A peculiar difference between 55 and 56

davelacourse · Poncho Master!

A peculiar difference between 55 and 56

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

That blue car looks like one of my photos from Autofest. If so the blue car is a US model.

davelacourse · Poncho Master!

Both cars were from the Autofest photos you posted a while back, Ray - right here:

http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/index.spark?aBID=118110&p=3&topicID=30412872

I should have given you credit earlier, sorry.

Also I edited them to emphasize the gas door differences.

Dave

-- Edited by davelacourse on Tuesday 9th of March 2010 03:45:08 PM

eeluddy · Uber Guru

Is one Canadian and 1 USA?

davelacourse · Poncho Master!

I think the back halves were the same for Canadian versus American, but our real expert Al (Taylor55) will have to make a ruling.

But I am now pretty sure that the 55 and the 56 back halves had different quarter panels - and I am certain that my absolutely-Canadian 56 has the same raised "spear" as the American-built 56's.

Dave

Rolilk · Guru

As far as I know, the 55 and after uses the same chassis for both the US and Canadian cars, even in Pathfinder models.

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Rolilk wrote:

As far as I know, the 55 and after uses the same chassis for both the US and Canadian cars, even in Pathfinder models.

Don't think so, frt suspension on U S cars totally different than Canadian, & I think frt. X-member is diff. as well. along with the wheelbase?? Not an expert, might be wrong???

Taylor55 · Poncho Master!

The Americian 55's and 56's had two different wheel bases. The front fenders and hood will interchange with both but are longer and different shape at the wheel well than the Canadian cars. The rear quarters and trunk lid from the shorter wheel base Americian cars are the same as the Canadian cars. The longer wheelbase Starchief has longer quarterpanels and a longer trunk lid. So if someone needs rust free quarterpanels from a 4 dr sedan for example a quarter panel from an Americian Pontiac short wheel base 4 dr sedan car will fit. The odd time nos quarterpanels show up on Ebay and I have checked part numbers to verify the interchange between models.

The stationwagons are the easiest as the from the doors and windshield back the parts are all Chevrolet.

Al

davelacourse · Poncho Master!

Al, your 1955 rear quarters are different than my 1956 quarters, right? The 'bulges' on the side are bigger on the 56, right?

Dave

Taylor55 · Poncho Master!

Yes the bulges are on the 56 only both Can. and Amer. The quarters are the same otherwise meaning you can interchange 55 and 56 if need be. The 56 quarter is a little fancier with those 3 emblems and the chrome spear on the Laurentian.

Al

Rolilk · Guru

This is great info there is so much to learn of each and every year it seems. Thanks.
Ok so understanding that there are two wheel bases. Are g=both used in Canada, and US ? If so of which models are of the short base and which are of the long base? Sorry just so many questions arise now with this understanding.

-- Edited by Rolilk on Friday 12th of March 2010 10:10:57 PM

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

I have these two photos in my archives that I took about 4 years ago in Midland ON at the Real Canadian Superstore Cruise. Green car is a 57 Laurentian and red car is a 57 Star Chief. Look at the front fender in particular the distance from the door seam to the wheel well opening. This is a huge difference on the US car. This is what Al refers to, would be the same on 55/56 I believe.\

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I am always amazed that GM made two totally different "identical" cars. Talk about expense...

davelacourse · Poncho Master!

73SC wrote:

I have these two photos in my archives that I took about 4 years ago in Midland ON at the Real Canadian Superstore Cruise. Green car is a 57 Laurentian and red car is a 57 Star Chief. Look at the front fender in particular the distance from the door seam to the wheel well opening. This is a huge difference on the US car. This is what Al refers to, would be the same on 55/56 I believe.\

You are correct Ray, same thing for the 55's and 56's.

Cool how you took those photos from exactly the same angle and distance, so the two cars can really be compared!

Dave

davelacourse · Poncho Master!

Rolilk wrote:

This is great info there is so much to learn of each and every year it seems. Thanks.
Ok so understanding that there are two wheel bases. Are g=both used in Canada, and US ? If so of which models are of the short base and which are of the long base? Sorry just so many questions arise now with this understanding.

-- Edited by Rolilk on Friday 12th of March 2010 10:10:57 PM

1955-57 Pontiacs had 3 diffferent wheelbases:

- 115 inch, all Canadian-built Pontiacs

- 122 inch, Chieftan models (lower cost) American-built Pontiacs

- 124 inch, Star Chief models (top-of-the-line) American-built Pontiacs

Chassis of Canadian-built 55-57 Pontiacs was same as Chevrolet, different than American-built Pontiacs.

