20 years ago, I bought a 57 Pathfinder Deluxe 2 dr. Interior,very poor, body very good (for the age, rear quarters amaizing). It was sold from Virden Mb. It looks like it saw mabye 10 years outside before it was strored indoors. More body damage from mice than weather. I need resto advice. 69 Strato Chief is amazing!
-- Edited by Brothersmartmouth on Saturday 4th of December 2010 12:49:39 AM
-- Edited by Brothersmartmouth on Saturday 4th of December 2010 01:25:20 AM
-- Edited by 73SC on Saturday 4th of December 2010 01:30:52 AM
65sssd said
Dec 4, 2010
The guys like photos but I'm sure you will find help here.
4SPEED427 said
Dec 4, 2010
Welcome here.
You will find lots of help as mentioned and I can guarantee 57Poncho will give you a welcome here when he sees this post!
long stroke said
Dec 4, 2010
Welcome aboard fellow 57 Pontiac lover. I hate to correct you right off the bat, but your car is a Pathfinder not a Pathfinder Deluxe. Your car would be the entry level, the Deluxe is the middle of the line. Please keep your 57 Pontiac original, thank you very much. Your car seems to be very solid but if you require sheet metal panels for under neath they are the same as 57 Chev and very readily available. If you do not know this yet, many parts as the same as 57 Chev. Including all mechanical components, many sheet metal panels and much of the interior. This makes it easier to restore than the American counterpart 57 Pontiac. In my opinion you are far better off keeping the cars original integrity and restoring it original. This not that hard to do because of all the many 57 Chev parts that are available. On the other hand there are some parts that are specific to the Canadian 57 Pontiac and those take more work to find. Very important to remember is that because there are a lot of differences between Canadian and American 57 Pontiacs to not get burned buying parts that will not fit your Canadian car. For example front hood and fenders on your car are shorter than the American car. As far as the drive train goes, you did not mention what is in the car. If it has the original 261 six or 283 V-8 keep them. Your car will be worth more keeping either original motor in it. Please resist putting in a common belly button motor in there. Also my personal opinion is to get rid of that yellow paint and paint the car one of the many fabulous original type colors. If you ever wanted to sell the car, good luck with that yellow paint on there. It looks like you are starting with a really good solid car there brother. All the best of luck with your resto of your fine ride. Please check out the photos of my 57 Pontiac in members photos under "My 57 Ride". Cheers. George.
73SC said
Dec 4, 2010
Very neat car, reminds me of a parade car the Toronto Police have restored.
57poncho said
Dec 4, 2010
Welcome aboard. Very nice 57 if you need any info on it I have all the book and trim charts. If you post a pic of the cowl tag we can tell you what motor it came with and the factory color.
long stroke said
Dec 4, 2010
Ray i know this 57 Chev 150 all too well ever since the 1980's. The Toronto force stored it at their Special Task force facility in up town Toronto for many years. The only reason i know this is because i use to do a lot of service work at the facility. Ray you may not know this but that car was not originally a 150. The car was a 210 that was converted to a 150. Obviously the force used 150 models back in 1957. This 57 Chev marks a special event for the Toronto police force because that year all the forces united to create the Metro Toronto force. As far as i know they still have the car. I saw it a few short years ago. Cheers. George.
Brothersmartmouth said
Dec 5, 2010
Thank you for your reply, I ckecked the numbers with GM about 20 years ago, an they said it was a deluxe. What is the differerence?
68sd said
Dec 5, 2010
Brothersmartmouth said
Dec 5, 2010
Thank you, I have only seen original 4 dr pathfinders(not restored). And they were all the same pastel green. Same as my cars original colour.
Brothersmartmouth said
Dec 5, 2010
Mr Neilson is one of my heros
Brothersmartmouth said
Dec 5, 2010
I didn't tell you about the motor. The block is a 63-64 2bolt 327. The heads are 64-65 corvette small chamber fuely heads shaved. About a 1000 miles on the fresh rebuild . Cheers
dualquadpete said
Dec 5, 2010
Put me out of my "misery" whats the difference between the deluxe "Club Coupe" & the deluxe "two door sedan"??? Only diff. I see is 2 tone paint!!!! Oh just shoot me now!!!!!
long stroke said
Dec 5, 2010
Hello Pete, to answer your question about the difference between a club coupe and a 2 door sedan is as follows. The club coupe has a two tone all vinyl interior. The regular 2 door sedan has the cloth insert and vinyl interior. Chevrolet in those years called their model the Delray Club Coupe. Back in the late 70's early 80's i owned a 1955 Chev Delray Club Coupe. Black and white all vinyl interior. This car looked just like a regular 210 2 door sedan on the outside. On the inside the interior was very very different. With the 57 Pontiac i guess the confusion is that they never named it something different. With Chev it was a Delray. Hope this helps. Cheers. George.
