1953 Pontiac Parisienne: The Elegant Motorama Landau That Defied Convention

Midnight Carriage - In the early 1950s, America was intoxicated with the promise of tomorrow. Futuristic kitchens, jet-age optimism, and chrome-laden automobiles captured the public imagination in equal measure. Auto shows became theatrical stages where manufacturers tested bold ideas under dazzling lights. It was in this atmosphere of spectacle and experimentation that the Pontiac Parisienne emerged—an elegant anomaly unveiled at the General Motors Motorama—blending prewar romance with postwar ambition in a way few cars ever dared. 

The 1953 Pontiac Parisienne reimagined a production-based platform into something reminiscent of 1930s town cars and finished in deep black lacquer—often described as “black-black”. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

Strictly speaking, the Parisienne was neither a pure prototype nor a far-fetched dream car. Instead, it functioned as a demonstration vehicle, a design study built to gauge public reaction to a nostalgic yet unconventional concept. Developed by the team at General Motors under the Pontiac banner, it reimagined a production-based platform into something reminiscent of 1930s town cars. The result was a two-door landau—sometimes described as a de Ville coupe—with a fixed roof covering only the rear passenger compartment. The driver sat beneath open sky, giving the car the dignified air of a chauffeur-driven carriage rather than a typical mid-century American sedan. 

The 1953 Pontiac Parisienne exterior retained hints of the production Pontiac Star Chief, yet details set it apart: French-visored headlights, a wraparound windshield, and discreet glass wind deflectors that nodded to prewar craftsmanship. (Picture from: WorldCarsFromThe1930sTo1980s in Facebook)

Visually, the Parisienne was unforgettable. Finished in deep black lacquer—often described as “black-black”—it contrasted dramatically with its vivid pink interior. The exterior retained hints of the production Pontiac Star Chief, yet details set it apart: French-visored headlights, a wraparound windshield, and discreet glass wind deflectors that nodded to prewar craftsmanship. Its proportions were strikingly low, just 56 inches tall and riding only seven inches off the ground. Pushbutton door entry added a sense of ceremony, and when the doors opened, the front seats originally slid forward a full foot to ease access to the rear—a theatrical flourish that underscored its show-car roots. 

The 1953 Pontiac Parisienne featured a striking cabin with pleated pink leather bucket seats edged in chrome, a slim console between them, and a largely standard Star Chief dashboard enhanced with subtle chrome accents. (Picture from: WorldCarsFromThe1930sTo1980s in Facebook)

Inside, the cabin delivered a study in contrasts. Up front were bucket-style seats trimmed in pleated pink leather edged with chrome, separated by a slim console. In the rear, passengers were treated to a tall, tufted seat upholstered in satin frieze with aluminum thread, evoking the refined atmosphere of an executive lounge. A black broadtail carpet lined the floor, reinforcing the car’s dramatic color palette. The dashboard remained largely standard Star Chief fare, though accented with additional chrome. Style, however, sometimes trumped practicality: the landau roofline left tall drivers vulnerable to an awkward bump against the chromed edge, and the tiny exterior mirrors provided limited rear visibility. A proposed Plexiglas extension from roof to windshield was never built, leaving the car exposed to weather and better suited to indoor admiration than daily use. 

The 1953 Pontiac Parisienne used a 122-horsepower, 268-cubic-inch straight-eight engine with a Dual-Range Hydra-Matic two-speed automatic on a standard 122-inch production chassis. (Picture from: WorldCarsFromThe1930sTo1980s in Facebook)

Beneath its theatrical bodywork, the Parisienne relied on familiar mechanical foundations. It carried Pontiac’s 122-horsepower, 268-cubic-inch straight-eight engine paired with the Dual-Range Hydra-Matic Drive two-speed automatic transmission, all mounted on the same 122-inch wheelbase chassis used in production models. Despite the additional weight from the lead used to sculpt its unique body, the car performed respectably. Owners have noted that it starts and runs with surprising ease, feeling more cooperative than one might expect from a mid-century showpiece. Premium fuel and octane boosters help keep the straight-eight content, but in spirit it remains every bit a functioning automobile rather than a fragile museum prop. | kWDjH1fjyr4 |

The Parisienne’s story nearly ended in obscurity. Ordered destroyed in the late 1950s, it somehow survived, later resurfacing in a New Jersey junkyard during the 1980s before being restored. Automotive collector Joe Bortz—known for preserving Motorama veterans—eventually tracked it down after years of persistence, unaware that legendary GM design chief Harley Earl had quietly arranged for its preservation decades earlier. Pontiac never put the landau into production, though the evocative Parisienne name lived on across various models into the 1980s. Today, the 1953 Pontiac Parisienne stands as a vivid reminder that innovation does not always mean looking forward; sometimes it means reinterpreting the past with enough flair to stop an entire showroom in its tracks. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARSTYLING.RU | AUTOWEEK | WORLD CARS FROM THE 1930S TO 1980S IN FACEBOOK ]

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