Nice car! I prefer the 1963 Pontiacs to the 1964 models just like I prefer the 1965 to the 1966. I think it's because of the headlights.
Roger, about 4 door hardtops, did you know that it was still possible to buy some Japanese domestic models like the Nissan Gloria with true pilarless 4 door hardtop design in the early nineties? That was many years after Chrysler stopped making them in 1978 (GM had already stopped after 1976 and Ford after 1974).
About Canadian full size Pontiacs, unlike most US models, they also had Chevy-style wipers which are easy to spot (before 1968) and couldn't be ordered with the opposed wipers except a few RHD models that were built for export (most Pontiacs originally exported in other markets were Canadian models). In the US, I think only a few Catalinas had the Chevy style wipers. Most US Pontiacs had the opposed "depress park" wipers like other GM full size cars (Olds, Buick and Cadillac). For the 1967 model year, Pontiac introduced concealed wipers one year before other GM divisions on it's US models but not on Canadian models which kept their exposed Chevy-style wipers.
I'm wondering why GM made Chevy-based Pontiacs (and Beaumonts) in Canada as Buicks and Oldsmobiles built here were mostly like the US models with the same engines and chassis as US models. I even think they had their engines made (or at least assembled?) in Canada just like Frigidaire made it's compressors for the Canadian market in Canada.
My '65 Buick Wildcat is a Canadian model and the only things that distinguishes Canadian from the US models are the standard equipment list, option list and interior trim on some models. On mine (a 1965 Wildcat Custom 4 door hardtop), the interior trim is unique to the Canadian models and it's mostly a mix of Wildcat Custom, Electra 225 and Electra 225 Custom parts ("C" bodies like the Electra 225, Olds 98 and Cadillacs were not built here). The seats in my Wildcat are covered with the same fabric as those in the Electra 225 Custom and the door panels are similar to those in the standard Electra 225 model with the addition of hinged door pulls. This means that the armrest bases look like those in "C" bodies and are made of chrome plated metal instead of plastic. Canadian Wildcats ordered with power windows also had power vents while it was a rare separate option on the US models.
Like many Canadian cars from the 1960s, my Wildcat lacks A/C and tinted glass but it has most other options like the AM-FM radio, rear window defogger, tilt steering, cruise control, power windows, vents, seat, antenna and vacuum trunk release.
Like most full size Buicks from 1958 to 1970 (and even some from 1957), it has 12" finned aluminum brake drums at the front and 12" finned brake drums at the rear. They are pretty decent for drums, much better than the same size (and also finned) cast iron drums used in the LeSabre models with small block engines.
I'm guessing that Pontiac's version with the 8 lug wheels are also good, and they do look good too! The disc brakes on my '67 Riviera with 4 piston calipers are better than the standard aluminium drums but not that much better. I think that's why few Buicks were ordered with disc brakes before they became standard in 1971.
In 1965-68, both US and Canadian Wildcats had a "B" body like the LeSabre but they had a longer 126" wheelbase. I think they were the only "B" body with a 126" wheelbase. In 1963, they had the same 123" wheelbase as this Bonneville. BTW, can somebody tell me what kind of frame was used on the 1963 US "B" body Pontiacs? Canadian Pontiacs had Chevy "X" frames and drivetrains but Canadian Olds had perimeter frames and Buicks had different "X" frames just like the US models. In 1965, they all switched to perimeter frames, but again, different from one division to another.
This is a picture of the Canadian interior in my 1965 Wildcat. [this post was last edited: 5/4/2012-04:11]
