Looking at a Beaumont is like looking at a car in the Grand Theft Auto series of games: overall you know the shape, but there are enough detail differences that you have to stand there for a minute and make sure that you are taking in everything correctly. Much like a GTA car, you are looking at the combination of two similar vehicles: a Chevrolet Chevelle and Pontiac LeMans, but with certain special touches that were unique to the Beaumont. The quick run-down goes like this: it’s a Chevelle body, with Chevrolet engines, and Pontiac interior trimmings and badges with either the fleur-de-lis or a maple leaf in the middle of the Pontiac arrowhead logo. Beaumonts and the very similar Acadian vehicles that are based off of the Chevrolet Chevy II came about because of the Auto Pact bit of legislation that more or less required manufacturers to make Canada-only brands. This is also why Ford had the Meteor brand from 1949 to 1976.
According to the seller, this is one of the 247 droptop Sport Deluxes built for 1966 and the car has been subjected to a complete restoration and mild Pro Touring build. The engine is a 350 Chevrolet and we’d expect it to be bent more for cruising the highway than outright speed blasts. This Beaumont, with it’s shaved door handles, is more for being seen in than it is screaming around at speed. Who knew that the perfect sunset cruiser would be a Canadian parts-bin droptop?
eBay Link: 1966 Beaumont Sport Deluxe convertible
I always liked the Beaumont styling. When I had my ’66, this was a pipe dream to convert over but was tough finding parts. We’re talking 25 yrs ago though.
I went to the 1966 Indy Nationals from eastern Canada in a friend’s car like this one. On the way back a truck pulled out of a side road, driver had to swerve around it and as a result we crossed the center median and rolled over into the ditch, upside down. I was in the passenger seat, unbuckled my seat belt and crawled out. No injuries! On the way there we certainly got a lot of looks and questions about the Beaumont. After a while we’d just say we weren’t allowed to tell!
Pro Modded? 1 of 247? Really? Owner better hopes it sells quick… He’s on the “shoot on sight” list! What a moron!
FFS which is it people? “Complete restoration” or “mild pro touring”? Those are two different things.