Happy New Year! It's hard to believe another year has come and gone. Let's begin 2019 with a Poncho that has been in the same family since new. Danny Lavoie is the proud owner of this 1969 Pontiac Parisienne. Danny's father bought it new and Danny inherited it when his mother passed away. He has continued the tradition of keeping the Parisienne in tip top shape while also doing a few modifications as well. Danny tells us more:
"My dad bought the 69 at Jenner motors Edmonton new. He and Fred Jenner were Second World War buddies. He previously had two Pontiacs he bought new; A 62 and a 66. Both were four door Laurentian's as we had a large family.
By '69 we were all grown up. I was 18 when he came home with this lovely 2 door Parisienne! I said "Wow dad that is nice!". I made him feel very proud of his new car that day (and my friends did as well)!! I never drove it then because my older brothers (two of them) smashed his cars in the past so he decided I couldn't drive it! I stole it a few times in the night though!!
I've had the car for 12 yrs since mom passed. It had 68000 miles when I got it. It was kept in a garage all its life. I installed a new carpet, new front bumper, rebuilt the transmition, and installed another 350 cu in engine. Someone had installed an oil gauge under the dash many yrs ago. Two years ago while I was warming the car up to go to a car show the little plastic oil line broke and oil leaked out under the car on my gravel driveway. I got 5 miles down the road when the engine started knocking ruining the perfectly good factory engine! The idiot light had been disconnected so I had no warning. Now the new engine has both a light and the gauge!
I had the transmission rebuilt when I was swapping the engine last winter. I did the trunk up a bit because I have too much time on my hands!
This winter I hope to do a bit of body work on rear wheel wells and repaint the car. I also installed the side pipes and wheels as well as lots of steering and brake parts.
The car is very clean and tight underneath. I think my dad would be proud. And Dad would be happy to know I've never been in an accident in my life and I'm 68!! Thank you Canadian poncho I love the site. Danny"
A tribute to Dad....how cool is that? I'm sure he would be proud of how you've preserved and improved it.
Obvious that you efforts are a labour of love as seen in the results.
Congrats on being the first feature car of the new year.
wow, I am so honored to be a feature car. I couldn't ask for a better start to the new year thanks guys and Canadian poncho. My dad would say wow as well!!
I never get tired of seeing a new car up there, and hearing the stories that go along with them. It's one of my favourite things about Canadian Poncho.
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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
Congrats on Car of the Month. Awesome car and story. Not too many can say that the cars been in the family since new. I hope to see it in person this spring at a cruise night or coffee meet.
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'68 Parisienne 2+2 Convertible Matador Red (Resale Red but not for sale).
'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.
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
cutting a roof off a four door is NOT a convertible.....
65 Parisienne convertible.one of 49 built for RHD export market,402BBC, T400, 2500 stally, posi rear, upgraded brakes with front discs, FUEL FAST efi custom built by me.
Great looking ride. Nice that you could keep it in the family. Interesting story on the oil pressure line. Same thing happened to me with a plastic line on my '64. Rebuilt 283 with 2000 miles on it,. when I suddenly heard a ticking sound at idle. Looked at the gauge,.0 PSI! 5 quarts of oil all over the engine compartment. Luckily, I shut it down within 30 seconds. No engine damage. Lesson learned. only use a copper line!
Awesome to see that your classic is a "driver". Keep cruising!
More than just an old car, this one means a lot to you and you can always remember when. Sneaking the car out in the middle of the night, I guess now the story can be told. My friends and I did the same thing. You'd never have gotten away with it after the sidepipes were installed.
I do remember gold '69 Parisiennes around, but that was probably in the early 80s. It is nice to see one not only survive, but thrive.
Congrats on making Feature Car.
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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