In 1979 I purchased a brand new Bonneville, ordered to spec, since my wife had a different opinion of an acceptable color that didn't match with anything our local dealer had on the lot or coming in. When it finally arrived - on Valentine's day, appropriately, since it was red - it had been assembled in Ontario, and had a number of assembly issues, one of which was the B pillar emblem on the passenger side, which was different from the standard Bonneville emblem on the driver's side. In addition, it had the Parisienne lettering on the right front fender and on the trunk lid. The dealer had to correct those, as well as replacing the entire fender since they had installed the wrong power antenna (dealer's mistake in ordering). But it was a good car; we drove it 153K miles before selling it to a co-worker, who put another 14K on it before his college-age daughter was hit by a drunk driver who ran a red light.
Parents had a 72 Laurentian Safari Wagon. No woodgrain, no third row seats, no roof rack, Chevy 350, but it was a tank! Lot's of room, and lot's of torque.
We had one when I was growing up. I grow up in Montreal. It was a convertible, gray with red interior and imagine my mother was a flaming, beautiful redhead driving down the street with that big monster of a beautiful car. It was a sensation.
Haha beautiful redhead women really are underrated as far as what one prefers for a beautiful woman and I usually prefer a nice blonde, but sometimes you can't go wrong with redhead woman. Depending who or what a 10/10 over a blonde from me for sure. Haha besides that, that sure seemed like a slick Pontiac there!
My second ever boss, his wife owned a deep metallic red 82 83? I can't remember the year anymore but a gem of a boat. She loved it. For a senior aged lady her quick reactions saved a head on collision once. She steered off the highway and down a steep ditch in front of a cornfield. Youd think that rough tumble down the embankment would have done more than a few fence scratches. It was hauled up, dusted off and drove until she stopped driving. I almost bought a 72 Wagon version with the actual Pontiac 6 litre. Too rusty and a lot of work. Back then, GM Oshawa would offer how you wanted it. Buick car, Oldsmobile 350 rocket. I saw an 83 Parisienne for sale in Toronto last September. All original except one Fender Skirt gone (which you would never find again) Something to note; Canadian vehicles in the 70s especially GM, (except Cadillac) RARELY ordered with AC. It was considered a rich man option then. Most regular families could not afford it. It didn't become more a regular thing until in the mid 1980s. Buyers of Chrysler brand (not cheapo Plymouth Dodge) typically got AC included in the mid 70s. I do remember a very few cars here had a Pontiac 350 not many.
Many of us here in Canada referred to the Chevy 350 as a "Canadian" 350 as opposed to the Pontiac 350 which was the "American" version. I had a '73 Laurentian with the 350 Canadian. Bought it as a winter beater at an auction for $200. Spent about another $200 getting it road worthy and ended up getting 3 years out of it! Sold it to a neighbor for $150 and when I moved out of the area a year & a half later, it was still running strong. That was when GM meant quality!
As an American, I agree! GM used to mean quality... I'm surprised they're able to survive entirely with the crap and junk they have right now. 90s and early 2000s still offered some good cars. Like a 2001 Buick Century for example equipped with the 3800 V6. Those are tanks and the interiors are kind of reminiscent of the Malaise Era a little bit, but with a early 2000s touch imo.
I love the Imperials, not only did they have ashtrays in all four door, they had lighters, too. So everyone could puff away driving yourself to your own funeral.
Hey, I was extremely traumatized when I switched from an Eldorado with 4 illuminated ashtrays and lighters, to the last of the Rivieras with only three small ashtrays and ONE lighter! 🚬
Adam, You should have bought that Pontiac when you had the chance. When I was a kid we had family friends with a Parisienne in the same Cinnamon Bronze colour but theirs was a two door. We are all looking forward to a report that delves into the mysteries of Canadian Oldsmobiles. 😁
The Parisienne and Lorentian models were assembled in New Zealand in right hand drive form in the sixties, along with some Chevrolet models as well. It would be interesting to see a feature on these if there was enough information available.
Gotta love the Canadian Pontiacs Adam, also don't forget Pontiac's 2 Canadian Sub-brands like Acadian and Beaumont as well as Mercury's 2 Canadian Sub-brands like Meteor and Monarch as well as the Mercury M100 and Mercury Econoline.
My folks bought a new 1972 Pontiac Catalina that was built in Canada. It was equipped with a 400 cu. in. small block, and it was a total lemon from the word go. About two weeks after they brought it, the transmission literally fell off the car. After that, an electrical gremlin would leave you stranded whenever it wished. My folks went back to Oldsmobile and never looked at another Pontiac!😊
Parents had a 71 Catalina in Aztec Gold (Brown) w 455-4barrel. They too traded for an Oldsmobile 88 the first year they shrunk them, but the Oldsmobile was the lemon. Always had alternator problems.
Up in Quebec c1982 I had a 72 Parisienne Brougham with a 400 with all the amenities. I loved that freaking gas guzzlin' yacht. Transmission went and I moved on but what a ride. I paid a fren 1000 bucks cdn certified, drove it for 3 years and sold it for 600 when the transmission went. Pretty fair imo. I still love Pontiac cars when seen. Thanx. 🍁
... and way down under in Australia, several car makers were importing Complete Knock Down (CKD) kits for a variety of cars. These ranged from Model T's and other 40's, 50's and 60's cars to things like MG's and Minis. Often these Aussie moels had unique differences to the N American models (right-hand drive being the obvious feature) but also contained a high degree of locally made components. Check out the early 60's Dodge Phoenix, Ford Galaxies or mid-60's Impalas.
The Canadian made (Oshawa) Pontiacs had Chevy engines. I had a ‘78 Pontiac Catalina wagon with a Chevy 305 V8, but it was a low spec without power windows and power locks, but it air conditioning and a power tailgate window.
My dad had a 1962 Bonneville coupe he bought new and traded it in for a new 1967 Bonneville coupe with the 400 4-barrel, bucket seats and console. Both were awesome cars!
