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Post Info TOPIC: December 2022 Feature Car


A Poncho Legend!

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December 2022 Feature Car


Kevin Toohey is the lucky owner of our December Feature Car. It was well over a decade ago that I saw Kevin at the swap meet in Paris Ontario and he confided in me that he owned this 1965 Acadian Beaumont convertible. It's not just any Acadian Beaumont convertible. This is one of "less than 8" built wth the legendary L79 327 engine. The icing on the cake is the 4 speed transmission. Wrap it all in stunning red sheetmetal with white interior and I'd say the Hope Diamond never looked so good!  I'm glad I don't have to keep this secret any longer! Kevin tells us more:

The story of my 65 starts in around 2008. At some point I got wind of a Red on White 65 Beaumont convertible lurking in Southwestern Ontario, another good restoration candidate?

The car was last seen in the Petrolia area, in a wreckers, and it's condition was said to be quite rough at that last sighting. I finally got around to it and contacted the wreckers, Scott's? I think, but alas, the car had been sold. The owner and his wife remembered it well, and said it had been recently bought and moved to storage somewhere. Always seeming to be just one step behind it, I finally tracked it down to another yard, and was actually able to see it in person. In checking it out I discovered a 3/8 fuel line, rear 4 speed frame braces, 4 speed floor hole, cowl tag bearing M20. Could it actually be a rare L79 4speed car? At this point I bought it anyway in the hope it just might be.

Sent away for the GM or Canada documents in 2009, and when they came back, sure enough, it was a rare L79 4 speed car!!

Forward a few years. In a stroke of good luck, I was able by chance to get connected to the original owner. In 2014. My brother took a 64 Beaumont convertible I'd recently completed and he'd just bought, to a car show in Windsor, and in getting into a conversation with a passer by, learned that the fellow once actually owned a similar 65 L79 4 speed convertible just like the 65 I now owned and was ready to restore. Hmm. Was it Red on White? Yes it was! Later I contacted the original owner. He was thrilled that the car has survived, and had some original documents along with a small trove of original pictures for me. How nice is that when you can see the car as it used to be!

 

Original owner, as new image, 1965 Plates,

Photo Four original res.jpg 

Photo Eight Original res.jpg

Just a little proud eh Mr. Wright?

 

It's Oshawa built, sold through Dauw Motors Ltd in Wallaceburg Ontario. Sales receipt dates April 7th 1965 to a Mr. Gary Wright, Chatham for $3169.67. One dollar down and 3% sales tax in the end. I think it has stayed down in the that region it's entire previous life. 350 HP L79 = $177.35

Remnants of the old Dauw Motors Ltd?

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Serial and engine # intentionally obscured,

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Original keyset and dealer tag,

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 ...manual and Protecto Plate,

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Documented one of 336 built, but one of only 8 built with the L/79. And it's a Flint built 327, not a McKinnon motor. Positraction as well. 

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 I bought the GM package just after I picked the car up, but kept the fact of ownership basically to myself over the past years, expecting to reveal the details only when the car was done.

 

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 As announced by GM Canada at the time of introduction, the 65 Beaumont was not scheduled to receive the 350 HP L79 engine, but the 300 HP. But at production time, GM of Canada relented, and the 350 HP was installed. And just like the Chevelle SS, it also came factory dressed with that same full chrome package.

 

Photo Seven Original res.jpg

One interesting story; The original owner had related to me that he'd waited months to receive it. On the very first day he picked it up, he proudly went to visit a certain special girl, and in going for a drive, she had flicked her cigarette butt out the window and it got sucked back into the car, landed on the rear seat, smoldering and eventually started the seat base on fire...on the very first day! Luckily the dealer took pity on him. Seeing the car was so new, the dealer simply ordered a new seat bottom placing it under GM warrantee as being "Defective". Anyone who has or smokes knows how this can happen...Is that the Ciggie Girl above?

One little story came out about when the car was almost new. Mr. Wright had it in at the dealer for an oil change, and at the same time there appeared another L79 65. The guy admired the power steering in Mr. Wright's car, as his was mis ordered somehow and didn't receive it. Well, a deal was conjured up where they'd actually switch PS for non, as it was thought non gave a little better pulling power and road feel. The dealer agreed, and completed the switch for $50.

Photo Five original res.jpg

In street racer livery,

In the years following, the car as told to me developed a bit of a local reputation as a street brawler, able to compete well with the new 396 cars. One summer in the middle of the night, he even had some guys knocking on his door wanting to "Run". He didn't say no.

 

Photo Six original jpg res.jpg

Side exits!

The original owner eventually sold it, and last saw it in a forlorn state in an apartment parking lot. He tried as best he could to buy it back, but it wasn't to be.  

 

So after years of collecting tons of parts, border crossings until the guards knew me by name, it was time to begin the work. I was lucky enough to have a very good connection to a great restorer willing to take on the big project. So it began. Work progressed into the finished body stage at which point it came home for a couple of years. Then returned just to the shop to be finally assembled and detailed. Really, it has just been completed only two weeks ago as of this posting. 

