Our April feature car is one that I'm sure is well known to most of our members.  Terry Knutson's super rare 68 Beaumont SD396 Convertible is now in better than new condition. To say it was resurrected from the dead is a major understatement. Terry gives us the rundown:

I think most members followed the story about this vehicle.I purchased this car last year from the famous Beaumont Bill.Unfortuneately in transport it was involved in a accident. The vehicle was written off by insurance company and I purchased it back as part of my settlement.It was hard to know exactly the extent of the damage by only viewing pictures that I had by E mail.Hoping for the best I loaded up with a car trailer and made my way for Billings,Montana.After a 16 hour drive non stop I made it,enough time to have last call and go to bed.Up early the next day I arrived at the yard.Even at first seeing the car it was hard to tell how bad the damage was.I wondered if I made the right choice to try and save the vehicle.

At one point I was going to sell it and just move on.After loading up the car I headed straight back,it really was quite a grind in 2 days.Once the car was back in her homeland I was  finding it hard to find a body man that was good and affordable.Luckily I did!

The first step was to pull it straight,and start pulling off the damaged parts.Fortuneately I found a donor convertible for the rear trunk deck of car that had been damaged,that was really my only obstacle,to having it done correctly.

The frame was not damaged,and really once the body had the pieces to make it square again,it was just a matter of putting it all back together.

I left the interior alone,since it was in nice condition,and there was really a point where I just had to decide how far I was going to go with it.I hope everyone enjoys the story and the outcome,the restoration really happened fast once it got rolling,and I guess that's just the kind of guy I am,get er'done,and another reason I'm a neverous wreck.

I have original bill of sale,purchased June 18 1968 for $4998.45  from Park pontiac buick,Winnipeg Manitoba.options include,tinted windshield(A02),floormats front and back(B23),pwr top(C06),positraction(G80),pwr disc brakes(J50),350h.p.(L34)(still has original engine)transmission was replaced in 1986 with M-21,pwr steering(N40),intrumentation special9U14),trunk light(U25),underhood light(U26),ashtray light(U28),radio(U63),rear manual antenna(U73),rear seat speaker(U80),polyglaze,wheel discs(covers)standard trans(W77),fuel additional canada(W84)Mandatory canada base equip(Z49)Trim black Vinyl bench(765)Butternut yellow(YY)Documented from GM Canada in November of 1991 that there were 66 SD Convertibles produced.I also have various dealer paperwork and factory manual and ProTecto plate.This has been the second time this car has been restored.Bill purchased it restored the first time.I am not sure of how many owners there has been,but I'm guessing I may be the 5th person

Anyways, Thank you Todd for the opportunity to have my car as a Feature it means alot,and I'm sure if Beaumont Bill's old car could talk,it might say she's glad that Bill sold it to someone who cared to go an extra few thousand miles to save her,I'm glad aswell,I'm very pleased to see her beauty again to share with all the members,and any beaumont lover who can appreciate a true Canadian classic for many,many,more years to come.