I don't have info on the numbers but if it was Canadian built it was not a Chieftain as that was a US only model. If serial number says Pathfinder you can be pretty certain that's the model as Pathfinder was a Canadian model. You could also get a Laurentian in 56, not sure what the other models were but my recollection is that the Laurentian was the 56 BelAir equivalent of the Chevy, and the Pathfinder likely was the opposite of the 210 model chevy. Model lines shuffled again in 58 when the Parisienne came out as the opposite of the 58 Impala.  others on this site no doubt can give you more info. What engine do you have - inline six or small block V8?

Model number 2211 shows Pathfinder 2 door sedan with a 261 6 cylinder. Yours is the 640th of that model built in 56 according to my book. By book also says they sold starting at $2308
Hope this helps.
Todd

-- Edited by 69Laurentian at 22:45, 2008-04-05

Hi,  that is a good looking 56 Pontiac you have. In 1956 the data plate changed from one to two plates. The first one is located on the right front cowl and will have the serial number and engine number. The second data plate is located on the left front of the cowl and will have the Style number, Body number, Paint code number, Trim number and the Body Special Option  (BSO) numbers. Your serial number 6221160641 is broken down as follows 

6=1956
2211= Pathfinder 2 door
6= 261 six cylinder( the sixth digit has to be a 6 or 8)
0641 is the sequence number of all 1956 Pontiacs built in Canada which is  number 641 of 46,863 total built.

Please check the number again as it is possible you missed a number which should be between the 0 and 6.  The second  2 in the serial might be a 0.  By looking at the pictures your car has Pathfinder Deluxe stainless body side mouldings. I would need all the numbers from both plates to get you more information as there were 2 Pathfinder 2 door models built. They were Pathfinder 2 dr sedan , Pathfinder 2 dr Utility sedan. There was also 2 Pathfinder Deluxe 2 door models built which were the 2 door sedan and the 2 dr Club Coupe. 

Al

According to the numbers provided your car is a Pathfinder. What is confusing is that it has Pathfinder Deluxe side mouldings.Your car is also the 6041 Pontiac built in Oshawa for the 1956 Models. The body number 550 is the sequence number of Pathfinder 2 door sedans built.  I do have the 1956 Sales Facts Book. In this book it shows all Pathfinder models with a single stainless moulding on the side. When this model is two tone paint just the roof is the second colour. The way your car is with the sweep-line side mouldings and the two tone combination I would say it is a Pathfinder Deluxe model and the letter A was forgotten after the 2211 on the model number information. It is also possible someone added the sweep moulding at a latter time and two toned the car.If the interior is still original the Pathfinder was only available with a Gold and Black colour which was a gold striped beige vinyl with black patterned cloth seats,a beige headlining and black rubber floor mats.The Pathfinder deluxe was available in 3 colours. The engine number W = 261 and the 36793 is the total 261 built since they were introduced to the Pontiac line in 1955. With the paint code 2007 it was a single colour of India Ivory. Is the inside of the trunk India Ivory? The Canadian built 56 Chev's paint codes are the same as the Canadian built 56 Pontiacs except the Chev first number is a 1 and the Pontiac was a 2. If possible email me a few pictures of the car interior, both sides and a complete rear end shot.  These Canadian Pontiacs are very interesting to decode.My email address is sueal@personainternet.com

Al



Al