https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusiasts/go-inside-the-new-pontiac-museum-that-features-over-70-vehicles/ss-BB1qD813?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=68cecb80b2ab4a0e81d10b67c33439dd&ei=63

Some good photos there. Of course, we know Terry after being there for so many years before the grand opening too. It is a must see for any Pontiac enthusiast coming to town.

Last night was our monthly Michigan WIdetracker's chapter meeting. We had a special guest, Tim Dye, from the Pontiac Transportation Museum, giving us an update on the museum. Last week they had recently hosted their first Pontiac lecture at the museum and 126 people attended. Tim also informed us about the upcoming POCI convention, where the announcement for next year's convention in Pontiac will be made. So T-shirts, basic information, a promo video, and registration forms need to be ready.

Tim discussed the next phase of the remodeling of the museum. Phase I is complete. Phase II is the middle portion of the old Crow Elementary school. He had some diagrams to share with us.

In the diagram on the left, the dark green area represents the current front of the building, facing the street. The plan calls for adding the orange section as a new entrance to the museum (currently the entrance is to the left - from the parking lot). It will try to resemble the front of a Pontiac dealership somewhat. It will server as the main entrance and gift shop. Everything will be on wheels to that this area can be used for renting out as a large meeting room and a banquet hall.

The diagram on the right represents the back of the building and the backyard. Where the green car is, is a garage door that leads to the basement of the building, which acts as a small repair shop and vehicle storage area at the moment. The plan is is to add a patio space and a gazebo for people to enjoy some light refreshments while at the museum. The blue building will be built as the site's automotive repair shop and automotive restoration teaching facility.

Finally Tim unveiled the T-shirt that the PTM will be selling for next year's 100th anniversary (the POCI convention T-shirt will be different). Fittingly it will feature the very first GM-made Pontiac, the 1926 Chief of Sixes (which GM still owns as part of the Heritage Collection) and the final Pontiac made (which the PTM owns), the 2010 white G6. So the alpha and the omega of Pontiacs. Very cool.

Edited March 11, 20251 yr by Frosty

Hey Ringo - have you given any thought for a special FP T-shirt for Pontiac's 100th anniversary for next year?

Ol Pontiac's never die....they become LEGENDS!   Forever Pontiac

41 minutes ago, JUSTA6 said:

Ol Pontiac's never die....they become LEGENDS!   Forever Pontiac

So will newer cars. I'm thinking a lot about the G6 GXP.

Edited March 11, 20251 yr by The_Lyonnist

1 hour ago, Frosty said:

Hey Ringo - have you given any thought for a special FP T-shirt for Pontiac's 100th anniversary for next year?

That is a good idea! See what I can cook up.

This weekend is the Grand Opening of the PTM's Phase II renovations. I got a sneak peak last weekend with the West Michigan chapter but we were prohibited from taking pictures until this weekend's opening gala. To be fair, they still did not have all their displays in place or set-up either. So there would have been some changes, even if I had taken the photos. 

The Michigan Widetrackers are partnering with the PTM for this Grand Opening. I will be there on Saturday, with Lucy. It was advised to come early (like 8 am) if we wanted to park our Pontiacs on the lawn or in the parking lot. So if you can make it, please come and join the fun.

 

Ideally speaking, and assuming they have the funds, the goal will be to have Phase III completed before next year's POCI convention, celebrating the100th anniversary of Pontiac.. The convention will be in late June (21st to 27th I believe).

This weekend was the Phase II grand opening at the Pontiac Transportation Museum. Thought I'd share with you all what went on.

Parking it limited at the PTM but here are the cars that got there early enough to find a spot. The weather was sketch with cool temperatures and on again/off again sprinkles. Just enough rain to make wonder if you should even bother wiping the car down.

This 52-year old Buccaneer Red '73 SD-455 TA is still owned by it's original owner!

 

I never found who owned or the story behind this modern Formula 400. Its very cool!

A '49 GMC bus - owned by a man from Ontario Canuckistan. Powered by a Detroit Diesel

 

Grand Am with its Lansing-built Quad 4 engine. I don't see many Quad 4s anymore.

We had a Cars and Coffee from 9am to 12 noon.

The opening ceremony started with a performance by Accent Pontiac - an after school music program of elementary school kids from all over the Pontiac school system. Most are elementary age students but the program reaches up thru high school.

Next came brief speeches from PTM Executive Director Terry Connolly (L-leaving the stage), Smoke Signals Editor Tim Dye (R), and Pontiac Mayor Tim Griemel (Center). The mayor presented Terry and Tim a check for $250,000. This money has been promised for awhile (since 2024).

