Article in High Performance Pontiac Magazine on our Member and Vice President of APA Vince Welling`s Pontiac Limo

BY SCOTT PARKER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSE L.F. FREEMAN III
The '65 Superior Pontiac Embassy
Limousine is somewhat of a mystery in terms of its production figures, however, in Pontiac circles nationwide, only about 10 were supposedly built and 6 are currently known to exist 'This makes the '65 Bonneville-based Limo a very rare find, which is why Vince Welling couldn't pass it up both times he carne across one.
-Being a car freak. I was always on the lookout for something unique," said Vince. The Embassy Limousine certainly fit that bill, as its limited production and 248 inch body virtually guaranteed exclusivity. Beginning its life as a standard-equipped Bonneville sedan, the transformation to in nine-passenger limousine occurred at Superior Coachworks in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Superior a major manufacturer of professional cars was hoping to compete with vehicles such as Cadillac's Series 75 models. By stamping their own roof and doors, they were able to lengthen the body 24 inches, accommodating an extra row of forward-facing seats. The 150.70 inch wheelbase afforded its passengers ample room and comfortable seating for three adults on the folding jump seats. As a Pontiac aficionado and having worked at his family's Pontiac dealership most of his life, Vince knew how rare the Embassy Limo was when he came across one in the summer of 1983. He also thought the limo would be a great courtesy car for the dealership, a multipurpose ride for himself, and an extremely comfortable ride for weekend excursions. After reading an ad in a national magazine for a while '65 Bonneville Limo, he wast­ed no time in making arrangements. With the car located in California would be taking a great risk in attempting to drive it all the way back to his hometown in Texas .To add even more uncertainty to the equation ,Vince planned to tow his friends SUV back after driving to California after already putting so many miles on it . However, he and his friend “wound up taking turns with both vehicles in a sort of strange automotive push-me-pull-you fashion to get over the mountains, ”said Vince . Both the overheating engine and slipping tranny would be upgraded, as the worn-out 389 Turbo 400 and 2.60 rearend were replaced by a host of Pontiac parts that Vince had acquired over the years.
A Ram Air-III 400 with a Tri-Power, a customized Turbo 400 “switch-pitch” trans with 1,500 and 2,800 stall speeds, and a 3.42 Posi rearend revitalized the aging behemoth. Though not much to look at, Vince turned quite a few heads by keeping pace with the stock mid-`80s muscle cars despite the limos 5,600-pounds, as it ran low 16s in the quarter mile. Though cosmetic work was on the horizon, as funding decreased and family dealership was sold in 1986, the project was never finished. The engine was stripped from the rusted Limo and reincarnated in a `69 Grand Prix.