Robert Meyer's first car was a 1959 Pontiac. He was 14 years old at the time and it was with this car Robert learned many aspects of automotive repair. Sadly, thanks to a move and loss of storage, the car was towed away to a junk yard. In 2014 Robert discovered this '59 Laurentian an it was love at first site and he was finally able to continue his love affair with this iconic Poncho. Robert tells us more:
"Former Winnipegger now living in the Vancouver area, I couldn't believe my eyes when a google search brought up a smart looking 1959 Pontiac 4 door Laurentian for sale in Winnipeg in the fall of 2016.
I was 14 years old all over again and couldn't buy it fast enough. I dreamed for months of a slow and easy road trip from the Manitoba Interlake back home to BC. It would have been slow, but not easy.
Old girl just wasn't ready for such an endeavor. Trusted mechanic overlooked slipping clutch, empty master cylinder and fuel tank full of rust. Fast forward to September 2017, a covered vehicle transport truck with corvettes, Lamborghinis and one old Manitoba Pontiac pulled up in front of my house.
Let me tell you, there was one exited 51 year old 14 year old that day.
Since then, clutch (1/3 of Pressure plate fingers stuck) and complete brake system installed. 3 x universal joints and center bearing done. Transmission and differential fluids changed. Gas tank cleaned and coated. Radiator and heater recored, control valve rebuilt. (These 3 things, added together were costly, over a G-note and then some) It passed its provincial vehicle inspection done at the Lincoln dealer I use a year ago. I've enjoyed it immensely since then and am at the point where I'm just doing fiddly things on it between driving it. For example, restored its working tube radio making it perfect.
I love and look forward to driving it. I've learned uphill starts and the torquey 261 climbs the steep hills to my house effortlessly.
Westside Auto Sales in Winnipeg was great to deal with and instrumental in helping with a registration problem (BC being silly, not MB) a year later. MVS Canada was great in getting the Pontiac safely from the Manitoba Interlake to Mission BC.
Lastly, and most importantly, CP and the brotherhood have been fantastic. The most civil, friendly and helpful message board ever. I consider you all friends.
'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.
Rob. Great story. I know exactly, your passion for your car.
Welcome to the top of the page brother.
Hope to see you June 9 in Langley KMS
All Pontiac show
Ken
Love 59s and this one is great looking, who wouldnt want a 4 door that looks like this? I bet you get stopped and asked about it all the time?
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Great looking car Robert and a wonderful story! Next time you visit Manitoba and have coffee with the Mb Poncho chapter, I hope you will be driving this beauty instead of that Lincoln Town car!
-- Edited by 68 Grande on Saturday 1st of June 2019 09:20:38 AM
beautiful car rob and a great story finding it to relive ur childhood first car !nothing is more exciting then a kid with his first car !congrats and what a bunch of great shots of her !!
cutting a roof off a four door is NOT a convertible.....
65 Parisienne convertible.one of 49 built for RHD export market,402BBC, T400, 2500 stally, posi rear, upgraded brakes with front discs, FUEL FAST efi custom built by me.
Heart felt thanks to everyone for kind comments. It has been a real joy to have, and after these couple of years I still go down to the garage just to look at it! Weird eh?
The poor yellow one I had 39 years ago at 14 really suffered at my hands with taking things apart and sort of putting back together- using wiper washer hose as fuel line, etc. It, coupled with an exceedingly cool auto shop teacher resulted in a life long interest in cars.
This red one is in the restoration shop now. I freelance there, do their old radios and electrical work so I get a good rate and work is top notch. Started out with replacing lhs inner and outer rockers, to rhs, to weak floors, to little more bindo than we would have liked, and so on. You know how that goes. Sticking with it though as I adore the old girl and it runs like a sewing machine...
Thanks again, you all enjoy your summer and get some miles on those Pontiacs,!
RGM
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1959 Pontiac Laurentian - 1962 Dodge Dart 440 - 1962 Hillman Minx - 1959 Lincoln Premier Landau -1982 Lincoln Mark VI - 1977 Ford LTD Landau - 2017 Ford Fusion Platinum - 1963 Chrysler Imperial
love it !! specially that beautiful red maybe see it at the pontiac show next weekend http://www.pppcc.com/ june 9th
Hi Robert
Beautiful ride that you have there. Sounds like you are turning back the clock to your teens. As Lefty says it would be great to see you at the Pacific Performance Pontiac Car Club show next Sunday. We are at the KMS Tools in Langley. It's always a good show.
What a good story. Funny how these cars of our youth stick with us. As a "valley boy" I will look for you and your ride this summer and beyond! Cheers!
Sorry I'm late to respond to this Robert but it's great to see your car at the top of the page. Another great story about a Canadian Pontiac that has clearly gone to the right home!
I think I can safely say we all enjoyed the coffee time with you here when you came to visit.
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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
Robert, it is so sweet to see a so sweet 59 like yours as a feature car on C.P. 1959 Pontiac's have always been high on my list of sweet time machines. Cheers.
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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
