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Post Info TOPIC: January 2020 Feature Car


A Poncho Legend!

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January 2020 Feature Car


Happy New Year! Our January Feature Car belongs to Kim Connors. Thanks to fond memories of a relative owning a 65 Acadian Beaumont SD Convertible back in the day Kim decided he had to have the exact same car. Not an easy feat as so few of these cars were made. As luck would have it Kim found this Acadian Beaumont very close to home. Kim tells us more about this exceptional car:

"I was only 4 years old in 1965 and living in rural, central New Brunswick, when my Aunt, a recent graduate from the Miramichi Hospital School of Nursing, moved to Halifax to start her career and bought a new 1965 Acadian Beaumont convertible.  It was a Sport Deluxe package with a 230ci engine and a 2-speed power glide transmission.  The colour was mist blue metallic with a black top.  Thats all I can remember about the accessories and because the car was eventually sold for scrap, I dont have access to the serial number.

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She kept the car until ~ 1970 but during that time, I can remember so vividly riding in the car with her and falling in love with the top down sensation.

Jump 30 years forward to the turn of the century, I decided that I want to own a sister to her car and started a savings account for the same.  I would search off and on but never found matches to my criteria; Must haves: 1965 Beaumont, Sport Deluxe, convertible with 2-speed power glide. Nice to have: 230ci engine & mist blue metallic.  I had come to terms with the fact that I would accept a car with any engine and I could eventually paint it mist blue metallic.

Half_Moon_Rest_2019.jpg

After 15 years or so of casually searching and, being content with the status of my Beaumont Savings Account, I decided to get more aggressive with my search.  There had to be a car out there somewhere.  During these 15 years my career progression required relocation from NB to Prince Albert Saskatchewan and then to Winnipeg where I now reside.

With the help of technology, I registered for an alert system that would email me anytime listings were created relative to a 1965 Beaumont.  I got daily emails for parts, some hard tops, different years, etc and once a yellow 65 SD was listed in Montreal but when I called, they said it had sold. 

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Then one day while awaiting for a flight at Torontos Pearson Airport, I got the email I was waiting for.  A 1965 Acadian Beaumont SD convertible, mist blue metallic (not in listing), 230ci, 2-speed power glide.  I was so excited that I didnt even take notice of where the car was located.  I immediately fired off an email stating my interest and then proceeded to provide a list of phone numbers to every possible means of contacting me that I could think.

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When I arrived at my house in Winnipeg, there was a message from the son of the owner stating that he received my email and shared his number.  Before dropping my suitcase, I called, and to my surprise it was a 204-number meaning they were in Manitoba.  After a short discussion, I learned the owner was located just 3kms from my house.  I immediately went to see the car and the very next day, September 12th, 2017, I bought the car.

Day_Of_Purchase_2017_09.jpg

The car, one of one hundred and thirty-three made of this model, came off the assembly line on February 22, 1965 and was shipping to Dickson Motors Ltd in Winnipeg on February 23, 1965.  My understanding is that the original owner was a police officer who lived in a town east of Winnipeg.  He sold the car in the 1980s to the collector I bought it from, making me the third owner.  The odometer rolled up to 90,000 miles in August of 2019.

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After purchasing the car, I had to spend a few dollars to pass MB MVI requirements;  New disk brakes installed on the front, the rear drums rebuilt, new brake lines, tire rod and ball joint boots, change the rims to fit the disk brakes and undercoated.  After MVI, I installed 2 new carburetors (unfortunately the first was faulty and the mechanic wasnt able to diagnose it), installed a Pertronix electronic ignition conversion kit and coil, had all of the dash and interior lights updated and rewired, installed a replacement clock and installed 4 new Coker white-walled tires.

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Whats next?  I am in possession of new reproduction seat covers from Legendary Auto of New Jersey and plan to have them installed this winter along with a new boot for the convertible top.  The heater core has a small leak that will require repair or replacement and at some point, the engine will probably require a rebuild as it shows signs of wear.  Notwithstanding the fact that the 230ci engine was never designed to move the car quickly, I will attempt to keep the car as original as possible.  Absolutely love it.

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While my childhood and early adulthood were spent around mechanical equipment, maintaining and operating 60s and 70s pickups, heavy trucks and logging equipment, 40 years of a career in management has left me soft and scrambling to remember how to keep an older vehicle operating.  I did remove and replace a window regulator last winter which helped me gain some confidence and I have recently heated my garage and started restocking some tools and equipment.  Some of it is starting to come back but the by far the greatest thing that happened to me in this journey is my membership in the Canadian Poncho Group.  The online help has been great but even more so, the local assistance I have received from the Manitoba members, particularly Beaumontguru (Dave) and 4SPEED427 (Carl) has been exceptional.  I am also starting to meet some other great members as time goes on.

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As I near retirement, I have a desire to own another Beaumont (fairly open criteria at this stage), and a late 60s GM pickup (with more specific criteria in mind).  I will most likely retire, partially at least, to my NB home but the first order will be to build a new garage designed with maintaining a car collection."

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Todd
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Poncho Master!

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A great story and a fantastic looking ride for the first feature car for 2020! Nice!!!

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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Well congratulations. What a great story and what a beautiful car.

