 We said this would be easy, yet hard. Every contestant knew this is a Pontiac, and all but one correctly pegged it as 1940. Five of you knew it's a Pontiac Arrow, a Canada-only model, based on that year's Chevrolet. Like the US-built Pontiacs, whose least expensive model was the Special Six, the Arrow shared GM's "A" size body with Chevrolet. but unlike the Special Six, which had a 116-1/2 inch wheelbase and 222.7 cubic inch sidevalve engine, the Arrow had 113-inch Chevy chassis and 216.5 cubic inch overhead-valve "Stovebolt" engine. The dashboard, however, was Pontiac. To make the Pontiac nose sheet metal fit the shorter chassis it was reconfigured, resulting in more front overhang and a look best described as "uncomfortable." The difference shows up when comparing to a 1940 Pontiac Special Six and the Chevrolet Special Deluxe. The postwar Canadian models are fairly well known, Chrysler Corporation's "Plodges," typically Plymouths with Dodge noses and trim, and Ford's Monarch and Meteor sub-marques sold only in Canada, as well as more modern Cheviacs. International tariffs are sometimes blamed for this variety, but the more important reason had to do with dealerships. Canada's smaller, less-densely settled populations resulted in car dealers spaced farther apart. The Cheviac gave Pontiac dealers a less expensive car to sell than was available at their stores in the USA. Since there was not a Chevy dealer next door, corporate fratricide was a minor worry. Today, of course, automakers just swap the badges of one marque for another, and thanks to the Canada-US Auto Pact of 1965 there is free trade of cars across the border. Gerry Barrett gave us all the specifics, while adding that the "A Vendre" sign and fire hydrant peg the photo as taken in French-speaking Canada. Indeed, I snapped it in Sabrevois, Québec, while returning to the USA from Montréal. He also gives Regina, Saskatchewan, as a Canadian Pontiac plant, although the Sanford Evans data book, a trove of elusive information on Canadian cars, indicates they were also built at GM's Canadian HQ at Oshawa, Ontario. Congratulations to first-time winner Gerry, please email us your T-shirt size and mail address so we can send your T-shirt. A special mention to jury member Alan Spencer who contributes the colloquial nicknames "Chevriac" and "Pontrolet," and to Peter Johnson, who educates us about the "lovely Clow type D67 Premier fire hydrant and Canadian style sign." (Text & photos Kit Foster) |
    |
↧
About Quiz #385: Chevriac or Pontrolet!
↧