1965 Canadian RHD Malibu Restoration

Johann65 · Guru

RE: 1965 Malibu Chevelle RHD out of Canada

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

That Beaumont still looks pretty solid compared to what's in the yards here!

Johann65 · Guru

No paperwork, the rats took care of that. Except for the hessian bag filled with wattle bark fitted to the front seat frame to give the smell of real leather.

Air cleaner was standard The picture also shows the Australian designed airbox!

Johann65 · Guru

Would love to see the Beaumont. Drove the Malibu to the next town today and on about 3 miles of farm track. It handled the dirt track better than my Nissan Sani!. Just a word of advice: My heat gauge indicated that the car was overheating. Car was normal. Found that the wire I used from the sender to the gauge was the wrong quality, sagged and earthed when hot and sent wrong ohms to gauge! Make it right, first time right!

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Great engine shot. That's an interesting airbox. It's really fascinating reading post from folks in other countries. Where in South Africa are you located?

Todd

Johann65 · Guru

I live about 55 k' South of Johannesburg. Small town of Meyerton.

beaumontguru · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

About a year ago i found a used car place in South aftrica. It was a website called "Cars International". They had 2 1967 beaumont 4drs with RHD. Used the 64 style dash like your car does.
The website is nolonger available. Maybe you could track the company down again.

Have you ever seen the 2 67's? one was a blue 4dr hard top(restored somewhat). the other was a green colored 4dr sedan. both RHD!!!!!!!

AK67 Actually found this site. Did he get any details??????

Johann65 · Guru

So many of our RHD cars are being bought cheeply and the exported at enourmous prices! I looked for the two Beaumonts but found nothing. However did find that there is stil one Beaumont and some other Pontiacs that are up for sale at the following sites.

http://capetown.gumtree.co.za/f-pontiac-Cars-for-Sale-cars-R35K-W0QQCatIdZ9077QQKeywordZpontiac

http://www.vottle.com/view.php?post=674993

http://www.marmic.co.za/default.asp?lev=prod&altid=2&altnam=Vintage+&id=5

http://search.junkmail.co.za/view/Gauteng-Motoring-Classic-Cars-PONTIAC-LORENTHIA1966-no-papers-for-L240398-19001

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

69Laurentian wrote:

That Beaumont still looks pretty solid compared to what's in the yards here!

Thats what I thought Todd looks like a Texas car..

68sd · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

always thought this pic from south africa was cool,wonder why it was always the 4 door hardtop that got exported?

-- Edited by 68sd at 20:14, 2008-11-30

-- Edited by 68sd at 20:15, 2008-11-30

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Interesting that the South Africa pic is still left hand drive.

I've noticed too that it seems as if all the Australian imported GM's are 4 door.

Johann65 · Guru

68sd wrote:

This was a fully imported car most likely belonging to one of the Top Management people. GMSA never made LHD cars.!!!! and no 2dr Coupe's only 4dr sedans and a few hardtops.

always thought this pic from south africa was cool,wonder why it was always the 4 door hardtop that got exported?

-- Edited by 68sd at 20:14, 2008-11-30

-- Edited by 68sd at 20:15, 2008-11-30

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

Did we decide, why there were no 2 doors sent? and it seems all the cars in Australia are 4 door

-- Edited by 427carl at 15:10, 2008-12-01

Johann65 · Guru

427carl wrote:

Did we decide, why there were no 2 doors sent? and it seems all the cars in Australia are 4 door

-- Edited by 427carl at 15:10, 2008-12-01

The answer lies in the August 1965 roadtest!

If the images ar'nt legible. Then please let me know of a better means of uploading. 3 Pages: Each Image is about 500kb and legible at A4 size

-- Edited by Johann65 at 15:36, 2008-12-01

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

Todd I cant see!

Johann65 · Guru

Give me your e-mail adres on PM and then I can send it to you direct. I am however certain that many would like to read this little piece of history. I am sure Todd can cook something up!!!!

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Email the images to canadianponcho@rogers.com and I'll take it from there.

Todd

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Here they are:

Johann65 · Guru

Thanks Todd!!

Ghost Post · Poncho Master!

That air cleaner w/ round tube snorkle is different than the one shown in the previous pics...is this actually the one you need Johann?.

Johann65 · Guru

Pete,
The car test shows the original aircleaner. Not found locally. Any one of the two will do!!.
The problem is that most of these cars were converted from Monojet to WEBER and aircleaners were not on the savings list!!!!
Received a phonecall from Basie in Capetown. He has come across a full set of Chevelle doggies as shown in the road test. He is coming back to me!!!!

Pontiac and Chev can stand together!!!! idea

-- Edited by Johann65 at 10:13, 2008-12-02

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

Johann65 wrote:

427carl wrote:

Did we decide, why there were no 2 doors sent? and it seems all the cars in Australia are 4 door

The answer lies in the August 1965 roadtest!

Sorry still didnt see, the reason for no 2 doors.. smile

Johann65 · Guru

Carl,
It was marketed as the perfect family car. They targeted Dad, Mom and their 5 kids! and I suspect the cost of production.

6T7SD396 · Veteran Member

Here is a picture of our family car in Trinidad and Tobago. We bought this 1967 Right Hand Drive Malibu in 1971 when we moved there from Ottawa. As you can see it is a no post and because of this we were charged the same insurance rate as a sports car.

As far as I remember it was Australian built. There were a lot of factory RHD cars imported into Trinidad in the 60's. I have seen a lot of Pontiac Parisienne hardtops and convertibles, 67 and 68 Plymouth Cudas, Chevrolet Impala hardtops and convertibles, Ford Galaxie 500 hardtop and convertibles as well as some Mercury Cougars, all original RHDs.

Johann65 · Guru

Thanks for the info! There is not a lot of info on the RHD cars that GM exported from Canada. I suspect the production totals showing the exports from Canada includes RHD models assembled in Australia, South Africa and possibly the United Kingdom. We have put forward a suggestion that if there are enough RHD Pontiacs and Canadian Chevs around that we perhaps establish a special section? for them. Stateside people never knew about these very rare and special cars. They are under the impression that they were conversions, not knowing the special tooling that was done by GM Canada!!!! I must give the Canadians credit for their innovative spirit!!!

Much appreciated!!!!!