I took a 1956 Pontiac with two carbs on a test run in 1959 in Muskegon Michigan that a private owner wanted to sell.
Rob
317 c.i?
The Rochester F.I. units for the Chevies had check valves, whereas the Pontiac versions did not. That was the undoing of the Pontiac F.I. option. When the Pontiac units sat, the fuel could leak into the cylinders, causing an initial flooding on startup, followed by a fuel dry condition (it had leaked out). Not a good experience for Bonneville owners. Considering how pricey the F.I. Bonnevilles were, how unfamiliar the typical mechanic was towards them, and the above stated problems relating to the lack of check valves, well lets just say that of the 630 produced, most were converted to carburation.
In Canada the Canadian-built Pontiac-Chevrolet hybrids could have been had with the vaunted 283 fuel injection setup , although hardly anybody sprung for it. They were too busy cheaping out with the standard 261 truck six (with hydraulic lifters for passengercar use). Those engine ran silently. We even got a sedan delivery model through 1958.
The visible differences between the Canadian & U.S. versions became greater once the wide track era began on the 1959 models. The Canadian cars looked goofy with their skinny tracks if you were used to the wide tracking U.S. models. In Canada they were the value division of the Pontiac-Buick-Cadillac dealer networks; they matched the Chevrolet line model for model. They were one of the most, if not the most popular car makes in Canada.
Personally I think the 57 Pontiac looks better than the 57 Chevy, especially in the fin / tail light treatment.
