From Factory Original to Pro Street
2026 Jul 28th
Models like Dale’s 1966 Acadian Canso Sport Deluxe don’t come around often. Of the badge-engineered Chevy II two-door hardtops, only a few hundred six-cylinder models were produced, along with just over 500 V8s, making this Canadian-built classic a seldom seen sight on the road today.
Dale's 1966 Acadian Canso Sport Deluxe
Photos by Carson Montague
First introduced in 1962 by General Motors of Canada, the Acadian Canso was our country's version of the Chevy II, built using Canadian-sourced parts and named in tribute to the Maritimes. Dale’s restoration pays tribute to a rare classic.
When Dale purchased the car in 1980, it was completely factory original. After a few years of driving it in its original condition, he decided it was time for something more. What followed was a full teardown and a ground-up rebuild, transforming the car into a pro-street machine. Aside from a handful of specialized jobs left to trusted pros, Dale handled the restoration himself.
Under the hood sits a 1966 427-cubic-inch engine pushing an estimated 700 horsepower. Nearly all of the engine components came from Lordco Auto Parts, where Dale has been sourcing parts for more than 30 years.
"From Lordco, I got all the extremely high-performance rotating assembly components, crank rods and pistons, as well as aluminium cylinder heads, solid billet roller camshaft, Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake manifold, and a 950 CFM Holley HP race carburetor," said Dale. "I found Lordco had a better selection of all the styles and types of parts that I use at home on my different car collection." A few of Dale's go-to brands are Quick Fuel, Edelbrock, Moroso, and Raybestos.
The Turbo 400 transmission was rebuilt using aftermarket parts, featuring a 3500 RPM stall torque converter, a 9-inch Ford rear end narrowed to 4.56:1 gears, and equipped with 35-spline axles.
The body saw the most extensive work, stripped down to bare metal and rebuilt with new GM fenders before being finished in Sikkens Special Effects Light Metallic Silver. Paired with a custom interior, the result is a car that’s been turning heads since its completion in 1991.
"It's very loud and aggressive sounding. It gets people's attention," explains Dale. For him, the real payoff is knowing that he transformed the factory-original to a level that makes him proud, “When you see it, you will understand.”
Subscribe to our 2026 Calendar and receive a notification when new vehicle stories are released.