Great video. I had the same 350 two-barrel carburetor engine in my 1972 Chevelle. It had plenty of power, so I am sure its performance was more than adequate in the Pontiac Parisienne. I also had a 1972 Lemans with the Pontiac 350 two-barrel. The Chevrolet 350 was a better performer. Both were two door non air conditioning vehicles. It is hard to believe GM dropped the Pontiac brand. I guess that's what happens when bean counters are in control. Today, I drive a 2007 Pontiac Vibe that I bought new. Yes, it is really a Toyota with some Pontiac flair. Great and very dependable vehicle though. Those big cars rode extremely well and were whisper quite going down the road. In 1970 I drove Pontiac Catalina's with 400 ci engines in drivers' education. Everything in 1970 had well performing engines. Little did we know at the time how quickly that was going to change. Thanks for the very informative video about the Canadian built Pontiacs.
You are not the only Pontiac Vibe driver that follows this channel. Mine is a 2005 with a manual. Up here in Canada, the Vibe is the most commonly spotted Pontiac still in use as a daily driver. When the Vibe went out of production in August 2009, it was ranked in the top 10 selling cars here.
Most Pontiac cars sold in Canada had Chevrolet engines. Some were built on full sized Chevy chassis. In 1970 the local RCMP had a full sized Pontiac with a 454 cid LS6 big block Chevy engine with 450 hp.
I remember seeing some of those in Canada when we used to go to Point Peelee smelt dipping in the early '70s.. at that time we were driving a '70 Catalina wagon and I always thought something looked weird about the Canadian Pontiac.
My grandfather bought a previously owned 1981 Pontiac Parisienne in 1983 I do not recall if it was sold new in California. Very nice but powered by an Oldsmobile 307 4 barrel.
In 1971 in Galveston Texas, was at the dealership looking at the new Pontiac version of the Nova and it had a Chevrolet small block engine. I remarked on this to the salesman and he proceeded to tell me it was a Pontiac engine. I said, Dude, I work on these for a living, I know a Chevy engine when I see one. He never would admit it wasn't a Pontiac.
Very interesting video as always, Adam! I see your point about Pontiacs being viewed in Canada like the US views Chevrolets. For being an upper-end "flagship" if you will, that Parisienne definitely looked more basic than the interiors of the upper end Pontiacs made for the US market.
We had pontiac models in Australia with Chevrolet motors as you mentioned abroad models, even our Canada sourced Chevrolet products were bit different to American models in some respects !
My first car was a 1968 Acadian Beaumont. It was made and sold by Pontiac in Canada and was basically a Chevelle with a Pontiac dashboard. It had a 327 CI Chevy V8 with a quadrajet and it had a gross horse power rating of 275. A very nice and reliable vehicle it was.
I always wanted an early 70's Canadian Mercury Truck but they seem to be as rare as a snake in Ireland. Great watch on the fine cars from our friends to the north.
The Pontiac Parisienne was sold in the U.S. from 1983 to 1986. I remember (yes, I'm old) back in the early '70s in the U.S. there was a big scandal when GM was caught putting mostly Chevrolet engines into Buick, Olds, and Pontiac cars. I believe GM paid owners of these cars a small amount of money, and from then on, all GM advertising clearly stated that all GM vehicles could be equipped with engines from different divisions.
We had a 2 door 1972 Parisienne Brougham in the same colour as the one you showed but the top was the exact same colour as the interior ( call covert). The interior cloth was very elegant and richer looking than the cycle at a $45 option. Ours did have the rubber rub strips ( an option as well as well as the door edge guards and side molding). The power window had the same housing as the Bonneville versus the pw controls if equipped on the Laurentian and Catalina ( similar to the Impala, 4 switches in a row, versus 2 by 2 in a brushed steel housing from the door handle to the front of the door, on an angle, not like the flat housing like the Cadillacs).
The 2 most interesting things I caught were the Chevy motor without an air pump and Canada having a front bumper standard in 72, a year before US. The Parisienne, though, is a very handsome car.
Your explanation about these "Canada only" models was not completely correct. First off, most of them were built at the GM factory in Oshawa, ON, for the Canadian market. Secondly, the story I was told years ago was that since Canada was so large, some small towns would only have a single marque dealership, and the next town over (often 50 miles away) would want the OTHER marque, so that they would have a slightly different line of cars. This was true with Chevrolet/Pontiac, as well as Ford /Mercury. Each dealership had to have a FULL line-up, which meant that both Pontiac and Mercury had very basic models never sold in the US. Back a few years earlier when Pontiac was famous in the US for 'wide track' models, the Laurentian and Parisienne had a narrower Chevy frame, and came standard with the 261 GMC/Chevy inline 6. Essentially, these Canadian-only models were Pontiac-branded Chevrolets, just like the similar low-end Mercurys were essentially Fords wearing a Mercury badge.
There were some major changes to the differences between the real American Pontiacs and the Canadian ones starting in 71. Before 1971 all Canadian Pontiacs were built on the Chevrolet chassis and used a Chevy drivetrain. Inside the interiors were a mishmash of different Chevy and Pontiac seats and panels with a Pontiac dash and Chevy ordeal and steering wheels. The Canadian Pontiacs rode on the 119” wheelbase while US models used a 122 or 125” wheelbase. In 71 all the full sized GM cars switched from each having a unique chassis (including frame and suspension) to a standardized GM frame (with only variations in wheelbase and length). So for 71 both the US and Canadian Pontiacs used the same 123.5” wheelbase as opposed to the 71 Chevy 121” wheelbase. American models all had Pontiac 400 and 455 engines but the Canadian models had Chevrolet sixes and the 350 Chevy. The change for 71 was that now the Canadian models could be ordered with the Pontiac 400 or 455 instead of the optional big block Chevy engine options of previous years. The extended wheelbase American Pontiac (Bonneville and Granville)in 71 also were changed. Unlike previous generations that saw about 3” of wheelbase and 3” of extra rear overhang all contribute to 6” longer trunk space the 71 models saw 2.5” of extra wheelbase and 1.5” of extra overhang all turn up in front of the windshield so now the trunk space was unchanged between short and long wheelbase versions.
As a GM employee, my father eventually got his (74 Parisienne Brougham) through what they called in those days (The staff garage). Engineers, managers, supervisors, would have new cars they could drive for 3 to 5 thousand miles before giving them back to the company. These cars would then be sold to GM staff at a reduced price. It was a rusty bronze colour with a cream roof and tan interior doors that looked sporty and elegant. Engine was a 350 4 barrel that got 11 miles to the gallon in city. Crazy! But I remember driving it later as a teenager and it was a nice riding car and yes the AC was very cold as you often say Adam...lol Huge interior that would cool up fairly fast at the time. Not sure if this engine was a Chevy though. Were they still using them in 74?