Halfbreed said
Dec 5, 2010
Now that you have established this as a modified car, you have a decision to make. Do you restore it to original, create a 1960's Street Machine or udpdate to modern technology.
All efforts will be rewarding and end value will only be as much as the next owner is willing to pay. I suggest what ever you do to the car that it be quality and tasteful. You have many options to consider.
The car will be unique due to rarity so no matter which route you choose. You can't lose.So think about all the variations of 57 Chevs there are and set your course.
I choose to describe my 57 Laurentian as a 57 Bel Aire Chev with Pontiac chrome trim. I chose to build a 60's street driver similar to the cars I owned in the mid 60's in my twenties. I owned many a Chev 55-57 with 327, 4speed, 4.56 rear gears, American Torque Thrusts and the like. Something you could take out to the track and run in the low 13's or run on the street and blow the doors off those overrated muscle cars of the day.
I like the Pontiac trim because it is attractive while being so different from Chev. Everybody has a Chevy now. When I go to a local cruise-in I get much more attention with the Pontiac than even the nicest Chevs. Being Canadian adds to the disscusion.
Good Luck in your endeavor and thanks for sharing another 1957 CP with us. Keep in touch with the forum and give us some progress reports. Don't forget the pictures.
Halfbreed
Laurentian said
Dec 5, 2010
How ever you decide to do the car keep us posted with pics of progress.
427carl said
Dec 5, 2010
Brothersmartmouth said
Dec 7, 2010
I asume that the deluxe has a chrome stripe down the side.
Brothersmartmouth said
Dec 7, 2010
If the 57 pathfinder deluxe has the chrome strip along the side, then, I like the cheaper cleaner version, thank you very much!
Brothersmartmouth said
Dec 7, 2010
Brothersmartmouth wrote:
If the 57 pathfinder deluxe has the chrome strip along the side, then, I like the cheaper cleaner version, thank you very much!
davelacourse said
Dec 7, 2010
Nice car, you've got plenty of good input from the guys already, so I'll keep my 2 cents to myself, please keep us informed of progress, and any questions, just ask!
Dave
68sd said
Dec 7, 2010
pathfinder
the cowl tag will tell for shure
rabbit64cs said
Dec 7, 2010
Brothersmartmouth wrote:
Brothersmartmouth wrote:
If the 57 pathfinder deluxe has the chrome strip along the side, then, I like the cheaper cleaner version, thank you very much!
AND here's what it looks like with NO trim......
my 57...
57Pontiac said
Dec 10, 2010
Hi,
Great car. Looking forward to see your progress.
I have a lot of parts for 57 pontiacs, so if you need anything just let me know.
Cheers
Steve
Brothersmartmouth said
Dec 10, 2010
If the chrome stripe down the side is what makes a deluxe, then I like mine more.
-- Edited by Brothersmartmouth on Saturday 4th of December 2010 12:49:39 AM
-- Edited by Brothersmartmouth on Saturday 4th of December 2010 01:25:20 AM
-- Edited by 73SC on Saturday 4th of December 2010 01:30:52 AM
You will find lots of help as mentioned and I can guarantee 57Poncho will give you a welcome here when he sees this post!
Now that you have established this as a modified car, you have a decision to make. Do you restore it to original, create a 1960's Street Machine or udpdate to modern technology.
All efforts will be rewarding and end value will only be as much as the next owner is willing to pay. I suggest what ever you do to the car that it be quality and tasteful.
You have many options to consider.
The car will be unique due to rarity so no matter which route you choose. You can't lose.So think about all the variations of 57 Chevs there are and set your course.
I choose to describe my 57 Laurentian as a 57 Bel Aire Chev with Pontiac chrome trim. I chose to build a 60's street driver similar to the cars I owned in the mid 60's in my twenties. I owned many a Chev 55-57 with 327, 4speed, 4.56 rear gears, American Torque Thrusts and the like. Something you could take out to the track and run in the low 13's or run on the street and blow the doors off those overrated muscle cars of the day.
I like the Pontiac trim because it is attractive while being so different from Chev. Everybody has a Chevy now. When I go to a local cruise-in I get much more attention with the Pontiac than even the nicest Chevs. Being Canadian adds to the disscusion.
Good Luck in your endeavor and thanks for sharing another 1957 CP with us. Keep in touch with the forum and give us some progress reports. Don't forget the pictures.
Halfbreed
the cowl tag will tell for shure