As you may or may not know, many Canadian Pontiac models were shipped overseas in C.K.D form (Completeley Knocked Down) for assembly by local manufacturers. Many were shipped to Australia. Rod Crow owns this fine 1967 Parisienne. This right hand drive Poncho looks stunning in this colour combination. Rod tells us how he came about purchasing this great car:
When I was a teenager, factory-built right hand drive versions of cars from the US and Canada were quite common here. In the late 60s you could buy a new Mustang, Galaxie 500, Impala, Parisienne, Dodge Phoenix (a rebadged Plymouth Fury) and a range of Ramblers including the Hornet, Javelin, Matador and Rebel. I particularly loved the look of the pillarless sedans - the Parisienne, Impala and Phoenix - and have wanted one ever since. The Phoenix was discontinued in 1972 and the Ramblers a few years later. The rest were discontinued in 1968 or 69.
I kept putting off a purchase for lack of a garage. For 20 years we have lived in an old, inner suburb where off-street parking is uncommon. I can't persuade the family to move away from the harbour ferries, shops, cinemas and restaurants that we have within walking distance. I haven't resolved this issue, but I decided last year that I couldn't wait any longer.
For some reason, I never see these cars on the road, or for sale, in Sydney. I flew down to Melbourne to look at a Phoenix, but it was a mess. I drove to Newcastle to look at an Impala. Ditto. Eventually, I found a Phoenix locally but it was too molested. I even drove a Galaxie, but I really wanted a pillarless. I saw my Parisienne on eBay and thought it looked nice, but waited a while for one nearer home. Fortunately, other potential purchasers had fundraising problems while I was procrastinating.
I can't think of anything else to say about buying the car that I didn't already put in my post to the Welcome Aboard forum, which contained
"a short history as told to me by Henry, the guy I bought it from.
It was bought new in Ballarat, Victoria, by Henry's twin brother but soon resold to a local who used it to tow his racehorses. The engine blew up in 1977 or 78 and the owner put the car in a shed and started a DIY engine rebuild, but didn't get very far. Henry, who is a farrier, visited occasionally and made several offers to buy the car. In 2006, a horse had a problem galloping that seemed incurable. Henry offered a deal - sell me the Pontiac if I can fix the horse. He fixed the horse and the car was his for $2000. He packed up the pieces of the front end and had it towed home. He had professionals rebuild the engine, repaint the body in the original colours and fix the other results of years of neglect.
Last year, Henry put the car on eBay. I flew down to have a look and loved it. I relied on Henry's description of the car's mechanical condition and didn't get it inspected (I know very little about car mechanics). I cruised home to Sydney with all the windows down - 1000 kms. in 11 hours. Fantastic! It stalled on me once at some road works, but it restarted after a few minutes rest. I was not too worried - it was nearly 40C that day.
This is my first and only classic car. I've wanted one since I got my driver's licence in 1972. The car had 61,000 miles on the clock when I bought it. Apart from the CD player that Henry installed, it looks original to me, but I haven't had a proper look at any others in the metal yet. Perhaps you guys can decide.
As you will know from other posts, it was assembled by Holden from an RHD kit. I have read that some of the fittings, like the heater, wipers and seats, weren't part of the kit. I know the side mirror is Holden. It was missing, and I fitted it to get NSW registration."
I had the drive shaft straightened to cure some vibration above 55mph, and my mechanic replaced the U joint at the same time, even though the old one was only 2 years old (?). He also installed electronic ignition and a new petrol tank sender. I got some other small stuff fixed like oil leaks, a couple of rust spots and rainwater entry around the front door windows and boot (or, as you would say, "trunk"). The only things that don't work are the clock and cigarette lighter. I can reset the clock hands but the clock won't go. I don't smoke, so I don't worry about the lighter. The central horn button works but not the thumb buttons on the horizontal spokes. One of these days....
I have a front disc brake kit on order. There's a company here that makes kits for Chevs and Pontiacs using Holden Commodore parts. I'll be a lot happier in city traffic with modern brakes.
