Although we recently featured a 61 Pontiac, after seeing Greg Bronson's 61 Parisienne Bubbletop at a local show recently I knew I had to feature it. Some of you may remember seeing this car when it was for sale in Swift Current, Sk. Gary purchased the car and has been upgrading it ever since. Gary swapped the small block for a period correct 348. The three speed manual trans was switched to a 4 speed. Gary tells us about some of the other upgrades he has made to this sweet '61:
This project started when I was 13 or 14 yrs. old. A local guy in my hometown showed up one day with a 1961 american ventura bubbletop 389-4 spd. Fifty years later I'm looking for another car to work on and I find a 61 parisienne bubbletop in Calgary. Four days later it's in my driveway. The car was originally sold in Swift Current Saskatchewan from Century Motors. It spent most of it's days in that province.
The car needed lots of body work, rockers ,lower rear quarters, bottom of front fenders and rear trunk support mounts. Front and rear suspension and brakes were replaced with new springs and shocks. A power disc brake system was installed. Ball joints ,tie rods, andbushings were replaced. The frame and under floor was scraped, wire brushed painted and under coated.
I painted the car myself in my garage,took me 3 weeks with original colour,jewel blue or richelieu blue and ermine white on the roof. A rebuilt 275 hp- 327-4 spd. was motivation for the first year. Then last fall I found a 348-250 hp and rebuilt it. I'm pretty sure it is a 61 pontiac engine. Last winter the 348 was installed and have around 1000 miles on it so far.
The interior is original except for a new rug. Thanks to Dale at NOS for finding original material to repair holes in drivers seat.
It's not a perfect car ,there are some small things I can do while continuing to drive. I need a couple of stainless pieces repaired and still looking for the small chrome emblems for front fenders to show it's a v8.
The real nice thing is when I go to a cruise I have the only one there.
I remember seeing the car in Calgary for sale and I seriously thought about buying it. Great Car and you've done a Super job with it!!! Glad to see it went to the right owner.
Heres what it looked like when I saw it last...
-- Edited by sixtywagon on Sunday 30th of September 2012 07:20:19 PM
1960 Pontiac Strato Chief Safari 1960 Laurentian Safari 1960 Laurentian 4door(scrapped) 2001 Grand Am Traded on a '96 Suburban 2WD 2002 Hyundai Accent(SOLD) 1968 Grand Parisienne Scrapped and SOLD
"So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think... The good outnumber you, and we always will." Patton Oswalt
'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.
Thanks for the nice comments and my name is Greg, thanks for the picture sixtywagon as I don't have any before shots. I don't play with my camera anymore. I bought the car without the rims ,not my style.
Thanks for the nice comments and my name is Greg, thanks for the picture sixtywagon as I don't have any before shots. I don't play with my camera anymore. I bought the car without the rims ,not my style.
The guy you bought it from had a Used Car Lot and picked that car up just to "flip" it. He put those wheels on to attract more people I think, because I believe when it was on Kijiji, before he bought it, it had the stock rims on it. Here are a couple more pics I have of the car.. Ken
1960 Pontiac Strato Chief Safari 1960 Laurentian Safari 1960 Laurentian 4door(scrapped) 2001 Grand Am Traded on a '96 Suburban 2WD 2002 Hyundai Accent(SOLD) 1968 Grand Parisienne Scrapped and SOLD
Thanks Ken ,I see the windshield is broken ,I was told it was fine, as you can see the lower body needed lots of work. It had 2 layers of metal from previous body job, much worse underneath top layer. The original rims weren't the same . I have a set of 15x7 rims painted body colour with the dog dish caps ready to go when I get the urge to change the look.
That would be real Kool with the dog dishes on it!
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1960 Pontiac Strato Chief Safari 1960 Laurentian Safari 1960 Laurentian 4door(scrapped) 2001 Grand Am Traded on a '96 Suburban 2WD 2002 Hyundai Accent(SOLD) 1968 Grand Parisienne Scrapped and SOLD