My Dad had a '66 4-door Parisienne, with the 427 V8 and a 3-speed manual with the shifter on the column. That land yacht was huge and powerful. The Old Man thought he was Richard Petty or something, tooling along at 100+ mph with 4 kids and the dog. Fun times. . .
Yeah! We had a' 66 2-door Bonneville. My dad thought the same, 1sister in the front 3boys in back!!! Moma goin honey SLOW DOWN we're in back Goin go daddy go!!!! Not a seat belt to be found. If it had any, wouldn't matter, we wouldn't have worn them anyway. WOW YEAH FUN TIMES
My story is damn similar. My Old man had a 67 Bonneville coupe with a 428 HO. It was nearly impossible not to burn that real wheel when you touched the gas pedal. 95 seemed to be my Dad’s favorite cruising speed. He was a cool cat, and my friends loved that car, as did I. I loved the shape of that car. Loved the taillights. Loved the red, Indian head light indicating high beams were on. How cool is that?
In the fall of 1967, I almost bought a 66 Pontiac Catalina 2+2. It was a beautiful looking car with very low miles. Instead, I opted for a 1966 Oldsmobile 442 that served me well.
I grew up in small town Ontario and had a neighbour who had bought new a '65 Parisienne coupe (yellow with a black top), sporting a 409 with a 4-speed trans. I didn't know him well enough to get to the car close up, but some of my friends did. The local legend was that he had made it from our town to the Toronto airport in 16 minutes, a distance of about 30 miles (of straight highway) ... which if my arithmetic is correct would be an average speed of 115 mph. I make absolutely no claims of authenticity of this legend, especially as it's now 57 years ago, but these numbers are as I remember them being told to me.
Yes Sir! My Uncle’s 1967 Grande Parisienne came with a 427 4bbl from the factory…. (Yes 2 door hardtop and hidden headlights) Good to bring the Canadian cars in from time to time. Greetings from AZ and Thanks for the video, Adam!
We used to travel to New England from Quebec City back in the 60's and at one of our gas stops in Maine, my dad opened to hood for the mechanic to check the oil. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the mighty in-line six in our Parisienne. He actually called his other employees to check it out!
Those in - line sixes were Great Moters. Back in 71- 73. Put on in a 55 Bel-Air Stock car in Detroit. Started out doing Figure 8 -1/4 Mile dirt tracks around the Great Lake States and Southern Ontario Canada! Adios 🇺🇸🇨🇦🏁🤠
We had a 1960 Pontiac Parisienne Station wagon that had been special ordered by the owner of a Pontiac dealership for his wife. She didn’t like it because it wasn’t ordered with power windows, so my dad purchased it from the dealership as a barely used vehicle. The dealership told him it had been special ordered with a 409 engine. I remember seeing that engine and its unique valve covers. My dad had a friend who bought a Chrysler with a big V8 and he was so impressed with its power. They decided to have a race, so the Chrysler owner could show my dad just how fast his car was. The transmission our car had was a power glide 2 speed automatic, so our car should have been at a big disadvantage. The race was eventually arranged and our station wagon just ran away from the Chrysler. In those days the general public really knew far less about cars in general. Information was hard to come by, so I’m sure the Chrysler owner had no idea about the 409 engine. When the race was over, the Chrysler owner sleepily said there must be a problem with my engine. Then my father said maybe not, come and have a look at my engine. I think when my father lifted the hood, his friend realized he’d been snookered. I have no idea how that car was special ordered with a 409, because I don’t think they were even generally available in 1960. Who knows, perhaps we had a super rare unicorn. It was a beautiful example of the 1960 Pontiac Parisienne station wagon with a metallic bronze paint and a really nice interior. I remember the cargo area was carpeted with chrome runners, I guess , so you could easier slide parcels etc. without wearing the carpet. My brother and I used to ride back there on top of sleeping bags when we went on holidays. Like I said, things were very different back then. Or holidays always took us up over the Rocky Mountains, into B.C. We had a hitch installed on the car and always rented a big travel trailer for the holidays. I remember that we used to pass other cars so easily on the uphill passing lanes, with 5 in the car, trailer and all and only a 2 speed transmission that couldn’t kick down a gear at highway speeds. In those days, you would see lots of cars pulled over to the shoulder faith overheating problems on the steep uphill mountain grades. Not us though, that engine was a beast. It felt like it had another gear when the secondaries kicked in on the carburetor and never overheated, even pulling a big travel trailer through the mountains. When my father got a promotion, we had to move across the country, from Alberta to Ontario in a hurry so my brother and I didn’t miss any school. So we flew there instead of driving and my father sold that car to a neighbor, Even though my father bought a new 1964 Pontiac Parisienne convertible when we arrived in Ontario, I knew he really missed that station wagon. It was a special car for sure.
