Due to the economics the US cars were not imported into Canada with out heavy "tariff's" So Gm built "their" pontiacs on the Chevy platform to keep cost in hand. The US Pontiacs have a different frame, suspension & rear ends, as well as the "true" Pontiac V8. there were no 6cyl. US full size cars built. After 1958 all US Poncho's were "wide track" compared to the skinny Cdn. built Chev. & Pontiac that look like they will fall over with the wheel set so far in!!! They look similar but if you get them side by side, you can see the differences, longer, wider, wheel stance, engines & even some of dash, diff. heater controls, strg. column etc. Someone else may have more info??? I have a 64 Catalina 2+2 Welcome to the site, grat bunch of folks here, ask all the questions you want, were here to help if we can, if not someone else will jump in.

 Welcome aboard, Ed! You will receive many answers to you question... Too bad I am not old enough to have lived through this era to have a better grasp on the concept! (Lots here on the site are though... (lol)

(lol) Sorry... But I am a Centennial baby..... Was around for the last 4 years or so but too young to remember! That is why I am into late '60's and 1970 Pontiacs!!! 

Hi Ed,

Here are a couple of sites that you can find more info on.

http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/

http://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-heritage-archive/

http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/shopping/parts/vintage

http://www.gm.ca/inm/gmcanada/english/about/OverviewHist/hist_gm_canada.html

To understand why GM built two versions of Pontiac for Canada and the United States you need to understand the history of the car industry in North America. The automotive industry evolved out of the carriage trade, which for the most part started as a localized industry. Every town had a carriage maker or at least a blacksmith. As the industry matured it became centralized on both sides of the border. Because of the larger US market the US manufactures had larger economies of scale and thus they were able to sell US made cars in Canada cheaper than the Canadian manufactures. As more and more cars were made and shipped into Canada the local manufactures, backed by the unions, started to put pressure on the Canadian government to protect their businesses. Thus the Canadian government imposed very high import duties on cars made in the US. This started in the 1930s and continued until the US and Canadian governments signed a free trade act. During this time GM was forced to set up separate manufacturing plants in Canada. This worked well except for Pontiac.

During the 1960s GM had five key brands. They were; Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Oldsmobile and Cadillac. Chevrolet and Pontiac were the two mass brands while Buick and Oldsmobile were the upscale brands. Cadillac was the luxury brand. The market accepted the higher price on Buicks, Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs because the alternative option which was to set up separate plants in Canada which would have been too prohibitive. The problem was what to do with Pontiac. Pontiac was a direct competing brand to Chevrolet and adding a tax on US made Pontiacs would have priced them out of the market. Thus GM decided to use Chevrolet running gear and separate Pontiac styled bodies.

For example Im an original owner of a 1967 Canadian Pontiac Beaumont which is mechanically identical to a 1967 Canadian or US Chevrolet Chevelle. The only differences between the two models are some exterior trim items and the interiors. The doors, hoods, trunk lids, roof, fenders and rear quarter panels are identical. In fact the Canadian Beaumont was made on the same assembly line as the Canadian Chevelle.

Gm wasnt the only manufacture doing this. Ford and Chrysler had similar manufacturing and model differences.

Bob

My 69 Parisienne uses Bonneville taillights, Catalina grille, Bonnie/Catalina dash and door panels, and Impala seat covers. A hybrid you might say. 

Regarding the tarrifs and reason for producing a cheaper Pontiac in Canada, I agree with all that has been posted so far. Another reason for this is the Canadian dealer network and the paring of divisions at a dealership. In Canada you had Chevrolet-Oldsmobile with Chevy being the value division (or loss-leader if you will), Olds the upscale. We also had Pontiac-Buick-GMC (and often Cadillac) at another dealership. I this case Pontiac was the "value" division and Buick the upscale with Cadillac at the top. Back then there were "captive imports" peddled at GM dealers, but in Canada it was usually the British Vauxhall (branded as Epic at Chevy dealers, Vauxhall at Pontiac dealers).

It costs money to set up body dies and stamping equipment, and it takes a certain number of units produced before you recoup the cost. By pairing Chevy & Pontiac and sharing stampings under the sheetmetal you economize on stampings, reduce parts stocking (hey, they both used Chevrolet parts). Economics, plus injecting a little Canadian pride into the exclusive Canadian series to give them appeal.

In the U.S. you would find different GM divisions paired, like Chevrolet-Buick (the Buick-Opel connection was a normal one in the U.S.)

Just to add.........

WE Canadians chose Pontiac over Chevrolet as Canadian built Pontiacs OUTSOLD Chevrolets in Canada most years in the 60's.

SUCCESS CAR was what the ads said in 64.

It's pretty tough to top Pontiacs styling & design with smaller engines & a lighter chassis.

Also,we Canadians are/were a "thrifty Lot" & preferred the 6 cyl. & 283's 2 bbl. fuel economy.

Even TODAY,a 20 dollar bill in the gas tank will keep the 2 bbl. in my 64 happy all afternoon.

Play400 wrote:

---

American Pontiacs always had more power.

---

 Not always. Take 1970 as an example. Top engine in a Bonneville was 455 at 360 HP, top engine in a Grande Parisienne was 454 at 390 HP. US Pontiacs never had anything close to an L79 327 at 350 HP either from the Pontiac 326. 

...really good stuff...interesting comment from gparis7 re the Cdn. Pontiac's skinny track width. This is why when we put the 20's on and bagged our car we also added wheel spacers....voila! - Wide Track! It does really make a difference to the look of the car..

And on a somewhat-related note, who'd 'a thought that "poor little brother" Canada wth the perennially weak $ and little market for all those years, would now be the envy of the world economically, with US retailers literally lined up now to get into this "rich" market. The cost of a "nice" home in Vancouver is now about what you'd pay for a mansion in Beverley Hills. Times they have 'a changed...!