General Motors used the Parisienne name in Canada throughout the 1960s and 1970s. It was applied to GM of Canada’s version of the U.S. Chevy Impala and/or Caprice. But Pontiac employed the name “south of the border” from 1983 to 1986 as their top full-size product, having moved the Bonneville downstream to the LeMans platform. This 1985 edition of the Parisienne, likely a Brougham given its level of trim, looks to be in stellar condition at 66,000 miles. From Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (a beautiful place), this Pontiac is available here on craigslist for $8,800. Bravo, T.J., for this sweet tip!
The B-body platform used on GM’s full-size cars went on a diet in 1977, losing size and weight but not passenger or storage capacity. Things went relatively unchanged through 1983 when Pontiac decided to rename the former Bonneville as Parisienne using the Canadian nameplate that dated to 1958. That was the first time that American car buyers would be exposed to the moniker. To differentiate the car from the similar Chevy Caprice, the Parisienne wore removable fender skirts for part of the four-year run. The Parisienne was modestly popular, selling 38,800 4-door sedans in Brougham (luxury) trim in 1985.
Not much in the way of history is imparted regarding this ’85 Poncho. We’re told it’s had two owners and traveled just 66,000 miles, but that’s about it. The engine is likely a V8 which could have been supplied by one or more GM divisions and up to 350 cubic inches. The automatic transmission was the only way to go when it came to shifting gears.
From what we can tell, this Pontiac has been well-cared for and wants for nothing but a new home. The body and blue paint look quite good, as does the interior whose velour fabric is more than inviting. Whether this car was only driven to church and on weekends is unknown, but highly probable given its overall condition.
The car looks good for the age, but it is still a boring box of cereal. If it has a 301 or bigger V8, that would be the best scenario as the 265s were pretty wheezy.
They also used the Bel-Air model in Canada until 82 or 83ish.
Last Bel-Air in USA was 1975, but continued to be available in Canada until 1981.
Probably a 301. My freshman year of college I went to Florida with my family. We always had wagons and this was the first year dad had a sedan. Mom complained about the lack of room, but dang it was waaaay more comfortable than a wagon. The back seats in this were huge. My brother and I drove the night shift and my parents were a little shocked about how far we had gone while they were asleep. In the days of 55, I had it cranked to 85 with the cruise on for hours. These were real highway barges. The new owner will enjoy it.
The 301 was gone in 81. This one’s a Chevy 5.0. When Pontiac picked up the Parisienne in 83 through 86 it either had the 3.8 Buick V-6 in 83-84 and Chevy tbi 4.3 V-6 in 85-86, other that that the 5.0 Chevy V-8 was an option and oddly enough the wagons got the Olds 5.0 in the states and kept the Chevy 5.0 V-8 in Canada. Dad had an 81 Brougham two door he bought in 82, same two tone blue same interior. Whomever Picks this one up will have a sweet ride.
My 1988 Parisienne wagon had a Oldsmobile 5 liter engine and was very slow
Correct on the 301, but these cars were strictly Chevrolet underneath since their debut in 1958.
Yes a sweet ride because they rode nice and had soft, pillow-top seats. Just look at that interior. I wish I could buy it. It’s from when luxury cars had style, a nice ride, and comfortable interiors, rather than trying to be a european sports car.
