spkgibson Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 I used the 69 Nova SS kit for the Start of this build, All of the emblems and rocker trim are from the Model Car Garage Detail set, The Seats have been converted back to 1968 spects, All that was needed to do was to remove the head rests and fill in the holes, And rescribe the patterns at the top, The taillight panel is scratch built, The engine I used was the SS 350, With the AMT 72 Valve Covers, And Air Cleaner, The wheels are from a MPC 69 Impala, I think, I found those in the junk box out to Dean's Hobby Stop. Well have a look, I recently painted the wiper blades black,After the photos were taking, So I'm about 99% done with it. 3
spkgibson Posted June 20, 2011 Author Posted June 20, 2011 That was the only problem, I tryed finding one close to the correct one, so I ended up just using the 69 Style, I know it's wrong for the one year only 68 Dash, The next one I build,As a 68 I'll figure out the best way to convert the 69 into a 68, I have great reference photos of the dash, But I was a little worried about messing up the dash in this one, The chrome in this kit was bad, So thats what gave me the idea to make the Acadian out of it, By the way if you have any Ideas on how to make the 68 Dash, Feel free to share them with me, Also, The Nova detail sets from MCG Work great on these kit's, Only part that you can't use is the rear taillight trim part , That part is to narrow. That steering wheel is out of a 69 Barracuda, I matched the shape perfect, They also had the same steering wheel as the 68 Nova as another option. Those can be found in the MPC 69 Camaros and the AMT/MPC 69 Firebirds. That is the only flaw, I'm not happy with, The dash.
charlie8575 Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 Cool conversion, Steve. Just tell them the car was late production and used a '69 dash! Charlie Larkin
Nick Winter Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 (edited) Very slick Steve, the only thing I don't like is the Title, "Canada's Nova" it really wasn't, we had both, but that's my only nit pick, the build looks great, I eventually should start my '66 Acadian Canso SD Nick Edited June 20, 2011 by Nick Winter
Nick Winter Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 it is Canada's Nova, because it was different than the Nova from the United States. just like the Beaumont is Canada's Chevelle, it was unique to the Canadian market. Dave I was trying to say that it wasn't our only Nova, I just chose the wrong wording. Nick
TheCat Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 (edited) Steve - VERY VERY COOL!!! Great job on this build. I love seeing those rare cars that don't really make it to the main stream. Again, Great job on this one!! Edited June 20, 2011 by TheCat
Nick Winter Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 Looks really sharp Steve. What Nick is trying to say is a Canadian Nova IS a Nova. We always had the same line of Chevys as the U.S. did. If anything it would have been Canada's Ventura II ,, IF they had them before '70. So, basically we had them "in addition to" ,, not "instead of". Also, Beaumont was not "Canada's Chevelle". I assure you we had Chevelles just like in the U.S. Two plants cranking them out as fast as they could make them in the '60's. Beaumont's took the place of Pontiac's Tempest/LeMans line because we didn't have any plants making those and after duty, tarifs. taxes etc. the car would have been too expensive for GM Canada sell profitably. Exactly what I was trying to say, the Acadian and the Beaumont both were dropped after the AutoPact of 1969, which eliminated the tarrifs and duties. Nick
spkgibson Posted June 21, 2011 Author Posted June 21, 2011 (edited) Exactly what I was trying to say, the Acadian and the Beaumont both were dropped after the AutoPact of 1969, which eliminated the tarrifs and duties. Nick The Beaumont was dropped after the 1969 model year, And the Acadian was dropped midyear in 1971 when Canada got the Ventura II, Also, According to my references ,And what I have reserched online about the 68-71 Acadians they were built here in the United States also.But were not sold here,Only to the Canadian Market,Though I have seen alot of them in car shows in the Detroit area. Along with a few Beaumonts. So in 1971 Canada had the Acadian,Nova and Ventura II ,Mid year,the Acadian was dropped the Ventura II took it's place , The 71 Acadian is an extreemly rare car, According to my research. And neither one was called a Pontiac anywhere on the cars, They were both sold through Pontiac dealerships , But not one Pontiac nameplate on neither car,Only the fullsized Pontiacs had Pontiac emblems,And were almost the same as the US models ,But had different model names,And Chevy engines ,And their own unique interior patterns,Similar to the fullsize Chevys.By my own personal opinion, I think the 68-69 Beaumont ,And the 68-69 Acadians looked better then the Chevelles and Novas of those years, In SS and SD trim, they looked great, I love both the US and Canadian versions of both of the series of cars. I can't wait to see how you make that 66 Acadian Canso, I plan on making a series of both the 68-71 Acadians and the 68-72 Novas out of that new C.O.P.O kit. Edited June 21, 2011 by spkgibson
Chuck Most Posted June 21, 2011 Posted June 21, 2011 Great job on the conversion,Steve! Seems the rebadged Chevy to Pontiac thing was going on into the early '90's. Witness the Tempest (Chevy Corsica), this one being an '89 model...
