Info on a 'Canadian' Nova..

[realzed]

A friend was telling me about a car his brother bought new here in Canada back in the '70's, and that he found a set of keys for it with the dealer stock tag still attached..
Is it possible to find out anything about this car - a Nova for all intents and purposes - but an Acadian model.. (from a Pontiac dealer I would assume) from this tag on the keys and info:

Vin: 14270W223517
V1223CNJ
IF54
OH 44
Thanks for any info and/or 'decoding' efforts.
He said the car was a greenish SS model and it had a 396/375 in it when the fellow his brother sold it to was killed in it - but other than that he didn't remember very much other detail..
I know Acadians are very rare but I don't know if a 396/375 would be available in one as well - if so I guess that would make it like gold these days with documentation from GM..
Randy

[Tracker1]

Have you gotten the GM of Canada/Vintage Services docs?

Have you done a "used car search" on the VIN with Province of Ontario DMV?

CNJ= 350 cid/ 300 horsepower 4-speed

V= Flint , Michigan engine plant

1223= 12th month (December) 23(23rd day) - CHRISTMAS CAR! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[PeteLeathersac]

'

Acadians are cool but I always understood the same and L78's not available?
Here's a link below to GM Canada Vintage Services who can supply as shipped info including RPO's for most all Canadian built or US built GM vehicles shipped new to Canada also '77 and up GM product built in Canada or US regardless or where shipped/sold new.
Good luck and looking forward to hearing/seeing more of your Acadian!
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

-

GM Canada Vintage Services
http://www.vintagevehicleservices.com/options.html

-

[realzed]

Thanks - I am aware of the GM service - George documented my '68 Z 2/8 for me over 25 years ago when I was first interested in it and prior to my buying it - great service for which we Canadians are so very fortunate!
I am not interested in this Acadian - other than just wondering what the info spoke about it, if anything.. Mostly wondering what the 'W' in the VIN stood for?
I have seen a picture since dug up showing it had a big block in it with an aluminum manifold so it could have been a 375hp engine inserted at any point obviously.
Any GM documents available would be of no worth to me even though probably available, since the car was totaled (end over end from what he says) and obviously there wasn't all that much left, except as parts..
Looked like a nice car, greenish (old print and somewhat faded though) colour with vinyl top, magnum style wheels which may probably have been a Pontiac style thing over the Chevrolet equivalent - as they often dressed up their models more so than other brand 'brothers and sisters'..
Thanks again for the assistance and info guys - Randy

[PeteLeathersac]

'

Got it now Randy and reading your info closer, looks like a '70 SB car w/ BB added later?
The W = Willow Run Assy. MI Plant where the car was built.
Where are you in ON...greetings from Peterboro'!
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

[JayR]

Got it 'unofficially' from GM Canada Vintage back in the mid 90's that there were no big block Acadians built at Willow Run. However, big block Novas were built there and shipped to Canada. My 1970 Nova SS L78 was shipped from Willow Run to Belmont Motors in Toronto on June 27, 1970. Never could get it officially, but GM Canada Vintage intimated that it could have been the last L78 shipped to Canada before big block Nova production ended.

Also interesting that there were no 1968 L79 (327/325 HP) Acadians built at Willow Run. 1274 L79 Novas were built in 1968 and a handful were shipped to Canada. Three Canada sold 1968 Nova L79s still exist and are in the Canadian L79 Registry.

Bob

[realzed]

Bob - I knew a guy here (not well) with what I thought was a '68 L79 Nova - but he beat on it unmercifully and I'm sure it didn't last very long considering.. but it was a quick car on the local street race scene, at least for a while..
Pete - I'm in Sudbury about 6 or so hours North of you..
Enjoying our great Canadian WInter so far? I might still get my car out again this year for a short spurt considering the weather, if I have time after cutting the grass!! Hell my son was in for a quick dip at camp a couple of weeks back after a sauna and usually our lakes are starting to freeze up by that time in other years..
Normally by now everyone around here is warming up their sleds and talking ice fishing and not even think of cruising cars..

[427.060]

I'm pretty sure there were no big block Acadians built in any year.
James

[StriperSS]

There were never any big block Acadians built. Biggest engine was a 350 in the 68 - 71 Acadian SS. Magnum 500 wheels were not available either. Steel wheels or Rally wheels were available.

[Stefano]

So would a '66 L79 Acadian be collectible and have some value?

[Diamond_Don]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: StriperSS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There were never any big block Acadians built. Biggest engine was a 350 in the 68 - 71 Acadian SS. Magnum 500 wheels were not available either. Steel wheels or Rally wheels were available. </div></div>

I have original GM sales documentation that advertises the Super Sport (Magnum 500) wheels as an Acadian option, so it is possible some were built.

[JayR]

Certainly collectible with only 63 built (all models) in 1966, but they're a tougher sell than a comparable L79 Chevy II, especially in the U.S. United States buyers prefer the Chevy II L79 over the Canadian maple leaf adorned Acadians, even though any 1st or 2nd generation Acadian is a far rarer car then a comparable U.S. Chevy II and they can be documented by GM Canada Vintage Services.

At present, there are six 1966 L79 Acadians in the Canadian L79 Registry, all GM Canada documented. There are two sport coupes, one 2 door sedan and three Sport Deluxes. Even though they're rarer cars than Canadian produced L79 Chevy IIs (195 built in 1966), they tend to be valued only slightly higher. Buyers soon become aware that even though Acadian drivetrains are the same as Chevy II, most of the unique exterior trim pieces, emblems and interiors are not reproduced. Finding these components can be a lengthy and expensive process. The cost of a custom made 'as original' Acadian interior is huge. In addition to there being more of them, finding unique Acadian components is one of the main reasons there is a general preference for the L79 Chevy II.

