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Post Info TOPIC: August 2012 Feature Car


A Poncho Legend!

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August 2012 Feature Car


I'm convinced Clint Scherger is the 1970 Canadian Pontiac's biggest fan. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone else with such a nice collection of full sized 1970 Canadian Pontiacs. One example in Clint's stable is this outstanding 2+2 convertible. This Poncho wasn't always as nice. Clint's has spent many hours bringing the car up to it's current condition. He also tastefully added several unique options to the car including a healthy 454. Clint tells us more:

 

Clints220001.jpg

The car as found by Clint

My 1970 Pontiac 2+2 Convertible was originally purchased by Dave Chetner on December 31, 1969 from Calgary Motor Products, in Calgary, Alberta. CMP was still in their downtown location, where Fifth Avenue Place presently sits, and Dave walked through the showroom and noticed the car. On the spot he traded in his ‘65 Parisienne convertible and drove away with the ’70 2+2 convertible. This purchase date is confirmed by the Protect-O-Plate. Dave was attending a New Years Eve party in Bragg Creek that night, and since it was such a beautiful evening, he drove out there with the top down. Yes, drove to a New Years Eve party in Western Canada with the top down.

 

 

The car was always stored in the winter, and only driven in the summer. One day during Calgary’s construction boom of the late ‘70’s – early ‘80’s, Dave was driving the car through the downtown core. For those of you that recall the construction boom, the ‘Building Crane’ was Calgary’s official bird. Dave had thought of putting the top down, but decided it was a little windy out. Fortunately he kept the top up, as a wooden 2 x 4 flew off one of the buildings and landed on the roof above his head. The roof frame saved his life. The convertible top was replaced by DeGreeve Auto Upholstery (they were still at their old location by the river) and Dave had the interior redone while the car was there. Interiors of convertibles take a lot of abuse, both from UV rays, and dust/grit.

P7160728.jpg

Dave lived in the Calgary communities of Kelvin Grove, then Bayview, and had the car serviced at Meadowlark Husky, at the corner of Glenmore Trail and Elbow Drive. Joe Densley, who is now at Lakeview Husky serviced the car. When Dave decided to sell, Joe let him park it on the lot with a ‘For Sale’ sign. After seeing the car at that busy intersection, the car was purchased in 1985 by Ralph Hedlin for his wife Heidi to drive. Again, it was only driven in the summer. The car was painted in 1994 by Dave Free of Specialty Restorations, which included stripping the car to bare metal, and rechroming the bumpers.

P7240867.jpg

 

Heidi passed away in 1999, and the car pretty much sat. Ralph put the car up for sale in the summer of 2000, at which time I spotted it. After looking at it a few times, and after many telephone conversations, we were able to come to an agreement on price in April 2001. Ralph was getting up in years, and did not recall much of the history of the car, but I have been able to piece it together.

P7290888.jpg

I have spoken with the following to confirm the history:

- Dave Chetner – original owner, still a Calgary resident

- Joe Densley – Lakeview Husky

- Theo DeGreeve – DeGreeve Auto Upholstery

- Dave Free - Specialty Restorations

 

P7290886.jpg

This car is solid and rust free, but when acquired really needed a good cleaning. It had body side mouldings and pinstripes which I removed to make way for the proper ’70 2+2 stripes. Dave Free confirmed the integrity of the paint, and I knew it would polish to a mirror finish. The car needed some TLC, as many small items required attention. It was a good car for me to buy, as it did not require anything major, just a lot of little things to keep me busy. I have added popular options including an LS4 454 from my old 1970 Parisienne, AM/FM Stereo, 8 Track Player, Power Trunk Release, Map Light, Lighted Rear View Mirror, Heavy Duty Suspension, Fiber Optic tail light monitors, Dual Exhaust and a Bonneville rear bumper with a sequential flash kit.

P7290889.jpg

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The car has been driven to the POCI Pontiac Nationals, and received trophies in the 2+2 class for the following years:

 

2003 Collinsville, Illinois – 2nd place.

2006 Ontario, California – 1st place.

2008 Spearfish, South Dakota – 1st place

2012 St. Charles, Illinois – 2nd place.

It also received the POCI “John Sawruck Post-War Pick” trophy at 2012 St. Charles, Illinois.

The car has won the 1970 & newer class at the Alberta Iron Indians Show & Shine in each of 2006, 2008, 2009 & 2012.

