Rod Barker,
London, Ontario
1969 Beaumont
Convertible
BEAU TIE......What's in a name?
My first new car was a 1969 SS 396
Chevelle coupe in Monaco orange. That car is long gone, but my memories
of it remain crisp. I had long thought it would be fun to revisit the
thrill, but I had harbored a hankering for a convertible. The solution
was obvious and the quest was on. I had traveled from London, Ontario
as far west as Gurnee, Illinois, and east to Portland, Maine. In both
cases, I returned empty handed and disappointed. One day a friend, who
was aware of my search, called and told me that a 1969 Chevelle
convertible was for sale just on the edge of town. What luck!
The preliminary
examination went well except that, while it was a '69, and a
convertible, and for sale, it was not a Chevelle but a Beaumont, a
marquee quite familiar to Canucks. My friend Ron accompanied me on the
second visit, donned his brown coveralls, and did most of the hard work
under the car. After a test drive and some dickering, a price was agree
upon and the car was delivered to my driveway.
My "new" convertible was a 307
Glide in a shade of green unique to Beaumont (I believe it is called
Midnight Green and is basically green with some black mixed in). She is
the Custom model meaning that it is the sport bucket seat interior with
floor shift automatic and console. The vehicle was in very good
condition throughout. It is appraised as a survivor car with one
repaint. I have been able to trace the history of the car back through
four owners, and I believe this assessment to be correct. Despite the
white top and parchment interior, her paint is beginning to show its
age, and the color can appear a bit dismal in all but the most favorable
light. The pure survivor status is in jeopardy.
I have exchanged the convertible top
for a new one in the same color, but bigger changes are in the works for
Beau Tie. She is scheduled for a repaint in the spring, probably
a bright blue metallic, though not necessarily Le Mans blue. She will
also be sporting a new GM performance crate engine, possibly an upgraded
automatic transmission and appropriate posi third member. The engine, I
have. The rest is still "out there."
Beau Tie has been to NCG Niagara
in 2004 and 2006. Some of the faithful may recall her, well
camouflaged, squatting modestly along the grassy strip in front of the
Holiday Inn. Hopefully, she will return in 2007 in a shiny new coat and
with a very perky attitude. We'll be looking for you.
Rod Barker
