Vintage Drivers Club

1928 PONTIAC TOURER

In 1972 Pam and husband Ian, decided it would be better to keep her brother’s Pontiac in the family rather than dispose of it and bought it.  Her brother, Ian Cartwright, had himself purchased the Pontiac in 1963, his first car.  It had 15 previous owners and had travelled some 248,000 miles.  From the original Motor Registration branch Owners certificate issued in 1932 its first owner was Mrs. Ethel Fielding of Katandra West via Tallygaroopna (North of Shepparton).  Ian Cartwright was to paint the Pontiac red with black guards (with those ever-reliable Electrolux painting attachments) and re-upholster it to be basically as it is seen today.  Ian Cartwright drove the Pontiac for many years until on one occasion, the engine ran low on oil and expired.  It sat in the garage for a few years till Pam decided to purchase it and carry out repairs to the engine and return the car to service. Pam and Ian have kept the Pontiac basically as Ian had left it, with only minor servicing being carried out over the years.  So after having the engine fixed, Pam and Ian did their first rally to St. Arnaud in 1972, and numerous rallies since.Out on the road the Pontiac is easy to drive.  It has an easy change gearbox and whilst the car is not fast, can easily cruise along at 70 km/hr all day.  The dash displays its travel history with rally plaques dating back to the Sixties and numerous stickers on the windscreen are real feature.  Whilst the windscreen rubbers are perished Ian does not wish to disturb this screen and lose the history.  Lay-back front seats are also a feature of this vehicle.