I bought the 86 version of this car, it had a 305 with the 700 R4 trans. It might have been a 350. It was a salesmans car at the company I worked for and was sold by sealed bids. I got the high bid of 753 dollars and was given the option of finally looking at it before I paid for it, it was at a sandplant north and west of Omaha about 140 mile drive for me. A buddy from work drove me up there and we looked at the car it was straight and clean but it had 204000 miles on it, was supposed to be a 104,000 miles. A typo maybe? The car wouldn’t start because the battery was dead and was kicking around the idea of telling them I didn’t want it and leave but we drove 3 hours so why not at least get it running first. Got it jumped and that car idled so quietly you to look at the fan to tell it was running, let it get warm and absolutely no blowby from the oil fill cap. Drove it up to the scalehouse, paid for it, got the paperwork and took it home. That thing was so smooth and quiet going down the road, it got in the mid 20’s for mpg. Made it to 294,000 before I parked it, it would have easily made it to 300,000 but I made the mistake of letting my dad borrow it to go to arkansas to see relatives. Letting him borrow it was not the mistake, the mistake was showing him to go up a click on the shifter to put it in overdrive. After I got it back from him that motor made so much noise I thought a rod was loose. It even got to the point where I was pulling the motor out of the car and after starting on the topside I decided to go under and work on the bottom part before I drained any fluids and took the torque converter cover off and the three converter to flywheel bolts were loose. I had to lay there awhile to decide if that was the cause of the noise or not, finally decided there was only one to find out and that was to tighten everything back up so I did, That old fart lugged that thing so badly it shook the converter bolts loose. He also got it hot to boot, eventually replaced the head gaskets, after it quieted down I could tell it had a miss. My own fault.
They never changed the name of American cars. It was a Canadian version of a American car with a Canadian name. Bonneville was still Bonneville in the US. Some of the Canadian cars had different engines than the US versions of those car.
The Parisienne was Canadian name.
The Bonneville was the American name. Both the same car with various changes. Bonneville went all the way through the 1990s. I’m not sure if it went into the 2000s.
Well preserved Pontiac seeing from the naked eye.This and the 84 Olds Ninety Eight, the last of the famed fender skirt American cars.
I had an ’85,it had a 305 Chev with a Quadrajet.
The passenger side plugs were almost impossible to change.
If I recall correctly,the smog gear was on that side.
Parisienne was
always a Pontiac in Canada
These were the top of the line Pontiacs. I worked on many with the 307 Olds/700R4 combo. A decent 4 barrel for its day and most got decent 28-30 MPG which was awesome for mid -80s.
Indeed the Parisienne was previously the Canadian version of the Pontiac Bonneville. The 80’s Pontiac Parisienne was simply a reskinned Caprice resurrected to resemble the old Bonneville, after Pontiac decided they wanted to return to having a full sized model.
This one’s had a lucky life.
These were popular taxis in Brockville , Ontario.
A friend had one that looked identical to this and it was a problem free workhorse summer and winter.
Unfortunately his vehicles always ended up in a bad state. I don’t know if it was ever saved.
A great car though I drove it as a cab for him several times , a very pleasant space to spend time in and a pleasure to drive.
Called Pontiac Parisienne in Oz also
Sold a lot of these in the mid-80s, even one to my godfather … they weren’t anything to “write home about” … basic comfortable transportation … at the time the dealership also offered a pretty basic “loss leader” Cadillac Coupe de Ville for the same price as a “loaded” Parisienne … Caddy usually won out …
These were everywhere in Ontario in the ‘80s. Still see a few running around to this day.
I’m the proud owner of two 1985 Parisiennes, both of which have the 305 engine, and most all of the available options. The first one has 284,000 miles on it, and the second one has 225,000. I continue to be amazed at the dependability and durability of these cars. Not only have they not nickel and dimed me to death, they haven’t even “hundred dollared” me to death. Very, very comfortable and reliable. I get compliments on them all the time. One is maroon, with a sunroof, the other black. Some of the last of the true luxury cars.
Pontiac actually resurrected the ass end of the 80 Bonneville for this. Sadly, they didn’t resurrect the front end. The Parisienne was a grill engineered Caprice and back sheet metal badge job until 85. the Parisienne got it’s proper hiney then, sadly, it still had to share the Chevy face with a different grill texture. I always thought these had one good looking hind side. An 80 Bonneville coupe with tu-tone paint is one of my dream cars. Yep, I’m an odd duck, Oh, it had better be a brougham, I like fender skirts and velour