writer: Christopher R. Phillip
photographer: Courtesy Bob's Speedometer
What's the one thing you dislike about your Pontiac's factory speedometer? If you answered, "It doesn't go up high enough," then you're like most owners of classic Pontiacs. Because Pontiac followed the industry-standard practices in effect at the time, your '61 Ventura, '69 RA IV GTO, '73 Super Duty, '79 10th Anniversary Trans Am, or '86 2+2 Grand Prix has a speedometer limited to 120 mph, 160 mph, 100 mph, or--believe it or not--80 mph.
This was the dilemma that we saw when restoring the interior of our '59 Pontiac NASCAR 345hp Tri-Power sedan. Its factory speedometer only showed 120 mph. Desiring an original look to the gauge-cluster restoration, and so we can see what this car is capable of if it's ever invited for a lap at the Daytona International Speedway, we contacted Bob's Speedometer Bob's Speedometer (www.bobsspeedometer.com) at 10123 Bergin Road, Howell, Michigan, 48843 (810) 592-9673.
Bruce Woolsey, the company's owner, told us they are the nation's number-one restorer of speedometers and gauges, and they specialize in concours restorations as well as custom restorations. Bruce was extremely helpful, and he listened as we explained what we needed for the '59 NASCAR Pontiac Catalina. "I've got the perfect plan for it," he said.
Pontiac created two sets of speedometer gauge faces through most of its classic years, one for miles per hour and one for kilometers per hour. Bob said he had a Canadian gauge face for our '59 Catalina that had dial increments to 200 and no mention anywhere on the gauge that it was intended for kph use. The best news was that the gauge face was N.O.S. and in perfect, brand-new condition.
"I can take this gauge face and calibrate it to miles per hour," Bruce said. "It will be a factory 200-mph speedometer. How's that for a NASCAR Pontiac Catalina?"
The second part of the project was just as easy. Bruce was able to rescreen the gauge and clock cluster faces in their original fonts, manufacture new gauge faces, install an N.O.S. odometer (it's legal because the title to the vehicle says "odometer exempt"), update the factory clock with a new quartz movement, supply new dial indicators, install new gauge mechanicals, and assemble the clusters back to brand-new condition.
The excellent custom restoration that Bob's Speedometer did for High Performance Pontiac magazine, he can do for your speedometer and gauge restoration, too. Just think, now your '62 Super Duty can have a 160-mph speedometer, or a 200-mph one if you're so inclined. How about upgrading your low-mile GTO with a 200-mph speedometer? It will look 100 percent original, function as new, and look brand-new, too.
More information about Bob's Speedometer
Bob's Speedometer is a family-owned business that was started in 1929. The shop was originally in Detroit as United Motors Auto Service. By the mid-'50s it dealt exclusively in speedometers and gauges. In 1987 the business moved northwest into Farmington. Ownership changed from Father Bob Woolsey to son Bruce Woolsey in 1969. In 2004, Bob's Speedometer moved from its Farmington location to Howell, Michigan.