5:30 I notice that the fuel specified for every engine is "REGULAR". In 1972 Canada, did that imply leaded regular, or either leaded or unleaded? The compression ratios listed here all seem modest enough for unleaded, but that might not automatically mean that GM recommended it the way they did for their U.S. offerings. Did they include less early anti-pollution equipment (air injectors, EGR, etc.) on their Canadian cars? That might have made the smaller engine options more bearable than they'd be in the U.S. Also, I wonder if that "missing" cowl-to-fender brace at 9:55 was due to more relaxed crash-test regulations.
Yes, in Canada, we had less stringent emissions and unleaded gasoline was not readily available at all gas stations until the late 70's. If you required unleaded gas, you had to fill up at specific stations, and it was more expensive and poor quality. That driver's side brace looks like it was missed during assembly and was never installed. That's the only one I've seen. Chevrolet engines installed in Pontiacs, Buicks and Oldsmobiles were pretty common. A friend of mine had a 1975 Pontiac Grand Ville convertible equipped with a Chevy 454. It, too, was a Canadian car.
My grandma had a 1969 Grand Parisienne two door HT. Since I was the first born grandchild in 1971, it was promised to me. More as a joke but then it became real. She stopped driving it in 1978 and then was given to my parents in 1980 when my grandparents sold their acreage. Stored outside until the mid eighties when my parents needed a second car. They drive it for a few years. I was a young teen and it was "my" car so I would sneak out and drive it up and down the driveway when my parents were not home. They ended up selling it before I was old enough to drive it on my own. I was sad about that.
Interesting to find out that the Canadian Pontiacs were so different from the US cars. I'd have figured by this point in time, they were basically identical.
I remember once in the early 1990s, seeing one of those crap Daewoo 'Pontiac Lemans' abominations on I75 North near Cincinnati. It looked slightly different from a distance, and as I got closer and passed it, I saw that it had a Canadian license plate and the model badge on the back of it said Ultima, or Optima, or something like that. I didn't see a manufacturer's badge. Can't remember if the tail light lenses were any different, but I think the grill was.
6:24 According to the advertisement shown just prior, the bumper rub strip was optional. Yes, I’m the nerd who paused the video to read all the copy in the ad. 🤓
Canadian here, and one more positive note for these Chevrolet equipped Pontiacs: engines and parts thereof are much cheaper, if you're rebuilding or restoring them.
I liked your video on the 1959 "Frankenstein" Pontiac. A Pontiac body on a Chevy frame and drivetrain saved a lot on import tariffs. Australia assembled the Parisienne until 1968 which included a Chevy 283 V8. Every part locally sourced is that little bit less tax paid. Can you please research a video on Chevy engines installed in other GM cars. My father was a Chev-Olds dealer from 1964-1972 in Alberta. He swore that occasionally an Oldsmobile would be outfitted with a Chevy 454 engine. I have no proof of this. In 1988 I drove down to visit a friend in California whose mother had a 1975 Cadillac which did in fact come with a Chevy 454 motor. I took a second look at the TH 400 hump and it was a factory Chevy motor. Did GM sometimes factory fit their other lines with Chevy motors on special order?
Many GM cars sold on the Canadian market had different options, motors, trim from their US counterparts. Not only Pontiacs! My '65 Buick Wildcat has trim which is like the trim used in the Electra 225 Custom. It also has hinges door pulls like those in a 1965 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham or a 1964 Oldsmobile 98. Not necessarily Canadian-made parts but different which are not found in the same US models. Also, not all Canadian cars were more basic than their US counterparts. The standard equipment list and standard trim levels here were often more elaborate on some models. For example, automatic transmissions, were standard on some Canadian models that came with manual transmissions as standard in the US. Some accessories that were not offered on the US versions were also sometimes offered here. For axample, if you ordered power windows on a 1965-66 Buick Wildcat here, power vents were included. They weren't even available as a separate option in the US versions. The higher trim level (Custom trim) was the only level available here and even the 4 door post sedan came with it as standard while it was only available with base of Deluxe trim in the US). There is some Canadian content like the brake booster or wheel cylinders which are made in Canada but it's not exclusively Canadian-made content (and some are just the same as US spec parts but manufactured here). Even in the 1980s many Canadian cars had different equipment. You could get a Chevy 305 v8 in an early to mid 1980s Buick Regal for example. See the short videos on my account about power vent windows. You'll see the different door panels.
Owned a very similar 74 Parisienne Brougham. 400 small block Chevy...orange...later I owned a 79, downsized Parisienne and for awhile, Canadian Pontiacs could be found with either 305 Chevys or 301 Pontiac engines, both sold as 5 liter engines
YOU did this one just for ME !! Thanks ! (I owned a 1972 or 73 or 74 Parisienne in Southern Ontario) I called the colour "Excorcist Green". (Movie reference, if you know, you know)
I live in Canada. Can you have a segment on 1970 full size Pontiacs. I had a 70 Laurentien and then a Catalina. Both 2 door hardtops. Both were very different in so many ways. Thanks so much.
Thank you Adam. Thank you for sharing more history on the Canadian Pontiac Parisienne. I knew about the car and the features. I thought they did not import the Bonneville to Canada until later. That was an interesting fact. Bonneville and Parisienne became one in the late 1970's and then the when early 1980's thing happened then it was H Body Bonneville everywhere in 1987 model year. It is interesting how they had Bonneville, Parisienne, Grand Ville( Grand Bonneville)Catalina and Laurentian. There was Grande' Parisienne that was also sold in Australia. Thank you for the video.
And for trucks, Chev-Olds dealers had Chev trucks (obviously), and the Pontiac-Buick-Caddy stores had GMC trucks. The first Chev-Olds-Cadillac dealer I ever saw was Jim Gauthier in Winnipeg. That lineup at that dealer dated back to about 1981.
Cadillac could have been sold by either Chevy/Olds or Pontiac/Buick/GMC dealers. Usually small towns that would get two GM dealers got just one that sold Cadillac. In my hometown, the Cadillac dealer was the Chevy/Olds dealer.
I had a Canadian made 1967 Pontiac Beaumont 2dr HT, (not Bonneville) that was almost same as 67 Chevelle. Except it had Pontiac grill and rear end had Pontiac GTO taillights.