Otherwise, it's a beautiful original car, and I love driving it. It's solid and smooth at 70mph, but a bit of a handful negotiating my narrow local streets and their traffic calming devices.
This car is simply beautiful! The color combination with the red interior is very classy looking. Driving this car, how could you not have pride of ownership? Awesome car!
Looks as though there are modern seat belts but otherwise very original looking! Thanks for sharing your car with us Rod.
What a unique car and such a beautiful color combination! Nice ta see the hobby is alive and well all around the globe, especially in the pontiac way. Drive on fellow car nut, drive on!
Again I have to eat my words. Over the years I have called any car a parts car if it was not a 2 door hardtop or a convert! That thinking is so closed minded...
Rod, your car is absolutely stunning. As stated, the colour combination is perfect.
The look of that car with the side glass rolled down is SO cool and of course for us North Americans, the RHD part of it is the icing on the cake.
Congratulations on having your car featured. Great story too!
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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
I'll say it again ... beautiful car!!! Deserving of car of the month honours!!!
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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.
cdnpont wrote:Two 1967 moredoor HT fullsizers as "Car of the month". What's the car hobby coming to these days?
It's a plot to take over this site. I can feel it......
Rod, I hadn't noticed the heater control before. That looks like some sort of aftermarket part that GM must have used. It sure doesn't ring any bells as far as being a factory part from any other model.
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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
My father had a 68 Laurentian. Different in many ways, but I can se the similarities. Brings back a few memories. His was a 4 dr sedan (post). The Hard Top has much nicer looks, and cruising with the windows down would be great.
These cars are getting rare here - where they were more common to begin with. I imagine they're rare as hen's teeth there.
Hey, I thought this was the Canadian Pontiac site, not the Down-Under Pontiac site. Just kidding. A great Feature Car.
I love the colour combo! (note the colour of the 67 Beaumont in my avatar, Silverglaze with Provincial White).
The 327 is a great powerplant for your Parisienne. One thing I notice is the red interior. In 1967 red interior generally was offered only on certain body styles, and only in all-vinyl. My Beaumont Parts Book shows in 67 red interior was available on the cloth interiors & even on the base models, but only for export. It looks like it was the same deal for the Big Pontiacs as well.
The Rally Wheels on your car look like the correct ones for a factory disk brake 67.
I notice that the heaters used on the export cars were not like the hot water type used around North America; rather they are a lighter duty add-on type.
Shifting a Powerglide on a RHD car isn't too confusing, but try shifting a 3-speed column shift! When I was in Bali, Indonesia I saw numerous RHD 4-speed column shift trucks, plus one big old 1962 Impala Sport Sedan. The RHD 1961-1964 Chevy & Pontiac big cars used a RHD 1961 Pontiac dash. The next generation RHD Chevy & Pontiac big cars used a RHD 1965 Chevy dash, at least through 1968.
-- Edited by CdnGMfan on Friday 3rd of September 2010 02:10:18 AM
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67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
My father had a 68 Laurentian. Different in many ways, but I can se the similarities. Brings back a few memories. His was a 4 dr sedan (post). The Hard Top has much nicer looks, and cruising with the windows down would be great.
These cars are getting rare here - where they were more common to begin with. I imagine they're rare as hen's teeth there.
Nice car.
Yeah, they're pretty rare. I've seen one other on the road in the 9 months I've owned mine. There always seems to a few for sale though, like these below. The 67 with spats is the same colour combo as mine.
congratulations on your car, really nice...I know the problem:"but a bit of a handful negotiating my narrow local streets and their traffic calming devices" same here...lol
Ditto... I have that same problem.....
Great car!! and congrats on having it featured...
Well done
-- Edited by craigd on Friday 3rd of September 2010 09:43:32 AM
I was just explaining this car to my wife and son when they noticed the picture. I had to bump this up in case some of the newer members this month have not seen this unique Canadian Pontiac.
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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
