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: petrymail@yahoo.com

$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 pontiactom@ix.netcom.com. 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 rpye@rochester.rr.com.

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 jhchevyparts@aol.com.

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 pontiactom@ix.netcom.com.

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. gpark14@aol.com

1957 Safari Wanted: If you have any leads, please contact Dwight at dwhitmire3153@charter.net 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 jumbodog54@sbcglobal.net or 314 795-4700.

1957 Pontiac: AC components that mount to engine, brackets, compressor, condenser, etc. Rich Pye. rpye@rochester.rr.com 1962 Pontiac Safari Wagon: Looking for American or Cana-dian models (see example below) Leads appreciated. Contact Daral Travis at meteorman56@icloud.com

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 pontiactom@ix.netcom.com