Brad's (SD396) Way Cool SD396 Beaumont!

[Xplantdad]

Hi Bruce

Thanks for considering my car for the SYC members rides.

Here are some pics my 1969 Beaumont SD-396.

I have owned this SD since 2004 and have been working on it for about a year finally getting it to this point only a few weeks ago. There are still a few small things to finish up on the car but alas it is time for storage. I wanted to have the car on the road this year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the production date; October 68.

I am sure there are not many SYC members that have seen a Beaumont or maybe even heard of one so let me start there. These cars were a Canadian production car built for the Canadian market to be sold at Pontiac dealers in Canada to compete with the Chevelle from Chevrolet. The Tempest/GTO could be imported into Canada but was subject to import tax. The Chevelle was built in Canada as well as the Beaumont. The Beaumont is not a Canadian Chevelle. Both cars were built in Oshawa and sold in Canada. Some Chevelles were built in Canada and sold in the US as well.

1969 was the final production year for the Beaumont in Canada and had the lowest production for the Sport Deluxe / SD. My car is one of 43 350 HP cars built. It is painted the original code 52 Matador Red with code 751 black vinyl and cloth interior. Factory options include positraction, power disc brakes, 350HP 396, M20 Muncie, red-stripe tires, hubcaps full wheel, instrumentation, tach, AM radio, rear antenna. The GM of Canada docs are included in the pictures.

When I was building this car I wanted to have a car I could drive and have some fun with. Because the original drivetrain was gone I chose to build it as a “day two” car. The engine is a 454 with 72 LS5 specs and has an early Edelbrock C-396 intake, Holley 750, Cal Custom air cleaner and valve covers, headers with Flow Master 2 ½” exhaust. This car being early production would have had chambered exhaust but I chose to go with aftermarket pipes with the headers. The transmission is a close ratio M-21 shifted by a Hurst Comp Plus and a stock 12 bolt with original posi and 3:55 gears. The wheels are early 14” Super E-T with Pro-Trac 70 Racing Profile G-70 tires at each corner. I added correct 1969 power steering components for driveability, a rear sway bar, boxed arms and tinted glass. Other than these changes the car retains the original appearance and probably looks like it would have in 1970 or 71.

If you need any more info let me know.

Thanks again, Brad


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[markinnaples]

That is great!

One minor addition: it's screaming for a set of N50's, lol.

[chevelleheart]

Beautiful car Brad ! Congrats !! Very rare !

[CC Rider]

SD 396 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

Very cool car Brad. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Salvatore]

Real nice car! Were did you get those tires? ET torques look great too. Sam

[MosportGreen66]

Perfect, just perfect! Love the day-2 look! 14inch ET's?
Just wondering and I think I've asked his question before.
Originally, were the motors painted blue or orange? I know its a Chevy motor, but I'd figure I'd ask.

[Rixls6]

Very cool car Brad. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Love the day 2 look.
Even more that sets it apart is the 300 Deluxe style interior. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/Can-I-Have-It.gif

[budnate]

wow! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[47Hammer]

Great looking car Brad, http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif thanks for sharing it with us. I love the Pro Trac's, I bought a set from the Super Shops back in the '80's. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif

[Keith Tedford]

The seats are similar to the ones in our 1969 300 Deluxe SS396 Chevelle. Did they do the same thing with Beaumonts as well? It just never occurred to me.

[mockingbird812]

Wow Brad! Neat car and very rare. Like the Pro tracs too!!

Same thing dawned on me too Keith. Seats, rubber mats and door panels look very similar to a 300 DX hardtop. Never realized that http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif ! Thanks for sharing your cool ride - love the maple leaf on the steering wheel center! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[427.060]

Very nice car Brad. Did you do all the work yourself? I seem to remember another Beaumont being features a few years ago on here but can't find it now.
James

[SD 396]

Thanks very much for the compliments guys.
The Pro Tracs were a swap meet find about 4 years ago. I have been waiting for the appropriate car to use them. They weren't my first choice but I had some clearance issues on the rear with the L-60's. I have a set of N-50's but there was no way they were going to fit. Here's a shot of the car with the L60 F 1's and Kelly Super Charger fronts.

http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr209/SD396/P1000891.jpg

I really like the vintage Torq Thrust wheels and have some of those as well. I like the unique center cap that was used on the Super ET so I went with them. The original centers on these wheels just said Super and were not a decal.
The original engine is orange and was built in Tonnawanda. The 350 HP 396 was the biggest horsepower available in 69 for a CDN built Chevelle or Beaumont.
Good eyes to catch the interior similarity to the Chevelle 300. The door panel emblem says Deluxe rather than Chevelle and the seat material was different. All the SD-396 cars in 1969 were based on the Deluxe model.

[SD 396]

Thanks James
I did all the body work, detailing and reassembly in my shop at home. This is the first car I have sent out to be painted in over 15 years. I took me quite a while to find someone that I trusted.
Also, there are no reproduction seat covers available so I had someone sew new covers and install them.

[Keith Tedford]

GM saved some money with the door panels. Same as the Chevelle except for the emblem.

[chevelleheart]

Great car Brad,....I too am amazed at the interior, based on the 300 deluxe,.....never ever thought of it, and seeing how rare SD 396's are , never saw the interior of one before. Beauty car !!

[Lostep]

Brad, you've done a great job, car is awsome. You'll have to take it for a cruise next summer down to Niagara and take me for a ride!!!

Hector

[SD 396]

[ QUOTE ]
Great car Brad,....I too am amazed at the interior, based on the 300 deluxe,.....never ever thought of it, and seeing how rare SD 396's are , never saw the interior of one before. Beauty car !!

[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks Bob. I looked at your bio and your impressive collection and I have to say WOW!
I have been fortunate enough to see 4 69 SD's including my own in person and consider myself fortunate enough to be the "custodians" of one of these cars. I have talked to a lot of Beaumont owners that are real enthusiasts of the model that have never seen one. I am always searching for more; if for nothing more than documenting them. It is a short list but I am up to six and I am working on seven.
Thanks again, Brad

[SD 396]

[ QUOTE ]
Brad, you've done a great job, car is awsome. You'll have to take it for a cruise next summer down to Niagara and take me for a ride!!!

Hector

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Hector
I have tentative plans for a show in NY in July so I will definitely let you know when I am heading through Niagara.
We'll take it out and shorten the tread. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[kwhizz]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

Ken http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[chevelleheart]

Brad , I pcked up a 69 beaumont Convertible, put the SD 396 stripe on it and am planning on dropping in a BB( hopefully this winter,....too bad GM never made one but it just ain't no fun unless it's a BB). I know of 5 69 Convertibles in the Calgary area, all restored,4/5 with the BB transplant, pretty amazing when there was only 488 69 Convertibles made! Take care Bob

[CanadianPoncho]

Bob,
If you need info or parts for your Beaumont check out www.canadianponcho.ca. (http://www.canadianponcho.ca.) Brad is a regular contributor and the Beaumont moderator.

Todd