It’s proof positive miracles happen! For your consideration, it’s a forty some year old Pontiac Acadian still on the road. Come on…really? These little econo-boxes were never meant to last this long. Offered in two or four door hatchback body styles, this “T-Platform” car (Chevrolet had a version too) was for a time GM’s lowest cost, smallest and most economical offering. Think plain and simple. A throw away city car you drove it into the ground and bailed at the first sign of trouble. Get a flat? Scrap it! Need a fill? Scrap it! It’s a safe bet few made it too 100k kms nor much beyond five years. Of course there are exceptions…like here. All things considered, it’s not in bad shape, a little rust maybe but relatively solid looking otherwise.
The taillights tell us it’s a first generation example, so from 1976-1979. Production continued into the 1987 model year with little change. These could be had with tiny lawnmower sized engines, gas sipping but horribly under powered. Zero to a hundred…never. The quarter mile…eventually. Passing power…no! The base 1.4 engine was rated at just over fifty horsepower, while the optional 1.6 made about ten more. Whatcha going to do with all those extra ponies? Interestingly the mighty BIGDoer-mobile has a similar sized power plant rated about 150hp and in spite of being a big and heavy car in comparison, and fairly spirited, it still gets better gas mileage. The Acadian seats four…but the people in back will hate you. Odd, it’s rear drive.
There were several brand variants, only differing in badging and trim, the Chevrolet Chevette (most popular, see: Haphazardly Made, Sparsely Trimmed & Underpowered), along with a Pontiac T1000 (later 1000) for the US mostly and the Canada only Acadian, the least common. Almost three million combined were made in total. Attrition quickly took a toll and by the 1990s they were pretty rare out in the wild. There was a 1960s era Acadian, incidentally, also generally an economy model, even if performance options were available. I wonder which one would win in a race?
That’s a trailer hitch…he said in amazement. Just what did they hope to tow? A shopping cart?
We found this little beastie by chance in southern Calgary in May 2019 and never expected to publish this shot. Yet here it is – recall we pull these randomly. The intent was to have it be photographic evidence should this find ever come up in discussion. No one would believe it otherwise.
Short Subjects: reports that for any number of reasons are brief in nature. They might be updates to older articles, previews of posts planned or not yet published, brief snippets of things that don’t fit in anywhere else or subjects that are so obscure that information on them can’t be found. Or sometimes we just ramble on about Lord knows what.
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Date of adventure: May, 2019. Location: Calgary, AB.
Interesting. We’ve heard from others who have spotted the car there too. Had a friend who owned the Chevy version, and drove it once. Not a comfy car for someone tall as I. Thanks for commenting!
We used to drive those as pizza delivery cars when I grew up in Brandon, Manitoba. That was back when the stores bought the cars. I shudder now when I think about how we could get them wound all the up to 85 miles an hour. Not that we were ever hard on the cars, mind you.
It may be only a humble hatchback (sold in the UK too, the Vauxhall Chevette) and this is a rare survivor, but every dog has its day. The Chevette was a successful competition car driven by e.g. Jimmy McRae (5 times UK Rally Champion, father of Colin McRae) and “Flying Finn” Pentti Airikkala. The link is to a photo of Airikkala doing what he does best … in a 1978 Chevette
Amazing stuff! Thanks for sharing. We always love an underdog and anyone brave enough to do it in Chevette gets our respect. The Vauxhall hatchback version is not all that different looking from the ones over here.
Shocking that it has lasted this long. The hitch reminds me of the joke about the guy who walks in to a parts store and says “Can I get a hitch for my Acadian?”. The parts guy says “Sounds like a fair trade, park it around back”. My Grandparents here in Ontario had one of the original Acadians. It was the only one I ever saw.
If there ever was a throw-away ride, this is it. Yet here it is, over forty and counting. And it’s not even in that bad of shape. The 60s Acadian was a different breed altogether, even if it too was often optioned as a budget car. We’ve seen one hotrodded and it was zoomy.
(A long read) After twelve years it's time to put a face to the name and come clean on something. That's rarely-seen Chris in the photo, one half of Team BIGDoer, my best friend for almost thirty years and orchestrator of everything you see here. For his entire adult life, he's battled a deep depression.
Mostly it's manageable, but there are extended bouts where it's crippling and his life comes to a grinding halt. Sometimes there are days or weeks where he's lost. Sleep does not come easy at this time and further aggravates the issue. As he ages, it's worsening and seems intent on destroying him from the inside.
If you see a lack of posts here, or ones poorly worded, confusing or simply off, it's from one of these periods.
Through all this, he remains as kind, thoughtful and loving as ever, but is somewhere else. To the family, it's just Chris and accepted as it should be. The kids and grandkids adore him no less. Until today, however, this has been hidden from the outside world, although closer friends and some readers were probably already suspect of his condition. I hope admitting this does not break the site.
