Enjoy 5% OFF at VEVOR Canada! and Support Canadian Poncho at the Same Time!
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Canadian Poncho Homepage -> Canadian Poncho -> Monthly Feature Cars -> February 2023 Feature Car
Post Info TOPIC: February 2023 Feature Car
Canadian Poncho


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 27395
Date:
February 2023 Feature Car
Permalink  

It's a rare treat to feature Canadian Pontiac's from the 1950's and earlier as so few remain. It's my pleaure to feature this survivor 1954 Pontaic Laurentian Sport Coupe. You won't be surprised that you likely haven't seen one before as so few were built in the first place. John La Grange owns this wonderful example and has kept the car pretty much original save for some maintenance items and a minor lowering. John provides us with the details:

banner.JPG

 

 

The story of my 54',

It was an estate sale as the original collector had passed away. He had purchased it in '78 from auction in Edmonton.

 

PXL_20210721_001756923.jpg

PXL_20210721_001743117.jpg

PXL_20210721_002501391.jpg

 

 eng rs.JPG

 high compression.jpg

 

I found the original owner that had auctioned it off and had a chat with him. He had purchased the car from the original owners and attempted to restore it. There's a letter from Pontiac of Canada mentioning the rarity of the car and their understanding of the difficulty he was having restoring it.

PXL_20210721_015004224_2.jpg

1.JPG

 

Coming home,

IMG_20210822_140019.jpg

 

Interior view,

interior.JPG

dog.jpg

 

I had the radio restored.

4.JPG

radio.JPG

 radio dash close.jpg

 

Installed a rebuilt generator, rebuilding the carb this winter.

Wilson Auto Electric!

wilson auto elect winni.JPG

carb.JPG

 

'54 Pontiac Laurentian Sport Coupe. Alberta car since day 1. Newly certified in '22 after 40 years. All original aside from the battery and maintenance items. 

side eve.jpg

rear one quarter night.jpg

PXL_20220604_061654254.jpg

 

I don't intend to modify anything that cannot be returned to stock, but I have lowered the car and prepared the roof for a new coat of paint. 

I've installed new radial Coker classic whitewalls on original 50's steel wheels. Also found a set of original quick-n-easy roof latches to "top it off"

PXL_20220912_000710301.jpg

 

I Love the car and my daughter's love going for cruises with me...

PXL_20220826_012217763.jpg

PXL_20220529_023055135.jpg

 

pontiac cnd 1954 laurentian-1_2.jpg



__________________

Todd
Site Founder

Like us on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/CanadianPoncho

Canadian Poncho World Headquarters - Prince Edward Island

 
4SPEED427


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 50190
Date:
Permalink  

Cool car, cool story, and I LOVE the "HIGH COMPRESSION" along with the letter from General Motors!

__________________

1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
LandShark68_2+2


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 924
Date:
Permalink  

This car is awesome. I even like the roof the way it is.

Regards, Scott (LandShark ...)



__________________
cdnpont


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Status: Offline
Posts: 10614
Date:
Permalink  

I'll have to admit, I've never paid much attention to the 50's Pontiacs, as you usually seem to focus on the cars from your youth.

But this one has sure caught my eye John! It's so nice to look at. Great to have it featured here.

 

I agree the roof looks perfect in that stripped patina. I'd clear it.

 



__________________
 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 69 Parisienne Convertible.
 
silver steak


Addicted!

Status: Offline
Posts: 310
Date:
Permalink  

I like your schnauzer in the back seat, we have something in common. Back to the thread ,  I agree, love the 2 dr Hard Top , very nice lines, nice to see the Flat Head in there.

 



__________________

New Brunswick , 1950 Pontiac Silver Streak 2 Dr Sedan, 1967 Beaumont, 1985 Sierra 1500 One Owner
johnplagrange


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 11
Date:
Permalink  

Yeah the schnauzer is always excited for a cruise, and I don't mind as the seats are already pretty ratty. I didn't even know these cars were a thing either until I found this one on Kijiji while looking for a Belair of the same year 



__________________
@jp_lagrange
johnplagrange


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 11
Date:
Permalink  

I'd consider the "patina" look but she needs a bit more shine. Also want to preserve this old girl.



__________________
@jp_lagrange
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
68beaumont


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 811
Date:
Permalink  

Congratulations ! Super rare car!



__________________
NOS


Poncho Master!

Status: Offline
Posts: 1703
Date:
Permalink  

my school bus driver back in the day owned an orange one; same model.   but I think it had a white top

Dale



__________________
Beaumont67


Addicted!

Status: Offline
Posts: 143
Date:
Permalink  

Such a cool car! Love the dash.

__________________
CdnGMfan


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Status: Offline
Posts: 4956
Date:
Permalink  

Such a cool car. The Laurentian hardtop style is rare. Congrats on a fine time capsule. I'll bet it runs quietly.

I have a 68-year-old 1954 Canadian Pontiac brochure that I would like to scan but don't want to wreck. It has both Canadian & American Pontiac models that were sold here. I'll post it when I get it done.

