For December we are featuring a beautiful 1966 Pontiac Parisienne Custom Sport which belongs to Ty Senga. Ty's Custom Sport was born with a 396 which he massaged to produce even more power. Being blessed with a mostly rust free example, Ty was able to concentrate on improving the car's handling, brakes and drivetrain. What you see is an excellent mix of originality combined with tasteful mods and much needed upgrades. Ty gives us all the details:
My Uncle called me the summer of 2012 and told me a lady he and my other uncles and aunts grew up with is selling her late husband's Pontiac. I asked him what year model etc, and his response was it's "big and it's white". I made a call to the lady who owned it and was able to come by and take a look, small single car attached garage with only 1 window on the man door covered with a curtain. Walked in and saw a "big White" Pontiac , could not open the large garage door so it was pretty dim, walked to the driver's door opened it up and beautiful spotless black interior with buckets ,console tilt and center rear speaker, odometer was just a little over 38000 original miles. I walked around to the back and saw the "Custom Sport" emblems. Original hubcaps and "Tiger Paw" tires, lifted up the hood and was very happy to see the 396 emblem on the air cleaner.
The lady explained that they are the original owners and it was purchased in Regina at Mid West motors and that they traded in a 65 Pontiac "not sure what model" to purchase it. It has some little dings and bruises and she said they pulled it out on the driveway one day and the neighbour's kids decided to hit the rear trunk a couple of times with a hammer. The inner lip of the rear trunk has some rust on the inside but the rest of the car is very solid. We talked about price and she had an appraisal done along with sending away to the Pontiac historical division for all the info available to the car. I never new that Custom Sports even existed, I had a 1966 GTO when I was a kid and remember seeing Parisiennes but they alway's seemed to be Green 4 doors etc and never really appealed to me.
This however was different and I was hooked. We discussed price, the appraisal like most appraisals was a pretty substantial price. I told her I would love to have it but I don't think that I could afford to pay that price for the car and still have to go through the engine,trans suspension etc. I thanked her for showing me the car and went home and researched the Custom Sport and day dreamed about owning it. Fast forward to the Spring of 2013, I get a call from the lady with the Pontiac, " Ty, you still interested in the Pontiac?, come by and let's talk". I went over and she explained that she knew that I was the right person for the car and that she would give me a great deal, I'm not going to say how much but it was a "great" deal and I will always be super appreciative and never forget her.
I filled up the tires with air, drained the tank and added fresh fuel. made sure oil and coolant were topped up and put in a fresh battery. Primed the carb, cranked over for a minute and it lit right up. I let it warm up and drove my "Big White Pontiac" home.
In my research efforts I came across "Canadian Poncho" and decided to post a question on obtaining "manual" gauges so I could monitor the engine more accurately. My very first reply to my inquiry was from Carl Stevenson and I learned how helpful and supportive the Canadian Poncho community is. I was able to find a factory tach "which I haven't installed yet" from Dave at Tin Man auto and also received a tach template from Carl as well.
The engine ran great etc. but I felt that it deserved a fresh start. I wanted to update the car but not detract or ruin the originality, the undercarriage and under the hood had undercoating everywhere so it had no rust issues whatsoever. I evaluated the suspension and I decided to replace the shocks stabalizer links and the upper and lower ball joints. The brakes were upgraded with high performance brake shoes and new wheel cylinders and hardware machined original drums and replaced brake lines. The only aftermarket item I added was a Alston chassis rear sway bar, other then that I just cleaned and put some fresh undercoating and black paint and detailed it up a bit.
The engine was disassembled and ended up getting it torque plate bored 030 over with ceramic coated 10.25-1 forged pistons-balanced-Torrington bearing double roller-270 magnum comp roller cam with Scorpion roller rockers- Comp springs, Stainless steel Valves with multi angle valve job. I ran a Pertronix ignition with pertronix wires and coil so it looks stock but is high energy reliable and has a rev limiter built in. I did not hack up the factory wiring harness at all, I made a sub harness with relay's inside the car to run the ignition and power the accessory gauges which I ended up putting in the glove box. I kept the original distributor wires etc. I also kept the original carb and manifold and replaced the quadrajet with a SMI quadrajet which works perfect and keep up with the large roller cam.
