-
Pontiac-Oakland
Club International
Custom Safari
Chapter
Fall 2018
Volume 22, Number 3
In this issue .......
President & Editor Pages
Chapter T-Shirt Update
National Convention And Beyond
Members Photo Stories
The most factory Custom Wagons in the POCI
Technical Tips
New Classifieds
Time For Taking Your Safari In For The Winter Season!
Our fall & early winter seasons calls for us to shelter our
Safari wagons inside to avoid the elements of weather which
continues to bring surprises to many of us Safarians throughout the
country. It’s a great time to take inventory of your Safari wagons
needs and prepare for repairs and restoration work after the
holiday season.
At this time of year, not may folks have the spare time to
search or sell parts if you look closely at eBay, Craig’s List and
other internet based sources, you may find some of the best deals
of the year. For example, some eBay sellers will look to reduce
stock that has not sold during recent months by lowering prices
towards the end of their auctions. Sellers looking to generate a
few extra dollars are motivated to sell.
Fall is also a great time to refresh the fluids in your Safari,
especially the radiator water, brake fluid and engine/trans oils.
Don’t forget to prep your fuel system too. Just a little
preventative maintenance will go a long way in keeping our Safari
wagons running well while avoiding costly future repairs.
One early fall day, Dennis Statz left his ’57 Pontiac Ambulance
outside. A little while later, nature left a little bit of
snow.
-
From the President’s Garage
Hello members…………………
So today is almost the end of November. The season is fast
leaving us going onto the
winter time, December 21st? Judging from the days here in NJ
winter has come early. We had a surprise snow storm a few weeks ago
that left the tri-state area in a
mess. The old weather person said 3 inches of snow…. right! We
had 9 inches up here in the western part of the state which made a
total mess. Many of you are lucky in
many ways to be in a warm state but on the other hand my
thoughts and prayers are out to the California members that are
near the fires and mud flows. Tom can fill us in
sometime on that sad situation.
Our wonderful chapter is in another period of growth. I believe
we’re up to 90 + members now. It would be just wonderful to hit
100. How about it….. just talk up the wagons to friends and members
that might not even have heard about our
chapter. There are many Safari wagons out there; some for sale
on the internet and others in printed magazines. Those owners just
might need some Safari items or
tech knowledge that we are willing to share. So more members is
a great goal for 2019. Anything is possible! Lets see what we all
can do to make the chapter grow ever better.
Its just wonderful that after talking for years we now have a
new style t-shirt. Robin and Tom did a fantastic job on
these custom shirts for you to purchase and wear next Spring and
Summer to show-off our chapter wagons. Remember this is your club
so the support you give helps us get motivated too help you. Always
keep in mind that we do this for
nothing and always try our best for each and every one of you.
Many times it is tough when we receive zero support from the
audience. < Articles and stories>??
I want to pass onto you some of my old thoughts of things I did
in 1980. I trailered my ‘57 Bonneville to Gettysburg
with my ‘57 Safari. I guess it was POCI dedication and youthful
enthusiasm! At that convention we had so much fun. I still remember
being with three of our chapter members that have since passed
away: John Thropp, John Fitzgerald and Bob Brown. All great guys in
their own individual way. What I am trying to say is please try to
make it
to Gettysburg in 2019. The friends and memories you have will
stay forever. Support the Safari chapter and just have some fun.
That is what old cars are about…... memories and fun and
friendship.
I want to thank all of you for the support this season for our
chapter. Robin, Rich and Tom all loyal members and
hard workers………………We all wish you a wonderful new season and a
Happy 2019. See you in Gettysburg!
Lou Calasibetta
Member Reminders: • Annual Chapter member fee are now due.
Please send your check to Robin Petry as
soon as you can. We don’t want to drop your name from our
roster. Thank you. • Register for the POCI National Convention. We
have a chance of gathering a large
number of Safari wagons. Please join us. The venue is one of the
best in the POCI!
-
Behind the Wheel in the Editor’s Seat
Rich
An old picture can tell a story. It can create speculation,
provide a clue about it’s history and motivate others to continue
their search for “barn finds”
Remember that when you come across a Safari , take some photos
of the car and send it in. Or perhaps you have some old photos of a
Safari wagon that you encountered years ago. Send those in too!
Left: A original 1956 Custom Safari wagon sitting at Pat’s
Petrol in August of 1998. The wagon was sitting in clear view along
the main highway leading into Sequoia National Park in California.
The car eventually was moved. The question is where is this Safari
wagon now?
Hello Everyone!
