PontiacParadise.com is currently accepting a limited amount (2) of detailed restoration projects for a anticipated start date of September 2008.  All projects MUST be within the building with NO outside storage available (per current City of Rosemount regulations). All vehicles currently stored outside are the personal property of Les Kasten and are NOT part of PontiacParadise.com.

Please contact us for further details.

We would be more than happy to fax or email our qualifications and pricing structure to you. Not only do we have the expertise to do whatever you desire, PontiacParadise.com also has the equipment to do frame-off restorations including a body rotisserie and a two post lift.

We look forward to your project.

Thank you,
Les

Have you ever tried to help someone out and regardless of how many times you try, they never change? Such is the world of eBay Pontiac tachometer sales. I don’t know how many times I have emailed people saying…”hey, your tach is a 63 or 64 model only and it did not come in a GTO”. Most usually reply with thanks of some sort and about half change their listing or at least add my correction to their auction. And then we have the people who apparently don’t care if you purchase the wrong tach for your car. I have seen many 62 to 66 Pontiacs online with the wrong year tach installed. I would be really pissed if I found out someone sold me the wrong year tach, especially with the silly money these are going for. And of course, then we have the people selling 63 or 64 tachs without telling you they do not have the mounting bracket. So you buy this and try to mount it in your 64 GP, only to find you now need a bracket nobody reproduces.

I once had a person in Iowa argue with me for numerous days via email about the fact he had this tach that he swore came out of a 63 GP. The tach was a 62 tach by the adjusting knob. The date rubber stamped on the rear of the tach was in 1963; however the face had been swapped out with a 62 face. People, you can unbend four little tabs and swap faces out on all mid 60’s Pontiac tachs. Anyway, this person went on about how he had gotten the tach from Arnie Beswick’s sister’s cousin’s dog or some load of crap. Who cares? The tach was wrong and had I seen it in anything other than a 62, I would have judged the car incorrect. Now this person seems to think there is a difference between 63 and 64 tachs by a recent eBay auction. They are the same. Whatever dude…. Then there is another guy named BonnevilleJoe from Texas on eBay who I tried to help and now, he has me blocked from bidding on the stuff he sells on eBay. That’s your loss as I spend a fair amount of money on parts. What a baby….

I grew up as an Air Force brat. When my mother purchased a brand new 64 Bonneville ragtop in Oklahoma City, I started hanging out at the Pontiac dealer and the local drag strip. I saw tons of 4 speed 2+2’s, Grand Prix’s, Bonneville’s and Catalina’s delivered to this dealership. My mother’s car ended up being mine, which set the Pontiac bug deep within me. We left to return to Minneapolis in 1967. Sadly, Minneapolis was NEVER a big Pontiac stronghold. Pentel Pontiac ordered very few GOOD Pontiacs. I remember seeing a whole truckload of new 1969 GTO’s show up at Pentel and most were automatics on the column. I have made it my hobby to try to help people, not be “Mr. Know-It-All”. If I am wrong, I will say so. However, unless you can prove me wrong, don’t expect me to buy loads of crap. I go by Pontiac photos, cars I have seen in dealerships and un-touched original cars, parts catalogs and common sense. I currently own over 20 full sized 1962 to 1966 Pontiacs and most are four speeds. I have worked with Fabcraft on the reproduction of big car four speed conversion parts. If anybody else sees the need for a different or better website than this one, get down on it. Don’t just sit there and run your mouth or hit the keys. Do what I did, put up your money to try and inform people. If someone comes up with a better site with better information, I will take this site down so fast; it will make your head spin. I will start to add the eBay screenames of people who refuse to correct their auctions here very soon. LMK

On July 13th, I ordered a two post lift for my new shop, from America’s Pride.  I did so after looking at the companies website.  It was full of red, white & blue, eagles and American flags.  It kinda makes you think that just maybe, your lift might be made here in the USA.  Wrongo.  As with most of these sites, the lifts are made either in China or some other third world country and shipped by boat to the good, ole USA.  Well, anyway, I needed a lift so I ordered one.  Lets fast forward to today…October 25th.  Guess what?  Still no lift. After ten phone calls and numerous emails, still no lift. 

 Oh, I was promised delivery in two weeks.  Then it went to four and then the free goodies were offered….a roll-around oil change pan, an ATV lift….anything to keep me on the hook.  Every time I called, I was placed on hold, sometimes for 20 minutes or more.  I left voice messages with no returned calls.  Today, I had enough.  I called and canceled my order after finding the same or better lift right here in Minnesota, 10 miles away.  I pick it up on Monday.   I asked the girl at America’s Pride if she handled calls like this all day and she said yes.  Bottom line…these guys had my money since July 13th and oh yes, it takes 15 days to return it to my credit card.  America’s Pride sucks and I urge you not to do any business with them.  As always, my opinion!  Thanks!  Les

Need to figure out the proper clock delete plate for your Pontiac?  If so, we just added a new page that features 1961-1964 plates.

Enjoy.

Well, after waiting for six months, my reproduction door panels finally showed up from SMS Upholstery.  I have to say the wait was worth it.  THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL and they appear to be correct.  These are total reproductions for a two door sedan with the correct Mylar Chrome taping and heat seams.  THAT’S RIGHT, not a hardtop.  Those are easy, just call Ames.  I have been told they can do just about any door panel, so the next ones going in are out of my 1967 Chevy Biscayne 2 door sedan.  Want more good news?  They have a huge inventory of NOS and repro fabric.  They were able to match the fabric in my 64 Brougham to NOS material in stock.  Nothing is cheap there, but the quality shows in the finished product.  You can reach them at 503-263-3535 PST.  Tell them you were referred by PontiacParadise.com  Will post photos of the door panels here soon. LMK

Site: SMS Upholstery

Last weekend, I had the great pleasure of finally meeting Steve Snyder from IndianaPontiacs.com of Gaston, IN. Steve is about one hour north of Indianapolis and has a wonderful selection of full sized Pontiacs for sale and for parts. Steve wears Pontiac underwear and sleeps in Pontiac sheets! He is truly hardcore Pontiac, which really is a treat becuase he’s not that old! Steve does a lot on eBay and travels the world bringing Pontiacs back to his place for parts, resell or place in his collection. Steve stayed at my home and we had a lot of fun. He brought up the beautiful 64 Bonneville Brougham I had purchased from him last year. I urge you to visit his website and contact him with your full sized Pontiac needs.