I owned a 1965 Parisienne with the 283 and power glide for for 26 years as my high days and holiday vehicle.They sold Right Hand Drive cars in UK, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. I am in the UK and it is a large car for the size of our roads and expensive to run with the cost of petrol here. The RHD cars had a version of the Impala dash which was unchanged from 1965 until about 1969. The car was sold 9 years ago and I still miss it.
@@rightlanehog3151 by the sounds of things Kiwi / Aus Vauxhalls were evidently a much better build quality as we're most of the English vehicles all the way up until the 80s.
@@thecelticprince4949 In a time period with several calamitous cars on the market, I think it would be fair to say the Vauxhalls shipped to Canada were a disaster.
@@rightlanehog3151 there in lies the operative word "shipped to Canada" When my uncle worked for GM in n NZ, there were both Holden's and Vauxhalls coming off the same assembly line. At least you Canadian brothers had access to real cars from your next door neighbor. For us to import from the USA one needed a large bank account to ship from your neck of the woods.
This sure brought back my high school days when my buddy Bill's dad got a 409 powered Parisienne 2dr 340 hp - Bill was popular for driving a bunch of us around in it (Bill was 16 and I was 15). I loved that car, and unfortunately it was destroyed in a crash that took Bill's father from us. His insurance paid Bill's mom, and they went to the Chevrolet dealer and she let Bill order the car. He got a 1966 Biscayne 2dr sedan with an L-72 427 and 4 speed. That car was even more fun riding to school in and after class...Bill's mom didn't drive, so he had exclusive use of it. Bill used to ask us each for a dollar for gas, every time we went out cruising, with from 4-7 kids in it! More than a bit scary on occasion in the winter, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
And now people are scared to drive RWD, everybody wants 4WD car lol. Told some people I wanna buy Jaguar XKR with 420hp, and drive it all around year. "BuT iT hAs 400hP aNd RwD OnLy". Lol
I live in Canada and was 15 in 1964 and a neighborhood old, to me, guy, probably 22/23 at the time, bought a 1964 Pontiac Parisienne Convertible, beige in color, with the 409 and 4 speed standard. I was standing at the bus stop outside the local pool hall and he pulled up with the Poncho and a couple of his buds were standing in the door way and starting egging him to burn rubber with the car so he did and must have had posi as I can still see the car leaving two sideways black marks on the pavement and that was the first time I saw a serious burnout. Car was fairly new then like a few months old and when it was 6/8 months old it was stolen and about a week later the carcass was found in the bush stripped of pretty much everything.
Dad had a 65 2+2 421/338 single quad carb. Loved that car. What a sleeper. I’m a big Pontiac fan and I really enjoyed your info on the 65 models. The Beach Boys said it best…..”she’s real fine my 409”! I never knew. I had many Grand Prix’s, and was really pissed when Pontiac threw in the keys. My last. Grand Prix was a 2001 Special Edition. I was disappointed that I couldn’t get it with the 3.8 supercharged engine. My 1999 Grand Prix had it. What a rocket. But I still managed to put 225,000miles on it. Hard to beat. I always wanted a GTO (66), but those days are gone. Now it’s a Honda. Hard to beat when you no longer want to get under a car. Thanks for history lesson. Well done.
