November is usually the month where most Canadian Poncho members put their collector cars away for winter.  However a few of our members live in a climate where a collector car can be enjoyed year round. Dave LaCourse is one such member. Dave lives in sunny Florida and is the proud owner of two Canadian built cars. His 56 Pontiac Pathfinder was our June 2010 feature car. We are happy to feature Dave's latest acquisition for November; a beautiful 1964 Beaumont SD Convertible. 

 Take it away Dave.

While continuing to work on my 496 BBC-powered 1956 Pathfinder, I decided I wanted a ready-to-drive cruiser. I internet-shopped quite a few cars, then discovered this 1964 Acadian Beaumont Sport Deluxe convertible at a dealer just 75 miles from home.

It was priced more than I budgeted, but certainly was worth the trip to go look at it. It looked good – nice driver quality paint, good chrome, very good top with crystal clear rear window, very nice interior, practically new tires, and of course (since it was at a dealer) spotlessly clean. It purred like a kitten at idle, and drove very nicely (no power steering or brakes, yet it handled and stopped fine). It did not run well while accelerating, and full throttle had no guts at all, even for a stock 283. I checked the VIN and saw it was originally a 6 cylinder car, so the advertising claim that it was an “original V8 car” was clearly wrong – someone had swapped in a Chevy V8 (as determined by members here, pointing out the Chevy valve covers and air cleaner which are different than Pontiac/Acadian).

I came back home and I continued to inquire about the car here at Canadian Poncho, since I had never owned a 64-65 A-body, much less an Acadian (my SS396 Chevelle was a 66). Members were extremely helpful, pointing out numerous items that were not original (e.g. Chevelle interior, hood and rear bumper, not Acadian) and potential problem areas (frame rot, sagging driver’s seat, etc.).

Armed with this information, and the fact that down here a car that kind of looks like a Chevelle but isn’t, is not as desirable as a ‘real’ Chevelle (and therefore less marketable), I made a list of problems, concerns and market comments, called the dealer, and made an offer 23% less than their asking price, dependent on them making the car run right under acceleration, and fixing the front seats (new foam and springs). And, of course, subject to final inspection by me of the frame, and the funky looking VIN plate (which I needed to compare to both the title and the GM of Canada Vintage Vehicle Services document which a prior owner had obtained).

To my surprise, the dealer called me the next day and accepted my offer. He said he would call me when the car was ready (time needed to fix the driveability and seat issues) the next week. After his call, I cut a cashier’s check at my local bank, drove up, had them put the car on their lift and inspected the frame closely (it all looked really good, I poked all around with my small screwdriver and could not find anywhere that was rusted through).

The front seat now clearly had new foam and felt much better, although there remained a problem with the seat back sagging (which I will deal with at a later date). I checked the VIN (the plate was very worn but was still legible, the rivets appeared unmolested, and the numbers checked out), and did a final test drive ... OK, it’s mine! Since rain threatened, and I did not really want to drive on the interstate in 90 mph traffic, we arranged to have the car shipped to me the next day for $100.

So my 64 Beaumont SD came home.

According to VVS, the only factory options were:

A62 - RESTRAINT SYSTEM, FRONT SEAT (DELETE)

C14 - WIPER SYSTEM WINDSHIELD ELECTRIC (although some dimbulb replaced the original 2-speed motor w/ washer with a single-speed motor w/o washer L )

M35 - TRANSMISSION, POWERGLIDE AUTOMATIC (2 SPEED)

P66 - TIRES: 6.95-14 4PLY – HWY

The only information I had about the prior owner was that he lived in New Hampshire, bought the car in 2011 from a dealer in Georgia, and had assembled a bunch of documents about the car. The Floridadealer I bought the car from bought it from another dealer, and it looks like it was passed around a bit for the past few years. Here is at least one sale between 2012 and now:

The documents I have started with a 2011 appraisal, which stated:

“This is a rare Canadian car found in Ft Walton Beach Florida, no doubt a snowbird car that never returned north. This car had some floor and trunk rust from its Northern life, and sheet metal rust from its near-beach life in Florida. The frame and structural areas were spared from rust, however. All bolt-on sheet metal was replaced with rust-free California components, the trunk and floor repairs were made with correct panels welded in professionally.” - My inspection of the trunk and floor pan verified excellently welded new panels.

“The body was stripped and repainted its original Goldwood yellow.” - The VVS documentation verified this original color, available only on Sport Deluxe models – and the same color as original on my 1966 Chevelle SS396 convertible I bought new! J

“The interior is all new. The bumpers and mirrors are new, all exterior trim was removed and polished … there are some pits remaining on a few die cast pieces. The transmission and full brake system have been rebuilt. A new gas tank, fuel pump, fuel lines and rebuilt carb have been installed. Rare wire hubcaps, 5 new 205-75R14 tires.” - So some prior owner, before 2011, had basically restored the car, body/paint/interior as well as mechanical (except engine) – although, sadly, using mostly non-Acadian, Chevelle parts.

The car at that time still had no radio (as delivered from GM). After buying the car in 2011, the NH owner purchased a factory Acadian Beaumont AM radio, along with a bunch of other parts including ‘V8’ emblems (since the car was changed from the original 6), all from Tin Man, totaling over $900 US. He also spent over $1,500 US on rechroming, including the Tin Man parts as well as the shift console. (He saved all his receipts, which were included in the documents that came with the car.)

And, in 2012, his receipts show that he had the engine completely rebuilt, at a cost of $4,283 US including installation. At the same time, he had the steering box & coupler replaced, another $380 US.

Basically, prior owners have done all the work and spent all the time and money on a driver-quality restoration, so I should have a relatively trouble-free cruiser for occasional nice days or a local show. Better yet, the Beaumont is distinctive down here in Florida – not just another Chevelle, eh?

Of course, being a car guy, there is always something more to do to improve the car. Chris (ACADIAN here) had a good complete set of correct interior door handles/window cranks (what was in the car when I bought it was a mish-mash of pieces) that I bought to make the interior a bit better. The rear rocker moldings were a mess (ratty to begin with and then some bozo drilled a screw right in the middle!), and I had to replace them (repro Chevelle SS moldings are an exact match):

And the engine, while clean and smooth-running and close to stock-appearing, had those incorrect valve covers and air cleaner, and, well, I couldn’t resist a little dress-up:

There are some remaining little problems with the car I still have to fix, and of course there is all the Chevelle stuff that is not correct for a Beaumont, but by and large I can plan on cruising in my ’64 Acadian Beaumont SD with the top down October-April, while continuing to work on my ‘56 Pathfinder – best of both worlds, eh?

Jerel, Brian, Don, you have fun with your 64 Beau SD convertibles in the summer, I’ll enjoy mine in the winter! J