by Chris Cowland –
I parked the Prius in Uptown Mall recently. When I returned with my shopping, I was dismayed to see that practically every other car was a silver Prius. Which one was mine? On my fourth attempt, I remembered that the lights would flash if I pressed the door open button on the key. What a relief to be rescued in this sea of congruity!
Looking back, how many of you would play the game of “Name that car” when you were driving around with your parents? Cars then were so distinct, you could identify models a hundred yards away. “Special Edition” used to mean supercharged, oversized disk brakes, leather seats; nowadays it seems to mean “chrome-plated plastic wheel covers.”
We are lucky to live in a relatively mild climate where road salting is minimal, so UsedVictoria.com is full of well-preserved bargains. For under $5,000 you can own a distinctive piece of automotive history, which admittedly might break down from time to time, but usually a piece of bent wire will enable you to get home.
I remember one time driving into London in my 1948 MG for a party. The previous day, I had taken off the twin carbs to give them a cleaning, and as I was speeding down the M4 Motorway the power gradually petered off, and I pulled over. Perhaps I should mention that the party was a kind of fancy dress affair, known at the time as a “Vicars and Tarts” party. So there I was dressed as a clergyman, screwdriver in hand, with every other car tooting its horn as it whizzed by. The loose linkage was quickly tightened up, and off I went with my dog collar flapping in the wind, still feeling a little conspicuous.
One of my favourite cars is my 1950 Morris Minor tourer. I took it to the Fathers Day picnic in Beacon Hill, and was amazed to hear the stories from many passers-by about how they learned to drive in a similar vehicle, or how their grandmothers used to own one. Several car owners offered me tips and spare parts, and I collected a dozen cards and phone numbers. There’s a real camaraderie that evolves naturally when you share restoration stories.
On Sunday, August 13 the Torque Masters Car Club will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with an auto extravaganza along Beacon Avenue and the side streets of Sidney. We expect around 350 cars to attend, and you’ll have a chance to chat with the owners of some magnificently restored classic cars and enjoy a day out with the family. You’ll find the whole gamut of vehicles there, some from the 1920s, and a huge variety from each subsequent decade. Bring a camera, and sunglasses to shade you from the sun reflecting off acres of chrome. I took the Morris along a couple of years ago, and it looked like a kid’s toy beside the 1950s Cadillacs. It was a little embarrassing to stutter “29.5” when I was asked how many horsepower my 918cc motor pumped out, but even more when asked the zero to 60 acceleration time, and have to admit that the answer is “never.”
I love the cars of yesteryear: they may not be fast, but they are easy to find in a car park.
