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Post Info TOPIC: September 2017 Feature Car


A Poncho Legend!

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September 2017 Feature Car


It is my pleasure to feature this extremely rare 1957 Pontiac Laurentian convertible as our September feature car. The owner is CP member canpontiac57. Canpontiac57's story is interesting as to how he happened to find this car. We'll let him tell us the rest of the story:

 

The story on how I came to own this car boils down to pure luck.  In July, 2011, my wife’s friend and her husband were in town to take in their first ever Calgary Stampede.  They asked if they could  stay with us for a couple nights and show them around town and of course we obliged.  The husband is a retired automotive mechanic and over the course of their first evening with us, the ladies started talking girl stuff and us guys started talking cars.  He asked me if I had a “wish list” car and I told him it was a 57 Laurentian convertible.  He said he had never seen one before so I grabbed my laptop and looked for an image off the internet to show him.  Lo and behold, I not only found him a picture, but my search turned one that was for sale in Edmonton.  These cars rarely come available, so I probably would have never owned this car were it not for that conversation that night.

 

 

The next day, I called the seller and made arrangements to go look at it.  I drove to Edmonton and pulled a trailer behind me in hopes of making a deal.  The car was not in as good condition as the pictures in his ad had made it look.  The paint is a re-spray and was poorly done many years ago.  It is  faded and peeling in some areas from sun and weather exposure.  Let’s just say it has lots of patina.  There has been some amateurish body work on the rear quarters and the floor is soft in a few places as most convertibles of this vintage are.  In spite of those things, what it had going for it was that it was a complete, drivable vehicle and not a collection of parts in boxes that somebody was selling as a “project car”.  I struck a deal and onto the trailer she went. 

 

 

According to the vintage vehicle documents I’ve received from GM Canada, this car is 1 of 734 convertibles and was the 545th unit of this body style built.  It’s production date was May 15, 1957 and was shipped to Jenner Motors in Edmonton on May 17, 1957.  It came with a 283 Turbo Fire V8 and an automatic transmission.  The original motor and transmission are long gone to who knows where.  In their place is an early, small journal 327 and a 4 speed Borg Warner Super T-10.  Out back it still retains its factory posi rear end. 

 

 

Eventually my plan is do a complete frame-off restoration and I’m saving my pennies toward that goal.  When I do, I’ll have it painted back to the factory color which was Seminole Red.  Between now and then, I’m driving it as much as I can.  There’s something to be said for getting the mechanical work done before the paint to get all the bugs worked out anyway. 

 

Hopefully I catch up with some Canadian Poncho people this year at a cruise night or show and shine.  Thank you to Todd for putting together and maintaining such a great site for like minded Canadian Pontiac lovers. 

 

 



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Todd
Site Founder

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Canadian Poncho World Headquarters - Prince Edward Island

 



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Beautiful rare 57 Canadian Pontiac, as is. Out of 734, there can't be many left. Congrats on your feature car. Don

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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC.
1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada

Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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I am in love with this sweet time machine. I know of this car because it use to be owned by someone who belonged to the Fifty 567 Club out of Saskatoon. The car looks amazing as it stands right now and a proper complete resto would do this beautiful 57 complete justice. Dale, i am green with envy and thanks for saving a rare Canadian treasure. 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



Uber Guru

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Classic !

There should be Order of Canada awards given out to those who keep our automotive history alive.


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Addicted!

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Beauty Ride! Convertible, Bench Seat and Stick. Congrats and Thanks for sharing



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No Bike Mike

1968 Parisienne 2+2 Convertible

1984 Correct Craft Southwind

1994 Cruisers Aria

2005 GMC K1500 



Addicted!

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That is one fine piece of Canadian Pontiac history and a drop top to boot. Love the bench and floor shift - takes me back to my very first car, a '56 chevy with the same combo when I was 18 years young. Looks right at home on an Alberta gravel grid road which most were in '57.

