1977 Pont-X SR-2 for sale

[MischaT]

I am sad to be moving on from my camper adventuring days, but optimistic that this gem can get in the hands of someone else that can enjoy it to its fullest!

The "Ponty" is a 1977 Pontiex Pont-X SR-2. The model is somewhat similar to the slightly more common Toyota Chinook. It is very rare and unique and I have only found four other ones in my extensive internet research. The camper company would buy truck cabs from Toyota, build out the campers and then resell them. Its total length is 16.5 feet. Which means you can have what feels like a pretty spacious living area and still fit into a normal parking space!

The camper is 40 years strong. It has been on trips all over the Western US and driven across country. In the transitional period as I look for a more practical car, it is has been my daily commuter. 

Here's a bit about the truck part:

To start off it's on a Toyota Truck cab. They were pretty common and you still see a lot of them on the road. They are mechanically straightforward and easy to work on and get parts for still. The truck features the well-regarded 20r engine. I recently rebuilt the heads and the engine is in top shape. The odometer reads 28,000, but only reads 5 digits, so my best guess would be that it has 128k miles on it (possible 228k). It was a 4 speed manual that I upgraded to a 5 speed. Top speed is about 65mph on the highway, more like 45mph going up a hill (depending on how weighted down you are). Not the best vehicle if you're trying to get anywhere in a hurry. I've have been averaging about 17mpg. Pretty good for a home on wheels! 

Up front it has a cassette player that I never felt the need to upgrade because it has an AUX input, a house speaker hooked up to the radio, seats and dash in pretty good condition for its age (some cracks on the dash and in driver's seat). I recently replaced the carpet in the cab so that is looking pretty spiffy. There are two batteries, a car battery and a house battery with an isolator that keeps the house battery use from draining the car battery. Both batteries are less than 2 years old. 

The Camper:

On the port side there is a table that seats four tightly and drops down for a bed. Underneath one of the benches is a storage space and a water tank under the other. 

On the starboard side there is a closet with many drawers and storage. The kitchen features a three burner propane Coleman stove with an oven (pretty rare to have an oven in a camper), an icebox fridge (could be upgraded to a mini-fridge but I generally did 6 day adventures at a time so I just got a block of ice), a sink with a pump that brings water from the tank below one of the benches and drains into a grey water tank underneath. There is a fuse box where you can flip a switch to plug straight into electricity if you're at home or at a campground or you can run off the house battery. I put an inverter in so that you can run a laptop and other electronics through it. I also put in a Fantastic Fan Vent that works really well for controlling temps. It has a sensor that closes when it senses rain. 

Above the cab is another sleeping space or space for storage. You can slide it back and remove a cushion to create more open space. There's also an open flame propane heater. One of the defining features of this camper is its HUGE windows. The full fiberglass shell means that it is safe from much of the leaking damage that many older campers see. 

Upgrades that have occurred in the last 5 years of ownership
• 7 new tires (duallys and a spare)
• Rebuilt engine heads
• Upgrade from 4 speed to a 5 speed w50 transmission
• Clutch
• Alternator
• Rear differential
• Brakes
• Rebuilt rear axle and u-joints
• Interstate batteries for house and car
• Custom carpet in the cab
• 350 watt inverter to run electronics
• Fantastic Fan Vent for ventilation
• Many other small upgrades

Upgrades currently undone:
• Gas gauge is broken (I never fixed it is because the needle pops up from the other side when there is a few gallons left, plus I have a 5 gallon reserve tank so that always worked for me)
• When starting, the engine typically turns over a bit longer than normal, especially when it's cold. It always starts so I haven't looked into it yet but I suspect it could be a carburetor cleaning or rebuild.
• The blower in the cab works but doesn't blow heat. Haven't looked into what it needs to work properly.
• Some rust showing on the rocker panels and on the hood of the truck (It lived in Nevada and Colorado for all of it's known life. I only brought it to Vermont last year and did not drive it through the winter.)
• Lots of little things that could be done if desired to add a personal touch (New curtains? Cushions? Radio/sound? Paint? Solar? Etc.)

I'm really looking for the right buyer for this amazing vehicle. I have been burned on internet car sales before and I want to make sure that the buyer has every piece of information they need and walks away happy. Feel free to contact me with any questions, more pictures, etc. 

$8900. I am looking to upgrade to a Toyota Tacoma and would be willing to consider trades. I'm in no rush to sell so no need to send low-ball offers. 

It hasn't been updated in a while, but if you want to read about some of this camper's adventures you can check out my blog: https://pontxadventures.wordpress.com/

Thanks for looking!
Mischa
 

[fred heath]

It's still a 40 year old vehicle. I'm sure it has the 5 lug "foolie" axle. The coach body looks a little rough in places.

Good luck getting your price. I think you're going to end up owning it for awhile.

[Derek up North]

In your research, did you come across references that the Pont-X was made in Canada? Possibly in Ponteix, Saskatchewan? And perhaps with a sales office in California?

https://www.cacompanygo.com/Ponteix-Products-Ltd-766227/

This is the address given in the Popular Science article.

https://books.google.ca/books?id=kgAAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA100&lpg=PA100&dq=pont-x+popular+science&source=bl&ots=tAxf6LZCWt&sig=HukznlchySY8uf7b16XXxvynjm0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RkegU8CLEK2m8QGxvYHwCQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=pont-x popular science&f=true

[jdfrost64]

I'll give him 5 grand cash for it

[fred heath]

20 minutes ago, jdfrost64 said:

I'll give him 5 grand cash for it

I'd take the money and run.

[jdfrost64]

lol

 

 

[MischaT]

Bumping this back up. Took it off the market to upgrade the axles. Replaced with custom hardened alloy axle shafts that are 30% stronger than stock

Let me know if you're interested!

-M

[Derek up North]

Are you still in or around Vermont?

[MrSurfTheWeb]

On 9/27/2017 at 5:10 AM, Derek up North said:

In your research, did you come across references that the Pont-X was made in Canada? Possibly in Ponteix, Saskatchewan? And perhaps with a sales office in California?

https://www.cacompanygo.com/Ponteix-Products-Ltd-766227/

This is the address given in the Popular Science article.

https://books.google.ca/books?id=kgAAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA100&lpg=PA100&dq=pont-x+popular+science&source=bl&ots=tAxf6LZCWt&sig=HukznlchySY8uf7b16XXxvynjm0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RkegU8CLEK2m8QGxvYHwCQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=pont-x popular science&f=true

Our family business in Ventura CA, an equipment rental business, was a dealer and they did have an office in So Cal and I think they were built there too.  We just sold a couple and had one as a vacation rental unit.  

[linda s]

Your family was renting a 30 year old unit? I've been on Toyota motorhome sites for 15 years and have seen less than 10 of these ever but your family just sold 2! Sorry for doubting but this sounds very odd

Linda S

[Nam]

love those pictures. Good luck selling it; it's unique though

[Budd]

My Mom worked for these guys.  Brea, California, as I recall.  I no longer recall the names of the principals.  The first gas crisis was fatal.  Their financing was their challenge.  They made a nice product and cared about it!

[Budd]

My Mom worked for these guys.  Anaheim, California, as I recall.  I no longer recall the names of the principals.  The second gas crisis in 1979 was fatal.  Their financing was their challenge.  They made a nice product and cared about it!  Checking the California Secretary of State site you can see they registered as a Canadian company in 1976, and they are no longer registered.  Further information may be available there, but by request only, no pdfs are online.