Our September feature car is the result of a lot of hard work and ingenuity. Chris Pointon is the man behind the transformation of this '66 Acadian Canso SD into the incredible car you see here. This Acadian has just enough modified components to enhance the driveability and look of the car without sacrificing it's timeless styling. 

Take it away Chris!

Well here we go! My first car when I was 17 (only 45 Years ago) was an L79 1966 Marina Blue Chevy 2 ,2 door post so I knew I had to change the poor braking and handling when I purchased my 1966 Acadian Canso SD. After some measurements and a search of local wrecking yards I purchased a 1979 Malibu “G” body for $75. The “G” body has the same front tread width as the Acadian. Using the front clip of the Acadian as a Mule we cut and boxed the front frame section of the Malibu and trial fitted it to the firewall anchored with grade 8 bolts. The bottom of the Acadian’s Rad Saddle was removed and the Bumper Brackets were shortened. I bought some Heidt’s Inner Panels and Bars and had them fitted with a little cutting.

An Ididit tilt 32” Column was purchased as well as a Buick Grand National Steering Box., a 9 “CPP Power Brake Unit, a Proportioning Valve, Disc Brake Rotors, Hawk low dust Pads, Griffin Rad, Billet Specialties Brackets. Then a 2”x3” Perimeter Frame was fabricated with adequate cross bracing and gussets, a 9” Ford Truck Rear with 31 SplineAxles shortened to 50”, 3.50 gears and posi was installed between a set of ’68 Nova Leaf Springs (they are a little longer and give the car a nice squat look).

I bought a 355” fresh Small Block with 300 hp heads, Comp Cam 282 flat tappet cam, Weiand Stealth Intake, 650 Demon Carb, Accel HEI , 2 ½” Fuellie Ram Horns, Moroso 7 quart Pan, High Flow Water Pump, Centreforce Dual Friction Clutch 11”, SBC Truck Bell housing and a Borg Warner Super T10 hooked to a Hurst Super Shifter. I used parts from 3 donor Acadians and 1 Nova for the body shell as all I could salvage after the body was stripped were the 2 doors, the roof, the area around the taillights and the rocker area.

The complete firewall, front and rear floors, the trunk floor (added a 4” mini tub to the inner fenders), both full quarter panels and the windshield pillars were all replaced due to rot. I walked almost every swap meet for 5 years to get all the small trim pieces and still ended up having the majority of them rechromed/repaired.

Originally this car was a Canso SD with a 194 and a Poweglide,Tropic Turquoise and a Fawn Interior. After many hours of body massaging and rust repair by my restorer and good friend Alan Ruth Hepworth Ontario we decided because the car was now so straight to paint it Black with a Black Interior.

We used Ditzler Tuxedo Black Base Clear 3 coats of Colour and 3 coats of Clear, lots of wet sanding and multiple polishings gave a car that looks like it’s wet when it is clean (being Black it’s almost never clean). I bought a set of Chrome American Racing Wheels to finish it off, 15x6 front on 205/15 BFG and 15x7 on 275/60/15 BFG rear.

Since this car became finished and licensed in 2005, (the first time since 1973) my wife and I have enjoyed it and I can say it is the best old car I have ever owned.

Regards

ARCADIAN

Chris