About a month ago I attended a family/friend reunion of sorts, and met many relatives and friends of relatives that I have never seen before, and most looked at me like they have seen a ghost. They were the friends and family of my father who they hadnt seen since 1969. Apparently I am the spitting image.
I showed up in my 67 Grande, and had all these strangers jaws dropped, and some covered the gaping hole with one hand, most wanted to hug me or touch me as my father was some kind of local legend due to his speed records, and nothing but a Pontiac man.
There is nothing official, but he holds a local speed record for a trip from Miramichi to Montreal and back that still stands. (nobody is foolish enough to try to beat it on public roads anymore). Some of these people pulled out photos and newspaper clippings of him with his 1967 Beaumont SD. He worked for a dealership at the time. He was putting his little village on the map so to speak, with his cars and risky cross-country adventures.
I was already keeping an eye out for my dream car, which I really wasnt sure what I wanted, but had it narrowed down. I was amazed that my interest in cars seems identical to my fathers. given the fact that I have only a few childhood memories as he was killed in that 67 Beaumont in 1969 while trying to break a speed record from Miramichi to Vancouver and back. He made it to Vancouver and was on his way back, when they found him and his car wrecked in Sask. It is suspected that he fell asleep. I had been lied to about his death until this reunion.
I was astounded that I was a part of something that meant so much to a little village in rural NB. If you know anything about small villages, you already know that people make things out to be bigger and better than they really were, and given that 40+ years have passed, his legend has grown with the older folks. I met the man whos record he was trying to break, and I realized that I was born a generation too late to have the fun that they had with cars. I would be OK with people still gushing about me 40 years after my death, so my new mission in life is to complete the trip from the spot in Sask to where his home in NB was as fast as I can in my new 67 Beaumont. His departure time is documented in a local paper, and I have his time of death. It would have more meaning to his peers than myself, and give them some new stories to share. For myself, I feel it would be an honor to finish something he started, and meant so much to him.
I will be making the trip, hopefully in a 67 Beaumont, but I will be making it. I had already decided to buy my dream car, but this sealed the deal for me. Wife says yes, bank says yes, I say yes. Just got to find the car now.
Now, that's a cool story!! It would be interesting to know where the accident happened and I would summize it was on the # 1 west of Regina.
I understand the falling asleep thing as I have heard that lots of us Eastern people do find the roads too flat and straight, thus you start to dose off.. I have unfortunatly done it myself from time to time but fortunate to not have any near misses. It can be a tad boring driving by yourself at times.
I too am getting a car my Dad once had, all be it a '58 4-dr Del-Ray. (Dad had a Bel-Air with a 348 that he rolled about 6 months after he bought it back home but all 3 survived. When it landed, it was up against a pole.)
Being the sentimental type, I loved reading your story. It makes me want to help you find a 67.
I have the dream of continuing the Stevenson family history book that my dad wrote a couple of years before his death in 1968. Funny how stuff like that means so much to some of us and very little to others...
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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
All the best in finding that '67, living your dream, and carrying on a legacy!
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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.
Vince, I cant recall exactly where, but it is in the newspaper clipping that I have at home. The whole deal is still news to me as I was told a whole different story. I will be sure to post pics of my journey when the time comes. Especially the rubber left behind at the starting point. I will scan and post the speeding tickets too!
Carl, Any help would be much appreciated, even just keeping an ear to the ground over the next little while is a help. I would strongly encourage you to go for it, you'll be glad you did, and so will the future Stevensons. I'm sure you have much to add. I hear ya about sentimentality, I used to think it was only felt by old people, turns out its only felt by wise people. It just happens that most people take many years to become wise. (just my opinion).
ANYONE, I will pay a 1% finders fee to anyone who finds my future 67 Beaumont. My limit is 30k, but from what I've seen out there 23k-25k is realistic for a turnkey ride.
