Our October Feature Car is this tastefully customized 1966 Acadian Wagon belonging to Brian K. of Manitoba. Carl Stevenson was gracious enough to provide the photos and details about this months feature. Take it away Carl!
This months's feature car belongs to Brian K. from Morris Manitoba. Brian is not a member here but he has a couple of cars that I think you will agree are worthy of being featured here. I've known Brian for over 50 years now, since I was a kid, when he and my brother ran a shop together doing mechanical as well as paint and body.
Although Brian has spent decades doing mostly Beaumonts and a few Chevelles, somehow the desire for an Acadian was too strong to resist. This one was done up about 10 years ago. Because of the rarity of original trim and parts in general for an Acadian wagon it was done with a somewhat unique paint job and some unique trim as well.
The powertrain is one area where most guys doing a complete car these days would have done an LS, or at minimum a small block, maybe a stroker. Brian strayed from normal and kept it a 6 cylinder. In his words, "I had that valve cover hanging on the wall in my shop, and I wanted to use it on something"! So a 6 cylinder it is, with an 4 speed automatic overdrive, single exhaust (no split manifold here) and a glasspack muffler for a very unique sound.
The seats and door panels are done in original style. The two obvious deviations from stock in the interior are a late model air conditioning and an aftermarket steering wheel (with an Acadian horn cap on it.)
On the exterior, the first thing you will notice (maybe other than the striking two tone paint combination) is the aftermarket wheels, which make it look fast even if it isn't! The Canso 1/4 panel emblems are the real thing. The Sport Deluxe louvers on the front fenders are the real thing. The upper belt line moulding, well.............it isn't a moulding. It's painted on. Now, take a look at the tailgate picture. That very interesting upper moulding with the Acadian style maple leafs in it isn't a moulding. It's also painted on. Some very subtle but very unique trimming make this car stand out in a crowd!
One thing Brian commented on when we were doing the pictures and talking about his car is the Church Boys Racing front control arms and braces he installed. He has not been at all happy with the handling of the car and so far has not been able to find a solution for it. Whether it needs some parts revision, or maybe just different alignment specs is unknown but as with so many old cars it continues to be a work in progress!
A beautiful car and that is a unique 6 valve cover too.
__________________
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic