Putting hidden gem in spotlight

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This article was published 27/08/2021 (1890 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RM of WHITEHEAD — Even though his 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix is a recent acquisition, Bobby Bessant told the Sun that the luxury car already has a special place in his heart.

When the 38-year-old and his partner Kelly Lisitza first laid their eyes on this car in the spring, they were instantly drawn to its bold design, since it sports one of the longest hoods of any Pontiac vehicle in history.

“It was in a great condition when we bought it,” Bessant said on Tuesday from his home in the Rural Municipality of Whitehead. “The price was right … the paint job on it is 20 years old and it’s never seen a day outside in the last 20 years.”

In the months following that purchase, Bessant and Lisitza have managed to cover a lot of ground in the Grand Prix, using the vehicle to attend local car shows, complete everyday errands and take the family out for rides in the country.

“It drives perfect, immaculate,” Bessant said. “It’s got a 400 under the hood, with a 400 race transmission in it. So it’s not a light racer, but I can definitely move on the highway.”

However, Bessant’s favourite aspect of the 1969 Grand Prix is its rarity, with Pontiac only manufacturing roughly 112,000 units in total.

While this means the model isn’t as well known as classic Pontiac muscle cars such as the GTO or the Firebird, the Grand Prix still manages to elicit a strong response from fellow gear heads whenever Bessant and Lisitza bring it out in public.

“It’s a great conversation piece,” Bessant said.

Of course, Bessant admits that he has always been partial to these kinds of vehicles, even before he moved from Windsor, Ont., to Westman around 15 years ago.

“I grew up with the old ’80s Mustangs and the Monte Carlos and stuff like that,” he said. “I always liked boxed cars. I even owned a big, pink Cadillac DeVille back in the day when I first got here.”

Right now, Bessant and Lisitza want to keep that passion alive by conducting some restorative work this coming winter, which includes correcting slight imperfections on the Grand Prix’s body and interior.

While Bessant feels some responsibility to keep the car running for the sake of automotive history, he admits that the process is also very personal.

“It’s definitely a priority for me, to make sure that we keep the car in pristine shape,” he said. “One day my kid will be driving it down the road … so I want to keep it going as much as I can.”

Luckily, Bessant isn’t worried about encountering any major trouble with this restoration, since the Westman car community has provided him with tremendous support throughout past automotive projects.

This includes Brandon gear heads like Lindsay Rystephanuk, who has served as a mentor and guiding hand to Bessant as he has adjusted to life in Westman.

“I really appreciate the community aspect of things and the friends I’ve made along the way,” said Bessant, who is also a member of the Road Rebels car club.

“I’m definitely the person that keeps his ears open and respects the knowledge that’s passed down to me.”

But more than anything, Bessant appreciates the fact that he gets to share this Grand Prix with his partner, Lisitza, since her passion for rare luxury cars equals his own.

“I found someone who had just as much interest in the car scene as I do,” he said. “So we’ve been enjoying that and being part of the Road Rebels.”

General Motors manufactured the Pontiac Grand Prix between 1962 and 2008. The model’s second generation ran from 1969 to 1972.

» kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

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