I found the 72 Catalina I once had occasionally caught in front of the rear wheel leaving a body crease. Later I began looking at others to see if it was because of the car or my driving. It was the car as I saw others with that tell tale crease 😮
If the 71 impala shared styling with the cadillac deville, the 72 pontiac shared styling with the cadillac eldorado. Love the way these 72 pontiacs look! 😊
I purchased,(took over payments), my 1972 Pontiac LeMans in 1973. I remember feeling disappointed seeing that the 350 V8 was Chevrolet and not Pontiac. I think it was stamped somewhere on the engine. I assumed it was a cost saving measure by GM. This was a California car.
I can remember those cars when people drove them and one of the problems was the front end. They had a bad habit of wondering around driving down the highway. My uncle bought one brand new in 1973 and traded It for a Grand Torino Because he didn't like how it handled. My school teacher had one and you could literally feel the car wonder all over the road.
My dad had a ‘74 Parisienne “Brougham”. I always pronounced the upgrade it like Adam is pronouncing it - B-Rome. However, the correct pronunciation is actually “broom”.
My dad had a 1972 Grand Ville with a 455. It was amazing what kind of car the U. S. Could make before emission controls and concerns about fuel economy. Four years later he bought an Audi 100, which was so tiny and underpowered by comparison, and not nearly as reliable.
I have saw a 1970 Laurentian with a factory Chevy 454 in it the car is on You Tube & in 1970 Catalina came standard with a 350 V8 2br Pontiac as my buddy's dad had one he bought new.The Canada ROOF LINE is different they used a Chevrolet Impala roof line not a Pontiac on the 2door modal
I think that's the Catalina Brougham interior - certainly the door panels, believe the seat pattern too. Sub-series more or less forgotten, 71 & 72 only. Same 'Brougham' script on the sail panel.
My boss, in 1984 drove a Pontiac badged “Parisiienne.” He was in the Pennsylvania senate, so I’m guessing the name was used in the American market, too.
It's easy to make the case that the 350 or the 3800 V-6 were the best engines GM has ever made. If they are maintained they can both last a really long time. The only thing about the full size Pontiacs or other full size GM cars from that time is that they really felt underpowered with the 350/2 barrel set up. You really needed the big blocks in those cars.
Been loving the videos, I’m in Canada. Recently saved a 66 delta 88 Holliday coupe with a 425, parked by my uncle in 1972 (my most recent video on RUclips) would you have any information on decoding the Canadian vin # for information, or options/ rpo codes? I can’t find any information.
OK, so did the 72 Parisienne have a pontiac frame, but just the chevy engine? Yeah, in most cases, the cars look better without the vinyl top. Back in the day, we never thought about how badly vinyl tops induced rust issues.
I had a 73 La Mans sport coupe with a chev 350 and Pontiac high rise intake, it was only a 2 barrel carb but that car was awesome fast. I had it up to 135 MPH no problem besides the noisy 2 door window seals and the widows would pop out of the upper door seals at 120+ high speeds.
Авто/Мото
In 1979 I purchased a brand new Bonneville, ordered to spec, since my wife had a different opinion of an acceptable color that didn't match with anything our local dealer had on the lot or coming in. When it finally arrived - on Valentine's day, appropriately, since it was red - it had been assembled in Ontario, and had a number of assembly issues, one of which was the B pillar emblem on the passenger side, which was different from the standard Bonneville emblem on the driver's side. In addition, it had the Parisienne lettering on the right front fender and on the trunk lid. The dealer had to correct those, as well as replacing the entire fender since they had installed the wrong power antenna (dealer's mistake in ordering). But it was a good car; we drove it 153K miles before selling it to a co-worker, who put another 14K on it before his college-age daughter was hit by a drunk driver who ran a red light.
Sounds like quite a lot of car! Was the girl ok after getting hit by the drunk?? 😢
@@cuttysupe7749 Yes, although her roommate had minor injuries; the car was struck in the passenger door.
@@trolleychai it’s been probably 40 years lol and I’m a tad late but I’m glad they were ok
Typical 70s build quality.
Wow! Should have kept it wrong It would be worth more!
Parents had a 72 Laurentian Safari Wagon. No woodgrain, no third row seats, no roof rack, Chevy 350, but it was a tank! Lot's of room, and lot's of torque.
Do you ever drive it through the Larentians?
We had one when I was growing up. I grow up in Montreal. It was a convertible, gray with red interior and imagine my mother was a flaming, beautiful redhead driving down the street with that big monster of a beautiful car. It was a sensation.
Greetings from another French Canadian (American by birth) but our people were Acadian; Cheers!
Haha beautiful redhead women really are underrated as far as what one prefers for a beautiful woman and I usually prefer a nice blonde, but sometimes you can't go wrong with redhead woman. Depending who or what a 10/10 over a blonde from me for sure. Haha besides that, that sure seemed like a slick Pontiac there!
My second ever boss, his wife owned a deep metallic red 82 83? I can't remember the year anymore but a gem of a boat.
She loved it.
For a senior aged lady her quick reactions saved a head on collision once. She steered off the highway and down a steep ditch in front of a cornfield. Youd think that rough tumble down the embankment would have done more than a few fence scratches.
It was hauled up, dusted off and drove until she stopped driving.
I almost bought a 72 Wagon version with the actual Pontiac 6 litre.
Too rusty and a lot of work.
Back then, GM Oshawa would offer how you wanted it. Buick car, Oldsmobile 350 rocket.
I saw an 83 Parisienne for sale in Toronto last September. All original except one Fender Skirt gone (which you would never find again)
Something to note;
Canadian vehicles in the 70s especially GM, (except Cadillac) RARELY ordered with AC. It was considered a rich man option then. Most regular families could not afford it.
It didn't become more a regular thing until in the mid 1980s.
Buyers of Chrysler brand (not cheapo Plymouth Dodge) typically got AC included in the mid 70s.
I do remember a very few cars here had a Pontiac 350 not many.
It's always interesting to see Canadian market cars, and to learn about their features. Thank you, Adam.
I love it too, watching these always makes me proud to be Canadian. When dad started at GM Oshawa as a student in 1979, he was assembling Parisiennes.
Being a Canadian whose dad owned a 64 Parisian, I absolutely love the history of Pontiac and the Auto Pact. Loved it my Sport Deluxe
My dad also had one, 283 Powerglide Custom Sport hard top. It was a nice looking car.
