I PURCHASED MY FIRST NEW CAR WHEN I WAS 23.  AFTER STUDYING AND REREADING EVERY PUBLICATION THAT FEATURED CARS, THE BEST LOOKING QUEEN OF THE ROAD WAS A DARK BLUE 1963 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX WITH THE FIRST YEAR CONCAVE BACK WINDOW, IMPRESSIVE 8 LUG WHEELS WITH BRIGHT ALUMINUM FINS AND THE PERFORMANCE ORIENTED BUCKETS SEATS, CONSOLE, 3 CHROMED FACTORY GAUGES IN THE DASH AND FACTORY TACH IN AN ATTRACTIVE CHROME HOUSING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH.  NATURALLY THEY WERE SOLD OUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.  GARY LEE PONTIAC OLDS FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA ACROSS THE STREET FROM BROWN MOTORS CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH WAS SUCH A CAR – A NEW 1963 GP OWNED BY MR GARY LEE HIMSELF.

MY DAD WAS VISITING FROM OHIO AND MR. LEE ALLOWED MY DAD AND I TO TAKE A TEST DRIVE WITH HIS GOLF CLUBS IN THE TRUNK, MUDDY GOLF SHOES ON THE BRAND-NEW CARPETS AND THE INTERIOR SHAMEFULLY SOILED.  HE WOULD NOT BUDGE OFF OF LIST PRICE WITH 6,700 MILES ON THE ODOMETER ON THIS FACTORY AIR GP.  I GOT A CALL FROM MR. WARNER, PRESIDENT OF THE ROSSFORD SAVINGS BANK WHERE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET A LOAN ON THIS VERY CAR WHEN HE SAID, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? YOU GO SEE MR ED SCHMIDT OWNER OF ED SCHMIDT PONTIAC, PERRYSBURG, OHIO.  HE WILL LET YOU ORDER A BRAND NEW 1964 GRAND PRIX FOR FAR LESS MONEY THAN YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR THE 63 GP WITH 6,700 MILES.  I DID!  MR. ED SCHMIDT WAS A PRINCE.

I ORDERED A FACTORY AIR, 8 LUGS, WELL EQUIPPED 1964 NEW GRAND PRIX IN LIGHT AQUA AS SEEN INCLUDING FACTORY TACHOMETER.  I HAD THE VALVE COVERS AND AIR BREATHER CHROME PLATED.  THIS PHOTO IS WITH THE PRETTY WHITE FLOWERS IN TONY KOPROWSKI’S DRIVEWAY IN ROSSFORD, OHIO.   NO ONE EVER HAD A NICER LAWN OR FLOWERS THAN THIS MAN – PERFECT FOR TAKING CAR PHOTOS.

I WAS GETTING READY TO INSTALL A 421 4 BARREL ENGINE FROM A TOTALED 64 BONNEVILLE COUPE.   I ALREADY HAD THE NEW 421 FLAG EMBLEMS INSTALLED  ON THE FENDERS IN FORT WALTON BEACH.  SOMETHING INTERESTING HAPPENED.  I LOVE DRAG RACING, STREET RACING WHEN IT IS SAFE.  UNFORTUNATELY, I DISCOVERED THE 1964 GRAND PRIX HAS THAT SORRY ROTO-HYDRAMATIC MEANING THAT IT LOST SO MUCH RPM BETWEEN 1^ST AND 2^ND THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU MISSED A GEAR.  THE BONNEVILLE’S AND STAR CHIEFS HAD THE FAMOUS AND FAST SHIFTING SUPER 4 SPEED HYDRAMATIC STANDARD.  WHEN PEOPLE NOTICED THE 421 FLAGS ON MY GRAND PRIX, NOBODY WOULD RACE ME OR EVEN CHALLENGE ME.  IT’S LIKE A SLEEPER CAR IN REVERSE.

THIS PHOTO IS  ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS AND COUSINS, JOHN “BOBO” SADEK  AND I WITH OUR NEW 1964 PONTIACS IN DETROIT AT HIS HOME ON BRACE STREET.

MY 1964 GRAND PRIX AT THE GM TECH CENTER AT 12 MILE AND MOUND ROAD IN DETROIT.  THANKS TO MY UNCLE FRANK FUNK, GM STYLIST FOR VOUCHING ME INTO GENERAL MOTORS.  THE WINDOW STICKER IS CLEARLY VISIBLE.  THE FAMOUS GM STYLING REFLECTION POND AND CHROMED WATER TOWER ARE IN THE BACKGROUND.  IT IS ALSO OPPOSITE THE ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS BUILDING WITH NEW 1964 CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE. IN BACKGROUND.  IT WAS   IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INTO THE FACILITY UNLESS YOU WERE PROPERLY VOUCHED AT THAT TIME.

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