spkgibson Posted June 21, 2011 Author Posted June 21, 2011 Great job on the conversion,Steve! Seems the rebadged Chevy to Pontiac thing was going on into the early '90's. Witness the Tempest (Chevy Corsica), this one being an '89 model... Thats to funny,I almost mentioned that car in my last post.
Chuck Most Posted June 21, 2011 Posted June 21, 2011 I knew a guy who had one, metric speedometer and all!
kelson Posted June 21, 2011 Posted June 21, 2011 I gotta admit i really enjoy people who think outta the box and build mainstreamers like this,great job all around!.
exnyman Posted June 22, 2011 Posted June 22, 2011 Looks great! Love the comversion work and the color! I agree with you on the dash, I did a conversion to replicate my 1:1 68 Nova SS, but left the dash alone...even with the actual car sitting in the garage, as a reference, I still don't know that I can get the dash right, my scratchbuilding skills aren't that advanced. I did have to fabricate front and rear bumper guards though,as my car has them. I used the chrome headers from the AMT 70 Impala kit, cut them and filed the back to fit.
spkgibson Posted June 23, 2011 Author Posted June 23, 2011 (edited) I took some pictures of the car outside today, I also added a set of old MPC tires to it. Enjoy. Edited June 23, 2011 by spkgibson
spkgibson Posted June 23, 2011 Author Posted June 23, 2011 Afew More, I also had to reposition the "Acadian Emblems on the rear quarters , I had those to far back, They need to be centered over the markerlights.
spkgibson Posted June 27, 2011 Author Posted June 27, 2011 Here is the chassis shot, And a better photo of the engine compartment, And also the interior showing the 68 Style seats.
davyou5 Posted June 28, 2011 Posted June 28, 2011 That is one Awesome Nova! :lol: No words could even describe that!! B) B) .
spkgibson Posted June 28, 2011 Author Posted June 28, 2011 That is one Awesome Nova! :wub: No words could even describe that!! B) B) . I tried, I guess all the hours of research made it possible. I'm glad everyone likes it. That grill was a pain to get to look right, As was the taillight panel. The Acadian Medalian in the grill had to be filed both top and bottom to get to line up with the chrome bars in the grill. One little mishap and the entire car would have been ruined.I As you can see that part is tiny, I was also afraid of the carpet eating it, I'm pleased with all the positive comments and the results of the car. I have another project in mind out of one of these Nova kits, But I have a few ideas about how the easiest way of doing it.
spkgibson Posted June 29, 2011 Author Posted June 29, 2011 Nice, Eh?! Good one. And, I'm glad you like the car.
Falcon Ranchero Posted February 4 Posted February 4 That is very cool; love to see model conversions of our native cars 👍
lordairgtar Posted February 6 Posted February 6 On 2/4/2025 at 4:53 PM, Falcon Ranchero said: That is very cool; love to see model conversions of our native cars 👍 I do too. But I am an American living in Wisconsin (sorta Canada Lite) But I do have a thing for Canadian cars. So unique. 1
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