Bob

[L78_Nova]

Recent discussion regarding a 66 L-79 Acadian that just traded hands. Was posted on canadian poncho activeboard at 50K CDN (listed as sold inside an hour).

http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581745

[JayR]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: L78_Nova</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Recent discussion regarding a 66 L-79 Acadian that just traded hands. Was posted on canadian poncho activeboard at 50K CDN (listed as sold inside an hour).

http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581745

</div></div>

Yeah, I have a feeling it's going to be for sale again in the very near future, too.

Bob

[realzed]

I met a guy who had 3 '67 Chevelles and was collecting trim pieces for Beaumonts of the same year to alter them for resale. He said he could take them down to Carlisle and make a ton more money since the Beaumonts were so much rarer and in demand there, that it was well worth his time and effort.
He showed me one beautiful US Chevelle 396 SS in his shop that he had bought that I in particular would loved to have had, and he was turning it into a Beaumont SD car and said he could get between $10 and $15 K more for it that way. It was a completely rust free Ca. car and he had found a hood and some trim pieces in Carlisle when I was there with some friends at the same time.
We visited him when we all returned from the US at his shop where he did just amazing work.. somebody was going to get a really nice car out of it all - just not a real Beaumont SD as advertised..
This wasn't his first dance at this either apparently! So in some cases The Canadian Pontiac equivalents were a lot more dear than the Chevrolet equivalents!

[427.060]

I wouldn't think that turning Chevelles into Beaumonts would be profitable. One issue would be the VIN. Beaumont VINs start with 7, Chevelles start with 1. Although Beaumonts are much rarer they don't usually bring much, if any, more than a comparable Chevelle.
James

[realzed]

I didn't mention - but you had to know... that he certainly had all the appropriate bits and knowledge of these cars to make legitimate Beaumonts including whatever it took to do a VIN change both on the firewall and elsewhere..
Just going by what he said... This was mind you, quite a few years back now, but from everything I saw and the workmanship and his demeanor I certainly had no reason to dispute what he told me.
It was a lot of painstaking detailed work and if it wasn't for a decent buck for sure he wouldn't have been into it - and from what I surely saw no reason again to dispute his claims.

[JayR]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427.060</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wouldn't think that turning Chevelles into Beaumonts would be profitable. One issue would be the VIN. Beaumont VINs start with 7, Chevelles start with 1. Although Beaumonts are much rarer they don't usually bring much, if any, more than a comparable Chevelle.
James </div></div>

I agree. I don't know who would buy a U.S. built Chevelle turned into a Canadian Beaumont, but I guess it's happening. The biggest plus to the Beaumont is the availability of GM Canada Vintage Services documentation, something you'll never get for a Chevelle Beaumont. Documented Canadian cars are always worth more than a comparable U.S. car just for this paperwork alone. I don't know how the VIN situation you mention is being handled for these Chevelle Beaumonts. Beaumont cowl tags are also very different from same year U.S. Chevelles, both in format and content. I sincerely hope they aren't being changed.

Bob

[realzed]

The situation as I mentioned previously was quite a while back - I haven't attended Carlisle for going on 20 years now.. so that should give you some idea of the timeframe. And YES even back then obviously changing VINs and interiors and hidden numbers and sheet metal to make more of a profit was surely done.
Maybe it was even for a greater profit margin back then than it would be possible to get now for certain cars or brands..
My recollections of being in his shop and seeing a couple of the '67 cars that he was in fact working on are clear as was the hour or so long conversation about these and a couple of other cars he also had in there at the time (not Chevelles or Beaumonts in fact)sticks with me still - as does the memory of the beautiful black '67 SS I tried somewhat to pry loose from him to no avail..
He appeared to mostly enjoy the challenge of making a Beaumont that could stand scrutiny and in his own words.. You certainly wouldn't pay me what I can get for it down at Carlisle once its done and I show up with it as a Pontiac!

[427.060]

Beaumonts aren't Pontiacs but that is not a topic to be discussed here now.
James

[StriperSS]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Diamond_Don</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: StriperSS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There were never any big block Acadians built. Biggest engine was a 350 in the 68 - 71 Acadian SS. Magnum 500 wheels were not available either. Steel wheels or Rally wheels were available. </div></div>

I have original GM sales documentation that advertises the Super Sport (Magnum 500) wheels as an Acadian option, so it is possible some were built. </div></div>

You're right. I just looked at a sales brochure! Doh!

[JayR]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427.060</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Beaumonts aren't Pontiacs but that is not a topic to be discussed here now.
James </div></div>

Neither were the Chevy II/Nova styled Acadians. They were stand alone models sold at Canadian Pontiac-Buick dealerships. I'm old enough to remember that when Acadians came out in 1962, all the display signs and promotional material at Pontiac dealerships in Canada were changed to read Pontiac-Buick-Acadian-Vauxhall-GMC trucks. None of the Acadian showroom brochures or media advertising ever mentioned the word Pontiac. Unfortunately, DMV's in Canada always called them Pontiac Acadians and even GM Canada documents them as Pontiac Acadians.

Bob

[realzed]

Yep - only ever available through and at Pontiac dealerships - that's good enough at least for me to call them Pontiacs. They carried exactly the same Chevrolet running gear and major sheet metal (but grills and often taillights and some side trim was often or usually different) plus the seats, dash pads, instrumentation and layout, and often side trim was different and usually flashier like most Pontiac models were over their Chevrolet equivalents at least here in Canada..
They were always if advertised referred to Pontiac Acadians and Pontiac Beaumonts - no mention of Chevrolet ever when I was a teenager - so Pontiac has and always will work for me!