I just came across these 3 old pics of a '68 Beaumont masquerading as a Chevelle. I don't remember who's car it was or where it was from, but I do remember it was a truly base "Beaumont" as it said on it's flanks, not a "Deluxe". Most unusual was the drivetrain, as I recall it was a base 307 with optional factory 4-speed & 3.36:1 rear. Of note is the rear antenna. Also for whatever reason the owner swapped a Chevelle grille & front markers.
Also note the slapper traction bars. How are they supposed to work on a 4-link coil spring car?
I remember long stroke's brother had a '68 Beaumont that had Chevelle sheetmetal swapped over as well.
Yes minor front end damage and Chevelle front clip put on. Probably lots laying around. owned this car from 1976 to 86. It was green with black hood and trunk stripes. Front clip was changed when I bought the car. It is a 327 4 barrel 4 speed. Real sleeper. Been trying to buy it back now for 5 years. Current owner not ready to sell. Patience I guess
Photos are from 1976 when I first bought the car. Later redid the 327 to 11.25 compression, headers, high rise aluminium intake and Holley 650 double pumper. Did not have 3:36 gears when I had it. Not sure the ratio but I could shift out if 1st fear just under 50 miles an hour at 5,500 rpm. 307 badges on the fender but it was a factory 327 4 barrel car.
Hybrid 68 here, which reminds me of what my younger brother Mike did many many years ago. He bought a 68 Beaumont two door hardtop and transformed it into a 68 SS Chevelle. I tried and i tried to set him straight but he was hell bent on owning a 68 Chevelle. The car looked like a 68 SS Chevelle but the dash gave it away and for this reason we use to laugh our heads off at some car shows. I remember at one show we over heard two guys talking about the car and liking it until they saw the dash. What came out of their mouths was this....... "It is a ******* Beaumont and then walked away from the car. We both thought at the time that it was hilarious. Mike is now 52 and much more mature than he was then and looking for a 1968 Chevelle rag top. Does anyone have any leads on one. He would prefer a four speed car and not a rotted mess. Cheers.
-- Edited by long stroke on Saturday 12th of September 2020 08:54:03 PM
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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
Probably had a front end crash and got a clip from a junk yard Chevelle. This kind of repair was common back in the day.
In 1975 our '73 LeMans Sport got crushed in the front end, when we picked it up from the body shop it had a Luxury LeMans grille.
Body shop said they got a whole clip from the junk yard.
A front hit was understandable. An old neighbor, the guy with the '72 Le Mans GT 400 4-speed manual everything, has a brother-in-law who owned a '68 Chevelle 300 that looked remarkably similar to that blue Beaumont posted above. Formerly a 250 Powerglide with manual steering & drums, he dropped in a hot 350 & TH400 worthy of a 70 Z28. He was running a Torquer intake & double-pumper Holley. It needed gearing, but tire spin was like crazy despite big tires on Vector wheels (like General Lee). I remember he described the car as having "Mexican brakes" which I took to mean practically non-existent. With 3.08 gearing it had long legs and kicking it down was a dramatic event.
No, he never cracked it up, but I could see that car lasting one fateful excursion before any young hotshoe (could have been many of us) outran the brakes and wrecked it.
OK, for your viewing pleasure I fixed the angle & included both pics Ken posted:
It is funny after seeing the pics I can remember seeing a '68 Chevelle 300 Deluxe sport coupe in Ancaster circa 1971, in the same colour but a hardtop, 307 badges, dual exhausts with chrome tips out back & baby moons.
Later he sold it and bought a really clean & beautiful '68 Chrysler 300 coupe, white with black vinyl roof & black buckets, 440 TNT, hidden headlights, disk brakes & turbine wheel covers. He drove it year round for decades, yet I never remember the car staying dirty and I never remember any damage to it in any way. A really proud machine.
I can't believe that you of all people let him do that! You're even more of a purist than I am.
Mike, even at that young age then. Had a mind of his own and has always loved 68 Chevell's, it is his birth year by the way. I dug up some photos of his 68, before and after the transformation.
Looks nice in white but I can't believe how brutal that door seam is on the passenger side. It must have been an inch wide to show up in the photo like that.
Looks nice in white but I can't believe how brutal that door seam is on the passenger side. It must have been an inch wide to show up in the photo like that.
That is funny because i was wondering how long it would take for someone to mention that. Ray, you win the prize. Mikes's 68 was built on a budget back then many years ago and the two front fenders were replaced with fiberglass front fenders and they never were a 100% fit no matter what you did with them. The car was a driver and Mike drove the **** out of it for a number of years until he got a 71 Chevelle with a four speed........... and now that is another story.
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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
I think I remember that black Charger Daytona in the photo with George's brother's white '68. The Charger had a Hemi & Torqueflight. I saw it parked beside a '70 Plymouth Superbird, Tor-Red with a 440 Six-Pack 4-speed at Markington Square back in the early 90's. The Superbird, as it turned out when talking with the owner, was the same car I saw new in 1970 at Serpent Mounds on Rice Lake!
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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
After chasing this car for almost 8 years I picked it up on Saturday. It is my first car. I purchased it in September 1976 and sold it ten years later. It was sitting in pieces (interior stripped, doors, fenders, hood and trunk lid off and partially sanded) in a small SW Saskatchewan auto shop. It had been there since 2011. Going straight to the restoration shop to get assembled and painted.
I have all almost all the Beaumont-specific parts for the body - NEED the base model BEAUMONT script across the back (see picture) - but need a bunch of interior pieces:
- original style 4 speed shifter for bench bench seat
- black arm rests front and rear with cushions and ashtrays (rear) and back plates (front)
- door opener levers and black window cranks - main window and butterflies
- door lock pull up buttons
- probably other items as well.
Once the car is in the shop I will be going through more closely and will update the parts list. Appreciate any help locating parts. I am located in Regina, SK.
Will be great to get this rare and unique Beaumont back on the road this summer!
Couple of questions for the Beaumont gurus:
- in the old photos (car is green) it has emblems on the rear quarter - what emblems are these (cant read them)?
- this is a 73227 model - should it have emblems on the rear quarters?
- you can see the rear antenna in the old photos (green car). I remember the antenna recessed right into the mount and I had a small key on my key chain that had a hook you used to pull up the antenna. I assume this was a factory option. That unique antenna is missing. Anyone know the history of this as an option?
Really appreciate all the knowledge shared on this site and look forward to tapping in to learn more.
Couple of questions for the Beaumont gurus: - in the old photos (car is green) it has emblems on the rear quarter - what emblems are these (cant read them)? - this is a 73227 model - should it have emblems on the rear quarters? - you can see the rear antenna in the old photos (green car). I remember the antenna recessed right into the mount and I had a small key on my key chain that had a hook you used to pull up the antenna. I assume this was a factory option. That unique antenna is missing. Anyone know the history of this as an option? Really appreciate all the knowledge shared on this site and look forward to tapping in to learn more.
Thanks Ken
This is a feel-good story about chasing down & catching the old car of your past.
On the rear quarter of the green car it would say Beaumont if it is a 731 or 732-series, otherwise it would say Deluxe for a 733 or 734-series. The 731 / 731 series in '68 was only for the 2-door "post" & base wagon.
As an FYI, the BEAUMONT script for the back panel is shared 1966-68 inclusive on the base Beaumont.
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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