As I sat down to write this column, I realized that I’ve been
doing this for 20 years. What started out as an effort to jump-in
and help a chapter member who was swamped with work and personal
commitments has now come full circle. “Full circle” you ask? Yes,
it is time for me to “drop the pen” as they say and hand the
editorial duties back to Tom Young. As Tom has slowed down with his
work, I have been buried with my start-up business and personal
life and I cannot keep up effectively with a lot of things,
including full editor responsibilities. Tom has a lifelong passion
and has a vast knowledge of our favorite Pontiacs to keep this
chapter moving in the right direction. I will continue to help with
the printing and the web site (hopefully I can breath some fresh
air into that now). Realistically Tom has been doing this over the
last year or so and I truly appreciate it. It hit me not that long
ago that he needs to take the lead and take some credit! Moving
forward please send all content (articles, photos, stories, etc.)
directly to Tom. His contact information is located on the back
page of the newsletter. Tom will also continue to recruit new
members at car shows and work on chapter special projects. So now
that I have this free time on my hands, hahahaha, I hope to finally
get my ‘57 Safari running down the road…..I am literally a
tuned-up, 2 barrel and re-installation of the sliding windows away
from doing that, but it’s been…..like 10 years sitting
there…..Seriously, I need to focus!!! Just a reminder that dues are
due, so please send your $$ to Robin Petry this month. Also, the
new chapter t-shirts are ready to order. Take a look and order one
or two for a spare. Remember, every car owner knows the importance
of a spare….(sorry about that one). Three more months until
Spring……...get your indoor project work done!! Thanks for the
ride!
-
Our Chapter T-Shirt Ready For Production!
An update from our Secretary/Treasurer, Robin Petry:
I hope everyone had a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving and
Christmas holiday. I have many things to be thankful for but a
special one is that we finally have a new chapter shirt designed
and ready for production. The new Custom Safari Club t-shirt is now
ready for ordering! My goal is to have an initial bulk order by
ready by February. There is still time for your to order but you
must do so IMMEDIATELY. You can order unisex or women's style and
can choose 50/50 Blend or 100% cotton. The base shirt color will be
ash gray. You can order your shirts with the information provided
at the bottom of this page. Please send money as soon as you can
but the most important task is to email me size and shirt choices
so the initial order is more exact. Please do so immediately or
your may miss the initial order. I will be ordering extra shirts
but to be more exact on how many to order and to make sure you get
the size you want and to avoid wastage, I need to know what current
members want. Once the company receives our initial order, screen
printing will take about 2 weeks. They will ship them to me and I
will then send it out you. Club shirts cost is based on the size
and includes all taxes and shipping cost to you. Again, email me
immediately to reserve your shirt on our first bulk order. Robin
Petry: [email protected]
$18: Small, Medium, Large and X-Large $19: XX-Large $20:
XXX-Large Please indicate the following: 1. Size 2. Unisex Style or
Women's Style 3. 50/50 Blend or 100% Cotton
Once you email me your order then send your check payable to the
Custom Safari Chapter. For questions, you can email or call me.
Robin Petry 2806 Scarlett Drive Augusta, GA 30909 706 836-3027
-
Quack Duck Facts: A Duck is an amphibious vehicle first produced
by GM in 1942. 21,000 were produced by 1945.
They were used for landings in Italy, Normandy and most major
landings in
the South Pacific by the US Army. Ducks were retired in
1958.
-
Unexpected surprises makes life more interesting. For those who
take the time to travel & attend a national convention,
surprises are likely to abound. Just take a look……...
From the National Convention & Beyond
Left: Decals & stickers can tell a story about a car’s
history. Can you guess the owners of this Safari?
Above & Right: Driving to a convention should include
planning for stops to places of interests. On the way to the
Wisconsin Dells, Dubuque, Iowa offered the country’s steepest
historic incline railway. For $1.50, you could experience a two-way
ride on a rickety old rail car that offers a great view of the
Mississippi River.
Below: Rain is not a wanted surprise but when it strikes a
finely polished Safari, it creates a wonderful pattern of slow
moving water.
-
From the National Convention & Beyond
Factory spare tire hold-down “wing”
A parts mystery here! At our last club meeting at the Jim Bowers
brought a NOS cigarette lighter. It has a tag with no parts number
on it. Does any-body have an idea of the application of this
lighter? If you have the answer, please contact Tom Young to share
your thoughts.
One of the most difficult parts to find for our Safari wagons is
the cargo deck spare tire cover hold-down “wing” bolts. Two bolts
attach the cover to the cargo deck floor. Many Safarians have found
that these rare bolts with wings were missing at the time of their
Safari purchase. They are a essential key stone when judging a
Safari for originality, completeness and value.
