Spring is in the air! With each passing day it get's a little bit warmer. Many of you have already brought your Poncho's out from winter hibernation. Some of you are lucky enough to have convertibles and before you know it top down weather will be here. One lucky convertible owner is CP Member 1965CS (Steve) who owns this beautiful 1965 Pontiac Parisienne Custom Sport. This Custom Sport wasn't always this nice (the "before" shot of the trunk will make you cringe!). Steve had a frame off restoration performed on this desirable car and the results are stunning. Steve gives us a rundown on what he did to bring this Poncho up to better than new condition:
"My fascination with this car began about half a century ago when my dad brought home my grandfather’s 65 Custom Sport. He had bought it new in 1965, but just a few years later, decided he didn’t need it anymore. It then became our family car and on my 16th birthday, I got my license with it. A couple years later, I bought a 65 Custom Sport convertible for the shocking price of $300 - about 2 week’s pay at the time. I loved that car, having the 300HP 327, tilt, pwr windows and reverb. But sadly only a few months later it was ‘T’ boned and destroyed. I vowed that one day I would replace it and about 25 yrs later I found the one I now have.
The grills, bumpers and fenders were quite bent, along with the rear quarters full of bondo. Most of electrical was molested so windows, roof, gauges and charging system weren’t working. Surprisingly, all the stainless and chrome was intact.
Ripped seats, door panels, cracked dash, ripped carpet, and overall filthy interior.
Inside trunk, not sure what this was about.
Even so, still felt it had potential, so off it went for a frame off resto in late 2006.
More resto pics @ cosmiccolor.ca
After five previous layers of paint was removed and extensive rusted metal replaced, it was then painted with Cadillac’s white diamond pearl. By the end of 2008, the re-chromed bumpers and trim were installed and the Interior was re-done in original parchment and black dash. All electrical was replaced and upgraded with the addition of several relays for the pwr locks, trunk, halogen lights and theft security. Final touches were LED lighting for interior, taillights and DTL along with the original white roof replaced in black.
Main mechanical upgrades replaced the 283-glide with a mild cam 350-700R4 and a 3:42-12 bolt replaced the 3:08-10 bolt. This combination works well for both power and MPG and I drive it everywhere, clocking over 30,000 miles so far.
Great to see your car at the top of the page there Steve. I've seen your car a couple of times in Penticton and it's a beauty. Also glad it looks so good even though you are putting lots of miles on it. Little prejudice on your choice of convertible top too. Congratulations.
Absolutely gorgeous car ! Great restoration ! I've always loved the '65 Custom Sports and there were so few made that year that by now they are seldom seen. You did a great job on this one Steve,and it is a real keeper. Congratulations!
I think I mentioned this here before Steve but when I was about 15-16 pumping gas evenings and weekends, one of my favourite cars that I fueled up on a regular basis was a white 65 Custom Sport, white interior, power windows, 283 powerglide. I just always loved the look of that car, the colours just did it for me.
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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
Beautiful car and restoration. Hardly ever see a 65 around here.
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
The pearl white looks great! Glad you got "your" car back after so many years.
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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.
Is that a vacuum gauge on the right side of the cluster? I think we've covered it before, but which of the 65's got a vacuum gauge? I'd robbed one out of a '65 in the late 70's, I wish I still had it around.
The photo of the rolling chassis shows the positioning of the convertible extra body cushions midway along the rocker panels, and directly above the rear axle.
As far as i know the vacuum gauge was only in the 65 Custom Sports as the clock was moved to the console in that model and they had to fill the space with something.
As for the car i love the way it is set up to cruise. My kind of machine; a great and comfy drivers car.
-- Edited by 66 Grande guy on Sunday 1st of April 2018 11:46:29 AM
Super sweet. Great colour combo.
I usually prefer white convertible tops for their "pop" but I have to say in this case it would be " too much ".
Without trying to start an argument I'd have to say that 65 styling was Pontiac's best. Looks like it's moving even while stopped.
No wonder the 65 Pontiac was Canada's best seller that year.