Through much of the 1950s through 1970s, the American Pontiac model lineup included the " Catalina", "Ventura", "Executive", "Star Chief" and as the top of the line model, the "Bonneville". In contrast, the Pontiac Motor Division of GM in the US manufactured models with drivetrains, chassis and equipment unique from the other GM stablemates-Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Buick, and Cadillac. Through most of its life, the Parisienne resembled the US-market Bonneville despite its Chevrolet underpinnings. Also for 19 a Grande Parisienne wagon was offered. Finally, starting in 1966 Pontiac offered the "Grande Parisienne", a two-door and four-door hardtop models parallel to Chevrolet's luxurious "Caprice," although Grande Parisiennes through 1967 used the styling of the US-market Grand Prix. Also available for the first year Parisienne was Chevrolet's Turboglide automatic transmission.īuilt in the same GM of Canada assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario, Pontiacs had parallel model lineups as "full size" Chevrolets: the Pontiac "Strato Chief" had similar trim level and upholstery as Chevrolet's "Biscayne", the "Laurentian" matched the trim level of the Chevrolet "Bel Air" and while the Parisienne offered similar amenities as Chevrolet's "Impala", the Pontiac version had unique and more costly upholstery fabrics, and beginning in 1964 the "Custom Sport" (later rebadged the "2+2") two-door hardtop and convertible model line was in lock-step with Chevrolet's "Super Sport". It was marketed as the "Power Chief" option, but it was identical to Chevy's Ramjet. Chevrolet's Ramjet fuel injection system, introduced in 1957 in the U.S., was a Parisienne option as well.
The first Parisienne, offered for the 1958 model year, was a super deluxe "halo" model in the Laurentian line, much like Chevrolet's Bel Air Impala of the same year.
GRILL IN THE VILLE MANUAL
These engines were mated to the same transmissions as Chevrolet, including 3 and 4 speed manual and the 2 speed Powerglide and later the three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmissions. As Chevrolets under the skin, Canadian Pontiacs including the Parisienne used the same engines and transmissions as full-size Chevys, including the 230 and 250 cubic inch 6 cylinder and 283, 307, 327, 350, 396, 400, 409, 427 and 454 cu inch V8s.
GRILL IN THE VILLE FULL
Pontiacs used a full perimeter frame.) and interior instrument panels. Pontiac panels since they had to fit the shorter-wheelbase 119-inch Chevrolet "X" frame. In particular, Canadian "full size" Pontiacs were actually closely related to Chevrolets, making use of the economical Chevrolet chassis and drivetrain, though with the American Pontiac-styled exterior body panels (They weren't the same as U.S. Parisiennes were distinct from other Canadian Pontiac models by their standard features: the luxuriousness of upholstery fabrics standard equipment such as courtesy interior and trunk lights bright trim mouldings in the interior distinct exterior accent chrome pieces and availability of two- and four-door hardtops and convertibles. Parisienne became a separate model in 1959.įor most of its life, the Parisienne was the Canadian nameplate for the top-of-the-line model sold in GM of Canada's Pontiac showrooms. The Parisienne entered the production lineup as a sub-series within the Laurentian line in the 1958 model year. Parisienne or La Parisienne means a grammatically female person or thing from Paris, France. The Parisienne wagon continued under the Safari nameplate until 1989. For most of its run, the Canadian Parisienne was nearly mechanically identical to the American Chevrolet Impala or Chevrolet Caprice. Right-hand drive models were locally assembled in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa until 1969. The Pontiac Parisienne is a full-size rear-wheel drive vehicle that was sold by Pontiac on the GM B platform in Canada from 1958 to 1986 and in the United States from 1983 to 1986.
Pontiac Bonneville (original full-size model) GM New Zealand, Petone, Wellington, New Zealand Oshawa Car Assembly, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada