I'm interested in hearing stories from U.S. owners like.....

67HEAVEN · Poncho Master!

I'm interested in hearing stories from U.S. owners like.....

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Excellent idea. I spent a long time on the phone one evening with Jerhra. It's tons of fun seeing the US guys take an interest in our unique cars. For so long, they were frowned on, which I can hardly believe.

Lemans64 · Poncho Master!

Gee I'm on the other end of this scale, Canadian owning a US car, LOL.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I did that too, then I saw the light!!!! Hahaha, just kidding, actually I saw the $$$$ and sold it!

Lemans64 · Poncho Master!

It started out to be a cheap car, BUT, LOL. U know the rest. Was brought up from the US in mid 70's, sold to my bro in 80 and trashed by him. it was stored for around 17 years before I bought it off him for storage fees. Last time it was driven was around 83, and first time back on road was 2007.

davelacourse · Poncho Master!

67HEAVEN wrote:

I think it's great that several members here are Americans with Canadian Ponchos. It'd be interesting to hear how they were attracted to these fine cars, and where they got their hands on one.......
Enquiring minds want to know. Tell us the stories.

For me, I think it is the same reason Pontiacs were so popular in Canada when new - affordable, yet a significant step up from Chevrolet in styling and amenities. Every time I look at a 64-67 Beaumont dash and compare to my 66 Chevelle SS396 (other years were similar) I am envious of the nice big-gauge layout. Same with my 56 - nicely laid out with full instrumentation and much classier than the 55-56 Chevy.

The Pontiac is much better IMHO:

Sorry my steering wheel not on yet but it is classier too (Iprefer the standard simpler 2-spoke):

Exterior styling of the Pontiacs (Canadian being like the American version) is better too IMHO - love my twin hood streaks - I have a few things planned under the hood to repeat that theme - and of course my non-opriginal upholstery echos that theme too. Makes it much more distinctive than any Chevy, I think -- yet under the skin it is pure Chevy, easy-to-find parts (except for that 261) which are plentiful and cheap too!

I am planning on going to a Super Chevy show in Palm Beach in March (open to all vehicles with Chevy power, even if still in primer) and I am looking forward to snide comments which I can put down, I am thinking of starting with "You don't know very much about cars, do you?" followed by "This is a Canadian Pontiac, a best-seller in our good neighbor to the north, upscale from the Chevy but a great value ..."

Oh, one more thing -- because people in the US think these cars are strange (shorter than a 'real' Pontiac, for exampe -- or if they look under the hood and see a Chevy motor) there is less competition from other buyers for them. I can buy a great car cheaper! More money left for goodies - mag wheels, fat tires, big motor, and the list goes on

Dave

beaumontbill · Addicted!

As a kid my dad and I were very involved in the old car hobby. Every Sunday we would travel somewhere to a car show . I was also lucky enough to have a dad that collected car brochures as well as worked at a car dealership. I was hanging around dealerships from the age of five years old...... there was only one major problem...... for whatever reason my dad was really into Kaisers and Henry J's and Frazers and we owned all of the above as well as the odd studebaker. I can remember traveling over 300 miles to go to a car show with my dad driving in our 53 Kaiser. When we got there I would drool over all the musclecars only to have to
climb back into the Kaiser for the long trek home. As I got older I played alot of hockey and had the opportunity to spend some time in Canada. One day I saw an ad for a Beaumont SD in Alberta. It was a convertible and it was cool. Bingo, I had an idea. This was a car so unique, so interesting , so good looking that maybe I could talk my Kaiser collecting dad into buying it. This way I could hang around in a "cool car for once" Through my still developing, but above average sales technique, I got the deal done with dad and a SD 396 Beaumont was on its way to the states. My dad drove it around to show and cruise nights as I went through high school and on to the University. I loved the car and spent all kinds of time researching them . I knew I had to have one for my one, but I just couldn't find one. As I finished school, I too went into the car business and found a level of success that allowed me to by some classic cars. A ls-6 Chevelle , a Buick GNX,
a Judge some Yenkos, but I still wanted to find a Beaumont SD 396 Convertible for myself. Fast forward to somewhere around 1994 and I was reading a Hemmings ad and I saw an ad for a Beaumont SD 396 convertrible in Seattle Washington. BAM............ i had to have it. I called the owner several times and just couldn't get together on the deal. I was a suave negotiator though and knew I would get the deal done. That plan didn't go to well as a week later I called backed to find out the car was sold. Darn........I was dissapointed. Fast forward 1 month later and I am at a car show at the Tonawanda engine plant and I notice out of the corner of my eye a flatbed pulling in to the show. On the back was a Butternut Yellow 1968 SD 396 convertible . I ran up to the car and assesed that the car was indeed the same one that I had missed out on from Seattle. I asked the guy driving
the flatbed if the car was for sale. At this point all salesmanship was out the door .
To make a long story short , the deal was done. I bought the car from the guy who bought the car from the guy in Seattle who was on his way back to PA and just happened to be passing through the area and stopped at the show. I drive this yellow car about 3k miles a year . I get all sorts of great questions and puzzled looks. It got me hooked. I love the car and have had lots of fun with the family driving it all over Western NY . I now have added another a 67 SD 396 convertible and a 66 L79 Acadian as well as doing a body off resto on dads car and I'm as hooked as ever. Now where can I find a real 409 4spd convertible?

