Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1967 Acadian Canso Sport Deluxe coupe. 

When I was browsing the AutoHunter listings to pick a car to write about this week, I saw a listing for one that I had never heard of. To say this is unusual for me to find a car I never knew existed is a pretty rare occurrence, so I decided to learn something about the Acadian Canso by writing about it.

The Acadian Canso Sport Deluxe is a Canadian market Chevy Nova. These cars are quite rare with a total of only 370 total produced. The reason for the name change was due to customs duties; Canada’s Pontiac and Buick dealers were not able to get the new U.S.-built Tempests and Specials. Hence the Acadian, a car named after Canada’s settlers and built on the Canadian-made Chevy II platform. While this might have seemed like a good idea at the time by GM executives, creating a new brand exclusively for the Canadian market was like building one for Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and as result the car did not last long as a brand. 

The seller describes this car as a 1967 Acadian Canso Sport Deluxe Canadian-built coupe that has been upgraded with a 383cid stroker V8 backed by a BorgWarner four-speed manual transmission. It features power steering and brakes, Edelbrock heads, Flowtech headers, a McLeod Racing clutch, MSD ignition, and an aluminum radiator. Finished in red over a black and white vinyl interior, this Canso is now offered with build documentation and British Columbia, Canada, registration in the seller’s name. The car is said to be rust free rides on Cragar five-spoke 15-inch chrome wheels.

The interior is fitted with black vinyl buckets with white accents up front, a bench rear seat, and matching trim for the door panels, padded dash, and carpeting. The car has a heater, rubber floor mats, a radio, supplementary gauges for coolant temperature, voltage, and oil pressure.

The 383cid stroker V8 under the hood has been upgraded with MSD ignition, an aluminum radiator, dish pistons, a performance camshaft, Edelbrock heads, and Flowtech headers. The seller estimates that this gives the engine over 320 horsepower. Recent maintenance includes an oil change and the replacement of the water pump gaskets.

Power is sent to the back wheels via a floor-shifted BorgWarner Power Brute Super T-10 four-speed manual transmission and a 3.73:1 rear built by I.W.E. Rear Ends Only, and the clutch is a McLeod Racing 11-inch hydraulic unit.

The undercarriage of the car also looks to be in excellent condition and features a Classic Performance Products mini subframe kit with tubular upper and lower control arms.

If you are looking for one of the most rare muscle cars I have ever heard of, and are willing to think outside the box a little, this 1967 Acadian Canso Sport Deluxe might be just the ticket. You are practically guaranteed to have the only one at any car show you attend, but you should be willing to answer a lot of questions as this car stumped me and I have been playing with collector cars for a long time.

The auction for this custom 1967 Acadian Canso Sport Deluxe coupe ends on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery