1963 Acadian Beaumont Sport Deluxe
Personal story and photograph submitted by owner Norm and Candy Hallett
for participation in the the 2008 GM Century Cruise
I drove a 1947 Chevy Fleetline in high school and in 1962, my mother bought an all new 1962 Chevrolet Nova 400 Convertible. This was the car I was allowed to drive on special occasions. In 1963, I shared the drive with my parents, in this convertible along Route 66 from Michigan to the California coast and then north to San Francisco. The return trip took us through Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, Salt Lake City and the farm lands of Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois. "See the USA, in your Chevrolet". I chose to work for Chevrolet Motor Division in 1965 because I thought it was not only the best car on earth but it stood for America and everything good about it.
Although I grew up in the Muscle Car era, several factors including the Military, family and education kept me from owning any new Chevrolet muscle.
In the late 70's and early 80's, I got involved in cars of the 60's and my car of choice was the Chevrolet Nova built and sold by Chevrolet Motor Division of GM from 1962-1979. The common theme of my Novas was originality and unique models, colors, options or all of the above. Shortly after retiring, I was in search of my next Chevrolet Nova adventure. I traveled to British Columbia, Canada to purchase a 1962 Nova 400 convertible and found it to be one of 1451 of these cars built by GM of Canada in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. I later discovered another model built in Oshawa, the Acadian. This vehicle in 1962-63 was assembled in Oshawa from Chevrolet sheet metal with a Chevrolet drivetrain, but given unique Acadian trim and interior. While the Chevrolet's were being sold at Canadian Chevrolet Dealers, the Acadian's were being sold at Canadian Pontiac Dealers. These cars never wore the Chevrolet or Pontiac name plate. They were manufactured as a stand alone GM product with GM of Canada being the only name shown on the vin plates and cowl tags. In 1963, Chevrolet's in the U.S. were available with an option package Z03 known as "Super Sport". Likewise, the Canadian Chevrolet's had the same option available and the Acadian's offered the same parts under the Z03 known as "Sport Deluxe".
Watch GM Century Cruise participants explain what makes their cars special.
Video Courtesy of General Motors Corporation
Several years ago, I acquired a 1963 Acadian Beaumont Sport Deluxe in very good condition. GM of Canada Historical Services has authenticated this car as one of 2029 Acadian Beaumont 2dr hardtops built but no record was kept of the number of these cars equipped with the Sport Deluxe option. It is generally believed that somewhere between 100-400 of these 2029 cars had the Z03 option.
...Whether you call it a Chevrolet, a Pontiac or an Acadian, it is a sport model GM product, built for people to drive (cruise) and enjoy. I have retained all original trim & name plates with an upgraded modern drivetrain and suspension....
GM’s Century Cruise pays tribute to GM’s past and the passion owners have for their vehicles. On Saturday, August 16, 2008 this vehicle and more than 100 other classic GM vehicles will cruise from the GM Global Headquarters at the Renaissance Center up Woodward Avenue to the heart of the Woodward Dream Cruise in Royal Oak and the surrounding suburbs. One of these vehicles will be crowned “top cruiser” based on a text voting campaign.
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