My 57 Laurentian appears to be an original Super Strato-Flash 283(220hp) car. All it's missing is the original oil bath air cleaner and I was trying to find out which 283's would have the correct air cleaner for my car? I know the 283 is really a 57 Chevy "Power Pac" engine so would an air cleaner off a Power Pac 283 be the only correct one?
Has anyone seen another Super Strato-Flash 57? The factory broucher shows the engine being a green color but my 283 is a maroon colour with silver on the raised "Pontiac" letters on the valve covers and appears to be all original and untouched. Can anyone confirm that the maroon is correct?
'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.
Steve are there any further updates on your 57 Pontiac. Like many members on here, i remember when your car was up for sale before you bought it. An amazing find because most of the car is there and it has a rare Power pack. The most amazing thing is the paint on that 283 Power pack. Was there any conclusion on the "facts" about this engine colour. Maybe Ray can shine some light on the engine paint on your engine. Steve if you have done any work on your 57, are there any photos to share with the Pontiac brotherhood here. Good luck with the resto. 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
Hi Guys First thanks for the offer but I don't think that is a factory 1957 283. The valve covers are from a later Chevy as well as the paint colour. If it was a factory 57 283, the valve covers would have "Pontiac" in raised embossing and staggered valve cover bolt holes. They would be painted either green or maroon. The one in the pic looks Chevy Orange.
Here's some info posted by 52Cheiftain in a previous thread about the car and it's unusual maroon painted block. I believe it proves the cars lineage beyond any reasonable doubt when added to all the other evidence I found and documented here.
52Chieftain:
"If it is the the colour of the engine, which bothers some of you because you have never seen a maroon 220HP 283, then lets set this straight. Yes the 220 HP 283 did come from the factory as such painted maroon. I have seen about 8 of them in my time as a mechanic in the Pontiac Buick GMC dealership. Also my brother and I had pulled one from the scrap yard out of a Poncho to put in his 56 Chev 2dr in the late sixties. So the maroon 220HP 283 did exist!"
I just sold the car to a guy locally that has two U.S. Pontiac hardtops(55,57). I hated to sell it because of how rare and complete it was. But the reality is that I'm on permanent disability with a bad back. Cash is tight and I'm getting married in the Spring. I'm about a 5 on a good day and she's a 10 in my opinion. So I have to make sure I get her to the alter before she wises up!!!
Combine that with a 110 year old farm house that I'm fixing up and no garage yet, I decided to let it go to a good home instead of rusting in my yard. I did the same with my sold new in Canada 1970 Cran red/BLK stripes LS6/M22/3:11/cowl/tach/gauges/bench Chevelle. I'm not in a position to give either car the attention and money they deserve so I let them go.
The upside is they paid for the wedding and I still have the 57 Safari 4dr wagon with it's original 283-2brl, a rough 57 Pathfinder Deluxe 2dr Sport coupe, and my personal favorite a 57 Pathfinder 2 dr Business Coupe. Along with those I also have a 46 IHC truck and a 75 Vette basket case.
They guy who bought the Laurentian offered to buy the Safari if I want to sell it. But I'm planning on building a 60's Gasser out of the Business Coupe so I may try and keep it as a matching tow vehicle. If I can save the 57 Pathfinder Deluxe, it's hopefully going to be a 50's custom sled because the body is really rough and the original drivetrain is long gone. I'll post pics when the I start working on the Gasser project. Right now I've just been squirreling away parts as I can afford them.
-- Edited by Pheadrus on Sunday 10th of November 2013 12:33:36 AM
-- Edited by Pheadrus on Sunday 10th of November 2013 12:35:20 AM
Steve thanks for the updates on the 1957 Pontiac. I hope she went to a good home. Wow i never knew you were the 1957 Pontiac fanatic that you are, good to see. Thanks for sharing your 1957 Pontiac projects with the brotherhood here. Good luck with all your 57 Poncho projects. The brotherhood of 1957 Pontiac lovers. Here are some pics of my 57 Pontiac dream boat. Cheers. George.
Over the years I've been incredible lucky to find some rare Canadian cars around my area. Each year it gets harder and harder to find anything salvageable regardless of make or model.
The 57 addiction started about 3 years ago when I noticed the tail of the Pathfinder Deluxe sticking out from some brush on the way to a fishing spot. At first it was more about rescuing a cool 50's 2dr hardtop from a farmers field before it went to the crusher. Once I dragged it home I really started to appreciate the lines on the 57 Pontiac's. Now it's a favorite out of all the different cars I've had over the years.
I had 4 more that were stripped for parts, plus another parts car I still have to drag home. All were within 3 hours of my home. Surprisingly, it only took about 3 years to find all of them. Considering where I'm located(northern Ontario) and how high scrap prices have been I was very lucky. The fiberglass hood with the 60's style hood scoop is my favorite and it's going on the Gasser. It has to be rare with it being made for the Canadian cars and molded as one piece. I wonder who would have produced it?
I've e-mailed a few people who said they had fiberglass fenders but I could never confirm or buy them. So I might try and make molds to produce my own fenders for the Gasser.
It is real sweet to see your collection of 1957 Pontiac's. Steve, like yourself i love the the sweet lines of the 1957 Pontiac. It truly is a beautiful automobile, no doubt about that. I am happy to see other folks like yourself appreciating and keeping alive those sweet 57 Ponchos. We here are looking forward to seeing any further updates on any of your 57 Pontiac's. Cheers. George.
