I have a soft spot for convertibles. I know that not everyone likes them, but growing up with a 1969 Corvette Convertible in the garage and my 1969 Camaro Convertible means that I like soft top cars. It also explains why I’m so in love with this 1966 Chevrolet Beaumont. The fact that this Canadian Chevelle is one of only 247 is cool, but not my reason for wanting it. I remember seeing my first Canadian version of a GM muscle car in a car magazine when I was young. I have loved them ever since. The Beaumont in particular is a bit weird because, like most Canadian models back then, they used a mix of parts.
The Beaumont used a Tempest dash, one off grille, and had an emblem that looked like a Pontiac emblem with a Maple leaf stuck to it. The interior was part Chevelle, part Tempest, and there were all kinds of other oddities. Which is why they are so damn cool! And they fit in so perfectly with the Acadian models that looked like special versions of the Nova we had down here in the States.
This car is in primer, but was originally Tuxedo Black with a white top which seems odd to me. I would prefer a black top I think, but whatever. My philosophy on convertibles is that the top should not be up unless it is raining. So black with red interior is a bitchin combo.
If we bought it we would of course do some Ridetech Suspension underneath and probably a bit more power and a TCI 700r4. Then cruise the hell out of it.
Here is all the info from the seller, including the phone number so you can call and ask questions or make an offer. The seller’s name is Chad, but it is not me. But, if someone buys this thing and helps pay for gas, Daphne and I will drive it cross country to you!
1966 Pontiac (GM) Beaumont Convertible
1 of 247 Convertibles Built In 1966
Originally Tuxedo Black, Red Interior, White Top.
The full story behind this Canada-specific marque, can be read here…. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaumont_(automobile)
Essentially, due to tariff agreements, GM of Canada built the Acadian and Beaumont series cars to give those North of the border their own sporty A body car, to replace the GTO. While these cars are not officially “Pontiacs” they were sold at Pontiac dealers, and wear quite a bit of Pontiac styling. These cars were Chevelles, with Chevrolet engines, with Pontiac styled grilles, tail lights, and they used the LeMans dash, and some interior parts. They are a very interesting piece of General Motors history.
The car you see here, is a project that is about 75% complete. You can drive the car, while you finish the restoration.
Mechanically, the car is in good overall shape. 327 4bbl engine (not sure if original to this car) is mated to a 2 speed Powerglide. Engine was rebuilt by previous owner to stock specs. New exhaust front to rear. Converted to front disc brakes. Wheels were blasted and powdercoated, Tires are a few years old, but have less than 200 miles on them. New fuel and brake lines front to rear. The car runs very nice when warm, however there is no functioning choke, so it’s a little cold blooded in the morning.
The interior was just done. Correct Chevelle seat covers, with correct Tempest door panels were installed. New carpet, window cranks, arm rests, etc. The Convertible top was replaced about 3 years ago, and is still in nice shape, although it’s hard to keep a white top spotless. The hydraulics all work correctly, and the power top goes up and down as it should.
The body is about 90% rust free. Most rust has been repaired, and body is in primer. There are still a few spots under the rear seat that need attention. Except for the hood, all exterior body panels are original to this car. The entire floor was replaced years ago with a rust free one from a donor car. The rear trunk pan was just replaced a few months ago. The trunk pan was replaced as a complete unit from a donor car, and welded in at all the original spot weld locations. There are no seams in the trunk pan. It looks like it came that way from the top, and bottom. Rockers are solid, and all the factory spot welds on the bottom of the quarters are clean and visible. The quarter panels have had some patch work done in the past, but appear to be well done. The body needs panel alignment, then blocking, then ready for paint.
The car is most likely not a factory AC car, as I don’t think they made any AC equipped convertible Beaumonts, but someone did install most of the factory AC components.
Also included are the BEAUMONT letters that go on the tail panel. Complete set, brand new.
Things the car still needs: Paint and body. Complete weaterstripping. Transmission has a leak, I think at the pan. Choke is not functional. All body panels needs to be aligned. Rear reverse light housing is missing. Dash pad is for a 67, I think I have a 66 one, I will include if I can locate it. Windshield has a crack. The car could probably use an alignment. Most of the steering components have been replaced, but the steering feels overly sensitive at times.
This car is a great project that you can drive while you complete the restoration. I drive the car locally quite frequently, although I’ve never gone on any long journeys, although I don’t see any reason why the car couldn’t.
Please call me anytime with questions. I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the car. 661-212-2026, my name is Chad
Clean, Clear, CA title in my name, in hand, for a smooth transaction.
The title for this page (1966 Chevrolet Beaumont, AKA Canadian Chevelle) has an error. In Canada, this was a Pontiac Beaumont not a Chevrolet Beaumont. Yes it was similar to the Chevrolet Chevelle, but it had Canadian Pontiac styling (in other words, what’s in the parts bin). Canadian built Pontiac’s shared components (engines) with Canadian built Chevrolet’s. The Beaumont is a Pontiac Beaumont and was sold exclusively by Pontiac dealerships. The Chevrolet Chevelle was sold by Chevrolet dealers.