I've been helping a friend get her grandfather's old parisienne back on the road after sitting since the 80's 62 parisienne 327 with power steering. It's a seriously cool car inside and out. First old American car I've worked on and I'm totally in love. Got the engine running strong, replaced brake master and did coolant and hoses on the last visit. Brakes are locked solid so that's our next objective
Yes the pistons in the wheel cylinders corrode I took mine apart honed them and put new kits in. The kits are hard to find these days so you may have to get new wheel cylinders
My Dad's friend had a 1964 Pontiac with the Beach Boys, "Four speed, dual quad 409". What a crazy car-and driver; the frame would bend ubder full acceleration, and one time the dash fell on the front passengers. When we went for a drive, the acceration would keep my ass off the rear seat with my back puched into the upholstry. Fun memoris., 409 Pontiacs. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
Enjoyed the vid!! Growing up, my dad had a Canadian1966 Parisienne 2 door hardtop with 283 ci V8 in a beautiful turquoise interiour and exteriour colour. From day one, he personalised his Parisienne by removing the rear fender skirts and installing station wagon springs and shocks along with larger G78 tires, and different hubcaps. The stance was perfect... When I asked him why he chose that engine when he bought it, and not the 389 or 427 motor...he simply stated the the inline 6 was too slow and the other V8's were too thirsty...fuel was expensive and he had 4 kids to feed !! That car will always be associated with my childhood...so many great memories.
My dad had a 66 Parisienne station wagon 427 ..We had a father& son Cub Camp in Ontario..I cut my thumb with a hunting knife..One of the other fathers grabbed me and held me well..Dad drove to the hospital..I remember the guy that was holding me. say that he is a OPP..& on the way back to camp..He said..John what have you got under the hood..My Cop car wouldn't even come close 🤔. My father told him...HEE...HEE...HEE. I will never forget!!! 56 years ago..
I also think the 65 Pontiac line were amongst the nicest looking and performing cars of the time. A gentleman in town where I grew up in Rhode Island had a 65 Grand Prix. My jaw would drop every time he drive by. The interiors and cockpits were just visually stunning in these cars.
I lived in canada until i was 50,we were originally from Manitoba .Back in the day and that would be around 1975 or so there was this car for sale.It was a 65 pontiac parisienne custom sport for sale so i bought it. It had the 409 and i don't no what hp it was.i drove it home and the engine was pretty much worn out.The blow by was just pumping out the breather cap.My father who was a liscenced mech, looked at that and said to take it back to the guy you bought it from.So i was still living at home at the time so i had no choice.I owned a 409 pontiac for a few hours.Until watching this video i never realized how rare it was and can only imagine what it would be worth today.My brother had a 67 pontiac 2+2 with a 396 in it.I also had a 64 impala wagon with a 327 and a factory 4 speed with the tach in the dash.Yes the good old days that you could order anything in anything like the 67 chev biscayne 4 door with the 396 and a 3 on the tree.Yes i had that car and it makes you wonder how much more expensive would the 4 speed have been????
My family had a 65 Parisienne when I was born (66). It was white, 4 doors, with the 283.Obviously I don't remember it that well. I was 4 when my dad traded it in for a 70 Laurentian. Thankfully I have many pictures of the Parisienne. Beautiful car.
Back in 1974 or so, I found a 1964 Parisienne at the dump. It had a 340 horse 409 hooked to a TH400 transmission. Of course, my friends and I pulled the engine and transmission, helped by the man working at the dump.
Fascinating. I lived in Mexico City in the 70s, and a similar dynamic occurred there with the US brands. The dart in Mexico served a market that was similar to Buick and Mercury in the US. Consequently, the appointments, insulation and build quality was much higher than the US Darts. When I first saw a US Dart when returning to the US, I was shocked because the look and feel was so different! Thanks for these great videos Adam!
Wow!! This video clears up a decades old mystery for me. Many years ago, in the small town where I grew up, there was this guy who swapped a 409 into a '75 Corvette. He said he bought it from a guy who pulled it out of an old Pontiac. We always assumed; and perhaps he did also, that someone had swapped it into the Pontiac at one point from a Chevy. As a Canadian car enthusiast, I always knew that Canadian built Pontiacs had Chevy engines but I never knew that included the 409. Fascinating!
As a kid growing up in Canada in the late '70's, those '60's Pontiacs were on literally every street. The '65's were always my favourite, and even today there are still a few of them in my city. Also seen at a car show years ago was a completely original '59 wagon in bright red with the six and three speed trans. A buddy is doing up his '62 Strato Chief 2 door post with six and Powerglide. It will be getting a small block Chevy engine with 4 speed, but hey, that is "correct" for this car in Canada.
I learned how to drive on my aunts 65 Pontiac 4 door sedan, standard shift when I was 15 years old . Gréât experience I will never forget. I’m a senior now and still love driving standards.
