Car: 1965 Beaumont
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In 1963 and part of ’64 I was working as Parts Manager at Henning Motors, a GM Dealership, in Port Dover Ontario. The new Beaumonts caught my attention when they first arrived at the dealership. In October of 1964 I made a major decision and quit my job in the automotive industry for one in police work. I joined the Ontario Provincial Police Force and was subsequently posted to Kenora Ontario in early ’65. In the spring of ’65 I called my old boss, Mick Henning, owner of the dealership where I used to work, and ordered a ’65 Beaumont for myself. I needed a new car to go along with my new job! The Beaumont Custom 2 door hardtop was ordered in Artesian Turquoise with a white top. Other options on my list were a 283 powerglide with dual exhausts and a push button radio.
After ordering the car I contacted a close friend who happened to work at the GM Oshawa plant. I told him what I had ordered and asked that he keep “an eye” out for my Beaumont. He found the order and followed the car through the assembly line from start to completion on May 6th 1965. He let me know that the vehicle was being shipped the next day to Henning Motors in Port Dover. My father went to the dealership to pick it up and cruised around town for a few weeks (getting it broke in!) before heading to Kenora with my Mom in mid June. I was one excited OPP Constable! It was “love” at first site. The turquoise Beaumont was everything to me. I babied the car with regular washing and maintenance.
By 1976 the Beaumont had over 100,000 miles on the odometer. In July of this year we were transferred to Sioux Lookout . We continued to drive our Beaumont until 1980, when engine problems lead us to make the decision to get a new vehicle. The much loved Beaumont was going to be parked. The Beaumont was sold to someone who wanted to restore it, however, his plans didn’t work and it was subsequently sold to another person with a dream to rebuild the car. In May of 1983, while out on patrol, I spotted the Beaumont behind a tow truck. I just had to find out what was going on so I stopped the tow truck and enquired about the Beaumont. I was shocked when he told me that the car was headed for the dump. The tow truck driver was the owner of Beaumont and he said that he just didn’t have the time or dollars needed to restore the car. Needless to say, the Beaumont was detoured to my house! My wife was quite excited to see our car back in the driveway.
During the next few weeks my son, Kyle, and I began the process of stripping down the car. We were excited about the work ahead of us. The motor was removed and the interior taken apart. The excitement soon was taken over by reality. After several family discussions it was decided at this time it would not be financially possible to rebuild the Beaumont as both kids were getting ready to go off to college. The decision was made to store the Beaumont until such time as finances would allow us to rebuild her to the car she was when I first saw her in ’65. The car was taken to a friend’s place in the country and safely “tucked” away.
For many years the “poor” old Beaumont sat there neglected. My storage space was going to disappear because of my friend’s impending transfer to Kenora. It was then that I decided that I must do something with our Beaumont. It was now or never for the much delayed restoration. I contacted Allan Curtis of Custom Collision in Sioux Lookout and we headed out to inspect the Beaumont. After going over the entire car the decision was made to “go for it”! Allan would work on the Beaumont during slack time at his shop. In 2001 the body was removed from the frame; the frame was sandblasted and painted and new brake lines, brakes, exhaust etc were installed. I sent the engine to be rebuilt at a shop in Winnipeg.
At the body shop, all parts were salvageable except for the front inner fenders. I managed to find a couple of good inner fenders at Bert’s Auto Wrecking in Dryden ON. As with most restoration projects, time marches on and work gets slowly completed. This, however, allowed me ample time to track down all the needed parts. I replaced upholstery, carpets, door panels etc. The car has now been repainted and is 99% complete. I am still looking for the chrome trim that goes along the rear fender (anyone in the club know where I can find this trim?).
The Beaumont is now “parked” for the winter. I have been able to keep this complete restoration a secret from my wife. She does not know that the Beaumont is completed and ready for the road this spring. In fact the plan is to surprise my wife on May 6th 2005; the 40th birthday of our Beaumont.
I hope to attend several cruises across Canada in the future.