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Late Great Chevys...
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| L74 | 300hp 327 | B70 | Full Padded Dash |
| M20 | 4-speed incl. Tach. | N33 |
Tilt Steering Wheel |
| A31 | Power Windows | V80 | Rear Speaker |
| N40 | Power Steering | P78 | 800 x 14 WW Tires |
| J50 | Power Brakes | K81 | 62-amp Alternator |
In addition to the above items, Stampede Pontiac (the selling dealer) in Calgary, Alberta installed the following prior to sale in March 1964. Apparently a very common addition by dealerships.
| G80 | Positraction | V69 | AM/FM Radio |
| U75 | Power antenna | T86 | Backup Lights |
Rather than rambling on with a lot of dry text, I think the photos on the left will show just how really "Chevrolet" our Canadian Pontiacs are. The similarities that are depicted in this 1964 Pontiac are basically consistent in all 1955 to 1970 Canadian Pontiacs. The Pontiacs and how they directly correspond to Chevrolet models are as follows:
- 1961 to '64 Strato Chief
- 1961-'64 Biscayne
- 1961 to '64 Laurentian
- 1961-'64 BelAir
- 1961 to '64 Parisienne
- 1961-'64 Impala
1964 Parisienne custom Sport 1964 Impala SS
The Parisienne and custom sport models are the most popular. To help one get a "feel" for what these cars really are, we can sum it up as follows: Picture the Catalina/Bonneville trim level including dash board and exterior moldings built on a complete Chevrolet chassis and powertrain. The rest was Chevrolet, floor, trunk, steering, console, and numerous other items. It's like a Grand Prix using the proper "Sport Coupe" roof, that's also available in a Convertible, with an Impala SS attitude! Nice, eh!
Hey, I just realized something! I must be creating quite an impression, 409s, 300hp 327s, 4-speeds everywhere! Well, before my friends in the US rush up here to buy that elusive factory hot rod, I'd better relay some calculated statistics. Now, unfortunately GM of Canada didn't preserve the records very well until 1964. In addition, in order to obtain, "how many of these were-built," one must provide a serial number and $40 for each request. The cost could be staggering, and you must have the car first.
For over twenty years I have owned, driven, repaired, and/or restored nothing but 1961 to 1964 Chevrolets and Canadian Pontiacs (except for a few flat-head Ford coupes. Sorry, I can't help it!) My wife's daily driver is a red 1962 Biscayne wagon, 340hp 409 four-speed! I studied them, and made notes and observations such as assembly line firewall markings, chassis part inspection paint, what is and what isn't painted, identification on the heads of fasteners and how they changed in finish through the years, to name a few. To get to the point, I have made the following calculations from analyzing more of these cars than I care to admit!
In my observations of 1961-1962 Biscaynes, BelAirs, Strato Chiefs, and Laurentians.
- More than 50% are 6-cylinders, and I have never seen one with an original 327 or 348. (By the way, Pontiacs used the 261 instead of the 235).
- 1961-1962 Impalas and Parisiennes, still at least 20% are 6-cylinder and I can count how many 327 and 348s I have seen on one hand.
- 1963-1964 Biscaynes, BelAirs, Strato Chiefs are still about 30% 6-cylinders. The Laurentian seems to have fared a little better. I just acquired the only 327/250hp Laurentian I've ever heard of.
- 1963-1964 Impalas and Parisiennes, the vast majority are 283s, 327s are less than 10% of production with less than 1 in 15 being the 300hp (L74) variety. Actually 300hp is almost as rare as a 409. I'd have to estimate total Canadian 409 car production at less than 600.
| L31 | 400hp 409 | $610.35 | B70 | Padded Dash | $21.00 |
| M20 | 4-speed | $339.35 | V75 | 4-way Flasher | $14.90 |
| G80 | Positraction | $49.80 | N40 | Power Steering | $92.75 |
| A33 | P-R Window | $43.30 | J50 | Power Brakes | $43.30 |
It also would appear that L80 (425hp) was not available as a factory RPO, but rather a dual carburetor option, installed on the L3 1, by the dealer. I think a lot more of this went on than there are records for. At least that would explain why there seems to be three times as many dual carb manifolds around. This means my "pink wagon" would have sold for nearly $5,300 when it was new. You'll notice that some items are actually less expensive. Our dollar was actually worth something, once! (image 4)
Chevrolet and Pontiac sold in about the same numbers, with an average of 80,000 units per year total for either line. But, the fact is that Canada's most popular provinces used so much road salt that the cars were virtually destroyed within five years. This explains why it seems that our Canadian members don't have Canadian cars. Well, then come to the prairies!
What are Canadian Pontiacs worth?
That is certainly debatable. The "number 2" restoration I performed on this 1964 Parisienne Custom Sport Convertible including purchase price exchanged for $22,000 in 1996. I have turned down $6,000 Canadian for the rusted-out pink wagon with no running gear. On the other hand, I have a 1964 Parisienne two-door hardtop, 283 glide, in #5 condition that you can drive home, that I can't get $600 for. (I'm using the "Old Cars Price Guide" definition of condition).
One area which I must question with the "add % for option" method, is power. Power is (at least seems to be) everything! I have been involved in, and verified transactions where number 4 and 5 factory 4-speed cars have sold for five times the amount of an equivalent automatic car, not 10% more! But $6,000 for a $400 car because it had L31 on the build sheet? And I still wouldn't sell it. I don't think this genuinely reflects their value. I think, reasonably, one can conclude that the value of a Canadian 1958-1964 Pontiac is about midway between a similarly equipped Chevrolet and a US Pontiac in the same body style.
Well, there it is. After 22 years, I've been able to plead my case, that a Canadian Pontiac is really much better than a Pontiac - it's a Chevrolet! And I got to plead it to the most discerning, focused Chevrolet enthusiasts in the world! Yeah, subtlety has been known to elude me now and then!
If you've managed to drag yourself through this story, thanks for your understanding. You'll be relieved to know it shouldn't happen again!
Just one more piece of trivia to pass on to the Late Great members in the US, I'm sure Canadian readers will concur. Most 1958-1964 Chevrolet enthusiasts in Canada are also (albeit sometimes "closet") Pontiac enthusiasts. That is, there will be certain years and/or models that we prefer in the Pontiacs. When one considers that the "Heartbeats" (the finest "real world" affordable V8 engines ever made) are common to both cars, I think there's an advantage in the variety of models we have to choose from.
By Aubrey N. Bruneau
Onoway, Alberta, Canada
aubrey@bruneauperformance.ca
http://www.bruneauperformance.ca/
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