As we have seen in Paul’s Chevette article, the little Chevrolet was a version of the global T-car. I won’t repeat the details of that here but Canada, always the badge engineering leader, also got a Pontiac version right from 1976. The Acadian name had previous been its own marque in the 60s peddling re-badged Chevy IIs and Chevelles but now returned as a model name. The early ones look very much like a re-badged Chevette. The Chevrolet grill even remains the same with only really badges as differences. Heck the hubcaps are identical with a Pontiac logo tossed on for good measure. One certainly couldn’t tell an Acadian from a Chevette at any real distance. The grill makes this one a 1976-1978 example so it could be powered by either the 1.4L or 1.6L engine. There was even a stripped out Scooter version of the Acadian. These where sold in Canada so Pontiac dealers would have a small car to sell as often in small towns there would be either a Chevrolet or Pontiac dealer but not both.
The early ones included this Maple Leaf on the fender to perhaps appeal to patriotic buyers.
The rear and tail lights are pure Chevette and only differing by badges.
The Acadian followed along with the Chevette facelift for 1979.
Once the United States got their Pontiac branded Chevette, the oddly named T-1000, a few visual differences began to emerge. The T-1000 had a unique grill, tail lights, as well as a hint of body cladding. Also added was blacked out trim around the headlights and different wheel trim. The Acadian name was retained for Canada but all these T-1000 differences were incorporated so one could now tell apart a Chevette from an Acadian from at least more than a few paces away. Acadians continued to sold right through 1987 and received all the same updates as their T-1000 cousin.
This one is missing its Pontiac arrow badge on the grill but it is an Acadian Scooter model from 1986.
As a teen on a bike, I often cruised the local GM dealers, one Chevrolet and one Pontiac. On more than one occasion , I saw both Pontiac and Chevy emblems on these cars. Nobody seemed to care, either.
I’ve always thought that front spoiler added a lot to the looks of these cars. The local phone company had a ton of white Chevettes, and they all had the spoiler.
I’ve always been interested in the Canadian variations of USA cars. I think it’s especially funny that Pontiac continued the Parisienne in Canada for 1982 when the B-body Catalinas and Bonnevilles were cancelled in the US. Only to have the Parisienne imported for 1983-86. Pontiac should have continued the B-body, who knows, they may have lasted to 1990 like the Caprice.
The Parisiennes seems to have survived well. Much better survival rate the Caprices of the same era. I figure people felt they were more special and took better care of them.
Yes please @David Saunders! More Canadamerican car stories. Also some of the other imports you were blessed with that were not allowed here in upper Mexico.
No worries! I’ve got lots more to go.
“More Canadamerican car stories”
I second that. VERY well done.
*slow clapping*
That 1979 Acadian (the one in the ad) looks great. I’m not a fan of compact cars at all (I completely understand the need for them in crowded cities in Japan and Europe, but even the most cramped American cities are huge in comparison, and the smallest car I’d ever consider, if fuel economy weren’t an issue, would be the late model Panthers), but if I were to get a compact car I would want something like this. Yes, I’m insane. Dangerous, unreliable, and almost completely gone from the used car market despite record breaking sales (which tells me a lot about their longevity). I don’t know why, but the only compact cars that interest me at all are the old ultra-simple models like the Chevette, Vega, Valiant, Falcon, Pinto, and various others.
1976 Acadian Scooter counterparts were initially called Acadian 1+1 [2 seater][ play on the old Pontiac 2+2 model from the 60s]