Am I right to assume that all the exterior chrome (and lenses) is the same between Canadian and American Pontiacs (other than the name emblems)?
I know for '64 Parisiennes, the tail light lenses, reverse light and license plate light (lenses and housings), and headlight bezels are the same as a '64 Catalina. I'm not sure about the front signal lights.
The trim on a '64 Parisienne is another story, some American pieces work , some don't. Pretty well all of the upper stainless trim is the same as '63 - '64 Impala.
I'm not sure of the differences between the regular model's lower stainless trim when it comes to '64 Parisienne and '64 Catalina. The rear quarter trim has to be different, because the quarter panels are different lengths.
The bumpers are the same for '64 Parisiennes and Catalinas.
The '64 Parisienne Custom Sport (like my car) has some pieces of lower pot metal trim that is impossible to find in good shape ... it's one year, Canadian only, but some of the smaller pieces are shared with the '64 Bonneville.
So as you can see finding the right trim is a lot of fun!
-- Edited by Pontiacanada on Monday 27th of May 2013 12:23:26 PM
hd78glide said
May 27, 2013
Does anybody know if the us made 1968 Catalina would have the same body as the Canadian mad 1968 Parisienne?
73SC said
May 27, 2013
Parisienne:
Wheelbase = 119"
Length = 215.8"
Â
Catalina:
Wheelbase = 121"
Length = 216.5"
Â
Pontiacanada said
May 27, 2013
I know for '64 Parisiennes the '64 Catalina rear quarters don't work (too long). They can made to work with hours and hours of massaging. That's where the extra length is on '64s, in the rear quarters.
I was told (not firsthand experience) for a '64 2 door hardtop that the doors and front fenders exchange.
Pontiacanada said
May 27, 2013
I have (2) '68 Parisienne doors in good shape (off a 2 door hardtop) ... you can have them for free, but the shipping would kill you!
Greaser said
May 27, 2013
My Dad had an 1964 American Bonneville in 1965 and I know the rear lenses were different...they had a 3 bulb setup in the lens as opposed to two in the Canadian.
Am I right to assume that all the exterior chrome (and lenses) is the same between Canadian and American Pontiacs (other than the name emblems)?
73SC said
May 27, 2013
The US car and Canadian car are built on two completely different platforms, a Pontiac vs. Chevrolet. Anything that works on both is a pure coincidence. FIW Bonnevilles always had the coolest taillights that were much different than Canadian Cars (until Grande Parisienne appeared) . My personal fav is the 61....
From what I can see, the 63 Parisienne chrome trim around the rear lenses and the front bezels appear to be the same....or are they different?
How about bumpers and grill ?
CdnGMfan said
May 27, 2013
I met Doug (member 68strato) back in 1993 at the International Center when I overheard him asking the same question about 1968 Catalina vs. Canadian Pontiac bumpers & body parts interchange. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but when I heard he was restoring a 1968 Strato Chief 427 4-speed I went straight over to him. We chatted for the next 2 hours . I don't recall if we ever full resolved what was interchangeable, but I'll wager that there must be some interchange (bumpers - yes; bumper brackets - no). Exterior sheetmetal - probably for the most part, but substructures, floors, firewall, underhood components - NO! Also Bonnevilles & Executives were longer still than Catalinas.
GM back in the day of numerous separate divisions operating independently, they mandated some basic dimensional commonality. Regarding 1968 Big cars, Chevrolet & Canadian Pontiacs shared frames & components, while U.S. Pontiac, Oldsmobile 88s & Buick LeSabres shared frame dimensions (but weren't necessarily the same frames). Differentials and brakes were different between all divisions but would eventually be shared on ensuing generations.
hd78glide said
May 28, 2013
Thanks for all the great info!
65wagon said
May 31, 2013
watch the bumpers in 65 and 66 bumpers are the same but the hole spacing is different, same with fenders the skin is the same but the inner frame is different, its the little stuff the screws things up
I know for '64 Parisiennes, the tail light lenses, reverse light and license plate light (lenses and housings), and headlight bezels are the same as a '64 Catalina. I'm not sure about the front signal lights.
The trim on a '64 Parisienne is another story, some American pieces work , some don't. Pretty well all of the upper stainless trim is the same as '63 - '64 Impala.
I'm not sure of the differences between the regular model's lower stainless trim when it comes to '64 Parisienne and '64 Catalina. The rear quarter trim has to be different, because the quarter panels are different lengths.
The bumpers are the same for '64 Parisiennes and Catalinas.
The '64 Parisienne Custom Sport (like my car) has some pieces of lower pot metal trim that is impossible to find in good shape ... it's one year, Canadian only, but some of the smaller pieces are shared with the '64 Bonneville.
So as you can see finding the right trim is a lot of fun!
-- Edited by Pontiacanada on Monday 27th of May 2013 12:23:26 PM
Does anybody know if the us made 1968 Catalina would have the same body as the Canadian mad 1968 Parisienne?
Parisienne:
Wheelbase = 119"
Length = 215.8"
Â
Catalina:
Wheelbase = 121"
Length = 216.5"
Â
I know for '64 Parisiennes the '64 Catalina rear quarters don't work (too long). They can made to work with hours and hours of massaging. That's where the extra length is on '64s, in the rear quarters.
I was told (not firsthand experience) for a '64 2 door hardtop that the doors and front fenders exchange.
I have (2) '68 Parisienne doors in good shape (off a 2 door hardtop) ... you can have them for free, but the shipping would kill you!
My Dad had an 1964 American Bonneville in 1965 and I know the rear lenses were different...they had a 3 bulb setup in the lens as opposed to two in the Canadian.
Am I right to assume that all the exterior chrome (and lenses) is the same between Canadian and American Pontiacs (other than the name emblems)?
The US car and Canadian car are built on two completely different platforms, a Pontiac vs. Chevrolet. Anything that works on both is a pure coincidence. FIW Bonnevilles always had the coolest taillights that were much different than Canadian Cars (until Grande Parisienne appeared) . My personal fav is the 61....
Regular '61 Model
Bonneville '61 model
How about bumpers and grill ?
I met Doug (member 68strato) back in 1993 at the International Center when I overheard him asking the same question about 1968 Catalina vs. Canadian Pontiac bumpers & body parts interchange. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but when I heard he was restoring a 1968 Strato Chief 427 4-speed I went straight over to him. We chatted for the next 2 hours
. I don't recall if we ever full resolved what was interchangeable, but I'll wager that there must be some interchange (bumpers - yes; bumper brackets - no). Exterior sheetmetal - probably for the most part, but substructures, floors, firewall, underhood components - NO! Also Bonnevilles & Executives were longer still than Catalinas.
GM back in the day of numerous separate divisions operating independently, they mandated some basic dimensional commonality. Regarding 1968 Big cars, Chevrolet & Canadian Pontiacs shared frames & components, while U.S. Pontiac, Oldsmobile 88s & Buick LeSabres shared frame dimensions (but weren't necessarily the same frames). Differentials and brakes were different between all divisions but would eventually be shared on ensuing generations.
watch the bumpers in 65 and 66 bumpers are the same but the hole spacing is different, same with fenders the skin is the same but the inner frame is different, its the little stuff the screws things up