Many of us here in Canada referred to the Chevy 350 as a "Canadian" 350 as opposed to the Pontiac 350 which was the "American" version.
I had a '73 Laurentian with the 350 Canadian. Bought it as a winter beater at an auction for $200. Spent about another $200 getting it road worthy and ended up getting 3 years out of it! Sold it to a neighbor for $150 and when I moved out of the area a year & a half later, it was still running strong. That was when GM meant quality!
As an American, I agree! GM used to mean quality... I'm surprised they're able to survive entirely with the crap and junk they have right now. 90s and early 2000s still offered some good cars. Like a 2001 Buick Century for example equipped with the 3800 V6. Those are tanks and the interiors are kind of reminiscent of the Malaise Era a little bit, but with a early 2000s touch imo.
I love the Imperials, not only did they have ashtrays in all four door, they had lighters, too. So everyone could puff away driving yourself to your own funeral.
Hey, I was extremely traumatized when I switched from an Eldorado with 4 illuminated ashtrays and lighters, to the last of the Rivieras with only three small ashtrays and ONE lighter! 🚬
My dad had one... I think it was a Laurentian. I think 1973. He traded it in for a 75 malibu. I was only a few years old but remember this car fondly.
My 1973 Lemans had a Chevy 350 in it. Yes, I’m in Canada.
Your laurentian looked smart next to your mercury pickup!
And small next to a Mercury badged C series medium duty cabover.
pretty hard core to save the photos of ones that got away.
As a collector I would imagine Adam does so that if they come back on the market at a later date he can pull the trigger should he choose to.
I remember growing up in Canada, there were at least two or three of these on every block.
Adam, You should have bought that Pontiac when you had the chance. When I was a kid we had family friends with a Parisienne in the same Cinnamon Bronze colour but theirs was a two door. We are all looking forward to a report that delves into the mysteries of Canadian Oldsmobiles. 😁
The Parisienne and Lorentian models were assembled in New Zealand in right hand drive form in the sixties, along with some Chevrolet models as well. It would be interesting to see a feature on these if there was enough information available.
Gotta love the Canadian Pontiacs Adam, also don't forget Pontiac's 2 Canadian Sub-brands like Acadian and Beaumont as well as Mercury's 2 Canadian Sub-brands like Meteor and Monarch as well as the Mercury M100 and Mercury Econoline.
Had the two door one! With the small block. It was 1980 when I bought. Payed 150.00 $ for it. And I wish I had it today. Loved that car!
Adam, once again you knocked it out of the park with this video! Bravo!!!!!!
I second that
My folks bought a new 1972 Pontiac Catalina that was built in Canada. It was equipped with a 400 cu. in. small block, and it was a total lemon from the word go. About two weeks after they brought it, the transmission literally fell off the car. After that, an electrical gremlin would leave you stranded whenever it wished. My folks went back to Oldsmobile and never looked at another Pontiac!😊
There's a lemon 🍋 in every bunch. Even some highly-respected Toyotas blew up at a young age. My'72 Catalina was an EXCELLENT car.
Parents had a 71 Catalina in Aztec Gold (Brown) w 455-4barrel. They too traded for an Oldsmobile 88 the first year they shrunk them, but the Oldsmobile was the lemon. Always had alternator problems.
Up in Quebec c1982 I had a 72 Parisienne Brougham with a 400 with all the amenities. I loved that freaking gas guzzlin' yacht. Transmission went and I moved on but what a ride. I paid a fren 1000 bucks cdn certified, drove it for 3 years and sold it for 600 when the transmission went. Pretty fair imo. I still love Pontiac cars when seen. Thanx. 🍁
... and way down under in Australia, several car makers were importing Complete Knock Down (CKD) kits for a variety of cars. These ranged from Model T's and other 40's, 50's and 60's cars to things like MG's and Minis. Often these Aussie moels had unique differences to the N American models (right-hand drive being the obvious feature) but also contained a high degree of locally made components. Check out the early 60's Dodge Phoenix, Ford Galaxies or mid-60's Impalas.
The Canadian made (Oshawa) Pontiacs had Chevy engines. I had a ‘78 Pontiac Catalina wagon with a Chevy 305 V8, but it was a low spec without power windows and power locks, but it air conditioning and a power tailgate window.
My dad had a 1962 Bonneville coupe he bought new and traded it in for a new 1967 Bonneville coupe with the 400 4-barrel, bucket seats and console. Both were awesome cars!
Great video. I had the same 350 two-barrel carburetor engine in my 1972 Chevelle. It had plenty of power, so I am sure its performance was more than adequate in the Pontiac Parisienne. I also had a 1972 Lemans with the Pontiac 350 two-barrel. The Chevrolet 350 was a better performer. Both were two door non air conditioning vehicles. It is hard to believe GM dropped the Pontiac brand. I guess that's what happens when bean counters are in control. Today, I drive a 2007 Pontiac Vibe that I bought new. Yes, it is really a Toyota with some Pontiac flair. Great and very dependable vehicle though. Those big cars rode extremely well and were whisper quite going down the road. In 1970 I drove Pontiac Catalina's with 400 ci engines in drivers' education. Everything in 1970 had well performing engines. Little did we know at the time how quickly that was going to change. Thanks for the very informative video about the Canadian built Pontiacs.
You are not the only Pontiac Vibe driver that follows this channel. Mine is a 2005 with a manual. Up here in Canada, the Vibe is the most commonly spotted Pontiac still in use as a daily driver. When the Vibe went out of production in August 2009, it was ranked in the top 10 selling cars here.
Most Pontiac cars sold in Canada had Chevrolet engines. Some were built on full sized Chevy chassis. In 1970 the local RCMP had a full sized Pontiac with a 454 cid LS6 big block Chevy engine with 450 hp.
We got Parisiennes in Australia too. With Chevy engines and assembled here in RHD.
From Canadian kits I believe.
@@jayartz8562 That's interesting. Makes sense.
I remember seeing some of those in Canada when we used to go to Point Peelee smelt dipping in the early '70s.. at that time we were driving a '70 Catalina wagon and I always thought something looked weird about the Canadian Pontiac.
My grandfather bought a previously owned 1981 Pontiac Parisienne in 1983 I do not recall if it was sold new in California. Very nice but powered by an Oldsmobile 307 4 barrel.
