63 Parisienne factory air?

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

RE: 63 Parisienne factory air?

eeluddy · Uber Guru

I think I

have seen an Oshawa built '63 Impala with factory A/C. So it only stands to reason Pontiac would offer it also.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

The only thing that made me think they would not is it would require a mish mash of Ch**y and American Pontiac parts to make it work. I thought that may deter them offering it. That, and VERY low demand in Canada.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

I saw a 63 Chevy with a/c as well the mixture of parts could well be the reason... I didnt buy a car with a/c until 1976

Rebel™ · Veteran Member

There were very few American Pontiac parts used on the Canadian Pontiacs. Most parts were Chevy and as the 60's progressed, most interior trim was Chevy as well, although Pontiac kept their own distinctive dashes. Even the body used, although based on the Catalina, was different and shorter than it's American cousin in the earlier 60's models. That was mainly because the Americans went to the full perimeter frame in 1961 while Canada continued to use the Chevy X frame.

As an example, got new roof rail rubbers for my '63 Parisienne, they are listed for '63 - '64 Impala.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I was thinking of the dash pieces having to be American. Also stuff around the rad cradle etc would have to be special if the American/Canadian Pontiacs don't share the same sheet metal.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Does this help?

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

That's no aftermarket setup - looks exactly like the factory GM system in my old 63 Grand Prix, same lower cowl vents, and shroud & vents under the dash. So I think you were you were right Carl, a mix of the interior pieces from the US Pontiacs, with the underhood stuff likely being from Chevrolet.

eeluddy · Uber Guru

That's a factory install. Great looking interior.

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

It even has the AC kick panels. Love the fawn beige interior color.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

That is pictures from the seller??? Wow. I want, I want!!!

Now I'd love to see the build date. Why would I have a memo talking about engineering an a/c setup for 63 well into the year if this car is not a very late year car. There is way too many mysteries in old cars!!!

Rebel™ · Veteran Member

Car certainly has air conditioning but other things point to something being not right with this. The dash is straight Grand Prix, as are the seats. Also, in the literature I have, Powerglide shifter was column mounted, no mention of floor mount shifter except for 4 speed. The door panels are definately Parisienne but this picture raises just more questions.

Like, being as how mostly Chev parts were used in Oshawa factory except for dash, if you ordered air would they have to have a Grand Prix dash shipped up from the States and just change the nameplate?

Steering wheel is different. Chevy steering wheels were used up to at least 1968 but nothing in '63 matched this one.

Seats are the same as Grand Prix but buckets were an orderable option in '63 but only on 2 door hardtop model.

Questions, questions, questions!! Would love to see the build sheet for this vehicle.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I never thought of that. No floor shift offered in 63, right? No Custom Sport?

There is no build sheet available, right? From GM I mean.

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

There was no Custom Sport in 1963, but buckets and console were an option on the Parisienne sport coupe. You could also get buckets in 62, but not a floor console. The steering wheel in the Parisienne is the same as for the 63 Impala, except for the horn ring. US wheel is completely different, with clear plastic sections in the outer rim that always crack up. The dash for American and Canadian Pontiacs are the same except that for the AC, they would have drilled holes for the AC vents in the lower corners. The centre vent location for the AC is occupied by 3 gauges on the US non-AC Grand Prix & Bonneville, and by the clock or clock delete on the Canadian cars.

-- Edited by gparis7 at 19:24, 2008-12-26

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

73SC wrote:

Does this help?

Is this a Pontiac Pariesenne?

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Yes, I think that is the pic Ray got from the seller.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Carl Stevenson wrote:

Yes, I think that is the pic Ray got from the seller.

Yes indeed, that is a photo from the seller. My eyes almost popped out when I opened the file, that is one nice interior and it was so obvious the A/c was put in by the factory.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Isn't that a 4 speed shifter?

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Note also that the 63 Parisienne interior design and fabrics for the seats & door panels are the same as the US Bonneville, not the Grand Prix. In 64 the Custom Sport and the Grand Prix used similar seat fabric design, but the Parisienne drew much (but not all) of its interior from the Bonneville, with the rest (like steering wheel, console, etc.) coming from the Impala.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

69Laurentian wrote:

Isn't that a 4 speed shifter?

I think it is a power glide shifter, a chrome box an the side of the transmission tunnel with the shifter coming up. Looks a bit lame for a manual imo.

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

69Laurentian wrote:

Isn't that a 4 speed shifter?

It looks like the car has a Powerglide as I see only one foot pedal, and I also think the seller listed it as a 327 automatic. It would have a floor shift similar to the 63 Impala SS, as these parts were drawn from the Chevy lineup. The 63 Impala SS automatic floor shifter looks like a 4 speed shifter.

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Check out this picture of a 63 Parisienne convt with the buckets and console automatic trans on Aubrey Bruneau's site. Note shifter, console and steering wheel design, all similar to Impala SS from the same year.

http://www.bruneauperformance.ca/pics/010702-24.jpg

eeluddy · Uber Guru

69Laurentian wrote:
Isn't that a 4 speed shifter?

That's the same shifter as 63 Impala SS with a PowerGlide. Also used in the Nova SS

-- Edited by eeluddy at 20:34, 2008-12-26

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Hey fellas, the seller has GM documentation on this beauty, here are a few items from an e-mail he sent me:

Engine L74 - 327 V8 HIGH PERFORMANCE 300 hp
Trans: 2 speed power glide
Air conditioning custom - C64

As we all know the car production is listed by model so just under 8,700 - 2dr Hardtop Parisiennes in 63.

I mentioned the car was on here.

-- Edited by 73SC at 21:20, 2008-12-26

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Wow, C64 is another new one to me! I had always seen it as C60. I hate it when I think I know everything and find out I don't!!!

That car sure would look at home in the shed here...