Orphan of the Day, 06-02, 1962 Pontiac Laurentian

[8E45E]

The 'wallet size' photo first....






Craig

[BobPalma]

Craig, can you give us a condensed version of the difference and usage of Parisienne versuis Laurentian in the Canadian Pontiac model lineup?

'Never quite understood it. Thanks. BP

[8E45E]

Craig, can you give us a condensed version of the difference and usage of Parisienne versuis Laurentian in the Canadian Pontiac model lineup?

'Never quite understood it. Thanks. BP

The Parisienne basically paralled the Chev Impala in trim level, and the Laurentian paralled the Bel Air. The Strato Chief was the lowest trim level in those years, which compared to the Biscayne.

Craig

[benaslopoke]

Craig,, I noticed some of the Pontiacs that were from Canada coming thru Georgia back in the day that had the wide track body of a 1959 Pontiac and seemed like the Chevy narrow track chassis underneath.. An odd car to say the least.. Was this a one off?? Was that a regular production vehicle??

Ben Barfield

[1962larksedan]

Craig,, I noticed some of the Pontiacs that were from Canada coming thru Georgia back in the day that had the wide track body of a 1959 Pontiac and seemed like the Chevy narrow track chassis underneath.. An odd car to say the least.. Was this a one off?? Was that a regular production vehicle??

Ben Barfield

All of the big Canadian Pontiacs with factory Chevy V8's (and Sixes) were that way. Read that no American based big Poncho brake or suspension stuff would fit with the exception of shocks starting 1965.

Back in Los Angeles I remember a California registered 1962 Parisienne 4 door hardtop with a Chevy Six/3 spd

[JGK 940]

Since they rode Chevy chassis, most Canadian Ponchos also had shorter wheelbases than their American cousins, with front clips unique to the Maple Leaf (and RHD export) models, at least through the mid-ʻ60s. The ʻ58 Parisienne in another recent post, for example, has 4-1/2" less sheetmetal forward of the windshield than a comparable Bonneville, IIRC. Itʻs hard to spot unless you see the cars parked side-by-side.

[Dick Steinkamp]

That is a BEAUTIFUL sedan! I'd be happy to have it. 1962 is one of my favorite GM years. The interiors on those Pontiacs were to die for.

[1962larksedan]

Since they rode Chevy chassis, most Canadian Ponchos also had shorter wheelbases than their American cousins, with front clips unique to the Maple Leaf (and RHD export) models, at least through the mid-ʻ60s. The ʻ58 Parisienne in another recent post, for example, has 4-1/2" less sheetmetal forward of the windshield than a comparable Bonneville, IIRC. Itʻs hard to spot unless you see the cars parked side-by-side.

Correct till 1969; by 1970 the RHD variants went away but left hookers were still sold new in at least the UK for 1970. Too; only certain 1969 down models were available in RHD format (4 doors and possibly convertibles); if a UK purchaser wanted a 2 door hardtop, LHD only unless converted by a third party.

[Warren Webb]

Notice too how the wheels are far inside the wheel opening with the Chevy frame. This is really noticed when viewed directly from the front!

[BobPalma]

That is a BEAUTIFUL sedan! I'd be happy to have it. 1962 is one of my favorite GM years. The interiors on those Pontiacs were to die for.

Dick: 'Hope you saw this 1962 Bonneville tri-power / 4-speed convertible I posted from the 2012 Indianapolis 500 Opening Day invitational car show on the infield of The Indianapolis Motor Speedway:





"To die for" indeed; a gorgeous car representing what the owner said was 8 years at $10,000 per year! BP

[Dick Steinkamp]

Dick: 'Hope you saw this 1962 Bonneville tri-power / 4-speed convertible I posted from the 2012 Indianapolis 500 Opening Day invitational car show on the infield of The Indianapolis Motor Speedway:





"To die for" indeed; a gorgeous car representing what the owner said was 8 years at $10,000 per year! BP

WOW!

[JGK 940]

Notice too how the wheels are far inside the wheel opening with the Chevy frame. This is really noticed when viewed directly from the front!

Can't remember where I read it, but it seems to me this look is how the whole "Wide Track" thing was born. Seems John DeLorean took one look at his division's mock-ups for the '59 model year, which GM corporate bean counters had decreed had to share the same basic body shell with everything from Biscaynes to Fleetwoods (the front door stampings and basic cowl structure are identical across all five lines that year), blurted out a few choice curse words, said, "It looks like a football player in ballet slippers," and ordered his engineers to find a way to move the wheels out closer to the sides of the new body. The ride and handling benefits were lagniappes.