In 1971 in Galveston Texas, was at the dealership looking at the new Pontiac version of the Nova and it had a Chevrolet small block engine. I remarked on this to the salesman and he proceeded to tell me it was a Pontiac engine. I said, Dude, I work on these for a living, I know a Chevy engine when I see one. He never would admit it wasn't a Pontiac.
Very interesting video as always, Adam! I see your point about Pontiacs being viewed in Canada like the US views Chevrolets. For being an upper-end "flagship" if you will, that Parisienne definitely looked more basic than the interiors of the upper end Pontiacs made for the US market.
We had pontiac models in Australia with Chevrolet motors as you mentioned abroad models, even our Canada sourced Chevrolet products were bit different to American models in some respects !
My first car was a 1968 Acadian Beaumont. It was made and sold by Pontiac in Canada and was basically a Chevelle with a Pontiac dashboard. It had a 327 CI Chevy V8 with a quadrajet and it had a gross horse power rating of 275. A very nice and reliable vehicle it was.
I always wanted an early 70's Canadian Mercury Truck but they seem to be as rare as a snake in Ireland. Great watch on the fine cars from our friends to the north.
Dodge trucks were badged as "Fargo" up there too.
@@DanEBoydDon't forget the Plodges as well since they used Dodge Front ends of Plymouth bodies.
And I just remembered that those trucks were badged Mercury, because many places in Canada would have only a Mercury dealer, and no Ford dealer.
That would be rare. The last M-truck was produced in 1968.
We had a 77 Laurentian,which I drove from the time I was 16 till I left for College at 19. Best GM vehicle design ever no matter which brand you had.
The Pontiac Parisienne was sold in the U.S. from 1983 to 1986. I remember (yes, I'm old) back in the early '70s in the U.S. there was a big scandal when GM was caught putting mostly Chevrolet engines into Buick, Olds, and Pontiac cars. I believe GM paid owners of these cars a small amount of money, and from then on, all GM advertising clearly stated that all GM vehicles could be equipped with engines from different divisions.
I always like those old big boat Pontiacs.
I've heard of the Pontiac Parisienne. Then again, I'm old, so I've seen a thing or three.
We had a 2 door 1972 Parisienne Brougham in the same colour as the one you showed but the top was the exact same colour as the interior ( call covert). The interior cloth was very elegant and richer looking than the cycle at a $45 option. Ours did have the rubber rub strips ( an option as well as well as the door edge guards and side molding). The power window had the same housing as the Bonneville versus the pw controls if equipped on the Laurentian and Catalina ( similar to the Impala, 4 switches in a row, versus 2 by 2 in a brushed steel housing from the door handle to the front of the door, on an angle, not like the flat housing like the Cadillacs).
Wasnt this the French Connection villian car that RS was chasing in another Pontiac? Solid American iron!!!
The 2 most interesting things I caught were the Chevy motor without an air pump and Canada having a front bumper standard in 72, a year before US.
The Parisienne, though, is a very handsome car.
Your explanation about these "Canada only" models was not completely correct. First off, most of them were built at the GM factory in Oshawa, ON, for the Canadian market.
Secondly, the story I was told years ago was that since Canada was so large, some small towns would only have a single marque dealership, and the next town over (often 50 miles away) would want the OTHER marque, so that they would have a slightly different line of cars. This was true with Chevrolet/Pontiac, as well as Ford /Mercury. Each dealership had to have a FULL line-up, which meant that both Pontiac and Mercury had very basic models never sold in the US.
Back a few years earlier when Pontiac was famous in the US for 'wide track' models, the Laurentian and Parisienne had a narrower Chevy frame, and came standard with the 261 GMC/Chevy inline 6. Essentially, these Canadian-only models were Pontiac-branded Chevrolets, just like the similar low-end Mercurys were essentially Fords wearing a Mercury badge.
There were some major changes to the differences between the real American Pontiacs and the Canadian ones starting in 71. Before 1971 all Canadian Pontiacs were built on the Chevrolet chassis and used a Chevy drivetrain. Inside the interiors were a mishmash of different Chevy and Pontiac seats and panels with a Pontiac dash and Chevy ordeal and steering wheels.
The Canadian Pontiacs rode on the 119” wheelbase while US models used a 122 or 125” wheelbase.
In 71 all the full sized GM cars switched from each having a unique chassis (including frame and suspension) to a standardized GM frame (with only variations in wheelbase and length). So for 71 both the US and Canadian Pontiacs used the same 123.5” wheelbase as opposed to the 71 Chevy 121” wheelbase. American models all had Pontiac 400 and 455 engines but the Canadian models had Chevrolet sixes and the 350 Chevy. The change for 71 was that now the Canadian models could be ordered with the Pontiac 400 or 455 instead of the optional big block Chevy engine options of previous years.
The extended wheelbase American Pontiac (Bonneville and Granville)in 71 also were changed. Unlike previous generations that saw about 3” of wheelbase and 3” of extra rear overhang all contribute to 6” longer trunk space the 71 models saw 2.5” of extra wheelbase and 1.5” of extra overhang all turn up in front of the windshield so now the trunk space was unchanged between short and long wheelbase versions.
John, my 74 Parisienne had a small block Chevy 400....
In the US a few of these full-size barges came with the 250-6 as well. A while back I bought a 72 Biscayne with a 250 and a Powerglide.
As a GM employee, my father eventually got his (74 Parisienne Brougham) through what they called in those days (The staff garage). Engineers, managers, supervisors, would have new cars they could drive for 3 to 5 thousand miles before giving them back to the company. These cars would then be sold to GM staff at a reduced price. It was a rusty bronze colour with a cream roof and tan interior doors that looked sporty and elegant. Engine was a 350 4 barrel that got 11 miles to the gallon in city. Crazy! But I remember driving it later as a teenager and it was a nice riding car and yes the AC was very cold as you often say Adam...lol Huge interior that would cool up fairly fast at the time. Not sure if this engine was a Chevy though. Were they still using them in 74?
Yes. It was a Chevy 350.
@@gregorylyon1004 Thank you..Cheers.
I love the brochures from that era, especially in regards to the dramatic lighting.
In the past I have suggested to Adam to do videos focusing on brochures.
I had a 1966 Pontiac Parisienne convertible and my grandfather had the last model Pontiac Parisienne 4 door sedan.