Formal ribbon cutting......

 

Director Connolly and Smoke Signals contributor and PTM volunteer Dmitri Toth. Dmitri told me he is still working at the former Pontiac/GM Powertrain/Global Propulsion facility. He's been there for 54 years! That's why he has sooooo many stories to tell in Smoke Signals.

 

This is the front of the building. Get a good look as this will change in the near future. Plans call for the front to extend out 40 feet. This will become the new main entrance, souvenir shop, and special event hall (for weddings, business meetings, catered events. etc.) which is a huge money maker for any museum or hall.

Edited May 19, 20251 yr by Frosty

Awesome story N pic's.  As always.  

Here is what the new Phase II area looks like....

A Carter Car demonstration chassis with it's variable speed perpendicular-mounted transmission. 

This 1960 Vauxhall was sold thru Pontiac dealerships much like Opel GTs were sold thru Buick dealerships.

The Pontiac T1000 - the Pontiac version of the Chevy Chevette.

A '78 Pontiac Sunbird - the replacement for the Astre.

A 1975 Grand Lemans with it's one year only 5-piece grille. This was the first year for the Grand Lemans. Prior to that, it was the Luxury Lemans.

A '67 Executive Safari wagon with a 428 HO motor.

An experimental '73 Grand Am wagon. It's one of one. There were never any GA wagons produced in production.

A '74 Grand Am. It's unique that it is a 400-powered 4-speed stick shift 4-door passenger car.

A rare '74 GTO

A '79 Firebird Espirit "Yellow Bird"

'77 Can Am. I didn't realize that 43 Can Am's had Olds 403 motors and the rest were Pontiac 400s. 

Furthermore, I met a man who worked for Jim Wanger's Motortown facility in Troy Michigan, where these cars were transformed from white Lemans into the Can Am. He did every job transforming these cars except running the stripe from the nose of the hood to either door. 

He said they had to insert special plastic bracing to cut the whole in the hood for the TA shaker hood scoop. Riveting the shaker to the top of the air cleaner. Applying the lower black stripe. Stripes around the spoiler and rear view mirrors and the CAN AM decals were done by eye, there was no template. Driving them out of the facility. Everyone took turns on virtually every job. Some folks became specialists in some jobs.

Some people have commented that the shaker scoops were '76 models and not '77 models. However, talking to this man, they were given the shaker scoops from Pontiac period. No one asked or checked if they were old or new. No one cared either, they used what they were given.

The one and only 4-passenger Fiero 2+2 concept car. 

 

Retired GM/Pontiac designer Bill Michalak was on hand to sell prints of his work and sign them. I got a free autograph that the PTM provided. Bill was at the Pontiac studio from 1971-72, meaning he worked on 73 and up cars. 

 

After the ribbon cutting ceremony was over, a local band called the Verasonics performed in the parking lot. Three of them are either current or former workers at the nearby Lake Orion assembly plant.

MVI_2350.MOV

 

The band asks motorcycle and custom painter and Pontiac native Ron Finch onto the stage and help them sing "Born to be Wild". Ron is absolute legend in the motorcycle community as a custom bike builder/fabricator. Ron is in his mid-to-late 80s.

MVI_2361.MOV

 

 

 

 

Edited May 19, 20251 yr by Frosty

Some other things I thought I'd share from this otherwise miserable spring day.

GM history

Pontiac books and signs for sale in the souvenir shop

This one is for Justa. A reprint of the 1983 calendar - featuring his favorite Pontiac co-worker on every page! I foresee a sale in Justa's future! 

 

Here is a look at Ron Finch's custom painted van.

 

In a corner of the souvenir shop I found this banner. This an enlarged version of a postcard that Pontiac made available at the 1999 Detroit Auto Show, when they unveiled the '99 Concept GTO. Somewhere in my stash I have one of those postcards.

This picture was taken in front of the legendary Vinsetta's Garage on Woodward Ave. For '99 years, this was a working automotive garage. When it closed for good, it was purchased by an editor/writer from Motortrend and it was turned into a restaurant. This photo was taken when it was still a garage. I have a picture of Lucy and a buddy's '34 Willys street rod in front of it.

Great pictures and stories! We all appreciate the time and effort you took to share this event with us.  Many thanks!!

Wow Frosty, thank you for the pictures and commentary. You sir have truly out done yourself.

It looks to be much farther along than the last time I was there, almost 2 years ago now! Wow time flies!

The V8 Solstice has been at both locations now