This is a wonderful story about a car and the two people who loved it.
Although not every car is as exciting as a hot Ferrari, or a classic Mustang the passion for automotive design is endless. There are no rules or requirements to love a car. It doesn’t take a huge garage to have a collection of exotic cars. You don’t have to own a lot of exotic machines. It could be one car that is important to you. This is what makes a true car enthusiast.
John Simons with his 1990 Pontiac 6000 SE All-Wheel Drive. Pontiac actually built an all-wheel drive sedan back in those days. It was actually the only all-wheel drive sedan that General Motors made up until the 2000s. This was quite unusual on the streets.
It also marked the end of an era. The 6000 was still a boxy Detroit design, but it was replaced by more European-inspired designs like the Ford Taurus or Pontiac Grand Prix. 1991 was the last year of the 6000. It was quickly forgotten by most people.
Simons was observant, however. Simons also noticed. Motor1.com reached him after we saw his car in the UnderappreciatedSurvivors Facebook group.
Simons wrote Motor1.com, “My love for Pontiacs began when I was five.” “My grandparents purchased a 1992 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi new from the factory. That car was my first car. It had so many buttons and electronic gadgets that it was a joy to drive. This car was my first car when I was 16 years old. Since then, I’ve enjoyed learning more about Pontiac.
He was so impressed by the car that he wrote a glowing note to the owner when he saw it parked at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. He left his email address, and asked for contact if the owner wanted to sell it. This was September 2007.
“I saw this car as a rare one when it was first seen, many years ago. I knew that it would be a nice gesture to leave a note. It would be a nice gesture of appreciation to the owner.
Time passed. It was actually 14 years that passed before Simons received a note about the car. Dean Ross Sr. apparently had some meaning to the Pontiac owner. He kept the note until his death in March 2021 at the ripe old age of 97. His obituary states that Ross was born in Ellensburg, and that he lived there his entire life, as a mechanic for almost 30 years. Ross’ grandson and son found the note and reached out to Simons. The rest is history, they say.