1968 396 4 speed beaumont custom

4sp396cusom · Member

RE: 1968 396 4 speed beaumont custom

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

From my photo archives, a 1968 Beaumont Convertible 327 4 speed and a 1969 Chevelle 2 door sedan 350 4 speed.

68 Beaumont con.jpg

68 Beaumont con int.jpg

69 350 4 speed Chevelle.jpg

-- Edited by 73SC on Sunday 4th of July 2021 12:08:34 AM

4sp396cusom · Member

Nice!!

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Cool pics, Ray. That convertible would be a super-nice car to have.

There used to be a partially-done SD clone (big block with some SD emblems) around here that had started life as a small block 4-speed car. I haven't seen the car in years, though. I might be remembering this wrong, but they might have even converted it to an automatic (not sure why, though).

NOS · Poncho Master!

We at NOS had a customer who owned 1969 SS Chevelle 300 Deluxe 2 door post. He purchased it from Central Chevrolet / Olds i London, ON. He said they had 2 of them in the showroom. The one he bought had only the SS emblem on the grill and the SS exhaust outlets. The other one had front & rear SS but no exhaust outlets. Neither car had any other SS designation. Both cars had front disc brake and were 396 cars

Dale @ NOS

Howmac · Guru

poncho62 wrote:
73SC wrote:
I have seen a few 1968 factory 327 4 speed Customs over the years. I doubt it would be a 307 4 speed even though that was an available combo so I'll go with the 327 4 bbl, 275 HP 4 speed combo.
Had one, it had a Sagina 4 speed. The shifter was strange, it was mounted to the cross member and would bind up if power shifting. Fun car though

Yes the 68-69 A and B body 4 spd GM cars used a crossmember mounted shifter ( Both Saginaw and Muncie versions) . Most were changed to Hurst shifters back in the day, making the original shifters much more valuable today ( if doing a correct restoration .)

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

MC wrote:
There used to be a partially-done SD clone (big block with some SD emblems) around here that had started life as a small block 4-speed car. I haven't seen the car in years, though. I might be remembering this wrong, but they might have even converted it to an automatic (not sure why, though).

I found the thread on it from 2010. Of course my memory was wrong on the automatic bit (don't know where that came from), but it was originally a '69 Custom with a 350 (300 horse) and a 4-speed.

https://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t34321007/69-beaumont-in-ns/?page=1&sort=oldestFirst

/download.spark?ID=692478&aBID=118110

I'm wondering where that car is now.

-- Edited by MC on Monday 5th of July 2021 08:45:09 AM

65Camino · Uber Guru

Think you posted your document in the wrong post. The one about the teal Convertible

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

So, the Beaumont is a factory 327/275hp m20 car. 1 of 154 made.

Attachments

View image

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This is copied from another post, this is the document for the 396 car posted here. Seems to be a rare car to start with.

-- Edited by 73SC on Wednesday 7th of July 2021 10:18:38 AM

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Neat car! I'm thinking it would have been a bit of a sleeper in green with a black vinyl top and full wheel covers (probably with whitewall tires). I would love to own one of these in its original small block 4-speed configuration some day, though I know it's a virtual impossibility due to their low production numbers, propensity to get driven hard, and probability of being modified over the decades. Then there's pricing (lol).

I have never driven one of these cars with a potent small block and 4-speed, though years ago I worked with a fellow who had owned a '65 Chevelle with 327 4-speed in the 1970s - his stories were that it often beat cars that it shouldn't have (like 396s, for example). I wasn't there so I have to believe there's some truth to it (?). What do you guys think? Any stories?

I'm trying to picture what Seafrost Green looked like. I'm assuming it was a lighter metallic green?

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

That green Chevelle 2 door post car I posted earlier is owned byte same owner since Day one, in fact he ordered the car. I asked him to tell me the story around the car. He told me he didn't have the money to buy an SS like all his buddies were doing so he specifically got the L48 4 speed combo in the lightest car he could order that wasn't a complete embarrassment. This car lived in Simcoe County its whole life so plenty of open roads to run on back in the day. He told me it was always as quick and fast as the Big Block SS cars.