The differences between American and Canadian models of cars from all manufacturers is interesting. Some of the rarest models come from Canada just because the numbers are low and the features unique. I too love the mid sixties Pontiacs. We have a 52 Canadian Pontiac and enjoy it. Thx Adam. Cheers 🇨🇦
Mom my mom had a 67 Bonneville two-door tan I was just a kid she was a teacher and we did road trips when she was off in the summer we went all over the place in the car I have the finest memories of that car it was so huge for me it's just a kid wonderful cars
I love the old Beaumonts. The SD being the top of the line muscle model. Considered its own brand but sold at Pontiac dealers in the 60’s. I remember the old Parisiennes. Very cool cars. A real classy sled.
hillbillymark here from ontario canada- i had a 65 pontiac custom sport as a winter beater in 1975 409 powered powerglide paid $200 for it. i still have the motor from it there are no chev bowtie embossed in the valve cover.
Loved my 66 Pontiac 2 door hardtop 283 glide. It was my first car and payed $50 for it and it passed our government inspection and it took me to school!❤
A friend of mine here in the Chicagoland area owns a ‘68 Parisienne 2+2 convertible with a 427 4 speed! He says it’s one of 3 made. I thought that car to be the ultimate Canadian Pontiac, but now hearing there were some with 409s I may to change my opinion!
I live a few miles from the Canadian GM plant in Oshawa Ontario and yes they were building these, along with Acadians (Nova and Chevelle lookalikes with Pontiac-like grills divided in the centre. Do a search for a Acadian SD (Sport Deluxe) with 396 4 speed. The Pontiac featured on this video is sooo nice and very rare, now highly collectible. Thanks for video 👍👍
I had a 1965 Chevy Bel Air with the 230 and 3 speed, loved the car and especially the 3 on the tree shifter. The car didn't feel slow, had enough go to keep you going so to speak. Thanks again for a great and entertaining channel
My first college car in the early 70's was a Biscayne-level wagon with the 235 and the 3-speed, no options at all on it. I drove and loved it for a couple of years in the hills of Austin. It certainly was no slower than most sixties VW's and could hold its own on the highway. So much of what we expect of power is just planning.
@@loveisall5520 I would love to drag race it with our old 75 Fury sedan with the Slant 6! My name will already give this belief away but there is little evidence average drivers can handle the 300+ hp so many cars offer today.
I got stuck with a lot of Chevy straight sixes of the late 60s and early 70s, most with the powerglide but the 3 speeds did on initial acceleration give the impression of being quicker but you have to keep in mind the shifter was fun but bulky and the powerglide didn't shift to second or high gear until 65 mph so it was constant uninterrupted acceleration. One good thing about the straight six was it's side winder cylinder Head, they developed torque early and was able to move the car quicker than say a 283 and 307. Better off with the six than the V8 except you couldn't get air conditioning for the car
I have a 65 Laurentian 2 door post with a 327 4 speed. I'm sure they might have been built, but I've never seen one with a 409. Parisienne yes, but so far, never a Strato or Laurentian. Thanks for the showcasing of this rare option Adam.
Great video! A friend of mine bought a 65 Catalina, 389 new, and had it over 30 years. One of the best designs ever, and still looks good today! But with a 409 4 speed? Dream car!
Great video Adam. I love the sales brochure at 2:50, especially the axle ratios. I'm always amazed at just how deep (numerically higher) Pontiac was willing to offer across the board. With a 26" tall tire, anything past 3:73 isn't really all that practical for a daily driver unless you're running an overdrive transmission. The 60's really were the wild west days when you could have whatever you wanted.
I disagree. Dad's '63 GP had the 3:42 and it could have used a bit more. 3:73 was a typical GM rear ratio and it worked pretty good if you were actually interested in dig from your 4-speed. By the way: he had the 3:73 in a 427/390 Sting Ray in '66. But we knew guys who ran 3:90s, 4:11s and some weekend warrior types who went to 4:56...
Great topic for a video. I always loved the interiors in the Pontiacs compared to the Chevys. Branching away from the Parisienne, in Canada there was the Beaumont vs the Chevy two. Always loved the Beaumont inside and out compared to the Chevys.
