[gto4door]

Originally Posted by BR57

While we are talking about Plain Janes this Acadian Invader which was sold by Pontiac has to rank up there as the most potent. The original owner had explained it this way when asked why he ordered only a radio and a high performance L-79 327. He said that he had 2 small children at the time, and couldnt afford the $250 for the 4 speed. Yes this L-79 327 with 350 HP is backed by the standard 3 speed bolt action tranny.

These were very light and great for racing. Down here is the US, Knafel Pontiac raced a 427 powered Acadian.

[BR57]

Ah, the Tin Indian, you know the topic very well gto4door. Did you ever live in Canada ?

[gto4door]

Originally Posted by BR57

Ah, the Tin Indian, you know the topic very well gto4door. Did you ever live in Canada ?

Thanks. I have visited Canada several times but not lived there. Every time I have visited your beautiful country I always made car spotting a part of my sightseeing experience. I would look for the oddities that we do not have in the states like Parisiennes, Mercury Pickup Trucks, etc. Here is a pic of a 69 Beaumont that I spotted on the streets of Victoria while vacationing there 16 years ago. It was this car that really got me hooked on wanting a Beaumont.

[gto4door]

Back onto your topic of delivery vehicles. Here is another that we did not get from Pontiac in the US....the Astre Delivery.

[Diego]

Originally Posted by BR57

I think the coolest big block car I ever tracked down was this 1965 Parisienne with the Holy Grail of Canadian Pontiac power plants the Dual Quad 409 rated at 425 HP backed by a 4 speed. It was very neat to see this car since my Dad had a '65 Pontiac Laurentian in the identical colour.

Question: In 1965, the Chevy 409 was available in 340- and 400-hp variants. Why would the Canadian version be rated at 425 horsepower per pre-65 iteration?

[BR57]

Originally Posted by Diego

Question: In 1965, the Chevy 409 was available in 340- and 400-hp variants. Why would the Canadian version be rated at 425 horsepower per pre-65 iteration?

Your are 100% correct and in fact the '65 Canadian ratings were no different. I also know of a few 340 HP cars.

The 1965 Parisienne I showed with the dual quad set up is a one owner car, owned since day one. The owner claims he purchased the car this way so in all likelihood the car was prepared by the dealer with the dual quads from the 1964 version prior to delivery at his request.

[BR57]

Astre was first available in 1973 in Canada and also included the Panel version as gto4door showed for '74. A lot of these surviving cars have been repowered with Small Blocks or V6 as the parts are readily available from post '75 Starfires, Skyhawks, Sunbirds and Monzas. These cars were manufactirer in Ste. Therese Quebec, a Montreal suburb.

[gto4door]

Originally Posted by BR57

Astre was first available in 1973 in Canada and also included the Panel version as gto4door showed for '74. A lot of these surviving cars have been repowered with Small Blocks or V6 as the parts are readily available from post '75 Starfires, Skyhawks, Sunbirds and Monzas. These cars were manufactirer in Ste. Therese Quebec, a Montreal suburb.

BR57....that black and gold '73 V8 Astre is pretty wicked looking. Do you know if any Canadian dealers built and sold modified Astres (similar to the performance Vega's built by Baldwin Motion and Yenko here in US)?

Along the lines of specialty performance dealerships cars, I am aware of Conroy Pontiac's '67-'68 Beaumont Cheetah, Grant Hamilton Pontiac's '69 Firebird 400 Commanche and Stamped Pontiac's '70 Lemans "Jury". Were there any other Canadian Dealerships that created specialty performance Pontiac cars?

[bryansMtngto]

Originally Posted by gto4door

Back onto your topic of delivery vehicles. Here is another that we did not get from Pontiac in the US....the Astre Delivery.

wow that sure looks like my buddys old vega wagon. Had alot of fun with Vegas over the years. Had a 77 hatchback that was a blast to drive.

[BR57]

Conroy also sold the 302 Z/28 Firebirds. Gorries was a Chevrolet dealer in Toronto and they made a special Black Panther Camaro with a variety of customer spec'd engines including 427. These cars were 68's and looked great, black and gold stripping.

No special Astre's were produced as far as I am aware but plenty were hot rodded like the one I show. That one has a 327. My sister had a 73 GT but it was just stripes and trim.

I have included photos of the only Commanche I have ever seen. I hope you enjoy them.

You should just join the forum: www.canadianponcho.ca for Canadian Pontiacs, Beaumonts and Acadians.

[BR57]

This 73 Astre Panel resides in Potsdam NY, originally from Barrie ON. It's got Buick V6 power.

[BR57]

Just got photos of this original 1969 Pontiac 2+2, only 36,000 miles on this car. 2+2 was offered in Canada until 1970. Engines for 1969 were a 250 HP 350, 300HP 350, 265 HP 396 and two 427's at 335 and 390 HP. This one has the L-48 300 HP 350 small block.

[goatwgn]

Originally Posted by BR57

Sedan Deliveries are the rarest of the rare. These cars were used as trucks or delivery vehicles and it is said that only about 10 survive today. Every now and then someone will drag one out of the bush near an old abandon lumber camp. Here is another one owned by the same gentleman. This is a 1955 example. Originally a 261 it is now powered by a Ram Jet 350.

Thanks for posting these pictures. Very rare and good looking cars.

[68BeaumontSD]

Just found this thread. Ray, thanks for posting the pictures and some history of the Canadian built Pontiacs, Beaumonts and Acadians.
James

[niceta]

Thanks for the education. I was unaware that there were so many different Candian models for Pontiac.

[PONTIAC-ONE]

This is a very interesting thread, thanks for all the info.
I'll try to get a few pix this summer of some Beaumonts & Acadians to post, there's a few nice ones around here.
One of our cars when I was young was an Astre, it had the same oil burning engine the Vega had.

[mike nixon]

Originally Posted by BR57

Just got photos of this original 1969 Pontiac 2+2, only 36,000 miles on this car. 2+2 was offered in Canada until 1970. Engines for 1969 were a 250 HP 350, 300HP 350, 265 HP 396 and two 427's at 335 and 390 HP. This one has the L-48 300 HP 350 small block.

DAMN I LIKE that!

[gto4door]

Originally Posted by PONTIAC-ONE

This is a very interesting thread, thanks for all the info.
I'll try to get a few pix this summer of some Beaumonts & Acadians to post, there's a few nice ones around here.
One of our cars when I was young was an Astre, it had the same oil burning engine the Vega had.

PONTIAC-ONE,
I noticed your profile says you are from Winnipeg. Do you know if John Dubois or any of the Towne Pontiac Race Cars are still around in your area?

http://www.keystone-bison.autoclubs.ca/JD.html

[Evil Stu]

Originally Posted by gto4door

Here is another Canadian Pontiac I would like to have in my collection.

A club member here has a nice 71.

When you are ready to put in the big block let one of us know; I'm sure we can track down the right Astro-Jet badges.

[GT182]

Ray, great photos and stories on the Canadian Pontiacs. We used to see quite a few back in the 60s and 70s come over to visit in Massena, NY from Cornwall and Ottawa areas. And we'd see a lot more when we'd head across the border for some weekend fun.