canadian pontiac information

[hwscowboy]

Hey All
I am new here and have just acquired 2 1954 pontiacs.They are both canadian pontiacs and the numbers don't seem to match the u.s ones.The first is a 54 chiefton,4 door,sedan deluxe i beleive.It is an inline 6 with the hydramatic.model #20-69wd,engw9257323,trim 612,paint 472,body 2,4206900013.The second is a 54 2 door sedan delivery that i will have to get the tag info off of.The cheifton has been sitting under a tarp in a garage for about 25 years,although someone had it running around 1993.It will need some putting together but its all there it seems.Any info would be helpful.Thanks in advance.

[Larry]

Congratulations of the "new" Pontiacs. The Canadian Pontiacs are super interesting cars, and contray to any one telling you that they are the red-headed stepchild to Pontiac, everyone is facinated by them.

Pontiac has a very unique and intersting Pontiac connection that went back many years. Unfortunately few of us "down South" have data on these cars.

I do find in a Canadian car book ("Canadian Cars, 1946-1984" by R. Perry Zavitz) that he states "The 1954 Chieftain was not made in Canada." It appears that only the Pathfinder was built in Canada. Therefore I would assume that your inline-6 is a flathead. Is that correct?

I'm a bit confused on where some of your numbers are from. Can you send the VIN so we can try to decode it for you (hoping it matches the US data).

I am betting that the sedan delivery- a very unique and probably quite rare Pontiac- is a Pahtfinder. It should have Chevrolet engine and running gear.

We have a Canadian Technical Adviser (David Ross) who can be reached at: dross1958@comcast.net Try droping him a note.

Please keep us posted on these cars. Thanks.

[hwscowboy]

Yes the inline 6 is a flathead.The numbers i have found are from the tag on the p.s firewall tag near the bottom of the windsheild area.It is stamped gm of canada.Thanks for the link for the canadian tech,hopefully we can narrow down exactly what this is.I am not sure exactly where the vin tag is,i did a quick check on the doors and kickpanels but did not see anything there.I will have a closer look,i beleive it should be on the d.s lower dash area?

[Larry]

I'm going to guess that the GM of Canada might be because of where it was sold, since the book I referenced says they weren't actually built in Canada. The flathead pretty much confirms that too, but some of the information gets muddy.

Check the left door pillar for the VIN. Also there is a matching engine number on a raised pad on the left side of the block. I'm iffy on the "left" information, so also check the other side. I can decode the numbers then for you.

Keep us posted.

[hwscowboy]

Ok here's a bit more info.On the top of the block in raised casting it says high compression 51728,on the d.s side of the block it says firing order 153624,there is also a cast h63 on the top corner of the block.On the firewall in grease pencil is written 2069wd,underneath that 612.Some sort of manufacturers marks i think.The car appears to be coral red from the paint chip samples i've seen,white roof,white and coral interior.It has a mirror/spotlight combo on the drivers door,big clock in the center of the dash,radio,some sort of radio speaker adjust under the steering column/lower dash,says speaker on it.I found the fender skirts in the trunk,original spare and jack,some sort of screen like sunvisor.I love a mystery.

[Larry]

Lots of goodies!

The VIN is what will really tell us more about your Chieftain. The grease pensil marks are still used on assembly lines. Many restorers go through great pains to reproduce them all.

Keep looking for that VIN. If you have a title check there too.

[hwscowboy]

Ok again some more info foryou.Yes the car would have been built in canada.Specifically the oshawa,ontario plant.I beleive the car is a 1954 pontiac pathfinder deluxe.Basically a 53-54 chevy 210 body but pontiac front and rear sheetmetal.Canadian specific wheels and hubcaps,interior trimunique to canada,shorter front and rear fenders,different tailights,different rear window,The u.s version has a longer trunk as well.It is a chevy engine and drivetrain.As for the sedan delivery they were exclusive to canada from 54-58,dis continued in the u.s after 1953.# version of the canadian pontiacs 1n 1954 pathfinder,pathfinder deluxe,laurentian.Its all becomeing a little less foggy.

[Larry]

The fog is lifting!

So you do have true Canadian Pontiacs. The 6-cylinder is an overhead valve Chevy unit, as well as all the other running gear.

The sedan deliveries that were sold in the US were actually buillt in Canada using Pontiac engines and drivetrain. Is your sedan delivery the same as the US export with flathead engine and Pontiac running gear? I don't think they built a "Chevy version" for Canadian use...did they?

With your exploring, I hope we can all learn some more about our Northern Tribe Pontiacs.

BTW, a sedan delivery is like #1 on the wish list of most Pontiac lovers!

[hwscowboy]

So far we have decifered that my car is a pontiac pathfinder deluxe,the 13th car off the line in 54 and only the 2nd 4 door deluxe to be made that year.

[hwscowboy]

A few pics,i am told the interior is different for canada,as well as the hubcaps/wheels and the tailights.

[Larry]

The taillights are Chevy for sure, but the hubcaps and interior sure look like my old '54 Star Chiefs I had. But then again, I'm going from memory.... and we all know how that can be!

GREAT looking Pontiac! Thanks for sharing the pictures.

[hwscowboy]

Everyday things get a little clearer with this car but still some mysterys.Here are some shots of the interior,no body has seen one like it.One felloe said it was similar to his starchief interior,now how a starchief interior ends up in a pathfinder?The tranny turned out to be a powerglide so one more question solved.I also took off one of the front fenders and found what i beleive is the original color,any guesses to what it is?On the inside of the other fender there are more manufacturers marks,i will take a pic when the fender comes off.

[Larry]

I agree that the interior looks very Star Chief-like. The square panels on the door panels look the same as do the seat leather/cloth combos. I wonder if the Pathfinder Deluxe didn't offer a Star Chief sort of interior.

The body color....? Here are the '54 Pontiac colors for the U.S.:
00 Raven Black
01 San Marino Blue
02 Senaca Brown
03 Arlington Maroon
04 Cruiser Gray
05 Maize Yellow
06 Picador Red
07 Shannon Green
08 Mayfair Blue
09 Cirro Gray
10 Brookmere Green
11 Coral Red
12 Biloxi Beige
23 Laurel Green
24 Milano Ivory
13 Shannon Green/Raven Black
14 Cirro Gray/Cruiser Gray
15 Maize Yellow/Winter White
16 Picador Red/Raven Black
17 Shannon Green/Brookmere Green
18 Mayfair Blue/San Marino Blue
19 Cirro Gray/Mayfair Blue
20 Cirro Gray/Raven Black
21 Coral Red/Winter White
22 Biloxi Beige/Winter White

It looks like your color is close to original based on the color under the fender area and the interior metal pieces. Nothing in the list above is as butterscotch-looking as your color. It appears these Canadian Pontiacs were quite different than their southern cousins.

The Powerglide is correct as there was all Chevy drivetrain in these cars.

Keep hunting!

[hwscowboy]

I looked at some color cards on ebay and the closest thing i saw to my color is the coral red.Of course our canadian paint codes don't match up.I am going to try and get a report on the car from gm vintage services.I am wondering if this was a dealer promo car or executive order as it is very early of the line,13th car that year and only the 2nd pathfinder deluxe.Maybe someones special order.None of the people in the canadian club can recall seeing an interior like this either.