great pictures. Hope you don't mind, but I saved the grille pictures. I was wondering what I was missing. Now its up to the boxes of parts to see whats there & whats not!!!
Just to let you know, in case you didn't already, I added a couple more teeth to the grill..should only be the ones on top.