I drove a 65 in high school in 1979 . Brown paint had a 283 engine, bucket seats white interior tuck and roll ,with a console that had a vacuum gage in it. Was tagged a Parisienne Custom Sport Was way to fun
There were so many options to choose from. With all the combinations of engines, transmissions, rear axle ratios, body trims and colors, the odds would be good that every house on the street could own the same car from the same year with no two exactly the same. Mass produced, but being able to offer the customer a chance to stamp a part of their personality into it.
Interesting video! I own a 1963 Pontiac Parisienne two door hardtop which I've had for 46 years now. Don't drive it much but when I do it gets a lot of attention. Thanks for this. 😊👍
Back when I was 17 my buddy got an almost mint 67' Parisienne. Nothing wrong with it except the paint was sunbaked. Red with a 283 and powerglide. We loved cruising in it with the windows down.
Great video! My brother owns a red 1965 Pontiac Parisienne Convertible. He bought it, when he was a teenager, back in 1986 for 2K. Sadly, it doesn't have the 409. It has the 283. Truth is.. if it had the 409, odds are, it would have been wrecked ages ago. LOL Another unique thing the Canadian Parisiennes had was a cool chrome strip, that outlined the whole body. It is a SUPER FUN cruiser! =)
Im in New Brunswick, Canada. Its right on the East coast above Maine. I bought my 1st Pontiac 2 years ago as it was left under a tree for 5 years and the owner said it was worthless 4 doors. It took me a while to understand the car since i tought it was a Parisienne. 1966 Starchief Executive YF-389CI 4bbl 325hp and 425fp/tork. 62k miles. I was raised in Mopar and after my father sold his 68 Charger 440 R/T. I had lost the car passion. Its that Pontiac who brought back love in my heart after 20 years. I fixed it but it was almost rust free to my suprise. It was a Western car driven to East and left under a tree for 5 years. After i saved a 65 Laurentian 283ci power pack with a powerglide. The junkyard owner had brought it in a demolition, even me and 100 people tried to buy it from him and his crazy idea he was going to win the demo. I praid God he would blow the engine in the first run but he actually hit another car and smash the front. Blew the radiator and stoped right away. Its totaly fixable and i have got all parts to fix it. Then i got a 3rd Pontiac last month. To me its the greatest Pontiac find. 1965 Lemans "GTO" tripower 389ci with 4 speeds full Rolling chassis. I need to fix the body and put a engine and transmission in. I now at 3 Pontiacs and there totally different. I have a question that bugs me that i cant find anywhere. I found the Built sheet under the seat and the engine option is 389ci "L-78" 4bbl. The L78 was a 67' 400ci 4bbl 360hp code in specs and advertising. And the chev 396ci 425hp is also named "L-78". Was L-78 only a "4bbl" PO option code in 1966 and earlier? Then called the full engine L-78 in 1967? I have check every casting numbers and its a YF-389CI. Thanks. I love your videos. Specialy the Pontiac. Hahaha First car i drove was my father 78 lincoln continental 460ci 4bbl auto. in the blueberries fields. I was 8. Then his 84' gt-350 20th anniversary Mustang 302ci 5 speed. Then the 68 Charger at dragway park. Ps. A fellow around here have a 65 impalla 4 speed 409ci impalla. I saw 396 and 454 Parisienne and 2+2 around. I didnt know parisienne had that 409ci option even if they where only chevrolet base frame and drivetrain till the 1970's.
Wow! I never knew about these cars. It was so strange to see that engine bay photo of a 1960s small block Chevy with a Pontiac 327 decal on the valve cover! It would really be something to see a 1965 Parisienne with a 400hp 409 at the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drags. That would blow a lot of minds.
The Parisienne was my dads 1st new car, still remember going to the dealerships and riding home in the back seat with my bros. Purple with 283 v8, good times (I'm in vancity btw)
I used to see the occasional Parisienne in NZ, which had a favored nation trade agreement with Canada due to both countries being in the British Commonwealth, so we got many of our American cars via Canada.
Intersting to know that Canadian Pontiacs were that different than the US. My uncle was a Pontiac man and bought a new model about every year back in the early days. Those boats would really cruise.
They were powered by Chevvy engines. Other than that, big difference was the interior.. The best mill for the Pontiac in '65 imo was the 327-300 hp. It would walk away from a 383 325 hp Mopar, or a 390 4v Ford 330 hp if it had the Holly intake Mfld. The Bonneville was about 500 lbs heavier than the Parisienne, which was around 3600 lb. Never dould figure out why the B ville was so much heavier
My uncle was a salesman at a GM dealer in the '60s and '70s. He took a 409 Parisienne convertible home for the weekend, and he and my dad took it hunting down dirt roads. They managed to flatten the exhaust, so on Monday my uncle sold it as soon as possible before anyone there noticed. Too bad he was good at his job.
