1963 Pontiac Parisienne Convertible Project
The seller of this Canadian-built 1963 Pontiac Parisienne convertible says that he’s been trying to decide whether or not to sell it for forty years. The decision was made and it is for sale on Kijiji in Smiths Falls, Ontario for $3,300.00 Canadian. Thanks for the tip, Barn Finds reader DeanB!
Canadian market GM products have always held a fascination for me due to the unusual (for Americans, anyway) model names and mix ‘n match parts bin specifications for cars that sort of look familiar but are something altogether different from what is common on the US side of the northern border. In this case, we’ve got a high-end Pontiac on a Chevrolet chassis and powered by a Chevy engine.
In 1963, the Parisienne model was the top of the line for Pontiac of Canada. Luxuries such as high end upholstery, power seat and power windows rounded out the list of standard equipment offered. Externally, the Parisenne was trimmed in a similar manner to the US market Bonnevilles, but a closer look will reveal that the Canadian car is slightly smaller than its US cousin. This is due to it being built on the shorter Chevy frame.
The car for sale appears to be fairly complete but the photos provided are a bit grainy so we can’t be sure of the condition of the body as far as rust is concerned. But the seller tells us that the floors will need replacement (but he has another that will go with the car) and there is some perforation at the rear fenders. Naturally, the condition of the chassis is most important and we have neither photos or description to go on.
Here is the V8 that powers this Parisienne and it is Chevy orange. We aren’t told which one of the V8s it is but Parisienne buyers could get a 283, 327 (250 or 300 horsepower) or 409 (340, 400 or 425 horsepower) in 1963. I know our sharp-eyed Barn Finds readers will weigh in and identify the engine in the photos, but my guess is a 327. By the way, it looks like the water pump hose has been removed so it may have been dry stored by the owner.
We don’t have much to judge the condition of the interior by, but we have one blurry photo that is aimed at the instrument panel. If the floors need to be replaced then the seats are probably in rough shape, too. After all, it is convertible so expect the worst. But all this aside, does CAN$3,300.00 sound like a bargain to you? If it’s brought south of the border, the owner will be in a very small minority of classic Canadian Poncho owners here.
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Comments
Looks like a 283 to me. The 327 had different valve covers,and both the 250 and 300 used a 4 bbl. It’s a little hard to tell, but it appears to be a 2 bbl engine.
It would make a really neat and unique car, once it was restored, but I have to wonder what it’s like to find parts for a Canadian Pontiac. Being a Chevy mechanically, drive train parts should be relatively easy to find, but I have no idea about the availability of Parisienne trim and sheet metal?
It looks like the missing trim on the front fender might be the same as a Bonneville. I don’t know if real Pontiac guys will cherish this old poncho but since it has a Chevy engine already I think a swap to a 454 and turbo 400 might be the way I would go, to bad it is in rust country…
The front fender trim is there, it’s laying on top of each fender.
Good thing, because I wouldn’t count on US-built Pontiac panels and trim fitting this car, given it’s shorter, 119-inch wheelbase Chevrolet chassis. The differences are subtle. Notice that the windshield wipers are set up for parallel action. US-built Pontiacs have mirror-image movement.
I can’t confirm on the covers but it does look exactly like my 283 with 2speed slip’nslide : )
The big difference from their southern cousins is the narrower track and built on the X frame … I believe that was the Chevy of the day … was the American Chev Convertible X frame as well?
This is my ’63 Parisienne, just under 100,000 miles, a driver that we enjoy as much as possible!
That’s a beauty Mark! I am a little worried about the tow strap on the featured car though.
Very handsome car, Mark, well done. I like that year Pontiac and enjoyed a Catalina of that year, a domestic, which belonged to a friend which was burned in a Northern California Fire. The car, not the friend.
I think the price for the car is a bit high but I would talk with the owner, if I had the time and the room. Thank you Rodney for the Post.
Thanks for the compliments, truth is this ones never been restored. I bought it with 45,000 miles, I have owned it since ’88. It had a coat of ’63 Polymer Red back then, It was repainted back to the original black 20+ yrs ago …
Which makes me think the showcased car was probably originally red as per the steering wheel and paint showing up through the black …
A little far for me, if it was closer I’d go have a look at it dare I say for a parts car.
I don’t think Pontiac guys (myself included) have any problem with the Canadian cousins. Actually a big fascination for them. You go to a Pontiac gathering, and IF there’s one of the Canadian built Pontiac’s there, everyone wants to check it out. My first reaction was thinking of dropping in a Pontiac engine, maybe a 455! But that would take away from its uniqueness. Very cool find that needs a lot of work. But for $2522 American, it isn’t an expensive start.
I can remember seeing one of these back ln the day and wondering what happened to the “WIDETRACK”. Then I saw the name & the Canadian license plate and said , oh, ok.
Haven’t seen one of these in decades. That wide chrome strip on the sides certainly puts the Ug in Ugly.
Having owned a 1963 Parisienne 2 dr hardtop back in the 60’s I can tell you that power windows and power seats were not standard equipment. Mine had neither and was a 283 powerglide with PS and PB.
If this is built on a Chevy chassis, I wonder if a 409 was an available engine.
According to the 1963 spec sheet they where (http://oldcarbrochures.org/index.php/Canada/GM-Canada/Pontiac/1963-Pontiac-Brochure/1963-Pontiac-_Cdn_-12)
Having had a Big Block in a 68 Impala SS, I can’t imagine the stresses a 409 would put on an all ready poor design X frame in a convertible …
Mine did not come with PW brakes, adding a booster was the first change that had to be made! Although it was ordered with the Sport interior, PW windows & bucket seats, the interior gets the most notable comments … finally got around to rebuilding the ram assist PW steering last winter.
As for the 283, it has all the power needed in today’s world of high gas prices & big fines for “stunt racing” as they like to call it up here!
Hello! Still available