For Sale: 1962 Pontiac Parisienne in Lithia Springs, Georgia

When the Detroit party from the 1950s was over, cars like this 1962 Pontiac Parisienne convertible were the cure for the resulting hangover. Sleek, stylish, reserved, and full of performance, the big Poncho was the ultimate symbol of success for a younger generation. The fact that it was also fast was surely part of its appeal, and this nicely preserved example demonstrates without a doubt why these cars are hot collectables today.

Glancing at the cowl tag, you'll note that this car is a Canadian market Pontiac, which makes it rather unique. Despite the familiar name, Canadian Parisiennes were built on a Chevrolet chassis with Chevrolet engines, so you can expect a lot of interest in this car at shows. It wears a coat of traditional white paint, which always gives the Pontiacs a clean, upscale look. Pontiac was hitting on all eight cylinders throughout the '60s, and this is a great example of their luxury/performance image that defined the excitement division. The bodywork on this particular car is straight and the paint has a wonderful vintage-looking shine, so it looks right and generates a ton of attention wherever it goes. Fit and finish is good, with nicely aligned doors, a critical detail given the long trim that runs from nose to tail. A few neat details like the fender ornaments, the split Pontiac grille, and those ultra-cool curving taillights mean this is a car you can admire for a long time without seeing it all. Someone has invested big in making it look this good, and even at this price, it's a heck of a lot of car for the money. Nice!

Pontiac enthusiasts will find the tri-tone upholstery and the uniquely-shaped seats familiar, and it's more evidence that Pontiac was working overtime to separate themselves from the pack. The fantastically well-preserved interior looks very good with only minor signs of use that seem to enhance its appeal. Come on, don't you just want to slide into that driver's seat and key it up? The instrument panel is a double-decker affair, with a wide speedometer up top and a simple painted section below for the auxiliary controls. The steering wheel is an Impala unit, with a two-tone look that matches the interior, but the original Pontiac wheel is included with the car. You'll also note upgrades like Vintage Air A/C, power steering, power brakes, and a power top, making this a no-compromises piece of luxury muscle. Overhead there's a white vinyl convertible top and the massive trunk is finished with both carpets and reproduction mats plus a full-sized spare with cover.

Canadian Parisiennes were delivered with a Chevy 327, which means that the modern 350 cubic inch crate engine dropped right in without modifications. Topped by a 4-barrel carburetor and with a fresh dual exhaust system, it's powerful but doesn't call attention to itself; it's merely competent and trustworthy. It's painted Chevy Orange and wears finned valve covers to dress things up a bit. Other upgrades include HEI ignition, a modern alternator, and a big radiator up front to keep things nice and cool. Underneath, it has a fresh TH350 3-speed automatic transmission in place of the original PowerGlide, as well as the original heavy-duty rear end. If ever there was a car designed for long road trips, this is it. Simple spinner hubcaps and 215/75/14 whitewall radials make this is one of the best-looking cars of the period.

If you've reached that age where maybe a Firebird is too juvenile but there's not enough gray hair on your head for a Buick or Cadillac, perhaps this awesome Parisienne is the right choice. Call today!