Canadian vs US makes and models

It has been explained above, but basically there were incentives for having cars ***embled in canada with as many canadian parts as possible, so if a car was already being produced in canada manufacturers would piggyback a competing model from another division on the same platform so that they'd both benefit from the home-grown breaks. Having the Pontiac being charged big tarrifs while the Chevy is getting tax breaks probably didn't make much sense to the higher ups.

 

Technically that is true but Canadian Pontiac dealers, that usually included Buick, Cadillac and GMC sold Caballaros a El Camino with GMC badging

 

In '66, the Grand Parisienne (think Grand Prix, but with a 4-dr as well) was the uber Pontiac. A neighbour bought one, new, with a 396-Turbo Hydramatic. Nice car.

The '65-'66 Custom Sport was the bucket-seated Parisienne. You could get one with an inline 6! Just like an Impala SS. Later, it adopted the American 2+2 name.

My 1st car was a '65 Parisienne Convert, 327-300/Powerglide.

GMC Caballeros were sold both sides of the border. The upper model: Diablo, complete with a T/A-like devil decal on the hood.

To my knowledge, there were no GM Canada-only Pontiac "Elco's"...but there were Canadian-only Pontiac Sedan Deliveries (as mentioned above).

Several Canadian-created Pontiacs became US models, in one form or another: The Nova-based Acadians changed to the Pontiac Ventura, in the early '70s. The Vega-based Pontiac Astre, circa '73, was sold State-side '75-on. The Chevette-based Pontiac Acadian was adopted as the Pontiac T1000 (eventually 1000). And, while GM-US sold Geos, Canada had a version of those named Asuna...and the 1st re-use of the name Sunfire in the early '90s.

 

I have a 1930 Chevy coupe that has a GM of Canada firewall tag..... I have no idea if it is different from a US model or not.

 

I think ours got rustier and the wood fell apart faster I am not sure of any differences that far back...

 

Great stuff guys! Thanks for posting

Does anyone have production numbers? And it sounds like the survival rate for these cars isn't that good?

 

I'm pretty sure these Mercury Econolines were Canadian only models.

 

If your looking for production numbers, try the CAAAR Guide:

http://www.caaarguide.com/index.html

Click on car values

 

Back to the Model T's. Canadian touring cars had 4 opening doors as we made the bodies for export to the right hand drive countrys, thus the p***enger side was the opening door. Canadian T's and model A's had mostly Robertson square head screws holding the dash and garnishes, etc in place. These were a Canadian invention before Torx. 55-58 Pontiac sedan deliveries were only made in Canada and on chevy ch***is with chevy drivetrains. They also had a shorter front fenders due to the wheelbase. Production figures for the 57 Pontiac delivery were 682 built with about a dozen remaining. 58 production was lower and I only know of 3 existing. Pat.

 

My 396 in my duece came out of a pontiac....

 

No mention of the Chrysler Windsor.
The Oshawa GM Car Plant on Ritson Rd. only had room for one chasis line, this was before the south end plants were built, and that's why Canadian Pontiacs of the 50s are Chevys with uniquely Canadian Pontiac front sheet metal.
And what about Maple Leaf pick up trucks?
Canadian Es***.
Canadian Willys, pre WW2 when the Willys plant was in Christie Pits neighbourhood in Toronto.
Oh and McLaughlin Buicks.

 

I get a kick out of watching people scratch their head wondering how I got the 8" deep reversed chrome wheels to fit the "Wide Track" on my '60 Parisienne...not realizing the Canadian Pontiacs do not have the Wide Track as the U.S. Pontiacs do.