1968 Parisienne Body-Is it Identical to a Catalina?

trowto · Veteran Member

1968 Parisienne Body-Is it Identical to a Catalina?

68 427 · Poncho Master!

FROM WHAT I CAN DETERMINE THE CATALINA WOULD NOT MAKE A GOOD DONOR FOR QUARTER PANELS, NOT SURE ABOUT THE REST OF THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE FLOOR IS MOSTLY(ALL?)IMPALA. I BELIEVE THE FRAMES CAN BE USED FROM ANY IMPALAS, BEL-AIRS, BISCAYNES AND CAPRICE OF THE SAME VINTAGE, WITH THE EXCEPTION MAYBE OF STATION WAGONS AND CONVERTIBLES(THEY MAY NEED SOME SLIGHT MODS TO WORK).

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I think I am safe in saying the sheet metal will not interchange from the US model to the Canadian model, especially the floors and trunk.

The frame swap is discussed in a thread elsewhere on this forum. I will see if I can find it for you, or you can try looking by searching words like "frame, swap, interchange".

67Poncho · Uber Guru

Welcome aboard Chris! The Parisienne is based on the chevrolet chassis so the American frame and the underside of the car is of no use to you at all. That being said, trim and doors, glass etc will be ok.

So, find another Canadian Pontiac or a chevrolet. We had discussions on another thread and I will try and find that for you....

-- Edited by 67Poncho on Tuesday 21st of September 2010 04:59:20 PM

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Reply Quote

been covered previously...
65-66 frames are the same....67-70 frames are the same but different.
the rear control arm crossmember is very different between 65/66 frames, compared to the 67-70 frames.

I found this quote. Hope it gives you an idea at least.

67Poncho · Uber Guru

Here is the link on one of the many discussions we had about American and Canadian frames..........

American vs Canadian frames.........

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

You folks are going to "HAVE" to remember that a US PONTIAC does NOT swap out with CDN. They may look the same but thats as far as it goes!!! Put my 64 Catalina beside a 64 Custom Sport & it's a whole different world!!! Floor pans, trunk pan, W/b Frame, 1/4 Panels, trunk lid, etc. Cnd.Pontiac, is a Chevy with a "smaller" Pontiac body!!!!

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

dualquadpete wrote:

You folks are going to "HAVE" to remember that a US PONTIAC does NOT swap out with CDN. They may look the same but thats as far as it goes!!! Put my 64 Catalina beside a 64 Custom Sport & it's a whole different world!!! Floor pans, trunk pan, W/b Frame, 1/4 Panels, trunk lid, etc. Cnd.Pontiac, is a Chevy with a "smaller" Pontiac body!!!!

I'd like to put my car beside a '64 Cat to see see all the differences ... pictures don't do the trick!

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Daryll, lets do this in your mind, Ok open the trunk, yours has a deep well across the floor, mines completely flat, spare is cross ways leaning toward back seat. Wheel base is longer with "wide Track", Perimeter frame as apposed to your X frame. Your heater control has
"slide" levers, mine has push buttons[looks like 2nd. radio] your strg. column sticks out way farther from dash than mine& mine has the optional 3 guages where yours has big clock] If it's a "CUSTOM SPORT" the console is totally diff. than my 2+2!!! + interior design & materials are diff. than Canadian . The doors & frt. fenders I think "might" be interchangeable in 64? & all the glass is for sure [2dr htp] Rear end is "similar to a OLDS & centre pots are interchangable, but not the axles or shoes. Brakes are 11x2" frt & back & frt suspension is a US Pontiac only!! Extra length of car is in the 1/4's & the Bonniville is about 7" longer [all in the 1/4's & trunk] Changing rear coils is a "PAIN" as the top retainer was bolted in "BEFORE" body was installed & there is hardly any room to get a wrench in the dimple in frame to get on bolt,need a dropped end 5/8 box wrench & lots of "patience" & of course the engine is Yankee Poncho & Transmission are US Pontiac & OLDS "SLIM JIM'S or HYDROMATIC'S up until 65 then the Turbo 400 came out!

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

dualquadpete wrote:

Daryll, lets do this in your mind, Ok open the trunk, yours has a deep well across the floor, mines completely flat, spare is cross ways leaning toward back seat. Wheel base is longer with "wide Track", Perimeter frame as apposed to your X frame. Your heater control has
"slide" levers, mine has push buttons[looks like 2nd. radio] your strg. column sticks out way farther from dash than mine& mine has the optional 3 guages where yours has big clock] If it's a "CUSTOM SPORT" the console is totally diff. than my 2+2!!! + interior design & materials are diff. than Canadian . The doors & frt. fenders I think "might" be interchangeable in 64? & all the glass is for sure [2dr htp] Rear end is "similar to a OLDS & centre pots are interchangable, but not the axles or shoes. Brakes are 11x2" frt & back & frt suspension is a US Pontiac only!! Extra length of car is in the 1/4's & the Bonniville is about 7" longer [all in the 1/4's & trunk] Changing rear coils is a "PAIN" as the top retainer was bolted in "BEFORE" body was installed & there is hardly any room to get a wrench in the dimple in frame to get on bolt,need a dropped end 5/8 box wrench & lots of "patience" & of course the engine is Yankee Poncho & Transmission are US Pontiac & OLDS "SLIM JIM'S or HYDROMATIC'S up until 65 then the Turbo 400 came out!