Luke Miller bought a pair of bolts to the POCI convention the
Wisconsin Dells One was a rusty original and the other was one that
he reproduced for this ’56 Safari. Luke explained that the process
of making the bolts is relatively straight forward but that it does
require some skill and knowledge of basic metal work. He started
with a bolt with approximate correct length and thread size. He
worked the bolt by grinding the top to create the notch similar to
the original. He added a washer to match the size the original.
Using a flat piece of metal, he cut, bend and ground the “wing”
into shape. He then tack-welded it to the bolt.
Below: Luke holds an original “wing” bolt next to his “repro”
bolt. The repro looks great. Great job Luke!
Rich Plastino reports that progress is being made with Safari
Body #1296. It was shipped to Southern California in December.
Restoration on a donor chassis is almost done. Rich has secured
most body parts that he will need to rebuild the Safari. You can
find more information about his heroic restoration effort on his
restoration website: www.thelastpontiacsatari.com Right: Safari
#1296 sitting in snow in mid November in Michigan.
-
The Ultimate Custom Pontiac Wagons
So you think your Safari is a limited production wagon that is
seldom seen? Well, most everyone would agree that our wagons are
rare but there is another breed of wagons out there that make our
Custom Safari wagons look as populous as a Ford Mustang!
Custom professional vehicles have been made ever since the
invention of the automobile. Over the decades, limousines, funeral
coaches and ambulances grew large and became more capable of
getting work done. They have transitioned into the modern machines
of today but for many folks, the older professional vehicles seem
to have individual character which creates a lot of spectator
interest. Just take a look at Dennis Statz’s 1957 Pontiac ambulance
picture on the right. It was seen at the 2018 POCI National
Convention at the Wisconsin Dells. It sure attracted a lot of
attention!
This low mileage 1957 Pontiac “Regency” Ambulance was made by
Superior Coach Division in Kosciusko, Mississippi.
-
So what makes a Superior Coach company vehicle the ultimate in a
custom wagon? Take a look at the following features and
consider……….
How about that 144.5 inch long wheelbase in 1957? That’s a
stretch of nearly 2 feet more than our 1955-57 Safari wagons!
Early production ‘57 Safari wagons generally came from the
factory with two star emblems; one for each bench seat. Superior
Coach company used the same star emblems in the interior of their
Recency ambulances side panels and doors. A total of five stars per
ambulance!
Quarter panel “Darren dip” was retained by Superior but with the
flair of added chrome custom trim.
Custom coach work abounds including a one piece rear door,
custom rear 1/4 windows spot-lights and roof light housings.
The largest 1/4 panel script that you will ever find on a ‘57
Pontiac proudly displays the manufacturers name, “Superior”.
-
True customs wagons all the way down to their
frames!
Superior Coach Company was not the only
manufacturer of custom professional wagons,
National Body Manufacturing Company was among Superior’s
competitors.
Note that National offered a 9 passenger sedan. Has anyone ever
seen
one?
-
Custom professional wagons came in a
variety of shapes and colors!
-
MEMBER PHOTO STORY
For Harold and Carol Cary, 1955 Pontiacs have been in their
lives ever since the time they met at a grocery store where Carol
was working in the Bakery Department. Harold was “just a kid” who
liked cruising with his ’55 Pontiac convertible on Federal Avenue,
driving back & forth with the top down. Wanting to get some ice
cream, he met and courted Carol. That was “a few years ago” as
evidenced by their 4 children, grand children and currently 9 great
grand children. During the growth of their family, Harold held onto
his ‘55 Pontiac convertible. In 1995, Harold purchased his 1955
Safari from a seller in Texas. After discovering a oil pressure
problem, Harold decided it was time to restore the engine &
body.
Left: This Safari wagon on the cover of the POCI’s Smoke Signals
back in 1955 but at the time, it was painted green & white!
Harold said it took awhile and a lot of work to restore his
Safari wagon, especially one that is loaded with accessories. Just
look……. Wire wheel covers, exhaust deflector, front & rear
bumper guards; also factory AC, tinted windows, sun visor w/traffic
viewer, power windows, power steering & brakes, lighted hood
ornament, under light. Body # 477!
By Tom Young
The Carys & Their ‘55 Safari
A rare combination of a black & white interior and exterior.
Above Left: A beautifully restored interior. The accessory tissue
dispenser & traffic viewer compliments the dashboard. Center:
Passenger side door sporting a power window switch looks like new!
