Kevin Mueller

Glad to see that although I saw Pacers mentioned in this thread, they didn't seem to come up as one of the ugliest. I guess it depends on your point of view. I just bought one that my son and I are playing with, and it certainly shocks people with how unusual it is. I have a '51 Pontiac Catalina, '66 Bonneville convertible, and have driven all kinds of interesting cars. I think the Pacer might draw more looks from more people than anything else I've ever driven or ridden in. I do agree about the Matador above as the ugliest--WOW! How fun! I'll try to post a photo of our Pacer.

Looks like a great car! I like the clever name--I had to double check to see that you posted on July 4. We just call ours "The Chief." How un-original. Have fun!

Thanks! I'll keep searching and checking the list for updates. I had re-established contact with the guy I bought the car from in 1982 (the grandson of the original owner). He said he would be happy to share information with me, but he never responded to my emails after that, and his email address no longer appears to be active. I might try sending a letter.

Hello All, Does anyone know if there is a list of Pontiac dealer codes other than the one posted on the Ultimate GTO site? There's great information there, but it's still incomplete, and I'm hoping to learn the dealer my 1966 Bonneville convertible was sold at. According to the PHS documents, it was Zone 7, dealer 855, but I don't know who that is/was. I believe that the car was purchased in West Michigan, possibly Muskegon, Grand Rapids, Holland, or Grand Haven. I have owned this car since March of 1982, and bought it from the grandson of the original owner. I realize it's a pretty cold trail, but it is fun to learn about the history of our old machines, isn't it? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Kevin Mueller POCI Member 36361 and Early Times Chapter Member

Hello! Our car is not a show car like so many of the beautiful cars pictured on this site. It is a 1951 Chieftain Super Deluxe Catalina Eight. It needs a lot of work, but is a unique car with an interesting history. This car was built in the Stockton, CA plant and spent most of it's life in the Prescott, Arizona area. The original owner was a man named Ravetto. I have tried to contact a son of Mr and Mrs. Ravetto in attempt to learn more of the car's early history to no avail. In 1972, his widow Adalena Ravetto sold the car to Beau Hickory, western showman, car builder, craftsman, blacksmith, and story teller. Beau and his partner Tinnell used the car regularly, keeping it mechanically sound, and simply enjoying it, until 2004, when they sold it to a man in Minnesota. He sold it to a guy in Florida in December of 2006, and I bought it from him in January of 2007. We trailered it up to Michigan and "The Chief" has been part of the family ever since. We put new front floor pans in it and some new carpeting that looks similar to the original. Then we've been doing a lot of cleaning and polishing, fixing things, and replacing a few missing parts. It's very much a work in progress, but it is looking a little better every day, and we drive it all the time while we work on it. It really attracts a lot of attention, and we like talking to other old car owners (especially Pontiac people!) about it and their cars. I've gotten so much information from the other great Pontiac fans on the internet, and so many have been so willing to answer questions I have about the car. I hope you enjoy the photos I've posted. One shows the car as we first got it, and another shows it in May of 2008. You can see more photos of the car if you are interested at: http://autos.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/pontiac-1950s/photos/browse/8bdc Kevin Mueller Brighton, Michigan POCI and Early Times Chapter Member #36361