Strato Chief, Laurentian and Parisienne: A Brief History of the Maple Ponchos

As I have been taking a keen interest in Canada lately, I thought I’d do a brief piece of Canadian motoring history, and this is it.

When built during the mid 1950s to the early 1970s, Canadian Pontiacs looked very much like their American brothers, but underneath, that’s where the similarities end, as Pontiacs in Canada were fitted with Chevrolet drivetrains and chassis. The very intention of combining Pontiac exterior designed body shells with economical Chevrolet underpinnings proved to be a very profitable move for GM of Canada, and became possibly one of Canada’s most successful motoring contributions.

Also, unlike their American brothers, the Canadian Pontiacs were more economical, weighed less and weren’t as big (hence the hidden Chevrolet components) which proved to very efficient in countries outside North America, particularly fellow Commonwealth countries (as Canada is a Commonwealth country itself) such as Australia, where they were assembled by Holden, New Zealand and even the UK. These cars were never sold in the United States.

The Canadian Pontiac line-up consisted of the bottom-range Strato Chief, mid-range Laurentian and top-range Parisienne and Grande Parisienne.

Below are the top-of-the-line Parisiennes ranging from 1958 to 1969, showcasing a true example of Canadian motoring history.