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Jerel


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Great guy, great story, great car!   Best part it that Kim appeciates the car as it was built.  no need for a V8.  the 6 makes it that much more rare



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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!

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Wow, what a way to start off 2020
One of my favourites ( the 64 and 65s ) and one of my favourite colours. Amazing.
Really appreciate that you continue to update the car in original form.

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Addicted!

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What a beautiful car you own! Great story.

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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Great story, and a top notch example. Love the colour! Congrats!



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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 
 


Poncho Master!

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Beautiful car, great story. So nice to see it as the 2020 feature car. Congratulations.
Brian

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Guru

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Very sweet! Great looking ride. Enjoy it!



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"Dad, which car are we taking?"                      "The Pontiac!"

"Which one?"                                                    "The red one!"

'67 Parisienne 2+2 - red

'01 Montana            - red

'06 Buick Allure

'12    Japanese minivan



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Simply beautiful!

Congratulations on finding the car you wanted all along. With so few made and such a high mortality rate in the Canadian climate the odds are you probably won't see another. I also love that you appreciate the original aspects of the car and maintained that originality. The stylists knew what they were doing, the Beaumont Sport Deluxe was always a handsome car. 1965 GM cars had a nice colour selection as well, mostly inspired by botany.

We are the same age it sounds like. My neighbor across the street in the 1960s had a '65 Beaumont Sport Deluxe convertible with a 283 I believe. She loved that car and kept it until rust became an issue in the mid-70s. Last I saw the car it was abandoned on the side of the highway in 1977 with the gas tank dropped onto the pavement.

Thanks for keeping the six as well. You probably get endless comments about junking the six & dropping in a V8. I kept the inline six in my Chevelle. People that have driven it said they were surprised at how peppy it was for normal driving, even with the Powerglide. On the 4-lane above 70 mph is another story thanks to a 1-barrel carb & 6-into-1 exhaust manifold, but you never have to complain about fuel consumption. If you want a little more out of that 230, drop in a 12-counterweight 250 crank. Nobody will know unless they drop the pan. It will still run smooth & quiet, and gas mileage really won't change.



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67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.

In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...

Cam, Toronto.


I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton



A Poncho Legend!

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What a great way to start a new year!

It has been great getting to know Kim and this is one of those cars that looks beautiful in pictures and even nicer when you see it. It truly is a beautiful piece of Canadian Pontiac history (yes, it's NOT a Pontiac but you know what I mean!)

Certainly one of the nicest looking Beaumonts I can think of.

Congrats Kim, this will be another good month!



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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



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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So clean looking. Sweet ride, congratulations 



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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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I agree with the other guys. She is a sweet little unit and not hopping it up is a great choice.  Those sixes are such sweet running, easy to work on engines that work really well around town.

I have a 69 Chevy pickup with a 250 and TH350 and it has been a real treat to drive and work on over the years.  Looking under the hood just cheers me right up with the simplicity and accessibility of everything  I put a  pertronix on it when I first got it about 15 years ago and it has been trouble free.

Nice ride!

 



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ken from northern Alberta

38 Willys pickup electric

39 Buick (327 with 700 r4)

66 Beaumont 4 door hardtop

69 Chevy CST pickup

1976 GMC 23'  motorhome

1994 Impala SS (temporary, according to my wife)



Addicted!

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Congrats ,..great story , sharp car!

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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Great car and great story. There's nothing wrong with a six in these cars. Congratulations on finding your dream car. 



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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

 



A Poncho Legend!

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Love the car! The colour and picture looks great at the top of the web page!



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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.



Guru

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Fine looking vehicle!

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Now appearing as "68 Grande" 



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Very nice car and I like that body style.
Don

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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC.
1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada

Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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It was a well chosen and composed picture as it makes me want to live through the winter and cruise again!



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ken from northern Alberta

38 Willys pickup electric

39 Buick (327 with 700 r4)

66 Beaumont 4 door hardtop

69 Chevy CST pickup

1976 GMC 23'  motorhome

1994 Impala SS (temporary, according to my wife)



Veteran Member

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Great story and a good looking car. I like the color as well.

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1966 Acadian Invader sedan and wagon



Poncho Master!

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Great story anorher convertible convertible lover best way to go



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Addicted!

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I thought this car was familiar when I looked at the pictures. Great story Kim. I enjoyed talking to you on the phone not long after you got the car.
Glad to hear you've hit it off with Dave Anderson when I passed on this contact info to you.  He a great person, very knowledgeable on these cars.

Dave and I have done a few wrecking yard cruises in our day. I consider Dave to be a good friend, I've  known about 25 yrs. I haven't had the

pleasure of meeting 427Carl yet.

Sounds like the right car and owner have met. Many years of pleasurable driving and meeting like minded car enthusiasts.



-- Edited by Numbers_guy on Sunday 12th of January 2020 01:17:57 PM

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Dave Weir Member #1 Canadian Classic Chevelles & Beaumonts http://cdnclassics.chevelles.net/


Guru

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That is one handsome Canadian car!

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A Poncho Legend!

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Says the guy with a heavy blue Beaumont convertible bias!



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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



Veteran Member

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Great story Kim, beautiful car and I hope you enjoy it for years to come

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