North Coast Ohio Chapter News 1/11

NORTH COAST PONTIAC CHAPTER (OHIO) The featured car for the month of January was Jack Pinchots 1965 Catalina. Born into a family that loved Pontiacs, it was no surprise that Jack would continue that tradition. His first car was a 57 Pontiac 2-door, hardtop. He enjoyed driving that 347 cid 4-barrel car. His next car experience was restoring a 57 Starchief convertible. That car was quite a challenge; however, Jacks love for the Pontiac did not diminish. In the mid 60s he met another Pontiac fan. Joyce had a 65 389 4-speed Bonneville that she ordered brand new. Jack was smitten with&.first Joyce, then the Bonne. (They still own the Bonneville.) Pontiac excitement continued. Jacks dream was to restore a ragtop full-size Poncho. The search began, and it was no easy task. Luck have it, Jacks nephew found a 65 Montero Red convertible located in Akron, Ohio. Upon sight, Jack knew the car definitely had possibilities and drove her to her new home in North Royalton. Jack drove the Catalina for a year before deciding to begin the restoration. He set a goal to complete the car by the 2000 POCI Convention in Grand Rapids. With Joyce, his brother (a master mechanic), and many other talented friends and family helping, everything began to click. The frame was taken off, blasted down to bare metal, and painted. This took only one week. Jack and his brother Jim built the chassis. Joyce lent a hand as well. This took a very productive and rewarding 28 months. This 65 ragtop boasts a 376 hp 421 HO TriPower motor, heavy- duty suspension, bucket seats, and console. Now it was show time&..The first show was at Stan Hywet Hall in Akron. The Catalina took First Place. Next, the Poncho was off to Grand Rapids. Scoring 392 out of 400 resulted in a Junior Gold. The winning streak continued. At the Ames Performance Nationals in Norwalk, OH, the Catalina took the High Performance Editors Choice Award as well as First Place and Best of Show. The 65 ragtop continued to compete favoritely by winning First place at the All Pontiac Benefit Car Show in Eastlake, OH. She brought home the Senior Gold from Charleston, WV in 2002. This classy Catalina convertible has continued to be a winner year after year. Still impressing the judges, the Catalina won the Champion Award at the 2009 POCI Convention in Dayton, Ohio. This Poncho certainly has proven worthy of the impeccable care she has been given. She is truly an impressive timeless machine. With her beautiful style, this Montero Red ragtop is a true classic. If you are in the Greater Cleveland area, NCPC invites you to join us at our Dust-Off on May 1st at Jay Pontiac, and on July 31st at Solon Commons for our 14th Annual All Pontiac Benefit Car Show. For more information on the North Coast Pontiac Chapter of POCI, contact Carolyn Kucia, 127 Willard Avenue, Bedford, OH 44146, or email onecleannut@aol.com , or please check out our web site at http://northcoastpontiacchapte r.org &You can also search for North Coast Pontiac Club on Facebook. Meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month at 7 PM at Jay Pontiac, 18800 Rockside Road, Bedford, OH