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.
Beer Parlour Project Friday🍺: The Thorsby Hotel, built in 1929 & a photo by the manager's 7 years old daughter. More below 👇
Agreema politely asked if she could shoot a few photos & we obliged. A dark environment like this is very unforgiving & the camera she used quite temperamental, so she did an amazing job. We're out of work as photographers! Great food at this place, BTW!
Beer Parlour Project Friday🍺: The Tofield Hotel, built in 1912 & patron Lana, shot on Rob's vintage view camera. More below 👇
She's a sweetie & met her late husband at the hotel. The building from the alley side hasn't changed much since being built but the front brickwork is now covered by siding.
Crossley slides (unrestored), an unnamed fellow snacking on Sun-Maid Raisins - mountains of BC - 1950s. More below 👇
The distinctive red box is instantly recognizable! The location is listed as the Whitewater Valley & we think it's in the Sandon area close to Retallack. Perhaps some of our friends out that way can confirm. Sandon B.C., would Hal know? Crossley frequented Sandon so the location makes sense. Note the (mine?) road cutting across the slope in back. The slide is dated 1955 in the catalogue but 1956 on the frame.
Shout out to: Jason Sailer. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
An old section of Highway #6 (BC) in the 1970s & 2021 - it's the second most shared post in our entire history! More below 👇
The original photo shows the road about the time it was decommissioned. This was always a troublesome section & so it got replaced by a new route further up the hill. While it hasn’t seen a car in eons, it remains overall in reasonable shape, save for some rockfall in places like this. These came down about ten years ago.
Happy Holidays from Off the Beaten Path w' Chris & Connie. Thanks for your continued support & encouragement. More 👇
🎄 🎄 🎄
CPKC's Holiday Train from a few nights ago. Rather than fight the crowds to see it, we wanted something a little more intimate. A bit of hike, but we brought mulled wine to help us keep warm while waiting. It's not a great shot & originally we had no intent to share it here, but what the heck.
Trainspotting is like fishing. It's not about the catch but rather getting out. If a train comes by, great, but if not, we had each other & a chance to get away from the day's problems. That's a BIG win in our books...even if we did freeze our bottoms off. _______
Out exploring 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.