I'm a big fan of 2 door post cars. These cars were designed for frugal folks who just wanted basic transportation. Most 2 door sedans never lasted longer than a few years. Luckily for folks like me there are still a few old sedans still around. Mark Craig's 1965 Pontiac Laurentian is one such car. Originally owned by a no nonsense fella who likely thought of a car as a necessary appliance to get him to the church and back. Mark rescued the car after sitting for decades and transformed the Pontiac into his dream ride. Mark used this opportunity to teach himself some new skills and the results are excellent. Here's Mark with all the details:

I first discovered this 65 Laurentian posted on CP by Todd in the first week of November 2018 , it was listed on Kijiji London. Six cylinder/PG/10 bolt 3 leg post. Curious, as post cars of this vintage are pretty rare, and now being newly retired and needing a project to focus on, I sent a text contacting the owner. Replying, it turns out he'd not be at his business that day where the car was stored, and I'd have to wait. Now I knew this car would elicit a flood of interest when it became fully discovered, so I pushed a little harder, asking to come up and see it even if he wasn't around. He agreed to this, and put me in touch with his secretary who said to come right up. I was at the business within a hour of discovering the add. The place was a new and modern automation company in Cambridge. The secretary was very nice and took me in to see the car. It was tucked away forlorn and dirty inside a corner of the building, looking completely out of place. Someone had written in the dust on it "wash me, sell me, love me, restore me". Perfect!

A late build?

One look and I knew I'd just have to have it, in my mind it had the look of potential V8 4 speed car, had a nice patina, and one look underneath with a flashlight sealed it. The underside was in very good condition. Sure, it had been a mouse house, had some rust on the passenger front floorpan, and the trunk pan was iffy, the paint was shot, but it had ZERO rust on the chassis and lines. I'll admit, If it were scabby I'd have passed on it right away. I popped back up, said I'll take it, and left a small deposit before heading home.

That evening I contacted the owner and contracted a flatbed to retrieve the car two days later. Arriving that morning of pickup I met the owner who stated to me he had gotten 18 calls on the car the day before! I knew I was right in acting on it right away. The owner gave me a little history on it: It was originally owned by a pastor in Galt. He'd kept it until his death, in what I'm assuming was in or around 1977, when the car became registered in his wife's name (the car first shows up in his name in 73). The car apparently sat out never covered on a paved driveway for at least 30 years or up until 2007, probably under a pine tree. The car then was picked up somehow by an auction house in Aberfoyle in July 07, where the current owner bid and won it in Oct. 2007. So now, as far as I know, I'm the 4th owner. I obtained a Vintage Vehicle document for it. But she's certainly a stripper, it was even a radio delete car, it came with the delete plate in a parts box, and no U63 on the document.

Another couple of interesting things about the car, were the discovery of fender skirts with matching paint in the trunk along with the original 14" wheels and full wheelcovers. The brackets and hoses for an aftermarket air conditioning system still were still visible (installed in 66 according to the auction doc.). Certainly unusual to see the remnants of air on a basic six car (how could it even move on a hot day?). 

Asking him why he was selling, he said he'd recently hired a new shop manager who as his action item to do was to ask the workers what they'd like to see changed in the shop. They all said..."Get that old junker out of here!". Imagine that, The fools!

 So we exchanged all we needed and the car was pushed and winched up (has not ran for 4 years) and was on it's way. Up high on the deck I could see why this bodystyle is desirable, The proportions imop look just right.

Getting it home of course I immediately set about getting it running just to try. A fresh battery, some gas down the carb, and she fired right up... sputtering, popping through the manifold doughnut, and pissing transmission fluid from a broken line.

More photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/7822276@N03/44100911690/in/album-72157697612055160/

I then decided to give her a DA polish, ditch the Cragars, and get some steelies on to simulate the look I was going for. At a distance polished up I'll admit she actually looked sharp with those Cragars.

Turns out it wasn't the original motor. It was a '69 250 so any slight hope of keeping it original evaporated instantly (poof!). Some suggested keeping it original but how fun would that be?

So now it began. The long road to making it into a respectable post car (and a V8 4 speed as well as per the vision).

The heaterbox; Stuffed full of seat stuffing and mouse crap. All toxic and reaking. It was rusted out as well both halves from a rotten windshield channel. I found a new inner and outer box (67 inner). Moved with some welding the 65 levers over onto it and put it all back together with a new spectra core. Not a simple job these boxes but I managed to do it all without removing the passenger fender.