5:30 I notice that the fuel specified for every engine is "REGULAR". In 1972 Canada, did that imply leaded regular, or either leaded or unleaded? The compression ratios listed here all seem modest enough for unleaded, but that might not automatically mean that GM recommended it the way they did for their U.S. offerings. Did they include less early anti-pollution equipment (air injectors, EGR, etc.) on their Canadian cars? That might have made the smaller engine options more bearable than they'd be in the U.S. Also, I wonder if that "missing" cowl-to-fender brace at 9:55 was due to more relaxed crash-test regulations.
Regular in Canada was leaded, till about the mid-eighties.
Yes, in Canada, we had less stringent emissions and unleaded gasoline was not readily available at all gas stations until the late 70's. If you required unleaded gas, you had to fill up at specific stations, and it was more expensive and poor quality.
That driver's side brace looks like it was missed during assembly and was never installed. That's the only one I've seen.
Chevrolet engines installed in Pontiacs, Buicks and Oldsmobiles were pretty common. A friend of mine had a 1975 Pontiac Grand Ville convertible equipped with a Chevy 454. It, too, was a Canadian car.
Cars in Canada since 1975 have catalytic converters, also EGR since 1973.
This should be a Subject at School “Classic American car history” ….👍🏻
My grandma had a 1969 Grand Parisienne two door HT. Since I was the first born grandchild in 1971, it was promised to me. More as a joke but then it became real. She stopped driving it in 1978 and then was given to my parents in 1980 when my grandparents sold their acreage. Stored outside until the mid eighties when my parents needed a second car. They drive it for a few years. I was a young teen and it was "my" car so I would sneak out and drive it up and down the driveway when my parents were not home. They ended up selling it before I was old enough to drive it on my own. I was sad about that.
I think they used to ship CKD kits from Canada to Australia in rhe 1960s due to liower import duties since Canada was part of the Commonwealth.
Interesting to find out that the Canadian Pontiacs were so different from the US cars. I'd have figured by this point in time, they were basically identical.
My mom has 72 Catalina safari, no woodgrain,third seat, had a 455 Pontiac.
I was on a business trip in London, ON in 1996....and seeing a bunch of Pontiac Tempests...that were Chevy Corsica based was interesting to me....
I remember once in the early 1990s, seeing one of those crap Daewoo 'Pontiac Lemans' abominations on I75 North near Cincinnati. It looked slightly different from a distance, and as I got closer and passed it, I saw that it had a Canadian license plate and the model badge on the back of it said Ultima, or Optima, or something like that. I didn't see a manufacturer's badge. Can't remember if the tail light lenses were any different, but I think the grill was.
6:24 According to the advertisement shown just prior, the bumper rub strip was optional. Yes, I’m the nerd who paused the video to read all the copy in the ad. 🤓
🙌🙌🙌🙌
Canadian here, and one more positive note for these Chevrolet equipped Pontiacs: engines and parts thereof are much cheaper, if you're rebuilding or restoring them.
I liked your video on the 1959 "Frankenstein" Pontiac. A Pontiac body on a Chevy frame and drivetrain saved a lot on import tariffs. Australia assembled the Parisienne until 1968 which included a Chevy 283 V8. Every part locally sourced is that little bit less tax paid. Can you please research a video on Chevy engines installed in other GM cars. My father was a Chev-Olds dealer from 1964-1972 in Alberta. He swore that occasionally an Oldsmobile would be outfitted with a Chevy 454 engine. I have no proof of this. In 1988 I drove down to visit a friend in California whose mother had a 1975 Cadillac which did in fact come with a Chevy 454 motor. I took a second look at the TH 400 hump and it was a factory Chevy motor. Did GM sometimes factory fit their other lines with Chevy motors on special order?
Prominent at the drags was a 427 cu in chev motor in a 1969 Pontiac Parisienne. Factory done in a Canada
And your Canadiens are gonna be very chipper in the back seat in this example. You know. 😊
Especially in humid Florida if you have air conditioning!
my uncle bought a Parisienne in the mid 80's, we got his 68 Stratochief for a second car (good for the drive-in!).
Very nice. The Canadians liked the car so much they made cheaper versions
I know someone in Canada that still has his 1967 Pontiac Grande Parisienne 427 4bbl … he bought it in 1968!
My father had a laurentian with a 350 engine..good car..
Many GM cars sold on the Canadian market had different options, motors, trim from their US counterparts. Not only Pontiacs! My '65 Buick Wildcat has trim which is like the trim used in the Electra 225 Custom. It also has hinges door pulls like those in a 1965 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham or a 1964 Oldsmobile 98. Not necessarily Canadian-made parts but different which are not found in the same US models. Also, not all Canadian cars were more basic than their US counterparts. The standard equipment list and standard trim levels here were often more elaborate on some models. For example, automatic transmissions, were standard on some Canadian models that came with manual transmissions as standard in the US. Some accessories that were not offered on the US versions were also sometimes offered here. For axample, if you ordered power windows on a 1965-66 Buick Wildcat here, power vents were included. They weren't even available as a separate option in the US versions. The higher trim level (Custom trim) was the only level available here and even the 4 door post sedan came with it as standard while it was only available with base of Deluxe trim in the US). There is some Canadian content like the brake booster or wheel cylinders which are made in Canada but it's not exclusively Canadian-made content (and some are just the same as US spec parts but manufactured here).
Even in the 1980s many Canadian cars had different equipment. You could get a Chevy 305 v8 in an early to mid 1980s Buick Regal for example. See the short videos on my account about power vent windows. You'll see the different door panels.
Owned a very similar 74 Parisienne Brougham. 400 small block Chevy...orange...later I owned a 79, downsized Parisienne and for awhile, Canadian Pontiacs could be found with either 305 Chevys or 301 Pontiac engines, both sold as 5 liter engines
i love your shows, spot on!!
YOU did this one just for ME !! Thanks ! (I owned a 1972 or 73 or 74 Parisienne in Southern Ontario) I called the colour "Excorcist Green". (Movie reference, if you know, you know)
At one time Adam worked for GM Canada so he has more knowledge than most about Canadian cars.
I live in Canada. Can you have a segment on 1970 full size Pontiacs. I had a 70 Laurentien and then a Catalina. Both 2 door hardtops. Both were very different in so many ways. Thanks so much.
From '66 - '69 the top-of-the-lne Pontiac in Canada was the Grande Parisienne, not the Parisienne as mentioned in the video.
