Story
The 1968 Beaumont SD 396 was General Motors of Canada's A-body muscle car, sold by Canadian Pontiac-Buick dealers but wearing Beaumont as its make. It shared its structure and Chevrolet big-block power with the Chevelle while using a split grille, narrow rear lamps, maple-leaf identification, LeMans-influenced instrument panel, and its own Sport Deluxe trim.
Two factory 396s
The SD 396 brochure makes the powertrain boundary clear. A chrome-dressed 325-horsepower 396 was standard. A 350-horsepower hydraulic-lifter 396 was optional, while the solid-lifter 375-horsepower L78 offered in the Chevelle was not listed for the Beaumont. The standard transmission was a heavy-duty, fully synchronized three-speed with a floor shifter and 11-inch clutch. Buyers could add a four-speed manual or three-speed Hydra-Matic automatic.
Heavy-duty springs and shocks, rear suspension frame braces, dual 2.5-inch exhausts, 14-by-6 wheels, and red- or white-stripe wide-oval tires were standard SD equipment. Self-adjusting drum brakes were standard. Power-assisted front discs, Positraction, power steering, and a temperature-controlled radiator fan were among the extra-cost choices.
Sport Deluxe, not Super Duty
SD meant Sport Deluxe. The coupe and convertible used simulated hood intakes, a side stripe terminating in SD 396 identification, Beaumont's split grille and maple-leaf emblem, and Beaumont-specific rear lamps. A split-bench all-vinyl front seat was standard; Strato buckets and a console were optional. A tachometer, instrument gauges, tilt steering, light monitoring, air conditioning, vinyl roof, and other comfort options could be ordered, so buckets, a console, or a tachometer should never be treated as universal equipment.
Authenticate the whole car
The durable identity starts with a 73837 Sport Coupe or 73867 convertible body-series record and a GM of Canada Vintage Vehicle Services report. The dash VIN, passenger-side cowl tag, original dealer paperwork, engine and transmission stamps, rear-axle evidence, paint and trim codes, and protected body details should agree. Beaumont trim can be installed on a Chevelle, and a 396 or SD stripe can be added later. The emblems are useful inspection points, not provenance by themselves.
Published production references disagree. Hemmings reports 767 SD 396s, including 65 convertibles, which implies 702 coupes. Other marque sources report 66 convertibles, 680 total cars, or use 702 as an overall count. Those figures remain in their original scopes until GM Canada records reconcile the discrepancy.