2024 Canadian Poncho Calendars are Now Available! CLICK HERE

 

 

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: October 2011 Feature Car


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 26765
Date:
October 2011 Feature Car


I've waited patiently for over three years for our veteran member Carl Stevenson to finish his Acadian so that we could feature it. Although it's not completely finished, I couldn't wait any further!

  In all seriousness when Carl asked me if I would feature the Acadian for October to celebrate 25 years of ownership, I was more than happy to oblige. Carl has done an outstanding job restoring his rare Canso SD. I had the privilege of meeting Carl in person earlier this year and I could see that he still has the same level of enthusiasm for this car that he had 25 years ago! Carl is a great person and an asset to Canadian Poncho. There is no person more deserving of a car like this than Carl. Happy 25th!

And now, Carl tells us the story behind the car:

P9210007.jpg

 In September I approached Todd to ask about the possibility of featuring my 65 Acadian to celebrate the 25th anniversary of me purchasing it, October 3rd, 1986. Here is my story!  

   Less than month after getting my license in 1974 I bought a 1965 Acadian Canso Sport Deluxe. It was a 194 Powerglide, turquoise inside and out. As all Sport Deluxe cars have, it had buckets, console and a factory gauge package. From that day on, Canadian Pontiacs have alsways been special to me.

It has always been fun for me pointing out to people the differences between the Canadian Pontiacs and the similar but not the same US cars. Over the next year and a half after buying it I did the usual 16 year old stuff--- V8, TH350, 3.73 gears, tach, wheels etc. However, I was young and easily influenced. Only about a year and a half later I fell in love with a 66 Grande Parisienne and traded my SD for it. Although I really enjoyed the GP, I still wished I had my SD. (Sound familiar to anyone???!!!)

    Over the next few years I looked for another SD to no avail.  In 1978 I did find one pretty rough one which I bought and made into a bracket racer. I raced it until one day the driveshaft split resulting in a destroyed transmission and rearend. I had no money to rebuild it so I turned it back into a street car and sold it to a friend. It was stolen shortly after and has never been recovered. This was about 30 years ago. I still watch for it in hope...

A4.jpg

     My search continued. In April 1979 my hometown was in danger of flooding and we were evacuated to Winnipeg, about 45 miles away. While there, I drove by a service station one day and happened to see a familiar set of tailights.

A11.jpg

We stopped to check it out. It was a white 65 Canso SD with black buckets. The interior was perfect and the odometer showed 38,000 miles. The attendant was kind enough to give me the owner's #. In no time, I was talking to a 67 year old lady who was the original owner of the car. She said she was not interested in selling and that every time she parked it somewhere there was another note under the windshield wiper asking if she would sell her car! I asked her to take my name and number. I knew I had an advantage over other suitors because each time I called her over the next several years, she told me my name was at the top of the growing list of requests. I usually called her about twice a year. In late Sept 86 I made my annual fall request. Again she said the car was fine and she was still going to keep it.

A16.jpg

However, about 4 days later when I got to work there was a note on my desk to call Mrs Kroft at a number I knew off by heart! I called and she gave me the bad (good) news that it had major engine trouble and the repair estimate was quite high. I arranged to go see the car that night. I knew where she lived and had driven by many many times over those years, seldom ever seeing it out of the garage. When I arrived, it looked almost as good as it had 7 and 1/2 years previous. It now had 43,000 miles and the oil and antifreeze were mixed together in both the oil pan and the radiator which suited me just fine! She gave me the impression family members wanted the car but to avoid conflict she would sell it outside the family. We quickly made a deal and I returned the next night. On October 3, 1986 I  drove it home trouble free which was somewhat surprising considering the engine.

A20.jpg

     The winter of 86-87 was a lot of fun. My girlfriend (now my  wife) and I were secretly planning our wedding and I was working on MY 65 SD. I felt 17 again!

     I enjoy big blocks and wanted one in this car. However, I vowed I would not cut it up in case I wanted to ever make it more original again. I made a set of tubular manifolds and put in a 427, no cutting! Over the next couple of winters, I added a factory underdash air unit, tinted glass, cruise control, power trunk, 1/4 mile timer, GTO Rally I wheels and a GM accessory tach. I also made a set of power windows to fit the car. This was never an option on Acadians. I used the correct vintage switches in the interest of keeping it looking as original, and maybe fooling a few people into thinking it was built with them, which it has!

A7.jpg

A32.jpg

A33.jpg

A14.jpg

 

     In the winter of 89-90, I stripped the paint off and had it repainted. It came home from the paint shop in May 1990, just in time to install all the trim and interior for a trip to Kansas City and the POCI convention. 