Right: A factory spotlight/rear view mirror and sun visor.
-
With a lot of work and money, while supporting a growing family,
Harold was able to fully restore his ‘55 Safari wagon. Since the
restoration, Harold & Carol have attended POCI events all over
the mid-west with their Safari. They became members of the POCI
back in 1979 and joined our chapter in 1996. They are also members
of the Pontiac-Oakland World-Wide AACA Region organization. Their
Safari has earned a AACA 1st place junior award and has seen plenty
of recognition in their home town parades and local car club
events. Right: The Custom Safari quilt was hand made by the Carys
daughter. Wow!
Below: Harold and Carol’s Safari parked before the start of the
popular car show at the Chula Vista Resort. The paint and chrome is
absolutely stunning in the summer sunlight of Wisconsin.
-
Technical Tip #4
Above image taken from the November, 1956 issue of the Pontiac
Service Craftsman News
Quick Reference: FUEL FILTER MAINTENANCE & UPGRADE
Where to buy: Ames, CPR, eBay, most major brand auto parts
stores & swap meets.
Estimate Cost: From $5.00 to $20.00 for new in-line filters or
replacement cartridge filter elements.
How to apply: Depending on your year and carburetor
configuration, factory fuel filters will take either a 5/16th or
3/8th fitted line. The use of an open end wrench to check the
fitting size may be helpful. Use common tools to remove the filter.
Be prepared for some fuel leakage. With glass bowl cartridge
filters, remember to hand tight the class bowl. Always replace the
bowl rubber seal. There is room between the fuel hard line and fuel
pump for a pre-fuel pump in-line filter installation. Use high
quality rubber hose & clamps.
Here is a another simple reminder for everyone. Consider
inspecting & replacing your wagon’s fuel filter. Along with
battery care, a good working fuel system that is well maintained
will make for a dependable Safari wagon.
More than likely your Safari wagon has been in need of some
degree of fuel system maintenance. Most often, the work is done
after a problem has developed like hard starting, rough idle,
hesitation or surge on acceleration, or stalling. No doubt that
factors such as the frequency of use, quality and age of the fuel
will impact how well the engine will run. But more often than not,
we forget that old fuel lines, poor quality gas, extreme weather
conditions, the condition and placement of a fuel filter, type and
age of the fuel filter will also affect the dependability and
quality of engine performance.
The bottom line……….. Inspect and/or replace the fuel filter
cartridge or inline fuel filter at least once per year.
The factory AC cartridge fuel filter was used on most production
Pontiacs. They used a glass bowl and a ceramic filter cartridge.
Modern “paper” replacement cartridges can be found in most major
on-line and auto parts stores. In-line filters in the 3/8 &
5/16 hose size are also available.
Regardless of fuel filter type, if you use your Safari as driver
throughout the year, consider use of a in-line fuel filter
installed BEFORE the fuel pump. Old fuel lines and tanks will
eventually shed rust & contaminants into the fuel pump. Placing
a filter before the fuel pump will help prevent an untimely
failure. Use an in-line fuel filter and place it between the hard
fuel line & pump. Make sure to mark the date & indicate the
vehicle mileage on the filter.
Right: Properly installed factory AC cartridge fuel filter on a
1957 Pontiac Tri-Power engine once owned by Bob Garacochea of
Venice, CA.
In-Line Fuel Filter
Cartridge Fuel Filter
Cartridge Fuel Filter ceramic & paper elements
-
Safari Search
PARTS For Sale
Safari wagons listed are found on Craigslist. Owners may not be
POCI members.
TO PLACE AN AD: Looking to sell parts or a car? Send your
request to Tom Young at [email protected]. Your ad should be
related to ‘55 to ‘58 Pontiacs and include photos when
possible.
WANTED
1955 Pontiac: Parting out a 2 door Chieftain. Email Rich Pye at
[email protected].
1955-57 Pontiac: Custom Safari new gas tanks, $399.00 plus
shipping. New lower tailgate assembly, $850.00 plus shipping. NOS
1956 Pontiac lit hood ornament, original box, $600. Jay Hammond.
302 322-1833 [email protected].
1957 Pontiac: Front brake drums complete with backing plates,
shoes, wheel cylinders & wheel bearings, $100 ea. 2 radios
& speaker housings, maroon & green, $150 ea. Complete rear
differ-ential, 3.23 gears, $100. 5 hub caps, good cond., $100. Call
Bill Hanners at 239 543-3510 FL
1956 Pontiac: 1/4 panel wheel well trim moldings. Driver side.
(A) ‘56 Safari, NOS, $375. (B) 56 hdtp & conv, good used, $325.