What is interesting is how much the Canadian Pontiac uses Chevrolet body panels & hardware like the tail lights. They also used the Pontiac flathead 239 six with syncro-mesh 3-speed or optional Powerglide. The American cars used the 239 flathead six or a 254 flathead straight eight, both in their final year. American cars used the dual range 4-speed Hydramatic instead of the Powerglide.

__________________

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
Magician40


Poncho Master!

Status: Offline
Posts: 1304
Date:
Permalink  

Beautiful car, congratulations.
Brian

__________________
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
robert currie


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 26
Date:
Permalink  

Nice car, Enjoy

__________________
robert currie
LeeRoy


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 819
Date:
Permalink  

Noticed the radio says Chieftain. Wonder if the car was a radio delete when built or if American radios were used in Canadian built cars?



__________________
DonSSDD


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Status: Offline
Posts: 5730
Date:
Permalink  

Really cool car, you thought a BelAir this year was rare, this car beats them hands down for rarity. Roof is cool as is or painted, nice that your girls like it too.

__________________

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
66 Grande guy


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Status: Offline
Posts: 4891
Date:
Permalink  

Beautiful car, great story and the smiles of the car riders tell the story. This car has found a family for sure.

The side trim in that year was really gorgeous by the way!



__________________

ken from northern Alberta

38 Willys pickup electric

39 Buick (327 with 700 r4)

66 Beaumont 4 door hardtop

69 Chevy CST pickup

1976 GMC 23'  motorhome

1994 Impala SS 

1968 Citroen Fourgonnette (Yeah Carl!)
58 poncho fan


Addicted!

Status: Offline
Posts: 386
Date:
Permalink  

Beautiful car! One that I always wished I had bought as 1954 was one of my favorite years! However owned some 52's & 58's instead! The dash on the 54's were a piece of art especially at night as the pix shows. Congratulations on finding a real "GEM". Bob.

__________________

 

1965 Thunderbird Special Landau 10th Anniversary Limited Edition only 4500 built 34,800 miles

 

 
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
johnplagrange


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 11
Date:
Permalink  

CdnGMfan wrote:

Such a cool car. The Laurentian hardtop style is rare. Congrats on a fine time capsule. I'll bet it runs quietly.

I have a 68-year-old 1954 Canadian Pontiac brochure that I would like to scan but don't want to wreck. It has both Canadian & American Pontiac models that were sold here. I'll post it when I get it done.

What is interesting is how much the Canadian Pontiac uses Chevrolet body panels & hardware like the tail lights. They also used the Pontiac flathead 239 six with syncro-mesh 3-speed or optional Powerglide. The American cars used the 239 flathead six or a 254 flathead straight eight, both in their final year. American cars used the dual range 4-speed Hydramatic instead of the Powerglide.

 The Canadian '54 Laurentians didn't come with the inline 8 as there isn't enough room in the engine bay with the shorter Chevy body panels. 

 

The old literature is very cool to look back on. I'll watch to see when it's posted.



__________________
@jp_lagrange
johnplagrange


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 11
Date:
Permalink  

LeeRoy wrote:

Noticed the radio says Chieftain. Wonder if the car was a radio delete when built or if American radios were used in Canadian built cars?

 The radio is stock. The only options for this radio were the American branded chieftain radios. I don't think Pontiac of Canada went to the effort to remanufacture a Canadian Laurentian branded alternative.



__________________
@jp_lagrange
Leo2+2


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 858
Date:
Permalink  

Very nice car and very nice story. I hope when you teach your daughter how to drive you'll have her try for the first time on that car, like I did with both my  kids.

 

Enjoy!



__________________

"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
timbuk


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Status: Offline
Posts: 8239
Date:
Permalink  

love it! thats a rare car for sure happy to see it

__________________

http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t51640378/timbuks-first-invader/ http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t63146560/timbuks-second-invader/  vancouver island
73SC


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 20257
Date:
Permalink  

Pretty darn cool car!



__________________

Ray White, Toronto ON

Formerly - The one and only 1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
CdnGMfan


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Status: Offline
Posts: 4956
Date:
Permalink  

I took a quick scan of this Laurentian Sport Coupe image from the '54 brochure. Doesn't it look like the feature car?

 

54 Pontiac Laurentian Sport Coupe.jpg

 

I'll post the rest after I take the time to scan it.



Attachments
__________________

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
johnplagrange


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 11
Date:
Permalink  

CdnGMfan wrote:

I took a quick scan of this Laurentian Sport Coupe image from the '54 brochure. Doesn't it look like the feature car?

 

54 Pontiac Laurentian Sport Coupe.jpg

 

I'll post the rest after I take the time to scan it.

 Wow! That's awesome. That's spot on what this car looked like. Very cool. Thanks



__________________
@jp_lagrange
johnplagrange


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 11
Date:
Permalink  

youtu.be/DX6LA7cMN1o

Please subscribe to my YouTube for additional videos of the Pontiac, my '51 Chevy truck, and eventually my '31 Ford model A build.

Have a look and please provide feedback. Thanks everyone!

__________________
@jp_lagrange
1 2  >  Last»  | Page of 2  sorted by
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Canadian Poncho Homepage -> Canadian Poncho -> Monthly Feature Cars -> February 2023 Feature Car
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
.
Support Canadian Poncho!
Select Amount:
<
.
.
.