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I bought a one-of-one Pontiac with a Corvette motor
Back in 1969 GM built exactly one car equipped as follows:
1969 Pontiac 2+2 Convertible
427/390 L36 Corvette engine (yes, in a Pontiac)
M20 Muncie Four Speed
...and I found it. After 15 years (literally!) I have now purchased it, but don't have it in my hands yet. But it's the first one-of-one car that I've ever owned, and it's got a Corvette motor, so I'm posting it anyway!
The car is built on the lighter Impala SS chassis, which is why it has Chevrolet running gear, but it's all badged from the factory as Pontiac. For example, if you look at the air cleaner, it's not got the cross-flagged Corvette logo, but instead the Pontiac logo with "Astro Jet 427/390".
Long story short, the car was purchased in Edmonton brand new. I even tracked down and talked to the original buyer (he's in his 90s!). The car came in on trade to a used car dealership in the 80s and the owner of the dealership knew what it was, so he scooped it up and put it aside into the purgatory that is "I'm going to restore it one day".
About 15 years ago I got a call (I run a website dedicated to these) from an old guy claiming to have this one-of-one car, and he was missing an emblem or two. I had spares, so I just sent them in the mail, didn't charge the guy. Pay it forward, because I wound up with the car many years later...
Along the way while the guy had it, the motor did get rebuilt and the trans too, but it's so long ago I'll be starting from scratch. They also painted the frame and dipped the body, but then they stopped. So it's a true basket-case!
It got stored in the back of a 3-ton truck on a farm in northern Alberta. That's where I found it! Here a couple of "barn find" photos for the folks that are into that!
Please move the post as appropriate... I wasn't sure where to put it, but "Off Topic" isn't it and I couldn't find "Alternate Tinkerings".
OMG. Calling this a basket case is probably being kind to the basket.
But, I suppose if it's relatively intact - no rust - then it's worth the bother.
Oh, it's rusty too. And it's rare enough that no one makes quarters for it (big ol' Bonneville/Catalina stuff doesn't fit). How bad I'm not entirely sure yet.
It really depends on how complete the car is when I go through and inventory what I have. If it's missing much stuff I'll likely have to grab a parts car and make 1 out of 2. I don't need another 2+2, any old fullsize 2-door would do, but finding a rust-free one is a tall order. I don't know if coupe body panels will work on a ragtop yet, have to figure that out.
Sad thing is thinking about all of the stuff I sent to the wreckers back in the 80s and 90s that I'd like to have back for parts now!
This was my last project, I tore it down to the two frame rails and started over, so I'm not a virgin. But this will be my first where I wasn't there for the disassembly, no notes, no photos.
And BTW, for those that don't know, if a car was built in Canada, GM will sell you full documentation on the car. It's not quite a build sheet, but it lists every RPO and so on. Here's the example for this car. Costs around $100 I think. The "632 built" number is all 2+2 convertibles. There were 11 cars total (coupes and convertibles) with the L36. Unknown number of four-speed coupes. And only one L36/M20 car.
Since you likely haven't seen one of these, I'll share the "Pontiac 427" emblem as well (this one from my coupe). Sadly, it's missing one, so I'm looking at finding a hen's tooth or an expensive custom reproduction!
There is a section of the Corvette Forum called "other cars". Those guys would love to see this.
Thanks! I don't want to cross post, but if a mod wants to move, that makes sense to me!
Great find Dave. I always enjoy car stories like this were someone is able to find the 'needle in the haystack' with plans to restore/preserve automotive history.
Wow, in so many ways! Is there besides a factory build sheet/documentaion, some kind of factory service manual? I know that's asking a lot. I also wonder if, because these are Canadian cars (cars mfd. for Canada) if there wasn't some kind of different build standards that allowed different cars. Don't know the answer, all I do know is when I googled 'pics '69 Pontiac convertible 2+2' many of them came us as "Canadian". Maybe that was the only place that got them.
Good luck with the restoration. Should be fascinating. Are you taking all of it that remains down to bare metal incl. the frame?
Wow, in so many ways! Is there besides a factory build sheet/documentaion, some kind of factory service manual? I know that's asking a lot.
Then you'll love this part... on the "Canadian Poncho" forums someone in Winnipeg literally was dumpster diving and found the microfiche for a bunch of old documents being tossed. Why in Winnipeg and not Oshawa I don't know.
Anyway, myself and 3-4 other guys got together and paid for him (about $200 each) to have the microfiche scanned and printed for the assembly manual for the 1969 Canadian Pontiacs. So now I have that, a real find!
There is also a Canada-specific service manual (covers the Beaumont, Acadian, Parisienne, all of those). So there's some amount of documentation out there.
Plus I have a coupe that was meticulously restored by Musclecar Restorations I can sneak a peek at if I can't figure something out!
Here's my coupe. It was in the June issue of Hemmings:
Thanks! That was the last one I did before the Pontiac, so that's roughly the level I shoot for. Took me four years, probably working half time. I'm not fast!
Good news is they extracted the car from the truck body and the car and it's parts are now safely off the farm and in friendly hands! So it's mine!
10-26-2017, 01:39 PM
I bought a one-of-one Pontiac with a Corvette motor
