Pontiac Parisienne

Infobox Automobile


name = Pontiac Parisienne
manufacturer = General Motors
production = 1983-1986 (U.S.)
1958-1986 (Oshawa Car Assembly, Canada)
class = Full-size
assembly = Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
predecessor = Pontiac Catalina (For U.S.)
layout = FR layoutInfobox Automobile generation
name = First generation
aka = Pontiac Bonneville (United States)
production = 1958-1961
body_style = 2-door convertible
2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door station wagonInfobox Automobile generation
name = Second generation


aka = Pontiac Bonneville (United States)
production = 1962-1964
body_style = 2-door convertible
2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
platform = B-body
engine = 389 CID V8
421 CID V8
400 CID V8
related = Buick LeSabre
Chevrolet Impala
Pontiac Catalina/Laurentian
Chevrolet Bel AirInfobox Automobile generation
name = Third generation
aka = Pontiac Bonneville (United States)
production = 1965-1970


body_style = 2-door convertible
2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
platform = B-body
engine = 350 CID V8
396 CID V8
427 CID V8
454 CID V8 (replaced 427 in 1970)
| related = Buick LeSabre
Chevrolet Impala
Pontiac Catalina/Laurentian
Chevrolet Bel Air
Chevrolet CapriceInfobox Automobile generation
name = Fourth generation
aka = Pontiac Bonneville (United States)
production = 1971-1976
body_style = 4-door hardtop
2-door coupe
4-door sedan
platform = B-body
engine = 455 CID V8, 400 CID V8
related = Buick LeSabre
Chevrolet Impala
Pontiac Catalina/Laurentian
Chevrolet Bel Air
Chevrolet Caprice
Oldsmobile 88Infobox Automobile generation
name = Fifth generation


production = 1977-1986
aka = Pontiac Bonneville (United States)
body_style = 2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
platform = B-body
engine = 231 CID Buick V6
265 CID Pontiac V8
301 CID Pontiac V8
350 CID Pontiac V8
350 CID Oldsmobile diesel V8
400 CID Pontiac
related = Buick LeSabre
Chevrolet Impala
Pontiac Catalina/Laurentian
Chevrolet Bel Air
Chevrolet Caprice
Oldsmobile 88
wheelbase = Auto in|116.0|0

The Pontiac Parisienne was a full-size rear-wheel drive vehicle that was sold by Pontiac on the GM B platform in Canada from 1958 to 1986 and in the US from 1983 to 1986. The Parisienne wagon continued under the Safari nameplate until 1989.

For most of its life, the Parisienne was a Canadian nameplate, sold in Pontiac's Canadian showrooms, while American Pontiac dealers sold the Catalina, Ventura, Star Chief and Bonneville. Interestingly, Canadian Pontiacs were essentially Chevrolet platforms with Pontiac outer body panels installed. Therefore, the Parisienne used the same engines found in full-size Chevys, including the 283, 327, 350, 396, 409, 427, etc, as well as the Powerglide and Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmissions. This was done due to import/export tariffs between the U.S. and Canada, which made the manufacture of uniquely Canadian Pontiac engines and chassis components too costly. During the mid- and late-1960s, the Grande Parisienne introduced, based on the US-market Grand Prix, a larger, more luxuriously trimmed offering. The Grand Parisienne became a standard Pontiac again in 1969, while the US-market Grand Prix became a "personal luxury" model. In 1982, the Bonneville was downsized on the G-body while Pontiac's version of the B-body was dropped.

Right Hand Drive cars were manufactured in Canada for export to some countries such as Australia, U.K. etc., until 1969. They used a version of the 1965 Impala dash panel until 1969. Australian models were assembled in Australia from kits as this lessened tax on the cars. Parisiennes were produced there from 1964 to 1969. [100 Years of GM in Australia, © Norm Darwin]

In early 1983, to gain back Pontiac customers who longed for a large rear wheel drive car, the Parisienne was imported from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada (where the full-size model had not been dropped) and sold in the United States. Externally, it was a rebadged Chevrolet Impala (1983-84 models had the Impala rear taillight panel fitted with Pontiac-spec taillight lenses, whereas the nose was borrowed from the Chevrolet Caprice fitted with a Pontiac grille). The 1985 to 1986 models resumed use of the rear-end styling from the 1980 to 1981 Bonneville.

Two Parisienne ranges were sold - a base model (similar to the former Catalina and the then-current Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale) in four-door sedan and Safari station wagon form, and a more-luxurious Brougham four-door sedan (with velour upholstery that featured loose-pillow fitted seats). No two-door models were offered for the United States market, although a coupe version was available in Canada through 1983.The Pontiac Parisienne was a success, especially with customers who wanted a nicely appointed car at a reasonable price. The Parisienne still sold well when GM decided to drop the line after the 1986 model year. A front wheel drive model with the Bonneville name replaced the Parisienne; however, the wagon model (known just as "Safari") continued until 1989.

References