Bodies (including rear sheet metal) of all 55-57 Pontiacs was the same (with obvious differences from year to year) except for Star Chief (longer trunk and rear fenders) - however front end sheet metal (hood, fenders, etc.) of Canadian-built Pontiacs was different than American-built Pontiacs (although styling was similar, so except for the length of fenders that 73SC poointed out, they looked the same).

Dave

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

You can also see the difference in the rear fender length in my shots too. The two cars were parked back to back one spot apart so it made comparing them fun and easy. I took the photos the way I did by design smile

.

The Canadian Car is a 283 and resides in Penetang ON while the US car is a 347 and resides in South River ON.

My car was parked next to the Olds Starfire you see beside the Starchief and I see my blue hood up behind the green Laurentian.

-- Edited by 73SC on Saturday 13th of March 2010 11:28:47 AM

Rolilk · Guru

Thanks now I think I'm starting to get it even more. 5-6-7 are just so different then the 49-54 years. So from what I understand is in 55 they put a Chev chassis on a Pontiac body built to fit that wheel base..Canadian only Pontiac. Now are these smaller wheel base models, Pathfinders or did they have them in higher trims? I thought that the 53/54's were hard to understand. 55 and up is even harder it seems.
Boy it must be hard to find the correct sheet metal for the 55's.

-- Edited by Rolilk on Saturday 13th of March 2010 07:06:52 PM

Halfbreed · Addicted!

Does anyone knows for sure if the 1957 CP Frame is exactly they same as the US 1957 Chevrolet frame. For instance, are the front horns the same for bumper mounting? Are the cross members in the same location? Any other things don't compare?

The reason I ask is I'm thinking about purchasing an Art Morrison 1957 Chev frame to update everything underneath my Laurentian. I don't want to tear it apart and find out it needs major modification. Morrison's shop is located nearby but they don't speak Canadian, if you know what I mean.

57poncho · Uber Guru

I have been told by a guy who has 22 57 Pontiacs that 57 Ch*vy and Pontiac frames are the same. I know for a fact the it is a Chery frame under them. Any Ch*vy parts I have ordered had bolted right on. You can interchange most of the parts from the doors back.

davelacourse · Poncho Master!

Rolilk wrote:

Thanks now I think I'm starting to get it even more. 5-6-7 are just so different then the 49-54 years. So from what I understand is in 55 they put a Chev chassis on a Pontiac body built to fit that wheel base..Canadian only Pontiac. Now are these smaller wheel base models, Pathfinders or did they have them in higher trims? I thought that the 53/54's were hard to understand. 55 and up is even harder it seems.
Boy it must be hard to find the correct sheet metal for the 55's.

-- Edited by Rolilk on Saturday 13th of March 2010 07:06:52 PM

Canadian-built Pontiacs from 55-57 all had same wheelbase, whether lower-priced models like Pathfinder or higher-priced Laurentians.

Front end sheet metal from American-built Pontiacs of those years will not fit Canadian-built cars. Not that good sheet metal from any 55-57 Pontiac is plentiful. But I sure hope my car does not get hit in the nose.

Dave

Rolilk · Guru

57poncho wrote:

I have been told by a guy who has 22 57 Pontiacs that 57 Ch*vy and Pontiac frames are the same. I know for a fact the it is a Chery frame under them. Any Ch*vy parts I have ordered had bolted right on. You can interchange most of the parts from the doors back.

Vern
So what your saying is in 57 there is only one wheel base for all models of Canadian Pontiac? But they used different bodys depending on model? I know there is much confusion in the 49-54 era but for me it seems easy to set them apart. I'm still very much on the learning curve when it comes to the tri five's. THanks guys!

Dave thanks for starting this thread!

-- Edited by Rolilk on Sunday 14th of March 2010 12:13:47 PM

57poncho · Uber Guru

Same frame all mobiles in Canada. From what I have see there is some US Ch*vy that have a boxed frame from the factory. The doors glass rear quarters are all the same. The front fenders off a 57 Ch*vy will bolt right on to a Canadian Pontiac.

-- Edited by 57poncho on Sunday 14th of March 2010 06:19:21 PM

Play400 · Member

Only difference between the Pontiac and Chevy frame is the front horns or frame extension. The Chevy is rounded where as the Pontiac is squared off. You can also use the seamless frame but there is a slight difference in the width between the 2 piece and seamless frames. The spears on my 56's quarters are more defined than my 55's. Both are 2 dr sedans. Another difference is the tinted glass on my 56 is much darker that the 55's.