Talk:Pontiac Parisienne

message: This article is somewhat inaccurate, as it implies that the Parisienne name was only used from 1977.  But the name was commonly used by Pontiac in Canada well before then.  Anyone know the full story? 
—Morven 17:55, May 30, 2005 (UTC)
:I think I can add some info here. 
:The name was originaly given to a Pontiac Concept Car,a 1953 Motorama car,I believe. 
:In 1958,Parisienne became the top line model in Canada. 
:Then in 1966 Grande Parisienne became the top line Canadian nameplate.
:It was the equivalent of the Grand Prix in the U.S.A. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 199.42.80.225 (talk • contribs).
There are even more errors now!  While a concept car labelled "Parisienne" is widely reported to have appeared at the 1953 Motorama auto show, the name was first used in Canada to label a subseries, a "luxury" trim level, of the 1957 Pontiac Laurentian, in unison with the "Impala" being a trim of the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air.  In 1958 the Parisienne became a unique series at the top of the model range, with the Laurentian mid-range, and the Strato Chief at the bottom, in lock step with Chevrolet's Impala, Bel Air and Biscayne series.  
In fact Canadian Pontiacs were assembled at the same Oshawa, Ontario assembly plant as the B Platform Chevrolets, and matched the latter's models throughout the sixties.  There were few exceptions, one of them being the introduction of the Chevrolet "Caprice" as a trim level mid-year 1965.  The matching Canadian model, the Pontiac "Grande Parisienne" although directly corresponding with the Caprice, was not introduced until 1966 when, like the Caprice, was a separate series at the top of the Canadian Pontiac model offerings.  Remember, it shared the same Chevrolet B Platform, was assembled at the same Oshawa plant, had the same drivetrian, frame, suspension components, etc.  So the Grande Parisienne was not "bigger" than the the less expensive Parisienne, Laurentian and Strato Chief models as reported above.  But it was unique in that it borrowed some styling and trim features from American Pontiacs.  For example, in 1966 the Grande Parisienne had the same front parking lamps/turn signals and concave rear window as the US Grand Prix.  But that's where the similarities end.  The American Pontiacs including the Grand Prix didn't use Chevrolet drivetrains, dimensions and identical model ranges. And until exported to the US in the 1980s they were assembled at different plants by PMD, Pontiac Motor Division, never by GM of Canada in Oshawa.  
Interestingly, Canadian Pontiac trim levels and styling were created in design studios in Detroit, not by GM of Canada which introduced, assembled, and distributed to Canadian dealerships Canadian Pontiacs.  Of course over the years while there were vast similarities between the Chevrolet and Canadian Pontiacs, there were many complexities in what was available, when and with which series.  For example, Chevrolet offered a "bubble top" roof line, carried over from previous years, on it's Bel Air 2 door hardtop model.  But the corresponding Pontiac Laurentian 2 door hardtop used the same "convertible look" creased rear roof line as the Parisienne, Impala and other full size GM models.  Also, while the "Super Sport" was available as a trim option on the Chevrolet Impala beginning in 1961, the parallel Pontiac "Custom Sport" was unavailable until, like the Chevrolet "Super Sport" became, an unique series in 1964.  Both were similarly equipped with Pontiac oddly getting an US Pontiac type "see through" section of the steering wheel rim.
Moreover, Canadian Pontiacs were rebadged Chevrolets with downsized American Pontiac outer body panels to fit the same GM B Platform.  It wasn't the first time, nor the last, that American models were modified to fit Canadian demographics and unique marketplace.  Offering highly desirable Pontiac styling with Chevrolet durability and reliability at an inexpensive price, they were tremendously successful traditionally ranking 3rd place in auto sales.  It wasn't so much import duties of American components that necessitated the use of Chevrolet platforms, after all, the US-Canada Autopact in the early 60s changed all that.  It was marketing and cost/profit of a vehicle that would appeal to Canadian buyers that made the Canadian Pontiac unique.
Finally, Pontiac dealers offered other unique Pontiac models that were rebadged and styled Chevrolet models, among them, the Pontiac "Acadian" that was a reskinned Chevy 11, then a Tempest styled duplicate of the Chevrolet Chevelle/Malibu. Using the same formula used with full size models, these Canadian Pontiacs used corresponding Chevy frames, drivetrains and components.  And were highly successful.
--Tommyhorse 17:01, 17 October 2007 (UTC)

message: My parents had a Parisienne wagon (it wasn't called Safari or anything like that, just Parisienne). It was freaking huge and the third row of seats faced backwards for some reason. It looked sort of like this, which says its from 1984. I don't see it mentioned here so if anyone knows what the story is behind it, that would be good to point out in the article. Recury 03:58, 8 May 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Parisienne Wagon

message: When I was forced to leave New Orleans on that fateful day in the Summer of 2005, I wound up in New Jersey. I lived walking distance from the local supermarket and would pass this beautiful, mint condition 1984 Pontiac Parisienne every day. It was for sale and the price was a mere $1500. I was waiting on an SBA loan to replace the things I lost in Katrina. Every day, I'd be sure that someone had bought it, but it would still be there.
Finally, the money came and I called the owners and told them that I had to have that car. It was as though it was waiting for me.
As it turned out, the car only had 85,000 original miles. The people who had it before me bought it for their teenaged son, but he didn't like it. Plus, it burned a lot of gas. So, I bought it. It needed a little work,and before long, I had this cool old classic car. People would always be offering to buy it from me.
I moved back to New Orleans this past December. I wasn't here two weeks, when a neighbor fell asleep behind the wheel and smashed into my beloved Parisienne, totaling it. I was heartsick. I even tried to see if I could do the buy back and fix it, but there was frame damage. I will never forget my beautiful 1984 Parisienne. It helped me through a tough time in my life.
Bigeasybarry 06:37, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  I Loved My Parisienne 

message: I was watching cribs, and snoop dogg owns a yellow pontiac parisienne convertible. it looks about 1967. he doesn't even know its from Canada though. he didn't seem too knowledgable about the car.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.8.249.246 (talk) 22:24, 10 December 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  snoop dogg owns one 

message: Maybe I'm wrong here, but I have the distinct memory that the Parisienne was briefly offered as a mid-sizer in the late 70s/early 80s, similar to the LeMans. 64.171.162.74 (talk) 03:02, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Midsize? 

message: Since I had two Parisienne's 2 door hardtop, and my friend a Laurentian 4 dr sedan, all from year 1962, it is obviuos to me that it is a 1961 car in pic, instead of 1962 or newer.
Btw: both cars I owned in the 80's still exist, but I do beleive the Laurentian i gone. Sad.
Regarding export, all this cars were LHD and exported to Sweden as new, with metric speedo.
Mats Fredsson (talk) 09:58, 5 November 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Wrong pic at second generation! 

message: Something here seems puzzling;
While the Parisienne name was retired in 1986, big Pontiac fans got a completely new, but full-sized, Bonneville for 1987. This car featured front-wheel drive and a V6 as standard, in line with the contemporary Cadillac, Buick and Oldsmobile big models. 
Maybe I'm just guilty of looking at this from a USA perspective, but can we see some evidence that our neighbors to the north had their own full-size front-wheel-drive Bonnevilles? ---------User:DanTD (talk)  14:11, 17 August 2019 (UTC)
thread_title:  Replaced by full-size Bonneville?