It’s time for another round of “Would You Rather”, and today the choices are a bit…well, they need some explanation. First off, both of these things are huge projects. The photos will make that very clear. But second, each car, while not technically a Pontiac, has ties to GM’s Excitement Division in a roundabout way. One is classic muscle and rare, the other is forbidden fruit that won’t be eligible for importation for at least another fifteen years or so. We found you two choices, your job is to make one decision:
Thanks to the Auto Pact of the 1960s, Canada basically blockaded certain American vehicles, which caused the Big Three to whip up Canada-specific brands and models. In the case of General Motors, this started with Acadian, the Canadian version of the Chevy II. The Beaumont name originally was the top-tier Acadian trim level, but from 1966 through 1969, the Beaumont name migrated to the A-body line. This 1969 droptop is supposedly one of 488 droptops made in the final year, and even if the seller is playing the rarity card, these cars are legitimately rare. Canadian winters aren’t easy on any vehicle, so if you thought your Chevelle’s rear quarters were a bitch, wait until you see what’s waiting here for you. The upside is the fun factor of pulling into a show and watching everybody make the “What the hell is that thing?” face.
2. 2009 Holden Commodore SS Ute
In 2008, just before the nameplate sank underneath the waters for good, Pontiac teased bringing the Holden Commodore Ute over to the U.S. as the Pontiac G8 ST (Sport Truck). They even held a naming competition for the vehicle that got over 18,000 hits (including mine, where I suggested bringing back “Tempest”.) We never got the ute, and to this day, if you want one, you’ve got a couple of options: move to Australia, find an older model that’s legal to import to the United States (as of January 2018, that means 1993) or piece one together and hope and pray that you’ve covered every last base, lest you find yourself watching your car getting squished by Customs agents. Supposedly, this Ute is in the States legally with paperwork, ready to be built. All you have to do is find a Pontiac G8 or a Chevrolet Caprice PPV and start the strip-and-swap fun.
So, what’ll it be, folks?
I would rather start with a car that hasn’t been in a crash. Once the back bumper, tailights and doors come off that ute, she is ready for the scrap pile. 🙂
That Ute is seriously tweaked! Guess the only option is the conv’t. I would sell off the frontend and put a Chevelle nose in place.
Why do that? Why ruin an extremely rare car to make it just another BORING Chevelle???
I like the ’66-67 Beaumont frontend, but the ’68 is just fugly!
I meant ’68 and up.
I’d do the UTE! I know the front clip is trash, but all need to do is…find a Pontiac G8 or Chevy SS with a wreck rear, and your in business.
Or you could do a BACK HALF, street machine.
Make an El Camino using an SS and the Ute
You’d think whoever is selling the Ute would have had the sense to remove the windshield instead of displaying the head crash where your potential customers will see it.
Ugh! Probably still had blood and hair in it.
weird, huh? that ute would be maybe $500 worth here…I’ve got a running driving rego’d station wagon of the same model for a daily – paid a grand for it
Melt them down!
I would love a Ute.. But I would contact “left hand Utes” to help with the conversion.. and start with a better body.
http://lefthandutes.com/
you can buy everything from Holden to make it a left hand drive, the only issue with bringing a ute to the USA is the emissions requirement
That Ute is a basket case. Beaumont all the way.,