Just joined the forum and this is my second post. Here are some pics of my car and a short history as told to me by Henry, the guy I bought it from.
It was bought new in Ballarat, Victoria, by Henry's twin brother but soon resold to a local who used it to tow his racehorses. The engine blew up in 1977 or 78 and the owner put the car in a shed and started a DIY engine rebuild, but didn't get very far. Henry, who is a farrier, visited occasionally and made several offers to buy the car. In 2006, a horse had a problem galloping that seemed incurable. Henry offered a deal - sell me the Pontiac if I can fix the horse. He fixed the horse and the car was his for $2000. He packed up the pieces of the front end and had it towed home. He had professionals rebuild the engine, repaint the body in the original colours and fix the other results of years of neglect.
Last year, Henry put the car on eBay. I flew down to have a look and loved it. I relied on Henry's description of the car's mechanical condition and didn't get it inspected (I know very little about car mechanics). I cruised home to Sydney with all the windows down - 1000 kms. in 11 hours. Fantastic! It stalled on me once at some road works, but it restarted after a few minutes rest. I was not too worried - it was nearly 40C that day.
This is my first and only classic car. I've wanted one since I got my driver's licence in 1972. The car had 61,000 miles on the clock when I bought it. Apart from the CD player that Henry installed, it looks original to me, but I haven't had a proper look at any others in the metal yet. Perhaps you guys can decide.
As you will know from other posts, it was assembled by Holden from an RHD kit. I have read that some of the fittings, like the heater, wipers and seats, weren't part of the kit. I know the side mirror is Holden. It was missing, and I fitted it to get NSW registration. I've had electronic ignition installed, and next will be a front disc conversion and the exhaust realignment that I mentioned in my first post.
Welcome! Love the car.. love the rally wheels.. did you know, the steering wheel was on the wrong side?
unclebernie said
Aug 8, 2010
Welcome....VERY COOL CAR!!!!!!!!
Canadian Poncho said
Aug 8, 2010
I love your car! Thanks for sharing.
4SPEED427 said
Aug 8, 2010
Beautiful car.
Todd, are you thinking what I'm thinking???!!!
67BBSD said
Aug 8, 2010
Awesome Car !
do I hear "feature car !"
gparis7 said
Aug 8, 2010
Very nice lines and a great color.
4SPEED427 said
Aug 8, 2010
67BBSD wrote:
Awesome Car !
do I hear "feature car !"
Yup!
67SD396 said
Aug 9, 2010
Great car. I'd like to see more of the dash. It looks very unique. The color combo with the red interior is very nice as well.
Thanks for the pictures and welcome to the site!
cdnpont said
Aug 9, 2010
Very nice! Nice to see any big CP 67 4 dr ht!
Pontiacanada said
Aug 9, 2010
Love it!!! Welcome!
craigd said
Aug 9, 2010
That is a beaut!!
A warm welcome to you.....
bigholden said
Aug 9, 2010
Thanks for your kind comments guys. I was lucky that the first car I saw was a good one.
Here are two more pics of the dash for 67SD396. Sorry about the reflections spoiling them a bit. I've read that the dash on Australian Pontiacs from 65 to 69 was from the 65 Impala.
OURWAGON said
Aug 9, 2010
INTERESTING, 65 CHEVY DASH IT IS !! VERY NICE CAR
4SPEED427 said
Aug 9, 2010
Silly question but is that just a standard steering column installed upside down?
bigholden said
Aug 9, 2010
Couldn't say Carl, but when the front wheels are straight, the middle spoke of the steering wheel points south! I've got to put more thought into setting up my pictures.
4SPEED427 said
Aug 9, 2010
When I think about it, that can't just be upside down. If park is up on the right side, when the lever is on the left side park is on the bottom. It has to be a special column.
Fascinating stuff!
craigd said
Aug 10, 2010
My 65's dash looks exactly the same!!! (like 65 Impala)..., just my steering wheel does not have 3 spokes, but runs midway through the wheel, with a half-moon metal rim for the horn.
My gears are on the left side of the steering wheel (with P right on top).., and indicators on the rhs of the wheel
Dash, cubby, clocks... all the same
Ghost Post said
Aug 10, 2010
Welcome aboard Rod!. Your car looks like a beauty!!!
Are the dash assy's on these RHD cars made of steel or fiberglass?. Were 4-Dr. Hardtops only sent to Oz like S. Africa?.
Is there a Holden W427 in your driveway...or neighborhood?. Or how 'bout a 69/70 era Holden GTS?. I've always loved these and the badge engineered Chevy SS cars!.
Being your car was built as a Canadian K/D, info on options shipped w/ your Vin are probably available form GM Canada Vintage Services.. It's worth a try!.
-- Edited by Ghost Post on Tuesday 10th of August 2010 02:46:04 PM
bigholden said
Aug 10, 2010
Hi Pete,
I'm pretty sure the dash is steel, but I'll get back to you if I'm wrong.
A few years back someone put up a website full of info on Australian Pontiacs and Chevs http://www.ozgm.com/ . It says there were sedans and hardtops in 64-66 and hardtops only in 67 and 68. Here's another link to an article about the history - http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/car_info_pontiac_parisienne.htm . I don't agree with the author's opinion about collectability.
Surprisingly, I've never owned a Holden. My other drives are a 2004 Ford Territory Ghia RWD and 96/7 Peugeot 306XR 1.8L manual - both great cars that I bought new. You'll find them on Wikipedia.
I've thought of contacting GM Canada for some history - but I need a VIN and I don't know if the car has one. The tag on the firewall, a picture of which is in my first post, doesn't have one, does it?