Ed Vassar, Dunnigan, CA 707 246-4426
1955-57 tailgate letter “O”: Good used condition. Has both
studs. A good replacement for a nice driver quality car. $12.00
includes shipping. Tom Young, 204 Acacia, Newbury Park, CA 91320
805 375-1320 [email protected].
Note: NORS reproduction sets still available from CPR & AMES
Performance Engineering.
1955 Pontiac: OEM side view mirror (#519802) ? And a OEM
non-glare rear view mirror (#51170 or #988647) ? For a ‘55 Safari.
Not sure about the correct part #’s. NOS is not neces-sary but
would like to find something in good to very good con-dition with
minimal pitting. [email protected]
1957 Safari Wanted: If you have any leads, please contact Dwight
at [email protected] or call cell 770 851-1010.
1955-57 Pontiac station wagon: Exterior Tee handle for lift-gate
on with as many attached parts as possible. Steve Cook
[email protected] or 314 795-4700.
1957 Pontiac: AC components that mount to engine, brackets,
compressor, condenser, etc. Rich Pye. [email protected] 1962
Pontiac Safari Wagon: Looking for American or Cana-dian models (see
example below) Leads appreciated. Contact Daral Travis at
[email protected]
A
B
1955 Pontiac Safari 2 door Station Wagon . $34,500
(Harrisonville, MO) Original Numbers Matching 4 Barrel Motor &
Automatic Trans. Oklahoma Car (Rust free). All new interior. New
re-chromed bumpers. Nice driving Original Survivor car. Call Gary
@816-258-1932 or Bill @816-365-5535 Please no calls after 8:00pm
May consider classic trades.
1955 Pontiac Safari 2 dr Wagon. $1,200 (Pittsburg, KS) Doors and
tailgate long gone, and part of the roof cut out for street rod.
other than that it is pretty much complete. chrome and trim pretty
nice. car has been sitting for about 50 years. title is coming. no
texts, phone only (417) 291-6926
1957 Pontiac Safari. $20,000 (Nampa, ID) Has rust issues:
driver's front floorboard (have both sides replacements), rear
floorboard beside seat cushion on both sides, R front fender at the
grille, bottom of tailgate & cargo area beside spare tire well.
Rockers & quarters good. 1976 400/400 turbo not running. Front
disc brakes, firewall mounted master and booster, brake lines
plumbed, chassis completely rebuilt front & rear except front
shocks & rear brakes, painted with Por-15. Needs all glass
& rubber. Newport electric wipers. Have both bumpers and hard
to find Safari specific trim in cargo area. Might trade, no 4x4s,
motorcycles, family cars, or projects. Can help with loading, but
CASH will be in my hand before the car leaves. Clear title in my
name. Phone calls ONLY. TEXTS WILL BE IGNORED.
208-8ate0-3too3eight. Ask for Joe.
PARTS FOR SALE
-
In the next issue of SAFARI NEWS...
Our WINTER season issue will feature:
A special feature article, technical repair tips, literature
reproductions and a expanded classifieds ads section
POCI Chapter #10 www.customsafari.org
The Custom Safari Chapter is an official international chapter
of the Pontiac Oakland Club, International, Incorporated. The POCI
headquarters address is P.O. Box 68, Maple Plain, MN 55359 US
Website: www.poci.org Annual Dues are $21.00. Renewals are due
January 1st of each year. New member dues are pro-rated quarterly
from January 1st. Applicants are encouraged to maintain membership
in the POCI. Send payment to the Secretary/Treasurer, Robin Petry.
The Safari news is a quarterly publication produced by the chapter.
Volume 1, Number 1 was distributed in June, 1977. Distribution was
reset as Volume 1, Number 1 in December, 1993. A limited number of
back issues may be available. For additional information, write to
the editor, Tom Young.
President: Lou Calasibetta, Box 1957, Stillwater, NJ 078775 Vice
President: Rich Pye, 436 LaDue Rd, Brockport, NY 14420
Secretary/Treasurer: Robin Petry, 2806 Scarlett Dr, Augusta, GA
30909 Editor: Tom Young, 204 Acacia Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320
Directors: Eastern Region: Lou Calasibetta, Box 1957, Stillwater,
NJ 078775 Central Region: Ronn Pittman, 1024 Raddant, Batavia, IL
60510 Western Region: Ed Vassar, PO Box 171, Dunnigan, CA 95937 For
chapter information: email to [email protected]