Beaumont Bill

-- Edited by beaumontbill on Thursday 20th of August 2009 05:54:30 PM

67HEAVEN · Poncho Master!

Dave and Bill. Great stories.

Keep 'em coming people.

ak 67sd · Poncho Master!

Not the stories you are looking for, but i've shown my beaumont in the states a few times, Fargo, Minneapolis and Canton, SD... i've heard some interesting comments like "its a canadian gto", a "canadian chevelle", "some sort of dodge product" (this one made me wonder?)....and the always fun one...hmmm...do you want to go in the 'gto' class or 'chevelle' class... i've always had fun parking it in a line of chevelles...turns heads... and surprisingly the judges liked it, i've always done well at shows across the border.

ak

canadian l79 · Addicted!

As Beaumont Bill said I found out about the Canadian Acadians & Beaumonts at a car show in Grand Bend Ontario in Aug. 1999. I was there with my 1967 Nova SS, 327/4 speed and met Chris (Arcadian) who said I had a beautiful Nova, but anyone can get a Nova you should get an ACADIAN. My answer of course was Whats an ACADIAN, and that started my quest to get one of these cars. Chris & I are now the best of friends and officers of the newly formed Canadian Pontiac Specialty Chapter.

In March I bought a 1966 Acadian Sport Deluxe L79 in Branford On. Then a few weeks later Chris called me and said he found a 1965 Acadian Beaumont L78 SD car for sale in Bracebridge On. I didn't think they put a big block in the Beaumonts but got the phone No. from Chris & made the call only to find out it was a L79 Beaumont not a L78. Having a 1965 Evening Orchard L79 Chevelle SS back in the day I decided to make an offer over the phone only to have an answer of I've had a lot offers over the phone, I then said I would be there the next to buy the car if he would hold it for me and He said he would. When I first saw the car I had second thoughts because it was in pretty rough shape but after seeing the GM documentation as being 1 of only 23 L79 Beaumonts being built in 65 I didn't hesitate handing over cash for the car. The car came from Tofield AB, and is now having a frame off resto which should be completed at the end of Sept. this year. After buying our first two cars I have bought more than a half dozen Acadians & Beaumonts cars for parts.

We now own three more 1965 Acadian Beaumonts Our second L79 SD which is completely restored and has been in the Detroit Autorama, Performance World in Toronto, Medowbrook Concourse d' Elegance, the Forge Muscle Car Invitational Show, and many other Special Car Shows. There is also a four page article in Muscle Car Enthusiast on our car. The latest show we will be attending is the Invitational Plane & Car Show this upcoming weekend (8/29&30) at the Windsor Airport. Our other 65 Beaumont Sport Deluxes are a L79 Convertible, and a 65 Beaumont SD 283/2 speed automatic matching numbers with original protecto plate.

Sense we have owned these cars it seems like every Car Show we attend everyone that sees them says they are the best cars in the Show because most people have never seen one before. A family that is addicted to the Canadian Pontiacs, Acadians, and Beaumonts.