A 1966 Beaumont Super Deluxe bears a strong resemblance to a 1966 Chevelle SS model, but it was a uniquely Canadian model sold by Pontiac dealers in Canada.
Consequently, every 1966 Beaumont has caused confusion at numerous vintage car shows because it was a rare Canadian model when it was new and is even rarer 60 years later.
Jim Sutherland
Jim Way owned a 1966 Beaumont Super Deluxe back in 1976 and wanted to own another one but added that only 1200 to 1400 cars were built that year. Jim wanted to elevate his second ‘66 Beaumont’s performance from its factory roots and replace the 283 under its hood.
Jim chose to buy a 355 small block engine that pops out over 400 horsepower and provides plenty of bang for the buck. The new engine is hooked up to a 4-on-the-floor manual transmission that gives it an authentic muscle car vibe.
The Beaumont’s former owner had taken his car project close to the completion stage before he passed away, a situation that put the Beaumont in storage for about two years before Jim purchased it.
Unfortunately, the ’66 Beamont was stored badly and suffered a setback in terms of overall quality, so Jim decided to have it repainted by the same guy who last painted the car. It was a frame-off restoration because Jim wanted the restoration done right and only wanted to do it once.
The Beaumont’s dark color meant every imperfection in the paint would be magnified significantly, so the new finish needed to be carefully wet sanded before the clear coat application. There were absolutely no flaws in the paint finish when MyStarCollectorCar took photos of Jim’s car, and it was a successful mission for him.
Jim wanted to combine new engineering with an original appearance, but owning a rare Canadian car has presented a few problems for him. The biggest issue is availability of trim pieces and body parts that are only found on a 1966 Beaumont Sport Deluxe model, most of which are long gone and not reproduced by aftermarket suppliers.
A ’66 Beaumont may resemble a 1966 Chevelle, but Jim pointed out the cosmetic differences that range from different trim to different hood styles, even though a ’66 Chevelle hood will bolt onto a ’66 Beaumont’s body and Jim has one on his car until he locates a Beaumont hood.
There was also very different trim pieces not found on a ’66 Chevelle that extend down the side of a 1966 Beaumont Sport Deluxe but somehow Jim was able to find most of the pieces. They had a steep price tag because the seller knew their scarcity drove up the price to a very high level. As a result, Jim paid dearly for the pieces, even though they were not perfect by any means.
His ’66 Beaumont has a few extras such as power steering and brakes that make the driving experience more comfortable for Jim.
Nevertheless, Jim said “She goes-but rides like a ‘66”. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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