A Parisienne is a (female) person from Paris, so it’s a little bit of an unusual name for a North American car. The Pontiac Parisienne was a rear-wheel drive vehicle sold by Pontiac in Canada from 1958 to 1986 and in the United States from 1983 to 1986. The Canadian Parisienne was mechanically a copy of the Chevy Impala and was available in 2- and 4-door versions, both hardtops and convertibles. The USA Parisianne had unique drivetrains, chassis and equipment — different from other GM lines.
Parisiennes were distinct from other Canadian Pontiac models by their upgraded standard features: luxurious upholstery; courtesy interior and trunk lights; exterior accent chrome pieces, etc. This made them popular with Canadian consumers who for a little more money could buy a nicer car than a standard GM vehicle.
