Here we have another one of those funky Canadian cars that was not sold in the U.S. It may look familiar, but several trim differences should become apparent with scrutiny. Under the skin, our Pick of the Day would be identical to a Chevrolet Nova SS, but it’s much rarer. This 1969 Acadian SS is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
It’s always worth reminding Yanks why Canada had its own special models—something that was common among the Big Three automakers at the time. Though these days Canada appears on par with the U.S., the Great White North featured stark differences in population and median income, which was reflected in the Canadian automobile market. Due to economies of scale, General Motors Canada built both Chevrolets and Pontiacs that were Chevrolets underneath.
Canadian dealerships often featured several brands out of necessity in order to cater to a smaller population. What if there was no Chevrolet dealership for miles (kilometers didn’t become a thing in Canada until 1977)? The solution was for Pontiac to produce a badge-engineered model.
But why all this complication? Tariffs! They protected the Canadian automotive market, but thanks to the Auto Pact trade agreement that was signed in 1965 to help stem the Canadian trade deficit, the need to offer distinction was diminished, especially starting in 1970. (That being said, the Canadian industry often had unique models not available in the U.S., even in more recent years.)
With the introduction of the Chevy II in 1962, Canadian Pontiac dealerships would receive the Acadian—not a model, but a separate brand that looked like a Chevy II but featured Pontiac design elements like the split grille. When the Nova was redesigned for 1968, the Acadian appeared to be even more badge-engineered than before, including the elimination of anything that resembled Pontiac styling or motifs. New was the Super Sport, which had evolved from a sporty trim package to a performance package. After 1971, the Acadian was discontinued, replaced by the Ventura II that had been introduced in the U.S. in 1971.
This LeMans Blue 1969 Acadian SS sports the Astro-Flash 350 V8, which was rated at 300 horsepower. As in the Nova SS, standard was a floor-shifted HD three-speed manual, with a four-speed, Powerglide, or Hydra-Matic 350 as options. Other standard equipment with the Super Sport Package included simulated air intakes on the hood, black rear-end panel and upper and lower periphery moldings, simulated louvers and special 350 V8 emblems on the front fenders, an SS nameplate on the grille, an SS steering wheel hub emblem, special front and rear suspension, power front disc brakes, 17×7-inch wheels with red-stripe tires, and underhood insulation. The seller has included nothing in the description, but I spy bucket seats, a gauge package that was available with a center console, a vinyl top, and a remote mirror. Vintage Vehicle Services documentation gives us more information, which covers the rear window defogger, Positraction, power steering, trim rings, AM radio, and auxiliary speaker and lighting.
Overall, this is a nicely equipped Nova (don’t you dare call it a Nova!). If you’re a Chevy guy who pines for something different—often difficult in the Bow Tie world—then here’s a car for you, served on a silver platter; if you’re Canadian and enjoy the quirkiness of home-market cars, then here’s a car for you – also served on a silver platter. To anyone else, this is a pretty rare find as only 1,091 V8 Acadian Coupes were built in 1969, and there’s no saying how many of those had the SS package. For this honor, it will cost you $65,995 (USD).
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