BlackBeau · Veteran Member

Looks like we now know the born with story on this Beaumont. Although the big block is a nice addition, the HiPo small block is a nice conclusion. If this car was a 307 car or lesser, it probably wouldnt warrant seeking out the "original" pieces to restore. But with it being one of few HiPo 327 cars, it might be worth the effort finding the showpiece engine to add some purity to this rare beast? Merely an opinion is all, you will do what you think is best for you.

As far as my own 68 convertible is concerned, it was an original 307 car. The original powertrain was long gone well before my time. I purchased it with a dismal, worn out mid 70s small block. And for me it just seemed natural to "upgrade" my car to a higher standard, and thus a period correct 396 was the answer. I have carefully included many of the true 1968 features, brackets, colors, as well as the emblems, labels and such to "create" my version of a SD convertible. I am staying true to its born with colors Code A Tuxedo Black, with the 796 Red buckets and console interior.

-- Edited by BlackBeau on Wednesday 7th of July 2021 01:24:06 PM

-- Edited by BlackBeau on Wednesday 7th of July 2021 01:25:24 PM

-- Edited by BlackBeau on Wednesday 7th of July 2021 01:34:43 PM

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Looks like alot of speculation on how this Beaumont was born.
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I think what occurred here is really exceptional expert knowledge being applied with years of experience and logical deduction to politely nail dead on the original configuration of this car. We see it time and time again on this forum that collectively the knowledge base here of Canadian Poncho's is second to none, full stop.

4sp396cusom · Member

I do wish the car was still seafrost green, but the paint thats on the car now is seriously nice. And the 327 was long gone when he got the car. It has a 525hp 427 in it now. so I wont be making any changes anytime soon lol. the original m20 has been kept in storage (in perfect condition) while a super t10 handles the power of the 427. and with a factory 3.55;1 12bolt rear it works really well lol. Its a blast to drive, quite fast.

BlackBeau · Veteran Member

Glad to hear you are enjoying this piece of history. There is no doubt that the 427 amplifies the fun factor. Knowing the cars history and embracing the changes that were made by others during its history is nice to know. There are very few bone stock, as born cars out there these days, and one has to wonder why that is? Perhaps, its because people wanted to make things better, and personalize their car to their own tastes. Whatever that may be, your Beaumont is yours, to do and enjoy as you please. You have a great group of people that adore your car, and appreciate it how it was born, and how it is today. Keep up the good work and for sharing your journey with your Beaumont.

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

4sp396cusom wrote:
I do wish the car was still seafrost green, but the paint thats on the car now is seriously nice. And the 327 was long gone when he got the car. It has a 525hp 427 in it now. so I wont be making any changes anytime soon lol. the original m20 has been kept in storage (in perfect condition) while a super t10 handles the power of the 427. and with a factory 3.55;1 12bolt rear it works really well lol. Its a blast to drive, quite fast.

While I often go on about how I like original cars (I do), if I were you I wouldn't change a thing. Lots of power, great looks, cool colour, family connection. It has it all. Enjoy as is... smile

4sp396cusom · Member

Thats what i'm thinking. Its way too nice to change.

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

4sp396cusom wrote:
Thats what i'm thinking. Its way too nice to change.

Youre correct, and if it were original colour and engine, I wouldnt change it, but I also wouldnt change the way it is now. A 427 is pretty unique and Im just not really a green person. Great car.

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

DonSSDD wrote:
I'm just not really a green person. Great car.

X2

Although, I'm a tree-hugger.

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

-2 (or is that ÷2?) biggrin

Green is usually the best colour on old cars, but for a mild custom candy apple red is king!

Love this car, can't wait to see more pics!

-- Edited by MC on Saturday 10th of July 2021 03:52:05 PM