The 1965 Pontiac Parisienne Custom Sport is one of my favorite Canadian Poncho's. That's why I jumped at the opportunity to feature Ron Pawley's immaculate example. As an added bonus Ron's Custom Sport is a convertible! "Lucky Ron" gives us the details:
As far back as I can remember, I've always been a "car guy". I love the smell, the sounds and the feel you get from driving a classic car. In the past, I've owned everything from a Cadillac to a Corvette but nothing compares to my '65 Custom Sport convertible.
It had been a few years since I had owned a classic car so I had been looking around for something new, although this time I was looking for something different. I wasn't sure really what, until I found it. A 1965 Custom Sport convertible. I loved the color and it was in great shape. Unfortunately, it was a bit out of my budget. So, I watched the car for a couple of months and the price started to drop - it was dropping $1,000 at a time and getting closer to my budget. I contacted the seller, loaded our youngest boy into the van, picked up my brother and we went to take a look at it.
We had barely drove into the laneway and my brother was out of the van saying "just buy it". My brother owns a 1972 Chrysler Newport so he has the same passion I do for the classics. We were able to work out a deal and 3 hours later the car was in my laneway.
I have many fond memories of riding around in these Pontiacs as a child. I think the reason this car jumped out at me was because it reminds me so much of my dad. He owned so many Pontiacs that his nickname was "Roncho Poncho" when he was younger. My dad passed away in November of 2014 from cancer and to me, this car is a tribute to him.
The car has a 283, with the two speed power glide. It has power steering and power brakes. It has only an AM radio. I've added an HEI distributor and an Ahooga horn that my dad had given me.
I want to put on larger tires and rims, something from around the same era, and dual exhaust. I plan to keep the car as stock as I can.
I'm looking forward to many years of enjoyment with my family in our cool Custom Sport.
That is a great example of one of Pontiac's iconic designs, of course I'm partial to this beauty having had a 65 Laurentian and 65 Custom Sport as family cars. Congratulations Ron !
When I was in my mid teens (mid 70's) and pumping gas evenings and weekends I had a steady customer there with a 65 Custom Sport convert. I always drooled over that car when he stopped for fuel. Beautiful, classic Pontiac design.
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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
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
That's the bee's knees...welcome to the 65 convertible club! Great car..just need to get mine on the road....
-- Edited by koolconvertible on Monday 31st of August 2015 05:02:04 PM
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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.
Beautiful car, nothin' better than a ragtop - IMHO those wheels/tires are just perfect as is, just lower the car by 2-3" (not sure what that is in godforsaken furrin' farkel-meters) and you will be Cruisin' In Style, eh?
Dave
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1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod