Fletch remains in Portland Victoria after the Portland Classic to catch up with the event organiser and find out the story behind the 1938 Pontiac Chieftain Straight Eight in his garage. Fletch spotted the Dodge in a meeting with Craig before the weekend Show and Shine and returned to find out more.
The 1938 Pontiac is Craig's father's car, so he thought who better to tell the story than his father, Ray. Craig's brothers bring their father, 90-year-old Ray, from his nursing home to the garage to get the story first-hand.
As Ray tells it, he went to buy a Buick, but the owner wouldn't sell it to him, but he was prepared to sell him a 1938 Pontiac. And for 400 pounds, the deal was done. The car has remained with the family since 1972 in completely original unrestored condition.
The Pontiac is considered very rare, with only twelve chassis imported from the USA and the bodies built by Holden in South Australia. The car was very opulent for the 1930s. The original owner was a doctor who sold it to the owner in Hamilton, who sold it to Ray.
It was the family car for Ray, his wife, and seven kids. He was regularly seen taking the family to the football, church and family gatherings. The whole family have an enormous connection to the car, but none more than Ray, who gets very emotional as he sits beside his Pontiac and recounts his story. The Pontiac has travelled a genuine 92,000 miles and could travel at 100 mph, but he didn't want to risk it, but he took it up to 92-93 mph.
Ray is a fabulous character and recounts his family life, life as Truckie and, of course, the car. Fletch asked if you could have any car you wanted, what would it be? Ray says, "I've got it, the 1938 Pontiac".
A heart-warming story, and as Fletch put it, "Don't tell me that classic cars don't have an effect on people."