The 389 was a super engine... I had one tri power in my 66 GTO....However a small engine was available that was a 326 cu in in the Tempest....Your comments on the border issues was very accurate....Strato Chiefs,Laurentiis,Parisienne all had Chevy engines....I was at a scrap yard one day and a Parisienne just came in ..it had a dual quad 409....it was a ambulance....1964....I bought the engine and Trans.....Iput it in my 1953 5 window ..I just stored it last week.....fun truck...409 ...always gets the job done.....thanks for your Pontiac video.....
Ha! What a great video. I know a guy in Denmark (I live in Sweden) who owns exactly that! a 1965 Parisienne Convertible with a 409". I can't recall what version but I think it was a manual car. White car, black top and red or black interior. Now I must check if I have any photos of it. No he would not part from the car. Thanks again Adam. Great video as always.
Thanks for posting this Adam. My father had a 65 Laurentian and actually followed it briefly on the Oshawa assembly line as it was being built because he coincidently was working on that shift. He told me and others so many times over the years how some of his colleagues ended up putting different interior finishes such as the head liner and door arm rests that was from a Chevy and not a Pontiac because it looked better..lol This car also had a 283 which many claimed for years, was the most reliable GM V8 ever built. We had it a as second car until 1983 and I remember the distinct sound the 283 made. 😊
I had a '65 Pontiac Parisienne wagon with 3 on the tree and a 283. It had been hit in the rear side by a school bus near the gas tank many years before I received it. One day coming back from the beach with some friends (seated 9), I heard a scraping noise and the mirror showed sparks. Turned out the gas tank strap in the fender gave way after damage and rust and let the tank drag on the pavement. I had the chrome tissue box that was in your photos. That car was 20+ feet of fun all day long, but I'm glad I don't have to fill that 40-gallon tank at today's gas prices.
In my world, the 1965-1966 Pontiacs were the most beautiful they ever put out, no matter what the line. Such styling, sculpture actually, would never be repeated since....maybe one day it shall return. The headlight units alone should have won design awards.
Instead of using formed chromed cold roll steel Pontiac used thin cast iron chromed pieces. like the dash it had a 3d look with the gauges all aiming at the driver with red and green lighting it all up at night. huge metal dash. No plastic in those days.
My very first car, that I called my own was a ‘65 Catalina. It had a 389 and would easily do over 100 MPH. Once my brother related (when it was his car) he was on his way home from college, and middle-of-the night driving some 2 lane in Illinois, we has half asleep when he looked down and noticed he was doing 115 mph! It was a dark blue, and we called it the Whale, because the shocks were shot and it “floated” down the road sort of in a soft wobble. Great car though... I wish I still had it! Many great memories in that car. Including sneaking six people into a drive-in movie in the huge trunk! ❤❤
My dad just bought a 65' custom sport. 283 - 2 barrel automatic. It was interesting to here about the relationship and differences of the two makes. Thanks! ..
Canuck commenting here.A friend back in the late 70's/early 80's had really great Pontiac. It was a 69 Beaumont SD396 convertible with a 4 speed. Basically an SS396 Chevelle, but with enough cosmetic changes to change it to the Pontiac design language. The best story he had with it was when he drove it to South Carolina for spring break. People were freaking out, asking him why he customized a Chevelle to a Pontiac at every gas fill up and food stop.
A couple of years ago pre-covid, I spotted a 64 Grand Prix with a 'X' frame @ the Summit Pontiac Nat'ls. My first car was 64 Impala SS, and I could never understand the waste of engineering of the 'X' frame, and to put under a Pontiac was 2Xs a fail. It took me a minute to realized it had to be a Canadian example. Great info.
@Amos Fivetwelve so if the bumper was different to accommodate the 'X' frame, that meant the floor had to fit Chevy's rockers and interchange with Canadian B-body Pontiacs. Useless info today but GM cut some corners to get into Canada. Why did GM have so many 'X' frames when Buick, Olds, Pontiac & Caddy use perimeter frames?