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Coming together,

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Getting close,

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My original plan was to get the car finished in time for MCACN 2022, to enter the car in the "Debut" class. But time fell short due to the last couple of years. So now I just plan on enjoying it. Driving it sparingly, showing it next summer locally.

It's been a long, long road, but the results have been worth all the trouble, and I'm thrilled with it. I'm sure Mr. Wright will be too!

Thanks to all for reading the story.



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Todd
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Guru

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OH MAN !! That's a beautiful car Kevin.

I was actually living in Petrolia in 2008 and know the Scott's Wrecking yard very well.
Maybe I walked right past it, a time or two, looking for parts for other cars.

 

Regards, Scott (LandShark ...)



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A Poncho Legend!

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WOWSERS!

Talk about hen's teeth....

Stunning Kevin, absolutely stunning.

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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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But it's missing the plastic wire gutter on the top of the rad cradle. Ha! I kidd. What a beautiful car. Nicest L79 out there. And great restoration work. Well done

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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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Beautiful car, and I forgot that they were still called Acadian Beaumont's in 1965. My sister had one when I was a kid, I clearly remember the ignition over by the door.

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70 2+2 convertible
70 2+2 hardtop
70 Parisienne hardtop
72 GMC Sierra

 

 



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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must feel good to finally let the cat out of the bag eh Kevin! Looks great!

Nice enough to maybe even convert a B body guy.



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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 
 


Addicted!

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Very nice car, Kevin. I can't wait to see it in person.

Frank

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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Awesome doesnt describe it.

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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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How could Todd not grace the top of our screens with this awesome Ride of the Month? Kevin you sly dog, keeping this project a secret all this time.
Simply stunning. Really the ultimate package. I love it! The fact that it survived the odds to get to this current restored state, 1 of 8... I've seen both of Joe & Suzie Lizon's '65 Beaumont L79s. Yours is the only convertible I have heard of.

That is quite a funny story about the butt burning the back seat on the first day. It was easy for the dealer to pass it off as "a defect". I can remember riding in a tractor-trailer 40+ years ago. A passenger had been smoking earlier and well, you remember how as you drive along and smells come and go? I thought that somebody was burning leaves. It started getting quite intense. Turn around and the sleeper is on fire! PANIC! Burned blankets... I guess I lived since I'm relating it today.

All the L-79 engines came in from Flint, MI.


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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



Poncho Master!

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Sweet ride Kevin, a nice Xmas present for all of us to admire!

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A Poncho Legend!

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Reading this and seeing the car leaves me speechless! Very Excellent.



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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 

 




Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Gorgeous car. Well done saving it and bringing it back to its former glory. Congratulations. 



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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

 



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Congrats Kevin!I was lucky to know about this car via a breakfast with Kevin last year-he shared the story and a few pics.Waiting to see it in person next year and what comes out of Kevin's garage next!
Keep on Cruising!
Dave

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Poncho Master!

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Absolutely Stunning!

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Stony Mountain, MB

65 Impala SS 2dr HT
65 Impala convert.
59 Impala 2dr HT
67 Acadian Canso 2dr HT

 

 

 



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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wow kevin nice resto on a rare ass car! beauty!

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http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t51640378/timbuks-first-invader/ http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t63146560/timbuks-second-invader/  vancouver island



Poncho Master!

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Gorgeous car Kevin.....biggrin.....L79, 4 speed and topless WOW - enjoy the ride, love it.....smile



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......big block, 4 speed, bench seat, it doesn't get much better

 happy motoring :burnout



A Poncho Legend!

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On this one, I can't even say needs a big block and a 4 speed! It's perfect just the way it is.

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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



Poncho Master!

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4SPEED427 wrote:

On this one, I can't even say needs a big block and a 4 speed! It's perfect just the way it is.


 thumbs up.jpg



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......big block, 4 speed, bench seat, it doesn't get much better

 happy motoring :burnout



Uber Guru

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I think we need anothr BBQ at Kevin's house, just to see this car.

What a journey !

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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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So thats waht you've ben up to!  Sorry for the misspeelings, I shrted out my keyborad while drooling!



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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)



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thank you all for the kind words. I could not have done it with out the support from members on this site and some excellant much needed parts from members. A big thanx to Dave Mattina who helped with the final assembly . It will be a long winter waiting to take her out on the road for the first time.



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Guru

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What an awesome and rare car! Great job on the resto and I absolutely love the fact you connected with the original owner and he has some historical 'treasures' for you! Thanks so much for sharing, a worthy example to end the year!!

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MC


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Amazing car and great story!

I can be pretty sure that all of us have dreamed about finding that 'rare as hens teeth' holy grail car, dragging it home, and restoring it to a thing of beauty.  You've actually done it!  Congrats for being one of the few!

Also incredible that you were able to connect with the original owner and get those stories and pics.  I'm all out of superlatives to describe this... just know that you've left an impression.  Fan-freakin-tastic!!



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Poncho Master!

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66 Grande guy wrote:

So thats waht you've ben up to!  Sorry for the misspeelings, I shrted out my keyborad while drooling!


 L O L biggrin



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......big block, 4 speed, bench seat, it doesn't get much better

 happy motoring :burnout



Poncho Master!

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absolutely... amazing Kev.
love it.

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