If you’ve never been to Canada, or you don’t live in a border state, it’s easy to think that the Great White North is just like the U.S. However, you’d never confuse the McKenzie Brothers for being American, right? It’s the same with Canadian cars—it’s easy to assume Detroit catered to the country in the same manner as in the U.S., but there were some unique vehicles being sold among the 10 provinces plus the territories back in the ’60s and ’70s.
This 1969 Pontiac Parisienne 2+2 convertible is one of 639 built. However, this one is equipped with a 390-horsepower 427 and a four-speed, making it one of 12 among all Canadian Ponchos. This one is believed to be one of two.
The Canadian cars that were different were so due to tariffs, but a 1965 trade agreement (Canada-U.S. Automotive Products Agreement) led to the demise of some unique badge-engineered creations, while others persisted due to the way automobiles were marketed in a country with a distinct population and dealer network.
This 1965 Acadian Beaumont Sport Deluxe convertible is one of 336 built. Additionally, 23 Acadian Beaumonts were powered by the L79 327; it is believed eight were convertibles per Vintage Vehicle Services.
For the 2025 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, Cliff Guinand from Muscle Cars—Bone Stock & Modified magazine organized the Maple Leaf Muscle display to show the several unique vehicles from across the border, plus several more that may seem familiar but were imported into Canada when new.
This 1966 Beaumont Sport Deluxe is powered by a 396/360, the top engine for this vehicle.
The last year of the Dodge Dart Swinger 340 in America was 1970, but an Edmonton (and, later, Winnipeg) dealership special-ordered a batch of 340-powered Dart Specials for 1971-72. Only 30 were built in the latter year.The 1969 Pontiac Firebird Commanche was the brainchild of Grant Hamilton (a Pontiac dealership) and sold at three dealers in Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa. It was promoted as “an American GT with special American virtues.”Commanches were Expresso Brown with tan leather and off-white highlights, plus equipped with Marchal 653 foglamps, hood pins, chromed hood inserts, chrome-diecast Comanche emblems, front/rear Koni shocks, “special” suspension, Pirelli Cinturato radials, and more. This one is equipped with a 400 HO and a four-speed.Buick built 44 GSXs in 1972 (incredibly, 22 were distributed around Canada). Of those, 24 were powered by the Stage 1 engine, of which only two had a four-speed.Both this Midnight Green Ram Air IV 1969 GTO and Bamboo 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W30 were sold new in Canada.1966 Dodge Charger powered by a 426 Hemi.Tor Red 1971 Plymouth Road Runner powered by a 440-6.1970 Plymouth Hemi’Cuda.A 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury powered by a 426 Max Wedge.This 1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W30 convertible is one of 110 built, but what makes this one special is that it was special-ordered in 1970 Rally Red paint.Another 1971, this one painted Antique Jade metallic.Mr. Kite, a Hemi-powered 1966 Plymouth Satellite.1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28-RS.