     I drove the car in this form until after the 1996 POCI convention. At that time I parked it, only driving it once I think in 1998 or 1999, I forget. I was gathering parts with the intention of changing it in to an original looking 327 4 speed SD. Not that I was sick of the big block but sick of not having that 3rd pedal! I finally collected enough pieces to make it a "factory" 327 4 speed car, including an original 65 Acadian 4 speed console. I have never seen another one, and bought it by fluke. I thought it was a Nova 4 speed console (same except the Acadian unit has no emblem) but when I got it home I realized it was an actual Acadian unit. There's a number of 66-67 Acadian 4 speed consoles out there but this truly is a "hen's tooth". 

A21.jpg

A22.jpg

A31.jpg

A9.jpg

     The car is currently almost "done", if a car can ever actually be done..... I still have a number of changes in mind for down the road somewhere.  Disc brakes, 12 bolt rear, repaint inside the trunk and door jambs and lots of detail work. It's only driver condition, but that suits me fine. I had to replace the floor pans a few years ago, and I put new fenders on it in 1990 when it was painted. All other panels are the pieces the car was built with.

A24.jpg

A26.jpg

A25.jpg

A27.jpg

A28.jpg

A29.jpg

A30.jpg

A19.jpg

A18.jpg

 

A10.jpg 

   Documentation recieved with the car included the original bill of sale for $3366.00. Options were tinted windshield, heavy duty suspension, block heater, Powerglide and 6.95 X 14" whitewall tires. Oddly enough, as shown on the documents, the car was built with power steering and power brakes. Mrs Kroft had the dealer swap them onto another 65 Acadian 2 door hardtop that was on the lot (as shown on the paperwork, including the VIN of the other car). Also, as shown, she had the dealer install RED accessory floor mats???!!! The car is a radio delete car and I still have the original delete plate. It has never had a radio installed. Currently my 80's  vintage 1/4 mile timer occupies that hole in the dash. I got the original Winnipeg Motor Products key chain with the car as well as the original keys. The shipping date, appropriately enough is 4-27-65!

A8.jpg?t=1317421342

A23.jpg

     I enjoy this car partly because it's unusual to see a 65 SD but more because it reminds me of when I was 16. In about 37 years of looking out for 65 Canso SD's, I've likely not seen or heard of more than 15-20. I have owned 3 of them. I believe total production was a bit over 900.

A3.jpg

A1.jpg

A13.jpg

A17.jpg

A6.jpg

P9210010.jpg

     The car currently has a bit over 52,000 miles. Plans are to add a few more miles in the coming years. I have promised each of our two children a classic car when they turn 21 if they are living a good lifestyle, free of alchohol, drugs, tobacco etc.  (currently they are 14 and 16) Our daughter is excited about the prospect of getting this car in 7 years. It will be hard to give up but easily worth it.   Cars are a ton of fun but family is still much more precious.

P9210005.jpg

 

 



__________________

Todd
Site Founder

Like us on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/CanadianPoncho

Canadian Poncho World Headquarters - Prince Edward Island

 



Uber Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3568
Date:

WooooooHooooo! Just on my way out the door. Cograts Carl. I'll read the story once I'm back. Verrrrrry cooool!!!!!

__________________

"So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think... The good outnumber you, and we always will."  Patton Oswalt



Uber Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3630
Date:

 Oh for goodness sakes.................! Now I know why Todd didn't ask about next months feature car! Looks great on you Carl!!

 Oh, and where is a pic of the keychain??? wink Is it for this car?

 



 



-- Edited by 67Poncho on Friday 30th of September 2011 07:06:50 PM

__________________

Vincent Jr.



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Status: Offline
Posts: 6749
Date:

Congrats there on a very good read. I am always impressed with guys who are able to hang on to their cars for many years and still enjoy them. That is one sharp looking car and air conditioning to boot, very nice.

__________________
Jerel


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Status: Offline
Posts: 9120
Date:

aww Congrats Carl



__________________


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 20051
Date:

I honestly think your Canso SD is one of the nicest looking ones I have ever seen. The white paint with tinted windows and black interior is just perfect. The Rally I wheels look like they were made for that car. I had no idea you have owned this car 30 years Carl, how special.



__________________

Ray White, Toronto ON

1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 




Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 638
Date:

NICE CAR , GREAT STORY. THANKS CARL FOR KEEPING ANOTHER RARE PONTIAC SAFE !!



