Manitoba Pontiac Association  
(incorporating Buick and Oldsmobile)

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1954 Pathfinder Deluxe

This stunning 1954 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe is owned by Rodger and Vivianne Lilke.

Acquired in 2007, the inside was pretty moldy and the motor had not been run for a long time.  Says Rodger, "The car was screaming to be used!"  Rodger bought the car from a friend who also owned a 1951 Pontiac.  It was an estate sale from a small community in Manitoba (Canada).  The car had been repainted in 1991 or 1992 and in 1993 the previous owner had a complete motor overhaul.  The car was then parked until purchased by Rodger.

The outside was good looking and all of the chrome was in excellent condition.  Rodger notes that "The first order of business was to make the car drive down the road safely.  There wasn't much to make the car pass the Provincial Safety Inspection."  Rodger then spent the first year with the car cleaning and going over all the little things that stood out that needed repair.  The gas tank needed replacing, as well as the fuel lines, brake lines and two of the wheel cylinders.

Rodger then took the better part of the next year going over the undercarriage.  There were other little things ... like the light switch, the odometer, and other parts that were in need of repair.  "In 2010 things were a bit busy with life and the car didn’t get as much attention", recalls Rodger.  This past winter he rebuilt the carburetor, had the radiator re-cored, installed a new water pump, rebuilt the generator and put in a new heater control valve.  On the latter item, Rodger is quite adamant when he says "I think these are something that a lot of guys need to repair!"

Next on the list?  Work on the interior, such as a new headliner and a complete refurbishment of all the seats and inner door and kick panels.  Rodger still wants to rebuild the starter, and clean up and go over the three speed Muncie transmission.  "And", he says, "at some point I will need to pull the engine and get to the rear main seal.  It has a slow leak that I had hoped would go away once I used it for a while, but has not. Most likely dried out from sitting."

The family has loved driving around in the car.  It’s a time capsule to a period in time when things were much different.  Rodger notes that "The car rides and runs the way things worked back then.  It’s not a power house of speed but I would call it a stump puller.  You can let the clutch out without ever having to push on the gas like new cars of today.  You need to take your time slowing down because the brakes are not the type that will quickly slow down all that chrome and steel."

Rodger, his wife Vivianne and their daughter roll down the highway in a style that cars of today just don’t have.  Rodger knows that a lot of people tend to modify many of these cars to make them drive, brake, and handle like today’s car to make them more "fun" to drive.  However, Rodger feels that "you would be missing the whole experience in owning a classic car of this era."

Their four door will stay stock, with no 12 volt conversion, Mustang II front end or V8 swap.  Rodger and his family will learn how to handle, treat with respect, and enjoy the Pontiac the way it was built when it rolled off the Oshawa Plant in 1954.
 

Be sure to send an e-mail to the President or Membership Chair to request information about upcoming shows/events where the Members can be met and cars seen.

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