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Post Info TOPIC: August 2022 Feature Car


A Poncho Legend!

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August 2022 Feature Car


John Downton (aka gparis7) has been a member of Canadian Poncho since pretty much the beginning. However most folks didn't realize he owned this rare 427 powered 1969 Parisienne. We are honored to feature his Pontiac before it goes to a new owner. John and a previous owner installed a few options that a performance minded buyer (or savvy sales manager) would have ticked off when ordering the car from Oshawa. John gives us all the details:

 

Rare 69 Pontiac features an LS1 427 engine in its one and only year of production

69 Pont right frt.jpg

 

 

 

I bought this car from a well-known dealer in Quebec back in 2003. While I always liked 69-70 full sized Pontiacs, I never considered buying one until I saw this car in person on a business trip to Montreal.

 

69 Pont dr side frt view.jpg 

 

I was attracted to it mainly because of the rare powertrain, an LS1 335 horsepower 427 cubic inch engine in it is first and only year of production in Chevrolet and Canadian Pontiac full size models. This car had the added attraction of factory installed N10 code dual exhaust which, combined with the Rochester Quadrajet carb and higher compression, was probably good for a few more horsepower. It also had the Turbo 400 automatic transmission and a 12-bolt rear end, all of which were important to me. I also liked the white over green color scheme and the beautiful rear bumper and taillight treatment on the Parisienne.

Pont 427 engine 1.jpg

 

 

And of course, its excellent original condition. Even today it shows just over 35,000 miles and is completely rust free with very minimal wear on the original green upholstery. This leads me to believe that the car was winter stored, and the mileage is original

 

69 Pont right front emblem.jpg 

 

On top of all that, it was fitted with a number of unusual comfort and convenience options, leading among them the Comfortron automatic air conditioning system, as well as power steering, brakes, windows, vacuum door locks, seat, and trunk release. In addition, it had the lighting group including the map light in the rear-view mirror, which was available for the first time in 1969. It also had a tinted windshield, AM radio with rear deck antenna, remote drivers side mirror, and rear window defogger.

 

 427 Pont eng 3 AC.jpg

 

What it didn’t have from the factory were desirable performance options such as HD F40 or F41 suspension with updated springs and front and rear sway bars, front disc brakes, or a limited slip differential. I know this from the factory GM documentation.  These performance “gaps” were addressed by previous owner(s) and by me.

 

69 Pontiac 2.jpg 

 

I do not have the ownership history but somewhere along the way a former owner installed a 3.42 posi-traction unit salvaged from a 69 Camaro, added upgraded shocks and as far as I can tell, also springs, plus a rear F41 sway bar. Since I have owned it, I added the larger front F40/F41 front sway bar, as well as a complete OEM single piston front disc brake setup. When the disc brakes were installed all of the brake system was renewed from the master cylinder to the wheel cylinders, calipers, hoses, shoes, pads, and rotors. 

69 Pont rear seat.jpg

 

 

 

I also installed some comfort and appearance items, including Soft Ray tinted rear windshield, side, and door glass, a matching passenger side door mirror, halogen headlights and a front grille from a 69 Bonneville or Grand Parisienne, as I like it better than the Parisienne grille. 

 

69 Pont right door panel.jpg 

 

Because the car originally had drum brakes in front it was delivered with 14-inch steel wheels, which were not with the car when purchased. The disc brakes require 15-inch wheels, and I have run a variety of wheels since I bought it. For a long time, I ran 15 by 8 Corvette wheels with Beaumont disc brake centre caps. Today the car is fitted with four new 235 75 15 radial tires mounted on refinished 15 by 7-inch Pontiac Rally II steel wheels.

69 Pont right door panel.jpg

69 Pont left door panel.jpg

 

 

As many people know, the early generation urethane nose in the center of the 1969 grill is prone to cracking and, on this car, it was no different. Fortunately, I was able to acquire an excellent unit from a member here and that is the nose it wears today.

69 Pont trunk pan and tools.jpg

69 Pont trunk pan right side.jpg

 

 

This Pontiac is an excellent original vehicle in very good working condition; drives and handles very well; is completely rust free; and shows no signs of ever being driven in Canadian winters.  It’s rare and I am happy to have been its caretaker for the last 19 years.

69 Pont right rear view.jpg

69 Pont rear trunk view.jpg

 



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Todd
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A Poncho Legend!

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What a beauty and what a story!

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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



Poncho Master!

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WOW! What a super ride. Love those big blocks in a big car......biggrin.

Enjoy the ride John, it's a beauty.



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......big block, 4 speed, bench seat, it doesn't get much better

 happy motoring :burnout



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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That is a great car John, so unique in many ways.

Don

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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



A Poncho Legend!

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I should add, great job doing tasteful upgrades, just right.

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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



Member

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What a cool Poncho. I always loved that 69 rear as a kid. Perfect Full size car.

Scott

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Guru

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Posts: 626
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What a great original BB car, upgrades are so well done no one would ever know. Thanks for sharing and a great cool white car to be heading up this hot August!

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Guru

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Posts: 817
Date:

I love it, especially with all those options!



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"Dad, which car are we taking?"                      "The Pontiac!"

"Which one?"                                                    "The red one!"

'67 Parisienne 2+2 - red

'01 Montana            - red

'06 Buick Allure

'12    Japanese minivan



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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very nice car i always like to see a stock BB under the hood next owner will be very happy!

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http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t51640378/timbuks-first-invader/ http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t63146560/timbuks-second-invader/  vancouver island



A Poncho Legend!

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Posts: 20049
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John and I were in discussions with John Scotti of Montreal to buy this car at the same time. You snooze you loose Big Ray. I remember distinctively calling Scotti back after discussing the car from my office in Osgoode Hall only to learn the car had been sold. Never one to cry over spilled milk but it sure is a nice car.

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Ray White, Toronto ON

1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 




Uber Guru

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Posts: 3168
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As a pure 1969 Canadian B-Body fan, I do agree with all the comments above !

John do you happen to have the GM docs on this car ?

What option is the dash lights ?

/download.spark?id=2498192&aBID=118110

Is it W74 ?

427 22 doc1.jpg

 



-- Edited by ABC123 on Saturday 6th of August 2022 04:23:00 PM

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https://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t63333628/click-here-to-support-canadian-poncho/

 



Addicted!

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Gorgeous old girl, and thank you for preserving (and enhancing) this artefact of our collective heritage! Hope to see her IRL, at some point.


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see2xu

66 Beau 2DHT 427FI, 700R



Veteran Member

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Posts: 26
Date:

Very nice car



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robert currie


Guru

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Posts: 819
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Nice looking ride with great options!

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Now appearing as "68 Grande" 



Poncho Master!

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It has the warning lamp group I think... with the BELTS "countdown" timer!

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