Before the snow finally came to rest on the Prairies, I remembered this old Pontiac plus a a couple of other vehicles I had seen years ago driving around old yards here. Since joining this forum there has been lots of interesting pics and I thought to toss this one in. I took the camera and finally got some pics of this car. Seeing the thread started on the '39 Pontiac also jogged my memory to get these pics on here. For starters, I for one did not know that GM built cars in Regina until I made Saskatchewan my home and when I first stumbled on this car, it was nice to see the cowl tag, other than history, to confirm this. You Guru's on here more than likely, knew this! So, here is a little history plus some pics of the car.....Oh, plus a '46 D**ge P/u and a '57 C**vy....
General Motors Ltd. Regina Plant (corner of 8th Ave. and Winnipeg St.) To meet the heavy demand for new cars in Saskatchewan General Motors built this plant in 1928. It was 370,000 square feet in area and the site was 38 acres. The plant was completed in six months and the first new all Canadian made Chevrolet boasting a six cylinder engine rolled off the assembly line in December 1928. The plant produced a new car every four minutes, a 150 cars per day. The plant closed in 1930 following the stock market crash and the start of the great depression. It was reopened in 1931 adding Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs and Maple Leaf trucks to the line. In 1941 the government took over the plant and renamed it Regina Industries Ltd. where it produced war materials and employed 1000 people. After the war automobile production was not resumed but national defense used part of the property to the mid-1960s. The province took over the property in 1967.
That's neat that you posted that. Yesterday my kids asked me where GM built cars in Canada. I said only in Ontario and Quebec. They said "never anywhere else?" and I said "no, I don't think so". Thanks for the lesson!
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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
69 belair wrote:welcome to the site garry. hopefully someone will save it, sounds like it was a great looker at one time.
Garry, sent a PM! Where this car is located, along with the Dodge p/u, I am sure there are very few people who know about it!! It was a long hike that day!! Maybe I will try and relocate this one as well as it's twin in the summer months to a more closer to home location!!! Yes, that '57 is in decent condition, except the mieces have the interior ruined!!! It too may find it's way home to me as well..........Here are a couple of more pics..
Vincent Jr has prompted me to continue to find out about the Regina GM Factory. It is important to me also because my 1934 Chevrolet is from Regina (brought out to Ontario sometime back in the 1960's). It was most likely assembled in that plant. I have been trying to find info on that plant with not much luck. The only thing that I can add to Vince's info is that this plant was constructed to supply cars to the potential buyers in the Western provinces. It produced the Pontiacs, Olds, Chevrolet's and Mclaughlin Buicks.
Walkersville, Ontario plant produced engines and GMC trucks and possibly Maple Leaf trucks as well. St. Catherines, Ontario produced items such as shock absorbers, axles etc... The shocks on my 34 are clearly marked "Delco-Lovejoy", "St.Catherines".
Many zone offices and Parts Depot's were spread out through the provinces as well. The thing that I love the most is that it is widely described that all of the Canadian GM Executives and almost All employees were Canadian. GM of Canada had its own agenda separate from the U.S. agenda and that proved successful.
Vincent, do us and yourself a favour. Go rescue that '57 and those old '34's!!!!
Vincent Jr has prompted me to continue to find out about the Regina GM Factory. It is important to me also because my 1934 Chevrolet is from Regina (brought out to Ontario sometime back in the 1960's). It was most likely assembled in that plant. I have been trying to find info on that plant with not much luck. The only thing that I can add to Vince's info is that this plant was constructed to supply cars to the potential buyers in the Western provinces. It produced the Pontiacs, Olds, Chevrolet's and Mclaughlin Buicks.
Walkersville, Ontario plant produced engines and GMC trucks and possibly Maple Leaf trucks as well. St. Catherines, Ontario produced items such as shock absorbers, axles etc... The shocks on my 34 are clearly marked "Delco-Lovejoy", "St.Catherines".
Many zone offices and Parts Depot's were spread out through the provinces as well. The thing that I love the most is that it is widely described that all of the Canadian GM Executives and almost All employees were Canadian. GM of Canada had its own agenda separate from the U.S. agenda and that proved successful.
Vincent, do us and yourself a favour. Go rescue that '57 and those old '34's!!!!
Well, when Spring turns to Summer, I will see if I can old gals before the scrap dealer does!! And, it does happen!! I have known about the Pontiacs for 10 years now..I need more property......
I have drafted a complete history of the Regina Plant...and would add that from 1932-1937 Regina became the Western Distribution Center. Cars destined frrom Oshawa had from 1935 (with the new model system) a 'W' added to the model number.
Note the Walkerville-built engine...I think 1934 was the first year for Pontiac engines to be built there, and also GMC units that used the same engine.
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Automotive Historian, Author and Journalist Deputy Editor, VINTAGE ROADSCENE Southampton, England
69 Belair, what do you mean. " Even for a four door. Get with the times brother, people are doing complete body off restorations on all kinds of four doors and have been doing so for many years now. 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
Very nice history
