Many of Milton's vehicles have been featured in magazine articles, calendars, and on television, and have also been used to design toys. You may have even seen the man himself on TV as part of the Atlanta team on Barrett-Jackson's Car Search on Speed Channel.
Currently, the North Georgia-based Robson Ranch houses 69 various makes and models in an atmosphere-controlled, memorabilia-fortified building--about 14 of them are Pontiacs. Not all of the Ponchos are finished, however. Some are being restored now and others even serve driver duty.
'61 Ventura With A 421 SD
Milton picked up this Pontiac about two years ago. "I first saw the Ventura in a car book," he says. "I tracked it down, but it had been sold to a gentleman in Michigan. It took about a year, but I finally bought it."
Painted black with green interior, the '61 features a 421 SD engine, wide-ratio T10 four-speed trans, and a 4.10 Safe-T-Track rear. Of course, 421 SD engines weren't factory installed until 1962. There were, however, 421 SD engines offered to racers near the end of the '61 race season. Since he couldn't find one of these racers, Milton bought this car.
The car builder, Ed Giolma, reported the Ventura was purchased, with a stock drivetrain, out of California in the late '80s. Seeing it as a great candidate for a 421 SD transplant, Ed did a frame-off, the drivetrain upgrades, and color changes. Everything was built to SD specs, right down to the aluminum bumpers. The Ventura was completed in 1990. There has been some engine work done by an interim owner since, but what remains is a Pontiac that answers the question, "What if PMD was able to offer a 421 SD Ventura to the public in 1961?"
This '62 Grand Prix has been seen plenty of magazine coverage over the years--it was even in High Performance Pontiac. The Burgundy 1-of-16 421 SD Grand Prix was originally sold by Triangle Pontiac in Astoria, New York, a dealer that had ordered five of them, and was owned by Allan Gartzman from the late '80s to 2001. Allen found the car in a driveway near his (then) Illinois home. At the time, it had a 389, but did have the SD exhaust manifolds and notched frame. Noted Pontiac historian and current GM drag Racing Manager Fred Simmonds was able to verify it as one of the 16 SD Grand Prixs by checking through GM microfilm and matching the VIN to its manifest. Restoration specialist Scott Tiemann restored the GP in the early '90s. It now features a 405-horse, dual four-barrel 421 SD engine, a T10 four-speed trans, and a 4.30 Safe-T-Track rear.
"I had seen the Grand Prix before it was restored," Milton says. "Later, I saw it again after the restoration at an event and really liked it. When I found out the Pontiac was going to the Russo Steel auction at Pebble Beach in 2001, I decided to go. The car didn't reach its reserve and was a no-sale, but I stayed in touch with Allan, and later in the year we were able to strike a deal."