Actually, wouldn’t this be an Acadian Beaumont? GM marketed the cars as a separate marque, not a brand, but there is a point in time somewhere around 1966 or 1967 where the A-body car went from being “Acadian Beaumont” to simply the Beaumont line.
A friend of mine had one like this. With another friend we headed to the 1996 Indy Nationals from our home in Maritime Canada. Every time we stopped for gas or food, car nuts would ask us what it was. After telling the actual story many times, we later just told them we were not allowed to tell. That got some grins! On the way back from Indy in PA, a truck pulled out of a side road and the owner tried to drive around it, but we crossed over the concrete median and ended upside down in the ditch in the opposite lane. I was in the passenger seat, thankfully held in by the seat belt. The car was perfectly in the ditch, with the roof sitting in the contour. We all had bruises, but the car was totaled. Had to take a bus back home. The owner’s insurance company required the car back in Canada, so he needed to rent a trailer and bring it back. That was my one and only adventure in a Pontiac Beaumont convertible!
I\’m a Canadian, and I can confirm that it\’s a Pontiac Beaumont. My grandpa has a 1965 Super Sport Deluxe version. The cars have the body of a Chevelle with Pontiac running gear and interior trim, and were only sold in Canada. They were known as an Acadian Beaumont until 1965, when they became their own marque under GM Canada. It\’s great to see how confused Americans get about them.
I am Canadian too, and a lot of what is posted here is just plain wrong. I have owned many Canadian Pontiacs over the years and am very familiar with them. They are Canadian manufactured Pontiacs, using Chevrolet components because they were coming down the same production lines as the chevrolets. We didn’t have enough volume to justify a separate line and drive trains just for the Pontiacs in Canada. You could still order a lot of the US built cars in Canada, like the GTO, but they definitely had a premium pricetag compared to the locally built cars like the Beaumont.
The Beaumont was never an Acadian. The Acadian was the Canada only version of a Nova sold by Pontiac dealers as a Pontiac. It was basically a Nova with some different trim. The drivetrain was complete chevrolet, but labels with stickers as Pontiac AstroFlash and similar. Any motor available in a Nova was available in an Acadian with a very few specific exceptions (COPO stuff mostly). The Super Sport (SS)model was replaced by the Super Duty model (SD). But other than that, they are basically the same.
The Beaumont was basically a Chevelle with different trim as shown above. It was basically the same as the Acadian’s, but on a Chevelle body.
The full size cars are the only place where this formula deviated, and it was because of the difference in wheelbase and track width on full size pontiacs vs. full size chevrolets. The big cars used chevrolet floor pans, drivetrains, and frames with pontiac bodies. The wheelbase difference was taken up in the front fenders and hood, which are several inches shorter between the wheelwell and the door. All pontiac body parts fit with the exception of the fenders, hood, and floor pan. Its literally all chevrolet under the skin on these Laurentians, Strato Cheifs, Pathfinders, and Parisiennes.
All Beaumonts and Acadians used Chevy running gear. They also sold them in a few other countries.
The Acadian (Nova) and Beaumont (Chevelle) were upmarket competitors to Chevy and were sold as Pontiacs at Pontiac dealers.
All Canadian Pontiacs, (Strato Chief, Laurentian, Parisian, Acadian, Beaumont), had Chevy engines in them, except for American models which were imported.
When I was a kid, there was new 1967 Beaumont SD a block from my home with a 396/375 hp and 4 spd that the owner drag raced on the weekends.
The corner where the SD parked was a regular hangout for me, because there were several other cool cars parked near that intersection.
A 1970 Hemi Cuda, a 1965 GTO, (which I purchased later in life), a 63 Chevy II with a crazy 327 and a 4 spd, and a 1967 Pontiac Strato Chief 2 dr sedan with a 427/425 hp and 4 spd with 4:56 gears, was black on black, looked kinda unassuming, yet dangerous, as they all did when wearing their slicks, which was every weekend.
I got the sickness at that intersection when I was 12, still got it at 62.
If only I had given up the girlfriends instead of the cars!
(stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid……..)
I had a 67 Grande Parisienne 396 4 speed in 1981, white, black vinyl roof, and red office. Car is rolling around the lower mainland still, have seen it at a few shows over the years. Also bought parts off of a 1969 Laurentian 4 door off of Byrne Rd around the same time, the brothers had bought it for the 335 HP 427 that was in it..sheesh we could have bought some oddball GM stuff back then if our group had some foresight……
I confirm what all the other Canadians tell you. Pontiac.
I had the Acadian (Nova) from 1971. Same 250 straight six with two speed auto, common as muck everywhere. This car was even more like the Nova than the Beaumont is to the Chevelle, very few distinguishing features aside from the name emblems on the car. The Pontiac V shaped emblem was very much evident in place of the bow tie. This should be found on the Beaumont as well.
There were also Parisiennes with Chevy 409’s, later with Chevy 427’s.