[RocktimusPryme]

I always liked the idea of grabbing one. Get to have a Pontiac body with a BBC without the guilt trip.

[Tempest]

The Beaumont was a great looking car (IMO, better than a Chevelle)

Yes is was Chevy powered, but just look at it as another cool piece of Pontiac history.

[66sprint6]

They could be a great looking car.



I had to laugh when I saw one of these Wiki heroes, with their vast knowledge, state that the Pontiac Laurentian was named after the St. Lawrence river. The Laurentians are actually the name of the mountains located just north of Montreal.

[MikeNoun]

Some of them looked very nice, but I agree, it's a tough sell to a Pontiac purist when they have a Chevy engine under the hood.

[Wareagle]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Sure it did, just like the Pontiac GTO that out performed a Ferrari GTO in that her famous issue of Car and Driver. C & D wasn't exactly the most reliable source for car performance data back in those days.

For the 421 Catalina vs Ferrari V12 Test - Car and Driver asked both parties to send their prepared cars ( Car and Driver supplied the Drivers ) - the Catalina was from Royal Pontiac - it was all in print for everyone to read not hiding anything- sales shot up for Catalina after that test 0-60 3.9 sec. for the 421 Pontiac 0-60 6.3 for the Ferrari V12 . Also if you bought that car from Royal Pontiac they could prepare it for you to run identical numbers with the 421HO 376 HP Engine - Here's another Legendary car from Royal Pontiac - 63 SD-421 Catalina

[MikeNoun]

Here's an outtake photo of that road test at Bridgehampton.

[Stuart]

That 3.9 seconds from zero to 60 is probably one of the most controversial test numbers ever published in a car magazine - it's been the topic of discussion in many subsequent articles (even in C & D) over the years. Considering the skinny bias ply tires that were on the car, I think it was the result of an overeager thumb on the pushbutton of the hand held stop watch that was used for timing back then, but there also could have been some editorial creative license in writing the story.

I've been a full size Pontiac fan all my life, but I think it would be tough to get one to accelerate that fast even if you dropped it off a cliff.

edited to add: Looking at that out take photo above I see the 2+2 was equipped with what looks like NASCAR racing tires, which would have improved its chances quite a bit, but even so I think the 3.9 second number was probably embellished one way or another.

[Heybuck]

Back in 1999, I was in Portland OR and I enjoyed a few days staying with Peter Klabo.

Peter drove me up to a small town called Dulles right up the Washington? river. Past Mt St.Helens anyway.

In Dulles we met with a Pontiac guy whose name escapes me but in his garage he had a red 1965 2+2 which we all admired. Peter later told me he felt that particular car was the car used in the Car & Driver article. I'd never heard of the article in question but he explained it to me and I've since read a reprint of it.

Was it the actual car??? I don't know. Peter Klabo is long dead so I can't ask him but I very clearly remember the car in the garage. I would have loved to own it back then and it still holds good memories now. I hope the car still exists somewhere.

Ian

[Mr_GTO]

I keep forgetting to get a picture. I'll do my best tomorrow to stop if the traffic isn't too bad.

[Wareagle]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

Here's an outtake photo of that road test at Bridgehampton.

Cool pic Mike - Thanks

[Wareagle]

Originally Posted by Stuart

That 3.9 seconds from zero to 60 is probably one of the most controversial test numbers ever published in a car magazine - it's been the topic of discussion in many subsequent articles (even in C & D) over the years. Considering the skinny bias ply tires that were on the car, I think it was the result of an overeager thumb on the pushbutton of the hand held stop watch that was used for timing back then, but there also could have been some editorial creative license in writing the story.

I've been a full size Pontiac fan all my life, but I think it would be tough to get one to accelerate that fast even if you dropped it off a cliff.

edited to add: Looking at that out take photo above I see the 2+2 was equipped with what looks like NASCAR racing tires, which would have improved its chances quite a bit, but even so I think the 3.9 second number was probably embellished one way or another.