The manifold I originally used was a Edelbrock performer manifold but it was manufactured incorrectly and the alternator mounting bracket was to low, so it was replaced with a Weiand Street Warrior intake. I know I could have more horsepower with headers but I don't want any of it to look after market so I retained the original exhaust manifolds with 2.5 inch pipes into a X pipe into 2.5 Borla stainless steel mufflers. Quiet running with a low rumble and it just screams when I hammer it.
For the trans I modified with a B&M transpack and a adjustable modulator and a B&M electronic kick down in place of the factory unit, I also had the stock torque converter modified. It is still running the original 2.73 posi. I have kept all the parts that were removed. I decided to install Year Ones Rally wheels with 245/45/17 Z rated Hankook tires. It does not ride harsh and with the large rear sway bar it stay's flat around a corner with out rubbing the big tires on the skirts.
Congratulations, Ty, on your December 2014 feature car! Your '66 CS looks absolutely awesome. I very much enjoyed your story too. Also, I commend you, Todd, for not giving up on your monthly feature cars.
-- Edited by Pritch on Sunday 30th of November 2014 11:11:41 AM
cutting a roof off a four door is NOT a convertible.....
65 Parisienne convertible.one of 49 built for RHD export market,402BBC, T400, 2500 stally, posi rear, upgraded brakes with front discs, FUEL FAST efi custom built by me.
.....I love this car, it is what I have been gathering parts for a few years now....a white 66 CS with black interior.....which to me is the ultimate 66 Pontiac. This one with the 396 is just fantastic and even the turbo 400 is rare to have had. Ty has done a very professional job in freshening up the 66. Very deserving to be featured here on CP.
B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. and a big block. Now there is a 66 to be real proud of and there is no denying ................... all the best cars are out west. Ty, continued good luck with that sweet 66 of yours. Cheers. George.
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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
I am so appreciative to have my "good from far but far from good" poncho on this wonderful site. I have really enjoyed the rekindling of my Pontiac love affair and especially in a truly Canadian and hometown manner.
It really is incredible to have a non trailer queen style car that is a true daily driver all Summer long and get the thumbs up and
Congratulations Ty, as stated, you have a great car, very deserving. Thanks for sharing your great story! I never get tired of the stories of the history, the purchase experience, the personalizing the car, all that stuff. It's what makes the car hobby so much fun.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Congratulations Ty, as stated, you have a great car, very deserving. Thanks for sharing your great story! I never get tired of the stories of the history, the purchase experience, the personalizing the car, all that stuff. It's what makes the car hobby so much fun.
Always like to hear the stories on how owners found out about their cars and how they came to purchase them.
This one is a fine specimen.
Glad to hear that the widow was a fine judge of car talent as she chose someone who is willing to preserve and treasure the car just the way she wanted.
I'm not worthy! This is the car most of us dream of finding instead of the rusted hulks we tend to turn up. Beautiful! I hope you hang onto it as it is a pretty rare beast. I checked with George Zapora myself on a rough old 66 396 TH400 Parisienne (column shift) that I snagged last year and specifically asked him how many Parisiennes sport coupes came with the 396. He couldn't give me an exact number but stated that it would have been less than 600 and that would include the Custom Sports.
So how many survive epcially with people (like you-know-who) yanking those out to use in other cars over the years? Not many!
That thing does need a tach though just to make it look as authoritative as it is. I would recommend you get the one you have rebuilt with new circuits as mine never would work with the Pertronix I have. There are a few outfits that do them and I cant recall which one I used at the moment but it works great now. Takes a bit of courage to cut holes in that nice dash but Carls template is right on as I have used it myself.
Great to know that there is another 66 CS in our club in original condition and with low low mileage! Beautiful car!!!! Congratulations Ty on finding it! Bob.
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1965 Thunderbird Special Landau 10th Anniversary Limited Edition only 4500 built 34,800 miles