Canadian Car Month Installment 2 is brought to you by our Car Show Calendar Sponsor “Hinton Automotive”.
For the second installment of our Canadian cars month we feature the Beaumont. Beginning in 1966 the Beaumont evolved from a submodel under the Acadian line into a different model on its own based on the US produced Chevelle platform under the Pontiac brand. In the late 60s the Beaumont was also sold in Puerto Rico. There were 4 doors, 2 doors, convertibles and options up to the SD (sport deluxe) models with extras similar to the Chevelle SS (super sport models) including optional bucket seats and console.
Beaumont interiors featured the instrument panel from the American Pontiac Tempest/LeMans/GTO series. They came with the same engines and drivetrains as the Chevelles including the 6 cylinders, a variety of small bock V8s as well as a 396 big block.
The Beaumont Sport Deluxe is thought to be one of the rarest muscle cars ever to leave a GM factory with under 2,000 coupes and convertibles thought to have been produced. The SD 396 version of the Beaumont built in 1966, in particular with 4 a speed manual transmission, is very rare, with only 41 of them ever built. The Power Plants, although being Chevrolet motors, were given new names like “Super Econoflame L79 327/350” and “Econo-Jet 396”.
Even rarer is a Conroy Cheetah which was built by Conroy Buick out of Vancouver, Canada’s answer to Yenko in the US.
There were 46 of these cars built and most were ordered with the largest possible Chevrolet Big Block for that year along with a four-speed manual transmission and a 12 Bolt Positraction rear end. The Cheetah package reportedly included a tach, Buick style rims, and dealer-installed sport mirrors. Cheetah badging was added by Conroy. The pictures we have found on the internet show a lower fender badge which reads “Cheetah by Conroy Pontiac”. If you ever see one of these please take lots of pictures!!!! If you want to read a neat article about one of the Cheetahs check out this Hot Rod article: Conroy Cheetah
The Beaumont SD 396 convertible was discontinued before 1969 production; therefore the 1968 SD 396 convertibles are one of the rarest muscle cars on the planet!
For 1969 the Beaumont went through several little subtle cosmetic changes. Taillight lenses were changed from 2 separate lenses per side to a larger 3 lens look; reverse lights were moved up from the rear bumper to the tail panel; The Pontiac Emblems “with the maple leaves on top of course” were inserted between the headlights, and the side marker lights narrower than those on the 1968s. Another telling feature is the vent windows. Many GM models lost the vent windows after 1968.
1969 was the end of the line for the Beaumont; In 1970 it replaced with the Pontiac LeMans.
Interesting fact about the name we found on our sponsor, Hagerty Insurance’s website.
A French surname meaning fair or lovely hill, Beaumont, carries a mighty historic reference appropriate for a memorable muscle car. Among the famous Beaumonts was Robert, who led the infantry on William the Conqueror’s right wing during the battle of Hastings in 1066 and established the family name in the English-speaking world.
Written by Roger McGetchie