Thank you Adam. Thank you for sharing more history on the Canadian Pontiac Parisienne. I knew about the car and the features. I thought they did not import the Bonneville to Canada until later. That was an interesting fact. Bonneville and Parisienne became one in the late 1970's and then the when early 1980's thing happened then it was H Body Bonneville everywhere in 1987 model year. It is interesting how they had Bonneville, Parisienne, Grand Ville( Grand Bonneville)Catalina and Laurentian. There was Grande' Parisienne that was also sold in Australia. Thank you for the video.
The Pontiac Parisienne was introduced in 1982 to replace the Bonneville to the G body in 1983. So the Pontiac Parisienne was from late 1982-1987
In Canada, the GM car dealerships were generally grouped as either Chevrolet-Oldsmobile or Pontiac-Buick-Cadillac. Read into that what you will.
And for trucks, Chev-Olds dealers had Chev trucks (obviously), and the Pontiac-Buick-Caddy stores had GMC trucks. The first Chev-Olds-Cadillac dealer I ever saw was Jim Gauthier in Winnipeg. That lineup at that dealer dated back to about 1981.
That seemed pretty common in the US, as well. GMC trucks would be sold with the Pontiac-Buick-Cadillac dealers.
Cadillac could have been sold by either Chevy/Olds or Pontiac/Buick/GMC dealers. Usually small towns that would get two GM dealers got just one that sold Cadillac. In my hometown, the Cadillac dealer was the Chevy/Olds dealer.
@@PhilRacicot Yes, I saw that too from time to time, which is why I put in "generally" - at the last minute 😅
In my part of Ontario we typically had Chev, Olds and Cadillac in one dealership or Pontiac, Buick and GMC.
I had a Canadian made 1967 Pontiac Beaumont 2dr HT, (not Bonneville) that was almost same as 67 Chevelle. Except it had Pontiac grill and rear end had Pontiac GTO taillights.
I found the 72 Catalina I once had occasionally caught in front of the rear wheel leaving a body crease. Later I began looking at others to see if it was because of the car or my driving. It was the car as I saw others with that tell tale crease 😮
If the 71 impala shared styling with the cadillac deville, the 72 pontiac shared styling with the cadillac eldorado. Love the way these 72 pontiacs look! 😊
I purchased,(took over payments), my 1972 Pontiac LeMans in 1973.
I remember feeling disappointed seeing that the 350 V8 was Chevrolet and not Pontiac.
I think it was stamped somewhere on the engine. I assumed it was a cost saving measure by GM. This was a California car.
You should do a video about the Chevrolet engine scandal in the Oldsmobile's.
I can remember those cars when people drove them and one of the problems was the front end.
They had a bad habit of wondering around driving down the highway. My uncle bought one brand new in 1973 and traded It for a Grand Torino Because he didn't like how it handled. My school teacher had one and you could literally feel the car wonder all over the road.
Wow. You’re keeping busy young man !!!
Good-Looking Vehicle with the added bonus of a Chevy 350 Engine, eh Adam😎👏
My dad had a ‘74 Parisienne “Brougham”. I always pronounced the upgrade it like Adam is pronouncing it - B-Rome. However, the correct pronunciation is actually “broom”.
In 72 my Dad left the Pontiac Brand big wagon (Bonneville) and bought a Buick Estate Wagon.
hahaha my buddy Rick had this exact same car in high school - it was grey & a HUGE BOAT!
Good video 😀
Cool. Canadian Pontiac is cool 😎.
My dad had a 1972 Grand Ville with a 455. It was amazing what kind of car the U. S. Could make before emission controls and concerns about fuel economy. Four years later he bought an Audi 100, which was so tiny and underpowered by comparison, and not nearly as reliable.
I have saw a 1970 Laurentian with a factory Chevy 454 in it the car is on You Tube & in 1970 Catalina came standard with a 350 V8 2br Pontiac as my buddy's dad had one he bought new.The Canada ROOF LINE is different they used a Chevrolet Impala roof line not a Pontiac on the 2door modal
Beautiful car
I think that's the Catalina Brougham interior - certainly the door panels, believe the seat pattern too. Sub-series more or less forgotten, 71 & 72 only. Same 'Brougham' script on the sail panel.
I worked at a C B O dealer In the 80,s ,most none Chevys had multiple holes in the front crosmember to put whatever a person wanted
America got the 455. Parents had a 71 Catalina when i was a kid, with that 455 red badge on the grill.
Pontiac of Canada also has a clone of the Chevy Corsica in the 80s named Tempest
Cold War motors is always talking about the Pontiac Chevrolet connection.
My boss, in 1984 drove a Pontiac badged “Parisiienne.” He was in the Pennsylvania senate, so I’m guessing the name was used in the American market, too.
Pontiac dropped their US large cars in '82, then imported them from Canada in '84-6 after gas prices fell and people wanted big cars again.
It's easy to make the case that the 350 or the 3800 V-6 were the best engines GM has ever made. If they are maintained they can both last a really long time. The only thing about the full size Pontiacs or other full size GM cars from that time is that they really felt underpowered with the 350/2 barrel set up. You really needed the big blocks in those cars.
Had a 71 Parisienne 350 auto , and i liked it , not a bad car at all
I love old Pontiacs and as a Canadian, FJT!
Been loving the videos, I’m in Canada.
Recently saved a 66 delta 88 Holliday coupe with a 425, parked by my uncle in 1972 (my most recent video on RUclips) would you have any information on decoding the Canadian vin # for information, or options/ rpo codes? I can’t find any information.
General Motors of Canada kept its records for Canadian built cars and now can be accessed through Vintage Vehicle Services
These things were EVERYWHERE when I was a kid, they had 283s , 307s , 327s 350s, 396s , and in some cases a427 V8 .
Nice shade of green on that 2 door shown near the end. Sure wish mfg would bring back more colors instead of 4 shades of grey, white, black, etc.
Agreed.
OK, so did the 72 Parisienne have a pontiac frame, but just the chevy engine? Yeah, in most cases, the cars look better without the vinyl top. Back in the day, we never thought about how badly vinyl tops induced rust issues.
I had a 73 La Mans sport coupe with a chev 350 and Pontiac high rise intake, it was only a 2 barrel carb but that car was awesome fast. I had it up to 135 MPH no problem besides the noisy 2 door window seals and the widows would pop out of the upper door seals at 120+ high speeds.