Wow. Great story and good luck on your venture. I lived in Halifax Nova Scotia growing up between there and Woodstock Ontario. Many of my friends and I did crazy hi speed runs back and forth in the early 70's so it strikes a chord with me.
Vince, I cant recall exactly where, but it is in the newspaper clipping that I have at home. The whole deal is still news to me as I was told a whole different story. I will be sure to post pics of my journey when the time comes. Especially the rubber left behind at the starting point. I will scan and post the speeding tickets too!
Funny you say that because I have Dads clipping as well!!! They called him a whole bunch of not so nice names... I too, will post it!! (Thanks again for jotting my memory!!)
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Thursday 22nd of July 2010 09:28:10 PM
What happened to that 67 Beaumont for sale in Saskatoon, bench seat, 4 speed , pale yellow /cream color, 327 I think. It's not on Kijiji anymore, but maybe someone on here knows the seller? Price was mid to high teens if I remember correctly.
-- Edited by 68post on Thursday 22nd of July 2010 08:21:59 PM
No disrespect, but public highways are not the venue for setting speed records. I recall back in the time you refer to, people trying to set records like that. Sometimes it went well, other times things went wrong, when they did it was bad. Hopefully you will take a leisurely tour from Sask to NB. I wish you well.
What happened to that 67 Beaumont for sale in Saskatoon, bench seat, 4 speed , pale yellow /cream color, 327 I think. It's not on Kijiji anymore, but maybe someone on here knows the seller? Price was mid to high teens if I remember correctly.
-- Edited by 68post on Thursday 22nd of July 2010 08:21:59 PM
April 6th 1967 73617 283ci T (759 black bench) link Custom 2dr Hrdtp M20 Capri Cream spot. by Cheviac F40 K05 P57 U63 Mid City Motors Ltd-Saskatoon Saskatchewan
F40 Heavy Duty Front and Rear Suspension K05 Engine Block Heater P57 7.35x14/2 ply black rayon basic tire U63 Radio - Push Button
-- Edited by 68sd on Thursday 22nd of July 2010 10:18:40 PM
""What happened to that 67 Beaumont for sale in Saskatoon, bench seat, 4 speed , pale yellow /cream color, 327 I think. It's not on Kijiji anymore, but maybe someone on here knows the seller? Price was mid to high teens if I remember correctly. ""
The seller's name is Mike, PM Cheviac or give me a day and I can get his phone # for you, very nice solid car . I believe he still has it.
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later...rog
AADD supporting member !!
I'm a collector...not a builder!!Located in sunny central Saskatchewan at the lakehead!
Thanks for all the leads ALL! I wish that cream one had more hp! I am still interested, not sure who would get the finders fee!
Leo Thanks for the well wishes, and no disrespect taken. My journey would be more ceremonial rather than going as fast as I am willing. I am not the risk taker that my father was, but feel compelled to cross the line every once in a while. I would still stop for a squirrel on the road. I have others close to me think this is one of my most stupid ideas. That ususally causes me to go at it full force, one of my many personality faults I guess.
Thanks for all the leads ALL! I wish that cream one had more hp! I am still interested, not sure who would get the finders fee!
Leo Thanks for the well wishes, and no disrespect taken. My journey would be more ceremonial rather than going as fast as I am willing. I am not the risk taker that my father was, but feel compelled to cross the line every once in a while. I would still stop for a squirrel on the road. I have others close to me think this is one of my most stupid ideas. That ususally causes me to go at it full force, one of my many personality faults I guess.
(good to know how tough Ontario is on speeding)
I know I woudn't accept any finders fee- having a nice 67 like that kicking around the neighborhood would be reward enough!
Hi guys, that cream 4 spd bench car here in Saskatoon finally sold quite recently. I installed a 300 horse 350 in it for the previous owner. Had the owner mentioned the engine in his ad would the car have sold quicker? Or would that fact have taken away from the originality and possibly stifled a sale?
