How can you tell if your 1955 Pontiac is a pathfinder pathfinder deluxe or the laurentian?

Answer 1

QUoting from Wikipedia Laurentian (Canada and Canadian export only) In the 1950s through 1970s GM of Canada designed a unique hierarchy of "full size" Pontiac "series" or trim lines dissimilar to the American Catalina, Star Chief, Executive and Bonneville series offered by GM's Pontiac Motor Division in the US. Closely paralleling Chevrolet's Biscayne, Bel Air and Impala series, by 1959 the Canadian models were nomenclatured Strato Chief, Laurentian and Parisienne. When Chevrolet introduced the "Super Sport" as a distinct model line in 1962, GM of Canada soon made available a similarly equipped Pontiac "Custom Sport" (in 1967 rebadged Pontiac "2+2" to mirror a name used by Pontiac in the US for a sporty model based on its Catalina series.) And when Chevrolet rolled out its topline "Impala Caprice" model in mid-1965 to compete with Ford's newly introduced upscale Ford "LTD" model, GM of Canada introduced the "Grand Parisienne" trim series for the 1966 model year. Like all Canadian Pontiacs built from 1955 to 1970, Laurentians used full-size Chevrolet chassis, drive trains, and other parts, but using a body shell similar in style to, but not interechangeable with, the U.S. Catalina. For example, a 1964 Pontiac Laurentian looks like a Catalina, but has more in common with the Chevrolet Bel Air. Through at least 1967, however, the Laurentian wore the three "stars" normally associated with the Pontiac Star Chief/Executive series, even though other exterior trim pieces were similar to the Catalina. The Laurentian was available in all the body styles used for the Chevrolet Bel Air, including hardtop coupes and sedans, through the 1962 model run. After 1963, hardtops were offered only in the Parisienne and Grande Parisienne series, which paralleled the Chevrolet Impala and Caprice respectively. However, two-door hardtops returned to the Strato-Chief and Laurentian series in 1969 because Pontiac discontinued its Catalina 2-door sedan in the U.S. after the 1968 model run. The Canadian model line nameplates were never sold in the U. S. They were built for the Canadian market and for export from Canada as disassembled "crate" or "kit" cars. Although the Parisienne became an American Pontiac offering beginning in mid-1983 to 1986, by this time the U.S. and Canadians were identical offerings. A number were assembled from CKD kits by GM Holden in Australia and more - SKD assembly this time - in neighbouring New Zealand. As well, these kits were assembled at GM plants in the Netherlands and South Africa. Canadian Pontiacs were used in part because, as a fellow Commonwealth country, there were advantages with import duties. But largely due first to the economies of part sourcing two separate GM lines from the same parts bin. Second, with higher gasoline prices and lower discretionary spending than in the US, Canadian Pontiacs like Chevrolets were more affordable, hence more marketable overseas. Thirdly, without the bulk and weight of American Pontiacs, their Canadian counterparts were better adapted where space can be limited, as in Europe and in a British LHD environment where an overly large full-size car has overly large disadvantages. These RHD cars had the same dashboards whether Chevrolet (Impalas and Bel Airs also made it to Australia; NZ took just Impalas) or Pontiac and only one dash design per bodyshell run so the 62-64 models had the one dash even though it changed annually in Canada and the 65-68s all had a 'transposed' version of the '65 Chevrolet dash. The RHD cars also had antiquated, short, 'clap-hands' wipers that almost met in the middle of the windshield rather than the parallel wipers of the LHD Canadian cars. Local radios, upholstery and two-speed heater/demisters were fitted - some Australian cars had local Frigidaire air conditioning.