Parisienne: A Pontiac that was actually a Chevrolet in a hat built in Canada and then imported to Australia.

"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada) 01/31/2017 at 13:35 • Filed to: None

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I don’t get it either. It actually kinda makes sense though when you think about it. Big V8 sedans have always been staples of the Australian car folklore, and they’re part of the Commonwealth. Might as well import cars from a fellow Commonwealth nation.

It’s quite bizarre seeing a 1960s fullsize American car interior with the steering wheel on the opposite side.

This also wasn’t the first time that GM Canada did this. In the Thirties, GM took Canadian built McLaughlin-Buicks and sold them in Great Britain, advertising them as “built in the Empire”. I’m predicting we’ll have a RHD Equinox in the future sold to New Zealand just to even things out.

Wacko > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/31/2017 at 13:53

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so they can sell Empire built Hellcats

Oh sorry america, hows that 20-30% tax on hellcats going

Steve in Manhattan > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/31/2017 at 13:59

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Parisienne there and in Canada, Catalina in US America.

not for canada - australian in disguise > Steve in Manhattan 01/31/2017 at 14:08

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Actually no, the Parisienne was different from the Catalina. The Parisienne was essentially a rebadged Impala while the Catalina was a more unique car.

not for canada - australian in disguise > Wacko 01/31/2017 at 14:16

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Richard Hammond would rejoice.

someassemblyrequired > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/31/2017 at 15:15

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Yep just looked the part of the Pontiac (exterior trim and interiors) but all Chevy under the skin (at least that vintage, Chevy frame and engines). U.S. and Canadian Pontiacs started to converge as time wore on (into the 1970s). Though usually Canadian cars got the Chevrolet V8 instead of the Pontiac motors.

Steve in Manhattan > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/31/2017 at 15:47

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Makes sense - later in the 80s an Impala was a Catalina was an 88 was a LeSabre.

Steve in Manhattan > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/31/2017 at 17:28

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And the deVille/Fleetwood was, I believe, built on a stretched version of the same chassis. Badge engineering.

ranwhenparked > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/31/2017 at 20:22

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We got the final generation Parisienne in the US. Pontiac killed its full-size RWD Catalina, dealers revolted, so after a short interregnum, they started bringing these south of the border to keep everyone happy.

These are actually my favorite of the low to medium priced B-bodies.