Well as long time lurker I figure it is time to post a build thread for my 65 Acadian Invader 2 door sedan. A bit of history, this car was purchased by my Dad when I was a mere toddler in 1978 and has been a race car ever since. We bracket raced it forever in Calgary , Edmonton, Medicine hat, Saskatoon, Kelowna and Spokane and had a ball , the "keys" were handed off to me around 1998 and about 6 years ago a rotisserie rebuild was started. This car has been a bracket car for its racing career, but it will become a NHRA/IHRA Stock Eliminator class car....unfortunately I will have to convert it into a nova/chevy II to be legal to the rules :(. At this point I have replaced the floor pan, sub frame connectors, right quarter panel and both front fenders and am in the midst of installing a new roll bar and a whole pile of fabrication to fit in all the equipment to enable a race car to operate properly
Dion Hildebrandt 1965 Pontiac Acadian Invader 2door sedan (former race car) 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle 2 door h/top H/SA nhra race car 1965 GMC Carryall (next and last project)
I LOVE IT! too bad about the nova conversion though,a rare car indeed.THANKS!
Ditto!
Make sure you take good care of all the original Acadian pieces.
A local Super Stock racer here ran a 66 Chevy II for years that is actually an Acadian as well. He still has it but has a newer car now.
Carl are you talking about Ernie Penner? He built the engine for my 1970 H/SA chevelle malibu. He is also related to me
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Dion Hildebrandt 1965 Pontiac Acadian Invader 2door sedan (former race car) 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle 2 door h/top H/SA nhra race car 1965 GMC Carryall (next and last project)
Very cool 65. Welcome from another Albertan who loves 65 Acadians. We have a couple of them. Small world, as I have been to Ernie's place with Carl many years ago. Looking forward to following the build.
Pictures! Pictures! Every one LOVES pictures! Here are some more of the car 'Under the Knife' I am in the middle of fabricating a bunch of stuff, ultimately I am trying to not cut anything up so aside from the roll bar everything is being built around the existing car (trying to keep everything bolt on) The Acadian currently has a 350 sbc in it, although it has had a 283 sbc in it at one time many years ago. For Stock eliminator I can run either a 283 at 195 or 220 horsepower and a 327 at either 250 or 300 horsepower. I would really LOVE to keep the car as an Acadian because that is what holds a soft spot in heart. Note the kick ass gold shag!, the headliner ,visors, arm rests and carpet were covered in that. Some manitobans might recognize the glove box decal.
Dion Hildebrandt 1965 Pontiac Acadian Invader 2door sedan (former race car) 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle 2 door h/top H/SA nhra race car 1965 GMC Carryall (next and last project)
Yes, that's him. I live about 10 miles south of him.
I should have guessed with a name like Hildebrandt you'd be related to him! My wife was a Loewen, you're likely related to her too!
My wife is from Winnipeg and the Hildebrandts have a BIG arm of the family tree based out of there. Definetly a small world
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Dion Hildebrandt 1965 Pontiac Acadian Invader 2door sedan (former race car) 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle 2 door h/top H/SA nhra race car 1965 GMC Carryall (next and last project)
Oh, we've got sooooo many Hildebrands and Hildebrandts around here I've lost count. Our son keeps wandering over to a local Hildebrand house too. Seems to be a bit of an attraction over there, and it's not cars!
6 cylinder car originally?
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
well if the attraction isnt cars it must be something goood looking either way :)
I am not 100% but I believe it was originally a 6 shooter, I am going to get GM historical to send me all the info on the car.
I should point out my Dad and myself own and operate an autobody shop in Calgary and I am such a hypocrite as I always say sentimental attachment is totally the wrong reason to build a car haha. That being said this Invader is as much a family member as my kids and dog are!
Thanx for all the good words and thumbs up, I think its great that such an obscure car line has such a big fan base.
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Dion Hildebrandt 1965 Pontiac Acadian Invader 2door sedan (former race car) 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle 2 door h/top H/SA nhra race car 1965 GMC Carryall (next and last project)
A 65 Acadian isn't obscure in a Stevenson household! It's mandatory!
Your VIN and cowl tag will tell us a lot. If you want to post the data (minus the last 3 or 4 digits of the VIN for security reasons) we can likely tell you quite a bit about the car.
GM can tell you even more though, such as selling dealer, date shipped, etc.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Super cool car Dion and great story! Welcome from Canada's east coast!
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
This car has been a bracket car for its racing career, but it will become a NHRA/IHRA Stock Eliminator class car....unfortunately I will have to convert it into a nova/chevy II to be legal to the rules
Could you not remove the Acadian trim, and fill out your "tech card" as Nova?
well this color scheme is exactly the same as my 65 invader.....aqua and turqouise!
-- Edited by timbuk on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 05:33:28 PM
I would have thought you stole my door except I saw it this morning ..haha
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Dion Hildebrandt 1965 Pontiac Acadian Invader 2door sedan (former race car) 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle 2 door h/top H/SA nhra race car 1965 GMC Carryall (next and last project)
Dion Hildebrandt 1965 Pontiac Acadian Invader 2door sedan (former race car) 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle 2 door h/top H/SA nhra race car 1965 GMC Carryall (next and last project)
Dion Hildebrandt 1965 Pontiac Acadian Invader 2door sedan (former race car) 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle 2 door h/top H/SA nhra race car 1965 GMC Carryall (next and last project)
car definately was the same color combo as my 65 invader ill bet they came off the line real close.what sis you do with the rear springs? homemade connectors? looks good