WoW! That is so cool. Yes, I would love to own one of those cars with the 409. I've been a car guy since around 1959 when I was 7 years old. I have owned three 440 magnum MOPARS but I always loved those 60's Pontiacs. Thank You for expanding my automotive knowledge base. Good Luck with your quest and Best Regards from Mobile, Alabama.
a 'car guy' would rather have the 440- any of the 4 versions. my friend sergio salas had a cylinder head shop in lemon grove 30 years ago, and he went crazy trying to keep heads for the 409's which were popular in mexico- more guys to sell the junk to.
Love your videos!!! Ok my dream car is a 1960 Edsel Ranger convertible I'll take a Ford Galaxy same deal bur... They're only marginally different but the same car
Not surprisingly Canadian Pontiacs have a large loyal fallowing in Canada, my favourite is the 1963/ 64 Parisienne Custom Sport, all of which had 283 or 327 power. Similar in appearance to the U.S. Grand Prix model. Also viewers should check out the Pontiac Beaumont SD 396. (based on the Chevelle) There were also Pontiac Acadians, (based on a Chevy II) with 283 power. By 1969 a Free Trade Agreement on Automobile components and North American manufactured cars meant that cars and parts could pass freely back and forth across the border and Canadian Pontiacs were phased out. By the way there were unique Ford and Chrysler Corp. models for Canada as well.
Gotta love the pure Canadian Muscle Eh 🇨🇦, like the Meteor Montcalm, Ranchero, Niagara, and Rideau, Monarch Richelieu and Lucerne, Mercury M100, Econoline, and Ranchero, Fargo trucks, and the Plodge Viscount, Mayfair, and Regent (I call it Plodge since it's half Plymouth and half Dodge).
In 65 or 66 I sent away for the poster set Pontiac was offering. Had them on my bedroom wall the way later kids had Farrah or now a Lambo. Wish I still had that set. The art was beautiful
Very interesting, being from Vancouver,the early to mid 60s pontiacs were among my favs in the day. The history you outlined in the differences between US and Cdn models answered a lot of questions for me. Thanx🇨🇦
they sent all the junk up there cuz they knew you would buy it. we had the new big-blocks which DIDN'T suffer from cracked exhaust ports and blown head gaskets.
Until the late 1960’s Pontiacs we’re exported from Canada to Australia. As both were Commonwealth nations (former British dominions) there were Tarif advantages. The cars were sent knocked-down and assembled in Australia.
Your spec sheet also showed the 409/400 hp engine only coming with a manual trans. That's because it came with a mechanical cam, which couldn't be mated to an auto trans. Do love the looks of those Pontiacs.
Yep, GM hadn't developed the high stall torque converter just yet. That would change by 1968 when they would offer TH400 trans with high stall converters behind solid lifter engines such as the L78 396 and the L88 427.
Good one. Thanks for the feature on these rare cars. I tend to believe the high-end stuff was always really rare in Canada partly due to a generally lower disposable income compared to Americans at the time, Also In my opinion there are two grail Canadian full size Pontiacs though, not just one. For sure the 65 409 cars were a real mindblower but the 1966 only 427 425 horse option in the new-for-1966 Grande Parisienne would also be a major find for anyone. Apparently, there were 8 produced. Worth a feature!
Beautiful cars they were. And you are correct on the cracking of the rear quarter panels. I had a ‘62 Laurentian 2 door hardtop and they cracked at the back of the rear window across the top of the quarters. They usually did not crack past the top of the quarters but left unchecked I’m sure the cracks would pass by the crease / bend start travelling down. At any rate water basically poured inside the quarters there rotted out lower quarters and sills from the inside.
Similarly in the GM products with the faux convertible metal roof like the 62-64 Impala and others. They all crack below the rear side windows exactly where the C pillar attaches to the body due to frame flex.
Fantastic review, being from Ontario Canada, these are special. Dad worked for GM in Oshawa starting on the line assembling the 1979 Pariesiane. My grandad had a Safari wagon in the early 60's. He told me it had the Blue Flame straight 6 and was a pig on gas, he used to have to fill it up when he got to Niagara Falls (Canadian side) and he once had to reverse up a hill because it wouldn't go up forwards. My grandad also had a 65 Beaumont and (I don't know if it counts) dad had a white Torrent new in 08.