__________________


Uber Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3813
Date:

Congrats Carl! Car looks great and the story of how you got it is great. Maybe next year we will get to see it at a coffee.

__________________

1957 Pathfinder deluxe 4 door wagon
1961 Pontiac Parisienne bubble top Traded for a Harley sorry guys.

2007 Grand Prix Gxp

2009 Pontiac Montana SV6

Winnipeg MB 



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 520
Date:

You are my idle!!! Congrats!!

__________________

'67 Beau Wagon sold
'03 S/C'd Marauder...hahahah

'67 Beaumont convertible S/D


Addicted!

Status: Offline
Posts: 477
Date:

Well deserved feature car!

__________________

SOLD - '62 Acadian Beaumont 2dr HT



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Status: Offline
Posts: 4508
Date:

The right choice indeed. 



__________________

62 Catalina 2 dr post project

69 Parisienne 2 dr ht 427

55 Bel Air 2 dr post 265PP/PG

68 Bel Air 2 dr post BB project

 



Poncho Master!

Status: Offline
Posts: 1347
Date:

Congrats Carl your car looks awesome, couldn't be a better story for such a great guy!! Thanks for all you do hear Carl!!

Kevin

__________________

 avatar?id=1542123&m=75&t=1389907469

     68-2dr/HT
   

      



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 719
Date:

well deserved carl,great ride/story

__________________

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power,the world will know peace"
  
  

http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f398/1964Acadian/?albumview=slideshow                  



 







                                  



A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 35601
Date:

Congratulations!   Nicely written and illustrated      Well deserved

   

I love the car  hump.gif



__________________

 



Uber Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3463
Date:

nice, good to finally hear the stories behind it. smile



__________________

 








A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 48633
Date:

67Poncho wrote:

 

 Oh, and where is a pic of the keychain??? wink Is it for this car?

 



-- Edited by 67Poncho on Friday 30th of September 2011 07:06:50 PM


 Just barely visible in the 5th picture down, CP keychain! 



__________________

1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars



A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 48633
Date:

Thanks guys for all the kind words.

It felt kind of funny asking to have my car featured, but it just seemed so appropriate on it's 25th anniversary in my house to have it up there. The lady who bought it new only had it 21 1/2 years...

When I was working outside tonight I was thinking how I'm going to have to give this car up to our daughter in 7 years. Definitely mixed emotions about that but if she keeps her end of the deal it will be well worth it.

It's hard for me to even imagine selling it, which I almost did about 10 years ago. At that time it still had the air conditioning, cruise, 427, TH350 in it and a guy walked away from it for $6500. Luckily, Fake68 talked some sense into me a few days later and it was no longer for sale at that point and has not been since.

__________________

1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars



Uber Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3932
Date:

Great story Carl. Congrats on being the feature car. Like Vern said be nice to see it at a coffee meet some day.



__________________


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 48633
Date:

Hopefully early 2012!



__________________

1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars



Uber Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3630
Date:

Carl Stevenson wrote:
67Poncho wrote:

 

 Oh, and where is a pic of the keychain??? wink Is it for this car?

 




 Just barely visible in the 5th picture down, CP keychain! 


 Ah, now I see it!!!



__________________

Vincent Jr.



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Status: Offline
Posts: 4285
Date:

Very good read,  Learned lots of stuff about the history.

Car looks great in the pics.



__________________

Beaumontguru

MY BEAUMONT HAS 4 STUDDED TIRES AND 2 BLOCKHEATERS......AND LOTS OF OIL UNDERNEATH.  The other one has a longer roof.



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Status: Offline
Posts: 6366
Date:

very nice-love the wheels on it

 

I had a 65 Canso back in the day-turquoise exterior



__________________


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 48633
Date:

67BBSD wrote:

very nice-love the wheels on it

 

I had a 65 Canso back in the day-turquoise exterior


 This colour?

http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t15091528/my-first-canso/



-- Edited by Carl Stevenson on Friday 30th of September 2011 10:53:25 PM

__________________

1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars



Poncho Master!

Status: Offline
Posts: 1977
Date:

Congratulations Carl on your 25th anniversary with your car. Very interesting reading the history.
 I bet you can't wait to get it on the road for some more miles and memories.



__________________


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 48633
Date:

I just thought of a couple of things I could add to the thread that pertain to the car's history.

Original documents she included when I got it, as well as the paperwork she and I did---









__________________

1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars

1 2 3 4  >  Last»  | Page of 4  sorted by
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
.
Support Canadian Poncho!
Select Amount:
<
.
.
.