Royal Pontiac wasn't messing around then they came to Win For Rear Gears The Catalina was running 4.11's and softer compound tires but still considered street according to the article - There is a guy that's on the Pontiac Power pages on Facebook who has a Catalina that runs 9's in the 1/4 NA - 455 4 Bolt main Block etc. here's the pic

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Wareagle

RThere is a guy that's on the Pontiac Power pages on Facebook who has a Catalina that runs 9's in the 1/4 NA - 455 4 Bolt main Block etc. here's the pic

With today's technology and tires I believe it, but back in 1965 I don't know.

Certainly, Royal Pontiac was doing a lot for these cars but there was only so much they had available to them at the time. Anyway, this is taking the discussion off topic so I'll stop now...

For the record I like Canadian Pontiacs even if they are based on a Chevy drivetrain. They had some interesting models that we never got in US versions -I recall seeing a 1970 2+2 at the POCI nationals in Red Wing, MN that had a 427 engine that was very cool. Another one I saw once was a 1960 Safari two door station wagon.

[iowapub]

I always like the 68 Beaumont.
Chevelle with a Pontiac look to it.

[MikeNoun]

1967 was the last year for the Pontiac 2+2,, but it was also the first year the Canadian Pontiac Parisienne 2+2, which was available through 1970. Here's a super rare 1970 Parisienne 2+2 convertible with a factory 454 (345 hp).

[68 Firebird Brian]

Originally Posted by GT182

GM in Canada back then had no agreements with GM in the USto use the same parts to make the same body style car we had, or the same engines They did as they saw fit and made some really strange, and named, GM cars. Pontiacs from up there were the strangest but in some ways more of a muscle car than what we had. A 427 or 396 in a Pontiac here in the US was never heard of, but up there they were the norm.

Not until the early 70s I believe did they make the same cars as down here because GM imported them to the US. I hauled many a car and truck from Canada to dealers here in the North East US.... all of New England out to Ohio and south to Virginia and W. Virginia.

Canadian early sixties Pontiac’s were identical to their cousins to the south. Mostly badging and minor cosmetic changes (headlights).
Major difference was the fact the Canadian cars came with Chev chassis. No big block pontiacs. I have a 65 Laurentian with a 283 SBC. I also have a 65 Catalina with a 389 Pontiac blue block. I believe there is a Cnd car for each US car. CND cars had “Indian or french” names like StraChef and Laurention, Acadian.
Cnd cars were NOT bigger muscle cars than US cars. Base model catalina comes 389 2 bbl and laurentian came with 283 2bbl sbc
Hope this helps

[coupeute]

There was a model called the Parisian which used a Chevy chassis, engine and running gear. Body panels and rollers were exported to British member countries and assembled for right hand steering.

[AZgoatguy]

I too choke when I see a Chevy engine in a Pontiac… it just isn’t natural, much like a sacred trust has been violated. But with the Canadian Pontiacs, I do have a respect for them in that they were made this way – though it would suit me much better it they had come with Pontiac engines. Back in the early 1990’s, I did a ‘reverse’ one-off build on this theme. I put a Pontiac V8 in a Chevrolet body. But I took it much further than just the engine, I did the whole car Pontiac… only the body shell shows Chevy. And it has a Beaumont grille – very, very Pontiac. For grins, check out my Goat-a-mino album. I still have the car; using it as my daily ride for going to Home Depot, and car related events. And I have to say, it’s a hoot to watch the Chevy guys puzzle over THAT grille. And I think a few of them choke when I raise the hood and no Chevy engine, but instead sits a ’66 GTO 389 Tri-power… gag, gag, gag! HA

[Mr_GTO]

Well now I know why I couldn't find it....DOH!!!!

From afar it looked like a Pontiac script/emblem. Sorry guys.

[68BeaumontSD]

Originally Posted by iowapub

I always like the 68 Beaumont.
Chevelle with a Pontiac look to it.

Other than the passenger door mirror that car looks exactly like my 68 Beaumont.
James

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Mr_GTO

Well now I know why I couldn't find it....DOH!!!!

From afar it looked like a Pontiac script/emblem. Sorry guys.

A 1963 Olds F-85. My brother had one of those back in the late 1960s, they were neat little cars.