I enjoyed this episode a lot! I watch a Canadian RU-vid channel. Out of Alberta. They had a Parisian on their show. Also, I think you also have mentioned this Pontiac model before also. Correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, I really liked your details and as usual, your delivery. Thanks.
I remember in 1979 high School a buddy of mine had a GTO it was badass talking about a beautiful car that car could move it was fast good times good memories beautiful car amazing ♥️
Interesting! I was skeptical of the video until I realized who was presenting! Someone with true knowledge! Despite being American, I was plenty familiar with Canadian Pontiacs as I lived in a border town where there were lots of Canadian visitors, and would periodically visit Canada. When GM implemented the first phase of downsized vehicles with B and C body cars, Pontiac Parisienne and to a lesser extent Laurentian models were HUGELY popular. By that time, the trade restrictions were eliminated, and since 1971, a Laurentian was basically a Catalina, and a Parisienne a Bonneville with little real differention unlike the 1960s cars. Even today, I still see the odd Parisienne travelling around in Canada, with a light blue '66 the last one I recall. Probably because of its uniqueness and Canadian individuality, along with its popularity make it a desireable collector car in Canada. Its interesting that the X-frame was used on the pre-1965 models, and were not suitable to support the structure. That coupled with road salt must conspired to do in a good many of those. That being said, I have seen models of that generation for sale on the Internet. Still, my preference would be for a US Pontiac hands down as it is the "real McCoy". Even if it did have less horsepower and less rarity, I liked when General Motors divisions were essentially separate companies within the corporate entity. To me, these Pontiacs are interesting, but a bit of a hybrid. Regardless, always a pleasure to watch this channel and its knowledgeable presentations.
It’s good to know that we Americans were actually able to get horsepower numbers close to the cubic inches of a V8 engine in an unmodified factory produced car. If you only looked at 1970s and 80s cars, you would think that we were complete morons by coaxing less than 200 horsepower out of a 400ci engine.
Remember friends of my parents had a 1965 Parisienne sedan...prolly a 283. And my Uncle had a 64 Strato Chief coupe with three on the tree and the 230 I-6. Neighbour's the farm over had a 64 Laurentian sedan PG283. And my good friend when I first got into the military here had a 66 Strato Chief coupe PG283..manual steering and brakes...he had had a minor fender bender and the grille has been upgraded to one from a donor Grande Parisienne (similar to aa Caprice in trim). In due course in 1969 Uncle's 64 was replaced with a 1967 made for the Canadian market only Fury II two door hardtop which used the same roof line as the 66-66s.
The Canadian market produced some great oddballs. One of my faves was a friend's dad's late 60s Pontiac 4 door sedan with a 396 and 4 speed. It wasn't even special order, it came off the showroom floor.
My first car, purchased in 1974, was a '64 Parisienne 2dr hardtop with a 327/powerglide, red on red. It was already on its way to rotting out when I got it, but most of it it was hidden under the cast chromed and ribbed rocker panel trim pieces and it looked ok for the first couple years I had it. The Powerglide was bullet proof and could take incredible abuse trying to rock your way out of a rut in the snow. It went to the scrap yard in 1977 after I was pulled over by the Ontario Provincial Police on the way home and the cop gave me 2 weeks to provide a mechanical fitness cert for the by-that-time rolling death trap. The rear body mounts were rusted out and the rear body would bump up and down unnaturally on a rough road because the body was just sitting on the frame rails. He probably saved my life. When the tow truck came to take it at my parent's place, I had my brother stand on the brake pedal as hard as he could and tell me what happened. Sure enough the brake line on the rear axle failed, GM not using galvanized brake lines until a few years later. Then there's the time the gas tank fell out when the rotted straps let go, while on the way to a job interview...
Interesting car ! It does look like it's hovering over the wrong chassis, can't even see the front wheels on that 59 ! Here's another subject that would be worthy of a video : foreign made american cars, like the NEKAF MoPars, or the GM assembled in Antwerp and Switzerland, I have a few of these cars and some friends as well, and while they don't seem to differ much from the US built cars, they did have specific options that US market cars couldn't have. Having a video explaining all about them would be pretty neat.
I have loved Pontiacs since the 1961 models...see the 62 Gran Prix and the Bonneville Convert..have owned 68 GTO and 97 Transams.... note the artist here who did all the Pontiac paintings for the their ads in the 60's. Gorgeous.