He finds clarity when we're out and doing things, hiking or documenting something historic and it's only THE reason this page and our website exists. It's therapy. Then he's a new and passionate person, but the monster as he calls it always returns. The Beer Parlour Project has brought out a side I've never seen and when out in the field he's never been so on point and confident.
This post is not for sympathy but to inform. Just so you know where he is and here's what you can do to help (a last ditch request)...
If you see a missed comma or oddly worded sentence in a post, please be kind. You'll probably see his uncertainty when he's off and be nice there too. But if you like what you see, even if the write up could be presented better, post your encouragement. Say something and say it loud...it's important and will keep him sharing. Help Chris get better by cheering him on.
Other than some photos that are mine, everything else comes from him. All the tiring research and the writing (he admits he's NOT a writer), are his.
Chris puts every dollar he makes into this "project of a lifetime", and it's supplemented by donations from readers who enjoy the content. If you want to help...
Admittedly he was not thrilled with the idea of posting this but agrees it probably should be said, even if it makes him uneasy. He doesn't like appearing in photos either. He's so shy, thinks he looks goofy and hates his husky eyes. I love them and they're windows into a wonderful, complex and quiet, but tortured soul. It breaks my heart when he's in a bad space.
This image comes thanks to photographer Arturo Pianzola and was captured while exploring the historic Riverview Mental Hospital in Coquitlam BC. Chris thought since he was in the area last year, he'd stop by to visit with a grandfather he never really knew, who spent his last years at the facility and is buried on the grounds.
Thanks for listening and your understanding. Hopefully we'll see you next week. Johanna (Connie).
Journey of Natty Gann (Disney 1985) and the same location in the Crowsnest Pass 2014. We're visiting the Pass over the new year, as we often do, and this time we'll be staying at a house that appears (briefly) in the film. How cool, eh? Chris has decided it's time on this visit to reshoot this and other Natty Gann comparison shots we did from ten years ago. Stay tuned!
This scene was shot in historic downtown Coleman and shows the former Holyk's Grocery. It was built in the early 1900s and the store closed in the '60s. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
From 2015. Rob Pohl and his strange old-style view camera joined us in documenting the Laing House (with permission). Head down to the comments to see an amazing coincidence with something I found inside.
From the Crossley slides, it's an undated view of Towers School, out near Cluny Alberta. It was originally called Swastika School but that's before the word and symbol were ruined by negative connotations. Built 1922. Gone? _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
The same alley in downtown Calgary's west end, in the 1970s & today. You have to look hard to see the connection! The area was quite run down back then and is in stark contrast to all the shiny condo towers seen present day. Calgary Place West, an apartment block, appears in both images although it's barely a sliver in ours. Check the comments for more info.
Photo credit: James Tworow collection. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Lost highways (2022): a section of old #93 in Southeastern BC. That BIGDoer-mobile is gone now but quite famous and had a following of its own. Old mine roads, cow paths, 4x4ing across fields - no problem and people would recognize us out in remote areas just by this car. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Must work at the library, I’ve seen the same box there last winter. Know these cars well, family business had a bunch as courtesy cars.
Interesting. We’ve heard from others who have spotted the car there too. Had a friend who owned the Chevy version, and drove it once. Not a comfy car for someone tall as I. Thanks for commenting!
I see a Great Beater Challenge entrant.
Yup, 2021 is not far away!
We used to drive those as pizza delivery cars when I grew up in Brandon, Manitoba. That was back when the stores bought the cars. I shudder now when I think about how we could get them wound all the up to 85 miles an hour. Not that we were ever hard on the cars, mind you.
Such cool memories! Most company cars (and rentals) get a lot of abuse.
It may be only a humble hatchback (sold in the UK too, the Vauxhall Chevette) and this is a rare survivor, but every dog has its day. The Chevette was a successful competition car driven by e.g. Jimmy McRae (5 times UK Rally Champion, father of Colin McRae) and “Flying Finn” Pentti Airikkala. The link is to a photo of Airikkala doing what he does best … in a 1978 Chevette
Amazing stuff! Thanks for sharing. We always love an underdog and anyone brave enough to do it in Chevette gets our respect. The Vauxhall hatchback version is not all that different looking from the ones over here.
Shocking that it has lasted this long. The hitch reminds me of the joke about the guy who walks in to a parts store and says “Can I get a hitch for my Acadian?”. The parts guy says “Sounds like a fair trade, park it around back”. My Grandparents here in Ontario had one of the original Acadians. It was the only one I ever saw.
If there ever was a throw-away ride, this is it. Yet here it is, over forty and counting. And it’s not even in that bad of shape. The 60s Acadian was a different breed altogether, even if it too was often optioned as a budget car. We’ve seen one hotrodded and it was zoomy.