Spotlight
This area of our site is an area where we spot light cars, products, and anything else we think may be interesting. Therefore, for our first feature it is only fitting to feature one of the cars that has paved the path leading up to the formation of Hitman Hotrods.
Our first feature car is that of one of the owner's - Scott Forbes. The article is taken from a magazine feature that was done on the car in Canadian Hot Rods & Classics.
Story and photos - Terry Denomme
Imagine wanting a car so bad, you try to buy it when you're only 12 years old. If you can imagine that, then you can relate to Scott Forbes of Cambridge, ON. A friend of his father's raced a 1966 Acadian Super Stocker and the Ottawa-born Forbes remembered the car being retired to a trailer and lying dormany for many years. "I tired to buy that car so many times," he says.
He never did get that car, but in 1995 Forbes finally found a 1966 Acadian Canso Sport Deluxe to call his own.
"It was a rough driver," he says. "When I went to look at it, the guy was still washing it." Forbes knew it was a seller's trick - a wet paint job always looks better, but it didn't deter him. "I was going to buy it one way or another anyway." Forbes brought it home, straightened some poor fitting panels and replaced three of four wheel cylinders and not too long after he bought it, the 350ci (sporting an economical two-barrel carb) packed it in. As Forbes had some 1/4 mile action planned for his Acadian, he built a 355ci with what he says were essentially used parts and took it out to Luskville Dragway in Luskville, Quebec.
"We figured it would be a 14-second car," says Forbes. The Acadian suprised him with a 12-second run - which meant it was entering roll cage territory. "We were amazed," he said. The little Acadian, however, had another suprise for its new owner. Putting a cage in the car wouldn't have been much of a problem, if excessive rust hadn't eroded or compromised most of the roll cage attachment areas.
This realization triggered a five year restoration that was completed in 2004 and resulted in the super clean - and fast Acadian featured on these pages.
Once Forbes was done with the car the only sheetmetal remaining was the roof skin and the centre part of t he firewall. A 4" Harwood cowl hood and Harwood trick lid replaced stock units, the wheel wells were stretched 3" and 2" mini tubs were added.
The rear of the car is beefed up with S&W rear frame rails and a dropped crossmember with the frame connected through the floor. Forbes, through his fabrication shop Hitman Hotrods in Cambridge, ON, custom built both the front and rear suspension. The front features Hitman Hotrods tubular A-arms that are 1" shorter than stock to accommodate the car's lowered stance. Aldan coil overs take some of the stong out of rough roads. Out back, a 9" Ford, stuffed with a Strange 35 spline HY Tuff axles is hung off a pair of Calvery racing split mono leaf springs with Hitman Hotrods built traction bars while roller bearing sliders replaced the rear shackles. The suspension rolls on the American Racing Torque Thrust wheels, 15x4.5 up front and 15x8.5 out back. Tires are 165/15 Coopers up front and 28x12.5 M/T ET Street slicks.
While the car's stance screams "Don't mess with me" the car's powerplant gives the Acadian the muscle to back up its attitude.
The 383ci puts out 570 hp thanks to Brodix heads, Scat crank, 11:1 flat top psitons, Comp Cams solid roller cam with a Brodix intake topped by a 750 Dominator carb. Hooker Super Comp FEnderwell headers with 3" Flowmaster exhaust. The whole works are ceramic coated. A Be Cool radiator keeps the engine cool and Powerglide tranny with a manual valve body, 3,500 stall TCI Street Fighter converter transfers all the 383's power through a Chrome moly drive shaft to the 9" out back. A four-wheel disc brake setup, including stock front rotors/spindles up front and Hitman Hotrod's 4-piston caliper package, make sure the car comes to a quick halt, either while driving on the street or on the track.
While the car is clearly a purpose built race car - it ran a 10:30 @127 mph on just its second weekend at the track - Forbes wanted it to maintain some of its stock character.
In the cockpit, save for the roll cage, Kirky racing seat, Leaf 5-point harness, and Autometer gauges to monitor revs, oil pressure and water temp, the interior is stock.
The car's Dupont Base/Clear paint colour is based on the stock paint code W Chateau Slate Metallic.
Good friend Rob Ladstaetter of Kemptville, ON did the paint and as you can see, we all wish we had friends like Rob. Scott also thanks his wife, Kim, for putting up with his gearhead obsessions. All the work and support paid off when the car debuted in 2004 and quickly garnered awards, including Best Pro Street and Top 10 at the Performance World Custom Car Show and best '66 - '67 at a 2004 Super Chevy Snow.
This is one killer Acadian.
Original Article
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