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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.