Just came across this site. Very nice! I wish I would have found it long ago but glad to be here now.
Just another dissplaced Canadian here. Been in California for almost 20 yrs now. But till recently, have still managed to confuse the locals with a touch of Canadianism. (is that a word?)
Back in 1970, My dad who was an insurace adjuster picked up a 1969 Beaumont custom for next too nothing. The original owner put it in a ditch and messed up the front fenders. Back then they just wrote it off and replaced the car. So my dad jumped on it and had the repairs done. Fast forward to 1976 I bought the Beaumont from my folks and the fun began. Now you youngins have to remember, back in the day. Muscle cars hadn't yet been perverted by the speculators. Parts and cars were cheap and plentifull. So customizing your ride was not yet fround upon as it is today. So a slightly warmed 400 small block with full duel exhaust coupled to a T H 350 and a posi rear found thier way into the mix. 15x6 and 15x8 rally rims with goodyear radials replaced the bais ply hockey pucks the factory installed. The front bench was replaced with period correct bucket seats and a four speed console happend to migrate between them. Many many miles and untold adventures ensued with that car till the fatefull day that a throttle stuck wide open on a wickedly twisting road finally spun the car sidways into a concreate light pole stand. Thus ending the Beaumonts reign of terror. I pulled all the trim and special parts that made the car a Beaumont off and stored them in boxes for future use. The remainder of the car was transformed into a roundy rounder that was last seen at Checker flag raceway in southern Ontario. I moved to california and was looking for something cool to use for work and commuting. In comes a 1969 ElCamino. Well knowing that GM never did anything Canadianly cool with the ElCamino body style. I figured I might just as well do it for em. What I ended up with was what I thought GM should have done way back when.( I never figured out why they would make a wagon version of the Beaumont, but not an truck version?) Long story short. That "Beaumino" served me very very well with me putting over 300,000 miles on it before I finally decided to pass it on to a father and son team looking to find a resto project they both could work on. I know this intro is getting very windy so please forgive my verbal diarieah. I'm going to try and post some pics of the old rides. hope they work. And wanted to send a heads up to anyone who may need some 69 parts I'd like to pass on to some of you who are keeping these GREAT CANADIAN cars alive and well.
Ill get a list and some pics of the parts I've got available as soon as I can. I'd prefer to see them go to you guys here, rather than put them up on E Gay.
In the meantime, Thanks for the trip down memory lane guys. You made my day!
Wow! Thanks for the great reception and kind words. I almost forgot how nice you Canucks can be. :O) To answer a couple questions, Nope Beaumont4008 I always wanted to change the dash on the truck but if you think finding a 69 GTO dash is hard up north, you havent seen what the california sun can do to one. Even 10 years ago finding a good dash to refurbish was very hard to do. And at that time JUST DASHES was still young and wanted over$700.00 just to start. JohnneeD asked if I had any other oldies hangin around? Well I'm kinda thinnin the heard a bit as of late. Getting back into Motorcycles again. (funny how things come back round) I've still got a 1971 Opel GT I brought with me from Canada, oh so many years ago. That one is a stalled out super gas drag project. But its most likely going on the chopping block very soon. The only other OLDIE I've still got is a 1970 Triumph GT6 that I'm redoing. I'd love to get back into the muscle car thing again But DAMM the prices have just got way out of control on that stuff. Kind of why I'm offering all my spares up to you dedicated few who are keeping the faith. I'll try to get some more pics up here. But I better save the rest to post on Members rides.
Welcome to the site love your Elmont