 

When returning from Ontario, Calilfornia in 2006 a golf-ball size hail stone penetrated the roof so the car received it’s 3rd top later that year (including replacing the rear window, pads and well that were still original). Future plans are to install a tilt column, add a “Ralley Guage” cluster and spruce up the dash, and to have the upholstery replaced. However as everyone knows it gets driven lots the way it is.

P7290885.jpg



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Todd
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A Poncho Legend!

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Congrats Clint. Beautiful.

Will it go 120 miles an hour???!!! (wink, wink)

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars



Poncho Master!

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HARD TO BEAT A FULLSIZE, BIG BLOCK, DROP-TOP! GREAT PICK FOR A FEATURE. GORGEOUS CAR CLINT.smile



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   MIKE



Poncho Master!

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Congrats Clint , great story , awesome pics around town!!

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     68-2dr/HT
   

      



Veteran Member

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So beautiful.... Great story. I am wistful.


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  • 1966 Parisienne 4-dr (SOLD)
  • 1970 Parisienne Convertible (SOLD)
  • 2002 Skoda Fabia MPi 1.4 (LOL)


Guru

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Great history and a super nice car!!!

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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Great feature car. Congratulations Clint. 



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62 Catalina 2 dr post project

69 Parisienne 2 dr ht 427

55 Bel Air 2 dr post 265PP/PG

68 Bel Air 2 dr post BB project

 



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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congrats from a fellow 70 2+2 big block rag owner. is that sequential flash kit only for an us pontiac or will it work on the canadian one

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sTevE

55 GMC, 70 Pontiac 2+2 rag



Uber Guru

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CONGRATS ClinT!!!!! Great Story on a Great Feature Car!!!!

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1960 Pontiac Strato Chief Safari
1960 Laurentian Safari 
1960 Laurentian 4door(scrapped)
2001 Grand Am Traded on a '96 Suburban 2WD
2002 Hyundai Accent(SOLD)
1968 Grand Parisienne Scrapped and SOLD

 

Calgary, Alberta, but raised in Peterborough



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Stephenzone wrote:

congrats from a fellow 70 2+2 big block rag owner. is that sequential flash kit only for an us pontiac or will it work on the canadian one


Notice the Bonneville tail lights have 3 elements per side, compared to the 2 elements per side of Parisienne/Catalina bumpers.  I had to change the inner-most sockets to dual filament types for 1157 bulbs, and wire each socket individually to the sequential units.   The unit would work with the Parisienne/Catalina tail lights, but would lose some effect.



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70 2+2 convertible
70 2+2 hardtop
70 Parisienne hardtop
72 GMC Sierra

 

 



A Poncho Legend!

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Beautiful car, great additions and historical research!



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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.



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Thanks for the comments guys.   As many know, and as stated in the story, I drive it alot.   It has taken me through 4 provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan & Manitoba), and 19 states (Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconson, Illinois & Indiana).  From sea level to high mountain passes and wide open prairie, it never misses a beat.



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70 2+2 convertible
70 2+2 hardtop
70 Parisienne hardtop
72 GMC Sierra

 

 



Guru

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That car is as big as beautiful as they come. A real road king!!!

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Barrie Ont.

409 powered 61 Poncho

best time 9.06@ 148 



Poncho Master!

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Great story Clint. Beautiful car with a great history.

I was amazed to see Clint driving this beauty to Rick's shop for the CP coffee meeting a few years ago.....in Feb or Mar!!!! Yup, he drives it lots!

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Uber Guru

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Nice ride, gotta love a Big Block!!!

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Remember Fun,

 Remember Laughter ?



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Great to see one of your cars getting recognized here Clint. Have always enjoyed seeing it at various shows but most of all love reading the threads when you have taken it for runs to various locations. Congrats and keep driving it. Just watch out for those speed traps.

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Jerel


Guru

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seventy2plus2 wrote:

Thanks for the comments guys.   As many know, and as stated in the story, I drive it alot.   It has taken me through 4 provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan & Manitoba), and 19 states (Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconson, Illinois & Indiana).  From sea level to high mountain passes and wide open prairie, it never misses a beat.


 I love the car Clint! Great detective work on ownership! The fact that you drive it so much is commendable and right in line with my philosophy..."Restore them and drive them. Repeat as necessary!" Unfair to keep this beauty under wraps in a garage! aww



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'69 427 2+2 Convertible


Addicted!

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Congratrulations !!!!

Awesome looking Rag top with a Big Block...WOW !!!



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Addicted!

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sweet car, look forward to seeing it in person some day!



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Joel A.

64 Parisienne Rag

67 SD396

63 Parisienne Safari 409

 Alberta



Poncho Master!

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great looking car in person too.
nice choice for the monthly car.

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