Pete, the thing that interests me most are the body panels/metal.

There is a guy in the Toronto airport area that sells re-pop '64 Cat rear quarter patch panels. He has them listed on his website as fitting 1964 Catalina/1964 Parisienne. I guess they would fit a Parisienne with some "tweaking" of the length, or would that be a lot of "tweaking"? Are the wheel arches/wells the same?

Thanks for the info., Darryl

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

For 68, the trunk pan is different from the 68 Chevy/Cdn Pontiac. The floor pans are the same. The doors, trunk lid, hood and fenders are the same as on the Parisienne. The frame attachments for the front bumper are different in that the US frame is completely different.

trowto · Veteran Member

Please clarify, which is the same as the Parisienne, except for the trunk pan and the front bumper mounts. The Catalina or the Impala? Thanks.

67Poncho · Uber Guru

gparis7 wrote:

For 68, the trunk pan is different from the 68 Chevy/Cdn Pontiac. The floor pans are the same. The doors, trunk lid, hood and fenders are the same as on the Parisienne. The frame attachments for the front bumper are different in that the US frame is completely different.

It's funny you say that as when I was doing my Rag in '95, they had the crusher come to Goose-Bay to clean up. Since I needed a trunk pan for my car, the best uncrumpled one I could locate was out of a '68 a Chev 4dr. The only thing that was different was the wheel well lips to the quarter, but I grafted them in!!

67Poncho · Uber Guru

trowto wrote:

Please clarify, which is the same as the Parisienne, except for the trunk pan and the front bumper mounts. The Catalina or the Impala? Thanks.

Chevrolet........... Did you read the link I posted on the difference of frames?

trowto · Veteran Member

Just to make sure I got it

For 68, the [Catalina] trunk pan is different from the 68 Chevy/Cdn Pontiac. [Use the Chevrolet.0

The [Chevrolet] floor pans are the same. [Use the Chevrolet]

The [Catalina] doors, trunk lid, hood and fenders are the same as on the Parisienne. [Use the Catalina].

The frame attachments for the front bumper are different in that the US frame is completely different. [Use the Parisienne only.]

Is all that now correct? Thanks.!

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

trowto wrote:

Just to make sure I got it

For 68, the [Catalina] trunk pan is different from the 68 Chevy/Cdn Pontiac. [Use the Chevrolet.0YOU CAN MODIFY THE 68 CHEVY PAN AS 67 PONCHO NOTED FOR THE 68 PARISIENNE, BUT THE CATALINA HAS A FLATTER PROFILE, AND A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STAMP; YOU MAY BE ABLE TO MODIFY BUT THE CHEVY PAN CAN BE HAD FROM THE AFTERMARKET WHERE AS THE US PONTIAC CANNOT.

The [Chevrolet] floor pans are the same. [Use the Chevrolet] YES; BUT SO ARE THE US FLOOR PANS; CHEVY PANS READILY AVAILABLE FROM THE AFTERMARKET.

The [Catalina] doors, trunk lid, hood and fenders are the same as on the Parisienne. [Use the Catalina]. YES

The frame attachments for the front bumper are different in that the US frame is completely different. [Use the Parisienne only.] FRAME IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ON THE US CATALINA - YOU CAN'T USE IT FOR THE PARISIENNE. MAY BE ABLE TO USE THE CHEVY FRAME BUT CHECK FIRST HOW THE FRONT BUMPER ATTACHES. LIKELY THERE ARE BOLT ON VERTICAL EXTENSIONS TO THE CHEVY FRAME HORNS. IF THAT'S THE CASE YOU CAN USE A CHEVY FRAME. ON THE US PONTIAC THE VERTICALS ARE PART OF THE FRAME. ON MY 69 PARISIENNE HOWEVER, THE VERTICAL EXTENSIONS TO SUPPORT THE BUMPER & GRILLE ARE BOLTED TO THE END OF THE 69 CHEVY FRAME.

Is all that now correct? Thanks.!

Please see CAPS above. Is your car 2 door or 4 door?

trowto · Veteran Member

2 door fast back, not notchback. Thanks.

Twyford Shanks · Veteran Member

Hi guys,

Does anyone know if the rear wheel arches are the same curvature on 69-70 US & Canadian models?

I am interested in getting some '69-'70 US fender skirts and need to make sure they'll fit the opening on my '70 parisienne... Looks like a good fit from the photo, but I've been there before buying parts that are close but do not fit on ebay before the dawn of the CP forums!

Anyone wanna weigh in in that one?

jonathanD · Poncho Master!

trowto wrote:

Just to make sure I got it

For 68, the [Catalina] trunk pan is different from the 68 Chevy/Cdn Pontiac. [Use the Chevrolet.0

The [Chevrolet] floor pans are the same. [Use the Chevrolet]

The [Catalina] doors, trunk lid, hood and fenders are the same as on the Parisienne. [Use the Catalina].

The frame attachments for the front bumper are different in that the US frame is completely different. [Use the Parisienne only.]

Is all that now correct? Thanks.!

If this is true would it be the same as the 67 parisienne