My 1955 Canadian Pontiac Laurentian Documentary
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- The first time anywhere on RUclips for a 1955 Canadian Pontiac!!
The Canadian Pontiac in 1955 was exclusive to Canada and much different from it's American Counterpart. Built only in Oshawa Ontario, along with the Chevrolet which it shares a great deal with. Here is my example of one, originally a Pathfinder Deluxe (mid line, Laurentian is top of the line)(originally equiped with a 261 inline 6 [same as Chevy truck]). 4dr sedan, and also happens to be my first car. This video includes a slide show of my progress with this car since I first got it in 2003. It was on display at Anime Evolution 2008 as the "ShinsengumiMOBILE". Here are the stats:
1955 Pontiac Laurentian
265ci (4.3L) Strato-Streak V8/Chevy Super Turbofire V8)(first for Chevy/Pontiac)
205HP , 268ft/lbs torque (stock factory ratings for Strato-Streak)
4bbl, high compression heads, and Dual Exhaust (Power Pack option)
4spd Saginaw Transmission (now Muncie M21)
3:08 Rear differential ratio (Now back to 3.70 original)
115in Wheelbase
3,200LBS curb weight
Enjoy!
Thanks for watching.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Way cool car ! When I was in college in the 60's, I drove a '57 Strato-Chief 2-door sedan beater, all the trim was stripped, just holes in the body and spots of primer all over. It had a 327 with 3-2bbl carb setup, aftermarket 3-on-the-floor, and [allegedly] Duntov heads. Old-school Armstrong steering and unassisted drum brakes. It looked like hell, but it went like hell, too...
Thanks for the memories. I got my plain, no chrome side trim 55 Canadian Pontiac four door sedan in 1966. It had the 261 with the three speed manual trans, too. I scrounged side trim from an abandoned Laurentian and dressed it up. I blew the clutch and another time, the shift linkage. At a stop light, beside some girls I recognized from school in a Falcon convertible, and thinking to make an impression, I floored it in first and wound up the strong old 261 for the upshift to second. I rammed the column shifter up and away - but it kept on going, way up to about the 12 o'clock position, as the girls in the Falcon (don't ya just hate it?) cruised by. After more than half a century, I hope they've stopped laughing. I put a Foxcraft floor shifter in right soon. It was expensive though, $25 or $26 at Western Tire and Auto.
Great sleeper man. Always great to see younger guys into the old skool!
Great job documenting what you did with this car! It's a real shame that a jerk forced you off the road and did all that damage! But you have the experience of bringing it back from the "dead" before, so
I wish you the best again! :) Jack
I can tell you are an old soul and I'm giving you an A+ for being patient in the restoration. But that fuzzy dice, gaaahhh!
Nice job of restoration. Thanks for the education on the Canadian version of the 1955 Pontiac. Good work!
Super nice 55 Pontiac, 265 was in my first car, 56 Chevy wagon in California.
great video!...very nice, well spoken.
it sounds like you are a real proud gentleman who appreciates his car. I wish you lived next door to me here in pomona california. I have a 1982 gmc truck with the 3 on the tree and my shifter has failed me for the last time! I found a 4 speed saginaw and it is going in as soon as possible. When the shifter gets stuck on the column, it is terrible!!!
I just got a 1956 pontiac chieftain that i'm restoring, and it's my first car too!
From the USA: Nice job and a very interesting car. I have known for years that Canadian big Pontiacs of the 1960's had Chevy wheelbases and mechanicals, plus in most of the 1960's there was no Canadian Pontiac Lemans/GTO but a Beaumont based on the Chevelle. What I find most interesting about your car is the modified Chevrolet front (and rear?) quarter panels. It looks better that way. Also, this car looks very much like the roughly 1959-1962 Holden made in Australia though I know it is larger.
To Calgary, Edmonton and back... even some of the back roads and gravel roads too, she performed well everywhere.
Hey, Michael! Not only is your car awesome, but you have done a wonderful job with the history of your restoration! Really sets a standard for the video of a car! :) Jack
lovely car.
I haven't had a chance to take her to the track yet, but I plan to sometime. Depends on your gearing in your transmission and rear end ratio too. Motor Trend stock stats in 1955 ranged from 19-17 secs depending on carburetion, transmission and gear ratios. But with improved tires and other mods we have, it could to much better.
Very Nice !!! keep up the good work , i really like how you had the right clothes and shoes in the beginning of the video ,shows you do your research ,these cars are history and true time machines GOOD LUCK
*Correction "do much better"*
Its good you are preserving the 265 instead of upgrading to a 350 like most people, though its a strong motor, you have to watch blowing it because its old metal tends to develop stress cracks over time.
@pipeorganistken We never had the DeSoto Diplomat as far as I know, but it was the common offerring over seas, but we had the same basic car under the Dodge name, it too was a rebadged Plymouth body with special trim and grill.
I'm going to be uploading some Canadian only car vids in the summer!
you did a great job!! my son is doing over a 55 chevy 4 door------
🤙 thank you. Enjoyed the information and the restoration
The 265 and 261 are rare engines. Now at least. When I was a kid, they were all over, not now. I had a 265 in my 56 2 door post. It run like a top.
That was awesome bro! Thanks for sharing.
Awesome video bro, thanks ^^
Great vid, glad i found it.
it's frickin' awesome ....
That was very good Michael. Like # 119!!!!
Cool video Bro!! Keep up the good work!!
American (canadian) cars and Japanese animation! That's how I am too.
@1970chevelle Thanks... and I am actually looking for the same things among other things. Need a passenger fender because of the accident and Pontiac valve covers because there's Chevy ones in there now.
@w1037 Thanks, much appreciated.
Gm was clever to avoid paying import taxes on Pontiacs or Pontiac parts...
Sweet! 🤙🏽
NEAT!
Gorgeous car, and it sounds sooooo goood!
Where in Alberta did you take it? (I'm in Alberta!)
Exactly how is less than 10 minutes a documentary??? For some strange reason on the first half of this you crunched the aspect ratio horizontally as illustrated by the oval shaped wheels at 3:23 ...why? Compare a side view of the car from the first half to the slide show at the end and it's obvious.
what is the top speed? great car by the way.
Not a Canadian Laurentian ... no Canadian Pontiac ever had rear fin "bumps". Only American Pontiac's had those end fin "bumps". Check it out. That said, great work on restore.
Isn't this a Pathfinder and not a Laurentian?
@tainwii One of these days I'll take her on a cross Canada trip... Sea to shining sea ^^