Well hello everyone. First post here, so I may as well tell my story, bore a few people and show some pictures.
As the heading implies, my car is a 1973 Parisienne 4 door hardtop with a Pontiac 400. Originally I had a 1969 Olds 98 2 door hardtop that I had inherited from my grandfather. I had wanted to make it into a nice lowrider but unfortunately someone drove into it while it was sitting in a parking lot and wrote the car off.
Fast forward a few years and I still had the desire for a huge car to make into a lowrider. I looked at a 67 Toronado, a 67 Deville but both were pretty beat. The third car I looked at was the Parisienne you see here.
I bought it from the original owner (an old guy who had it sitting in the garage while his newer vehicles sat outside) with just under 40,000 miles. I paid next to nothing for it which was good as I didn't want an overly expensive toy. While the car was in good shape, it needed a good cleaning and a little tlc. Since I've owned the car, here's what's happened:
Got rid of the white vinyl roof and repainted the car in the original color of "Florentine Red"
During the repaint, I opted to paint the lower bumper the same color of the car
Gone were the original mirrors in favour of some "swan neck" mirrors from Mooneyes
Removed the ugly shag seat covers to find a perfect houndstooth interior (complete with power bench seat!). Then covered that perfect interior in a new set of ugly Hawaiian seat covers. :)
Got rid of the ugly red carpet in favour of a new set of black pile. Much better!
As the rear end had sagged over the years (air shocks) I decided I liked the ride height and chopped the front springs to achieve a level ride height. Car handles great but speed bumps are a nightmare!
Added dual dynomax mufflers and went with 60s inspired "Bellflower" exhaust pipes
Added 20" 150 spoke wire wheels...
Shaved the rear Pontiac emblem and had the taillight housings rechromed
Front and rear brake job, oil change and good to go!
Surfboard rear view mirror care of Mooneyes, bamboo license plate frame, tiki door locks and the required dash hula girl to finish it off!
All said, I couldn't be happier with how the car turned out. It has never let me down and the only time it didn't start on me is when I flooded it. It sees regular use all summer and is about to go into hibernation for the winter.
Hi Steve, It is not boring to see what someone is doing with their vintage vehicles. Some people may not appreciate the style, but it is your car and you get to pick what you do with it. If everyone only liked the same car or style life would be real boring. The car looks good for the style you have chosen.
Thanks for sharing and welcome to the group.
Rick
__________________
1967 Parisienne 2+2 1967 Grande Parisienne
1967 Laurentian 1967 Strato Chief
Remember, "The Government" only has money confiscated from us.
Welcome aboard ! Lovely car but still too small to my liking, got to get that 71 Grandville it's a couple inches longer along with the little 455 ! LOL ! Just kidding, I really like your car, I parted one out in 2002 same thing 73 Parisienne 4 dr Brougham 455 power everything but real rusty and tired motor...still got 15 miles a gallon driving it home for 200 Kms ! What smooth rides these cars are, just like caddy's and sitting on a comfy couch. Mine was blue with the white vinyl and black dash/carpet. Pascal
I'd kind of forgotten what the 73's looked like. So few are ever seen around here, that remembering what they look like gets forgotten. I must say, that is one nice looking front end, the painted valance make it look all the more. The crash mandated bumpers even look good now! Were they not hated once?
__________________
65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
Great Looking Ride!!! DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!!! Welcome!!!
__________________
1960 Pontiac Strato Chief Safari 1960 Laurentian Safari 1960 Laurentian 4door(scrapped) 2001 Grand Am Traded on a '96 Suburban 2WD 2002 Hyundai Accent(SOLD) 1968 Grand Parisienne Scrapped and SOLD
There is a guy I know who has a black 75 2 door 455 car. It has been sitting in his shed for about 15 years now and he just won't sell it to me (GRRRRRRRRR!) I would love to get it, cause those things look cool.
__________________
1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Thanks for the welcome and all the nice comments folks, much appreciated. It definitely isn't the norm but it turns heads everywhere and is a real comfortable ride.
As for the questions:
The seat covers I bought on eBay for about $20 a set.
I'm afraid the 455 Rocket from the Olds is long gone... I don't know what came of it...
As for thr crash mandated bumpers... When I got the car repainted, I had the plungers removed so I was able to suck the bumpers in a little closer to the car which I thought much improved the look of the front end as well as painting the lower valance.
It's funny as the first car I ever owned was a '67 Camaro and although this one isn't nearly as fast or worth as much money I love this car 100 times more than I ever did the Camaro. I think it will be with me for a long time!
sixtywagon, the early 60s wagons are among my favorite by the way (as are the bubbletops) but really, how could you not like those cars...
Oh, and I have the information about it from GM Vintage Vehicle Services kicking around somewhere that says how many were built in '73 and in what configuration and such. There weren't too many of them around so I figured it was my duty to save one! :)
Oh and about the dips in the road... Damn, running 20s is insane in Edmonton. I've dented up two rims already which pisses me off but what can you do... Try and avoid potholes I guess!
That's the price you pay I guess for having the look you want!
Iwas in Edmonton twice this summer infact I bought a car when I was there last. I did find some of the roads a little rough but they weren't near as bad as they are here in Regina.
sixtywagon, the early 60s wagons are among my favorite by the way (as are the bubbletops) but really, how could you not like those cars...
I know where theres a 61 Laurentian bubbletop that I may pick up. A friend of mines, uncle has it on a farm in northern Sask. No motor or trans, and the rockers are rusty, but I think he said the floor and trunk are good. Maybe next summer I'll cruise up there and look at it in person.
__________________
1960 Pontiac Strato Chief Safari 1960 Laurentian Safari 1960 Laurentian 4door(scrapped) 2001 Grand Am Traded on a '96 Suburban 2WD 2002 Hyundai Accent(SOLD) 1968 Grand Parisienne Scrapped and SOLD