You got a winner there - good luck on your restoration. Some times with patience your dreams do come true..

Fred



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A Poncho Legend!

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I'm almost speechless, WOW what a rare and interesting car.



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Ray White, Toronto ON

1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 




Guru

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Beautiful car!! Such a timeless classic, love the colour combo and interior.

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Poncho Master!

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WOW - I'm in lust......:love......as many here know my first car (1962) was a 57 Pontiac 4 door sedan 283, 3 spd.....:D
Would love to have this back when I was 16........:cool:........but could only dream about it.........:cloud
Congrats on the purchase......:winner........and enjoy this super cool ride..........:drive



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......big block, 4 speed, bench seat, it doesn't get much better

 happy motoring :burnout



Uber Guru

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beautiful !!

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Surrey BC

1963 Acadian Beaumont Sport Deluxe
http://www.63acadian.com/



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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I came across this car while out for a spin a few months ago, it's owners were enjoying the view of downtown Calgary from Crescent Heights, if I recall, I was driving my convertible as well. It's a cool 57, which will turn into a nice project. After talking for a while, it occurred to me I'd met Dale before - a couple years ago when Carl Stevenson was in town.

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70 2+2 convertible
70 2+2 hardtop
70 Parisienne hardtop
72 GMC Sierra

 

 



Addicted!

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What a sweet Canadian Poncho! Looks amazing at the top of the page. Congrats & enjoy!

 



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Tom

Sherwood Park

66 Grande Parisienne 4 speed

66 Laurentian 2 door sedan, project FOR SALE 

66 Parisienne 2 door hard top, sold. 



Guru

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Very cool... Very rare... Very awesome!

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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Gorgeous. Congrats. More fuel to feed my fire of really appreciating 50's CP's!



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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 
 


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Beauty 57!! Classy..yet sporty. Congrats on top of the page.

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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Just beautiful. Congrats and thanks for sharing.

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Jerel


A Poncho Legend!

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Love it. Good thing guys talk about cars and not shoes! biggrin



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Prince Edward Island

'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.



Poncho Master!

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great car I had one of those many many years ago



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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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I had the privilege of seeing this car at an A&W cruise nite in Calgary back in May.
I'm going to post some pics I took of it that evening. You'll notice by the number of pics, from every angle, that I was enthralled with it.

Unfortunately I didn't get to meet or talk to Dale.

Complete and pleasant surprise to both see it in May and then again at the top of the page for September.



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A Poncho Legend!

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Finally, finally, FINALLY!!!!!

I had the good fortune to meet canpontiac57 when he purchased my sister in law's car about 19 months. I delivered it to him in Calgary. We spent some time talking and he offered to show us his 57 convert. My jaw dropped and I've been hounding him ever since to get the pics and story to Todd so it could be featured. As the others have said, this car is COOL, just the way it is. I told him I would not sweat restoring it (although that sure would be sweet) but to enjoy it as is. So cool, especially pretty much wearing it's 60's hot rod garb.

Likely my all time favourite 50's Pontiac model.

Another great month at CP!

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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



Poncho Master!

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Just gorgeous !!

Al

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A Poncho Legend!

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I can't stop looking at pictures of this car!

My grade 8 music teacher drove one of these to work on a daily basis. I still see her and her husband at our service centre from time to time and I remind them that selling that car for $400 was not one of their brighter moves...

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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



Guru

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Where did the Laurentian fit into the model totem pole in 57? I think of Laurentians as low end cars but this one looks pretty flossy!

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John

Montreal 

26 1969 American Pontiacs

and a 1969 Canadian 2+2 Hardtop



A Poncho Legend!

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Top of the line for 57.

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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



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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We have to remember that the marketing guys used to play with our minds ( still do ). They would have a level 1, 2 and 3. We always wanted #1 but could only afford #3 so that's what we bought. By the time we thought we could afford a #2 or possibly a number 1 they would drop #3 and add another model above #1. Always leaving us wanting to move up.

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