A site member PM'd me a link to a 66 Canadian Pontiac magazine ad I've never seen before. It proves what I've always been saying about 65 vs. 66 Pontiacs! Thanks Mike for sending me the link that confirms it!
I had a beautiful white on red 65 Parisenne convt that I loved. But I have to agree that the styling changes on the 66 GP make it the most beautiful model of those two years. I also have a very soft spot for the 67 GP - coupe, 4 dr HT or wagon. Any one would do.
It shows everywhere, parts books, sales literature, service manuals etc but I've asked here numerous times and nobody has every come up with more than "I knew someone who knew someone who had one" type of thing.
I debated cloning mine to an L72 when I built it. My friend who has some L72 66 Chevies offered me some of the hard to find parts for the conversion if I wanted to do it but in the end I think the L36 was the right move.
How cool would an L72 wagon, Grande Parisienne or 2 door post be.......
__________________
1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Actually, almost everything. I don't have my parts book handy but it seems to me the pistons are different too. I do know the following things are unique-
-Heads
-Cam and lifters (solid)
-Intake (aluminum)
-Carb (Holley)
-Air cleaner is dual snorkel closed element
-Exhaust manifolds (Corvette manifolds)
-Block is a 4 bolt main
-Pulleys are deep groove and there is a belt idler to keep the belt from flying off at high RPM.
-Harmonic balancer
-Distributor (I presume different weights and springs)
-Exhaust system (no resonators on the tailpipes and the exhaust exits right behind the back wheels instead of at the rear bumper)
-Manual transmission only, no automatics
One interesting note. The L72 was also available in 66 full size Chev and used all the same stuff. It was also available in 68-69 Chev full size cars but I don't know that it was ever available after 66 in a Canadian Pontiac. And only the 66's used the Corvette exhaust manifolds, the 68-69's used normal 396-427 manifolds.
__________________
1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
It's a weird ad. I've had it hanging in my garage for a few years to give me inspiration but it actually shows a pretty stripped Grande with the standard belts, no tilt, no power windows and no headrests, all of which would make the car a lot more luxurious.
I would have to say the ad department kind of missed the opportunity to actually show options that were available, a great profit makers.