Shot and posted by Owen Smith
Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: Pontiac Acadian – “We Build Excitement”
– Posted on June 30, 2021
Shot and posted by Owen Smith
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Paul, I hate to nitpick spelling or grammar on this site, but you misspelled “excrement” in the title.
Starred, flagged, RTd, bookmarked, followed etc.
LO-frickin’-L!!!
Still, a better car than the W202 in front of it I think
Blasphemer.
Shots fired, but from a cost of maintenance perspective, probably true.
“I’m so excited. (Not really)
I just can’t hide it. (No room behind the bushes)
I’m about to lose control (because of skinny tires and RWD)
and I think I like it.”(Not really)
—-with apologies to the Pointer Sisters—-
–Bonus Verse—
“We shouldn’t even think about tomorrow (might die in a fender bender or fire)
Sweet memories will last a long long time (like this car somehow has)
We’ll have a good time, baby, don’t you worry.
(If we can ever merge onto the highway)
And if we’re still playing around, that’s just fine” (while we wait for the radiator to cool)
—-more apologizing to the Pointer Sisters. Should probably send them a card or something-
Powerful, stylish, with a killer color! What’s not to like?
I like the parking brake located behind the rear tire.
The chrome roof rack puts it over the top!
I learned to drive on this model of car in Montreal. The driving school had ten of these for its students. I also used the same vehicle to pass my license test after the 2nd attempt — the first time it was late Friday afternoon, the examiner failed me not stopping properly at the stop sign. One of tricks for this vehicle is by properly using of the rear window as reference, it can be relatively easy to do the parallel parking, i did twice without sweat in two tests. This was a simple vehicle, its Brazilian built Isuzu engine was very tough and reliable in tough winter in Quebec, so it was relatively popular for those could not afford Japanese cars but didn’t want to risk into Hyundai Pony.
Had to endure driver’s ed in 10th grade in the Chevette version of this pile of shit, with a painfully-slow automatic transmission. Thanks for reviving that particular nightmare.
I was going to say “Quelle merde” but Tygerleo gave us a reason for this vehicle’s success. of note, Tygerleo, I have driven my GMC Acadia sur le boulevard de l’Acadie en Montreal. I like La Belle Province very much and have been visiting there since 1963/
That low budget non-moveable quarter glass. ugh
Although by all accounts the opening rear windows in the Vauxhall Chevette, its British cousin, were quite thing in a carwash. The knack as a child was to lie across, arms on one window, feet on the other 😉
Where’s Zackman’s screaming when you need it?
Were the insides of these vinyl instead of metal like in my 87 Chevette? If they were metal inside, this car has been repainted or isVERY faded. That green inside is a lot darker.
Some consider today’s cheaper offerings to be penalty boxes. None of them qualify. This car is a penalty box. Even when it smelled new it was a penalty box.
le cafard ne mourra jamais
The colour of the exterior and interior of the car is perfect!
This was a better penalty box than a Datsun B-210, any late 1970s Renault/Fiat product, or mid-70s Subaru, or a Pinto.
This one looks like a 1979.
Tom, my Renault “LeCar” (R-5) served me well as my 1st new car purchase —
from 1982-1993.
It was the last car on which I could replace a sealed beam rectangular headlight myself — with a Pep Boys replacement for $15, and a Phillips-head screwdriver.
Wondering how different this Pontiac Acadian was, from the American version, the Pontiac “T-1000” ….
Its only real differences were badges. The early ones had a different grill too.
The stripper version had no back seat.
The Car and Driver test called it a “shit box”.
“We Built Excitement..” is what I actually read first, as in “used to build” – a sad, nostalgic sigh from the midst of the Malaise Era.
Some sad memories of un-happier times for GM.
I’m not trying to aimlessly criticise, but this bag of unreliable, rusty, cheap nuts and bolts is a practical demonstration of how far GM had lost its way in the 1970s. Basically, ‘Holy Moly, we don’t know how to build a small car!’
I remember the local Coca-Cola sales rep had one of these when I was an apprentice Mechanic. It was a Diesel. It was an experience to drive. You needed a calendar to plan any traffic maneuver…
Being ready with the chock every time you park is real excitement!
The T1000, which was meant for the U.S. only (introduced in 1981), DID in fact come to Canadian Pontiac dealerships that same year, even though we had the Canadian-unique Acadian since 1976. They were no different except badging, extra blackout trim around the windows and B-pillar, and optional spiffy side decals on just the T1000 3-door. Canada ALSO received the U.S.-badged T-1000, in 1981, until 1985. As well, the Pontiac Acadian and 1000 (the “T” was removed by 1983), shared the SAME BROCHURE! By the way, 1987 was the last year for the “T-car” in the U.S. and Canada. This example looks like a 1978-1982 “S” base model.
It’s a 1979, the only year they had square headlamps up front, but the older tail lamps with amber turn signals in the rear. For 1980, they switched to the (inferior) wraparound units that lasted to the end of production.
So much hate here .
I remember the Chevy Chevette as a slow but dead nuts reliable fleet car .
My sister bought a new red one in…1979? and loved it in new England of all places .
I wish I still had the photograph of her smiling out the driver’s side window .
Not every car has to be a race car .
Quite a few low income families were well served by these .
-Nate
Mixed feelings about the Pontiac Acadian. It was the second beater I owned, a 1978 that was 10 years old when it was gifted to me in 1988. Incredibly, it was a welcome improvement over the first, a 1973 Plymouth Valiant had given me 2 fairly reliable years of service with its Slant 6. However, it was rust rotted, rain would leave puddles on the floor, tended to stall at stoplights on rainy days, and the heater didn’t work. When I got the Acadian I was very grateful. Heat in the winter, a body that was solid, and good on gas. Noisy and slow on the highway, but good around town. A huge improvement over the TTC (Toronto public transit). Got 2 good years before the transmission died. Luckily, I had my first “real job” by then and replaced it with a brand new Honda Civic, which was light years ahead of the Acadian in an automotive sense.
My sister’s friend had a 78, beige with wood walls and plaid seats. She taught me how to inhale in it. I taught her how to swallow. Good times.
I, personally, would rather roll, in one of the vehicles my sister and, my brother-in-law, used to pilot: respectively, ’64 and, ’65 SuperSport convertibles.(yes, a pair.) Of course, nowhere, on either vehicle, was to be found the word, “Pontiac”;only, “Acadian” and, “Beaumont.” There was no missing, however, that arrowhead, in the middle of the split grille.