I pulled and sold the 6/PG for one dollar per cube. Probably gave away that early PG.

I stripped the engine compartment, repaired the firewall seam, and painted the firewall. I painted the front frame, tubs and rad support, added some new decals, a crappy repair on the rusted fenders (yes, from pine needles sitting in the gap).

I added a Z Bar bracket to the frame during the unpainted phase, and fabbed up a shifter hump.

I rebuilt the entire front end OEM bushings and ball joints. I used good 1970 Parisienne springs and installed new KYB shocks. Next,I added a standard stabilizer bar with poly links and a new 14:1 box. I also did the Ackermann fix using all new 1967 B components. I added a 1970 single piston disc brake setup and rebuilt the rear brakes and installed new flexlines. Next were new Wheel Vintiques 62 series rims 15x7 and 15x8 and Staggered width Cooper Cobra rubber.

I repaired the rusted out windshield channel. It was probably the most difficult job I faced and a must do if I was to go forward. It's a common issues on any 65-70 Pontiac left outside. It caused pinhole rust on the passenger floor and helped take out the inner heater box and all the interior die cast. The Windshield glass is datecoded as being 1966. An early replacement?

The next course of business was to rebuild the 327/275 from my 67 Grande and a M20 I'd picked up. All of that was a super epic winter build and I really enjoyed it all. I went with a 10.5 clutch. Dropping it in when complete into a nicely detailed engine compartment made it all the nicer.

Next, I fitted the Z Bar assembly.

I installed and plumbed in a new disc/drum master and 11" booster along with OEM power steering lines. Remarkably the brake lines on this car came apart with no fuss. I rebuilt the wiper motor and the rods and installed an improved stock engine harness wired for a 12SI internally regulated alternator. I added relays to the headlamps and made the grounds more robust. Finally I added a $30 Amazon horn.

I picked up a used but complete 2" bent to spec dual exhaust. It's mid fender rear exit and close to factory, I figure. No mods were required at all. It just needed a cleaning and a slight tip extension, some high temp paint,some new clamps, studs, and doughnut gaskets.

I installed a new fuel tank, cleaned up and painted the original driveshaft (which was in great shape), installed new universals, and fitted a factory F41 bar on the leaky pinion seal 10 bolt 3 arm rear end (I did take the cover off, cleaned it up, and added new lube). The diff will be changed to a 12 bolt 4 arm next year with a 3.31 gear.

Moving to the interior I added sound deadener and insulation on the firewall, floor, and roof. Next, I painted the dash body, installed a better dash bezel along with a detailed heater control, better knobs, detailed the AM radio with a nice NOS dash speaker, and added a factory antenna (the car was originally radio delete). I painted and fitted a nice dash pad. Next, I added a clock and vac. gauge. I gutted the dash wiring and cleaned and repaired the corroded fuse panel. I repaired and improved the harness and added LED dash lights and underdash courtesy lights. I added the correct 4 speed pedals with the correct budget pads. I rebuilt and installed the steering column (floor shift), restored a better steering wheel, and added a nicer horn rim and center cap. I had the seats recovered and installed a headliner along with repainted interior reveal moldings. I also rebuilt the kick panel vents.

Now for the body.  I dug in and repaired the rotted trunk channel and fitted a new weatherstrip. Next, I removed the back glass, cleaned up the channel, and added new clips. I added much better headlight and taillamp bezels, better grilles, and a better center rear trim panel. I restored the front signal lamps and licence lamp with LED's, and the rear tailights with NOS lenses. I installed the front and rear glass along with a better cowl panel, replacing the rusted one (it was rusted under the hood seal). I fitted all the missing beltline trim with NOS clips.

She's now on the road after 3 years. It is certified, but still needing some interior work. The car drives beautifully! It's nice and comfy, not harsh, shifts perfectly, stops great, purrs like a kitten with a wee rumble,  and pulls decent enough. What's not to like? This little project has been so satisfying, and I'll likely never see one quite like it on the road. The fact it wasn't kept 100% true to originality doesn't bother me. I just created it so an untrained eye would never notice or care anyway. The project also gave me much more insight and knowledge into building a M20 and working with a Muncie shifter which I had never done. It's so satisfying feeling the nice click into gear, knowing you built it yourself!

In closing a huge thanks must go out to all the great CP members who without their support the project would have never been near so far along. It could not have been done without you all.

And thanks for putting up with the long winded story!