427carl said
Aug 10, 2010
Carl Stevenson wrote:
Silly question but is that just a standard steering column installed upside down?
I think it is upside down would not be hard to move wheel around
2+2 Double take said
Aug 13, 2010
no actually its on the right side and left is spelt L.E.F.T. not W.R.O.N.G. LOL LOL
bigholden said
Aug 15, 2010
Ghost Post wrote:
Welcome aboard Rod!. Your car looks like a beauty!!!
Are the dash assy's on these RHD cars made of steel or fiberglass?. Were 4-Dr. Hardtops only sent to Oz like S. Africa?.
Is there a Holden W427 in your driveway...or neighborhood?. Or how 'bout a 69/70 era Holden GTS?. I've always loved these and the badge engineered Chevy SS cars!.
Being your car was built as a Canadian K/D, info on options shipped w/ your Vin are probably available form GM Canada Vintage Services.. It's worth a try!.
-- Edited by Ghost Post on Tuesday 10th of August 2010 02:46:04 PM
I had a close look on the weekend and, to my inexpert eye, it does look like fibreglass.
I don't suppose anyone knows how to get the clocks going in these dashes? The knob for adjusting the hands works OK, but it just doesn't run.
Numbers_guy said
Aug 26, 2010
Hi BigHolden,
I know for a fact that if you can come up with the VIN number (found on the north american side drivers door jam between the two door hinges) GM of Canada can tell you a lot about your car.
Welcome to the group and thanks for the pictures.
Say you haven't come across anyone with Canadian built Chevelles or Beaumonts down under have you?
Beaumont4008 said
Aug 26, 2010
Welcome to the site, that sure is a nice looking Sport sedan . Nice colour combo.
Just joined the forum and this is my second post. Here are some pics of my car and a short history as told to me by Henry, the guy I bought it from.
It was bought new in Ballarat, Victoria, by Henry's twin brother but soon resold to a local who used it to tow his racehorses. The engine blew up in 1977 or 78 and the owner put the car in a shed and started a DIY engine rebuild, but didn't get very far. Henry, who is a farrier, visited occasionally and made several offers to buy the car. In 2006, a horse had a problem galloping that seemed incurable. Henry offered a deal - sell me the Pontiac if I can fix the horse. He fixed the horse and the car was his for $2000. He packed up the pieces of the front end and had it towed home. He had professionals rebuild the engine, repaint the body in the original colours and fix the other results of years of neglect.
Last year, Henry put the car on eBay. I flew down to have a look and loved it. I relied on Henry's description of the car's mechanical condition and didn't get it inspected (I know very little about car mechanics). I cruised home to Sydney with all the windows down - 1000 kms. in 11 hours. Fantastic! It stalled on me once at some road works, but it restarted after a few minutes rest. I was not too worried - it was nearly 40C that day.
This is my first and only classic car. I've wanted one since I got my driver's licence in 1972. The car had 61,000 miles on the clock when I bought it. Apart from the CD player that Henry installed, it looks original to me, but I haven't had a proper look at any others in the metal yet. Perhaps you guys can decide.
As you will know from other posts, it was assembled by Holden from an RHD kit. I have read that some of the fittings, like the heater, wipers and seats, weren't part of the kit. I know the side mirror is Holden. It was missing, and I fitted it to get NSW registration. I've had electronic ignition installed, and next will be a front disc conversion and the exhaust realignment that I mentioned in my first post.
Hope you like the pics.
do I hear "feature car !"
Here are two more pics of the dash for 67SD396. Sorry about the reflections spoiling them a bit. I've read that the dash on Australian Pontiacs from 65 to 69 was from the 65 Impala.
Welcome aboard Rod!.
Your car looks like a beauty!!!
Are the dash assy's on these RHD cars made of steel or fiberglass?.
Were 4-Dr. Hardtops only sent to Oz like S. Africa?.
Is there a Holden W427 in your driveway...or neighborhood?.
Or how 'bout a 69/70 era Holden GTS?.
I've always loved these and the badge engineered Chevy SS cars!.
Being your car was built as a Canadian K/D, info on options shipped w/ your Vin are probably available form GM Canada Vintage Services..
It's worth a try!.
GM Canada Vintage Services...
http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/shopping/parts/vintage
~
-- Edited by Ghost Post on Tuesday 10th of August 2010 02:46:04 PM
I'm pretty sure the dash is steel, but I'll get back to you if I'm wrong.
A few years back someone put up a website full of info on Australian Pontiacs and Chevs http://www.ozgm.com/ . It says there were sedans and hardtops in 64-66 and hardtops only in 67 and 68. Here's another link to an article about the history - http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/car_info_pontiac_parisienne.htm . I don't agree with the author's opinion about collectability.
Surprisingly, I've never owned a Holden. My other drives are a 2004 Ford Territory Ghia RWD and 96/7 Peugeot 306XR 1.8L manual - both great cars that I bought new. You'll find them on Wikipedia.
I've thought of contacting GM Canada for some history - but I need a VIN and I don't know if the car has one. The tag on the firewall, a picture of which is in my first post, doesn't have one, does it?
I think it is upside down would not be hard to move wheel around
LOL LOL
I don't suppose anyone knows how to get the clocks going in these dashes? The knob for adjusting the hands works OK, but it just doesn't run.
I know for a fact that if you can come up with the VIN number (found on the north american side drivers door jam between the two door hinges) GM of Canada can tell you a lot about your car.
Welcome to the group and thanks for the pictures.
Say you haven't come across anyone with Canadian built Chevelles or Beaumonts down under have you?