08/21/2026
PONTIAC ICON has passed
Les Kasten, Air Force Veteran and former owner of Pontiac Paradise, out of Rosemount, Minnesota, has passed.
After many years of challenging health including a stroke, limb amputation and other health issues resulting in an extended stay in a care facility over the past years, the man to whom many of us turned to for those hard-to-find Pontiac parts, sadly passed on Wednesday.
With a focus on keeping the classic Pontiac’s of the 60’s authentic, Les specializes in the reproduction of many hard-to-find Pontiac parts. He was widely recognized within the Pontiac community as ‘the resource’ for classic Pontiac parts accuracy.
From tachometer mounting plates, brackets, shifting mounts, trays, rubber gaskets to shifting boots and many other parts, Les was the Go-To. Many of his reproduction parts sold through such large Pontiac parts suppliers as Ames, OPG and others.
Known and respected by his peers, Les was ALWAYS willing to lend his knowledge or to share a contact to help someone acquire a part to achieve their Pontiac goals. His genuine contributions to the Pontiac hobby, the knowledge that he so freely shared, his enthusiasm and willingness to help others shall long be appreciated and remembered.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Les’s family and many friends during this most difficult time.
RIP Les.