Monday 31 March 2014
Are modern cars too good?
The latest offerings from any automobile manufacturer are better in almost every way compared to those from even just a few years ago. They pollute dramatically less and at the same time produce more power while being more fuel efficient.
Automotive technology just keeps getting better and better. Or is it? I'm of two minds here... for the average driver who wants: heated seats, automatic bluetooth connection, adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, traction control, anti-lock brakes, GPS, 1,000 watt sound systems with iPod connection, power windows, keyless entry, lane stray warning, temperature controlled air conditioning, automatic windshield wipers, outside temperature readings, power seats with memory settings, power telescopic and tilt steering, automatic headlight dip, automatic parallel parking, auto dimming rearview mirrors, and so on. The answer is yes.
But, when it comes to actually driving an automobile for the sheer pleasure of it, most of those things get in the way. A light well-balanced car with good unassisted steering, a manual transmission including a clutch pedal and a willing, responsive engine is my choice for a rewarding motoring experience. Maybe it's a consequence of getting older, but the car I just described doesn't have to have 500 horsepower to be entertaining. You can actually drive such a car briskly nearing its maximum capabilities without endangering others on the road or attracting unwanted attention from the authorities.
What could be better than that?
Sunday 30 March 2014
1951 Anglia, my first car!
It was the late sixties, and I had a brand new driver's license burning a hole in my wallet. All I needed to take life to the next step was a car. Trouble was, my bank account had a hundred bucks in it. No matter, I was on the hunt.
My dad (who we always called Pop) worked at the CN Railway station. In fact, he really had only two jobs his whole life, a short stint at a newspaper in Winnipeg, then he joined the railway. There was a transfer to Edmonton for four years and on to Kelowna when I was five months old. But I digress, this is supposed to be about my FIRST car!
Mr. Fowles, a yard worker at the rail yard, would on occasion, drive to work in an old car he had. That car was a 1951 Ford Anglia. Although it was pretty rough, through my rose-coloured glasses I could see it was the same as the A/Gas dragsters that were very popular back then. I pestered Pop many times to approach Mr. Fowles to see if I could buy the car. Eventually he did, and Mr. Fowles agreed to sell me the car for $35.00. Coincidentally my brother Jim's FIRST car, a '37 Ford humpback, was also bought for $35.00 ten years earlier. But that's another story.
With transfer papers and cash in hand, I set out to the Fowles' home to buy the car! Then with the signed papers it was off to the Motor Vehicle office to register the car in MY name and buy a temporary operator's permit to get it home. Needless to say the route home was not exactly direct, I had to get some gas and then I had to get the feel behind the wheel. I quickly learned this was a tired old car, but it was MINE!
With the car at home, I went to work on it. A big bucket of bondo and several spray cans of hotrod primer I had the body looking pretty good. Next it was off to Happy Henry's Auto Wrecking yard for a pair of Volkswagen wheels. Turns out the 15" VW wheels have the same bolt pattern and were much wider than the Anglia's 16" wheels. I got a pair of used 900x15 tires mounted on them and with the wheels installed backwards on the back axle. I had a car that looked like the aforementioned Anglia gasser. It still had the little flathead four under the hood but I didn't care. I've always been more about the look than the go. With Pop as my cosigner, I was able to insure the car for $49.00. That's more than I paid for the car, but it was within my $100.00 budget and I was on the road!
My part-time job washing dishes at the hospital paid enough to keep gas and oil in the car, but there was little else left for the car. And it did use more than a bit of oil. There was always a little blue cloud following me whoever I went. In fact I remember every few days, putting in about four gallons of gas and a quart of Mohawk bulk oil. Gas was less than 40¢ a gallon and the oil 37¢ which added up to $2.00.
The battery had a dead cell, so would only hold enough juice to start the car for about thirty minutes. After that, it was either push it or crank it. Fortunately every English car of that era had a crank as standard equipment. I got pretty good at cranking and pushing. And whenever possible, I would park on the top of even the slightest hill. Just get it rolling, put it in second gear and pop the clutch.
I had many great times with that car, and it taught me a very valuable automotive lesson. If you treat a car properly, it'll do the same for you. Like many other car guys, I wish I still had that first car!
My dad (who we always called Pop) worked at the CN Railway station. In fact, he really had only two jobs his whole life, a short stint at a newspaper in Winnipeg, then he joined the railway. There was a transfer to Edmonton for four years and on to Kelowna when I was five months old. But I digress, this is supposed to be about my FIRST car!
Mr. Fowles, a yard worker at the rail yard, would on occasion, drive to work in an old car he had. That car was a 1951 Ford Anglia. Although it was pretty rough, through my rose-coloured glasses I could see it was the same as the A/Gas dragsters that were very popular back then. I pestered Pop many times to approach Mr. Fowles to see if I could buy the car. Eventually he did, and Mr. Fowles agreed to sell me the car for $35.00. Coincidentally my brother Jim's FIRST car, a '37 Ford humpback, was also bought for $35.00 ten years earlier. But that's another story.
With transfer papers and cash in hand, I set out to the Fowles' home to buy the car! Then with the signed papers it was off to the Motor Vehicle office to register the car in MY name and buy a temporary operator's permit to get it home. Needless to say the route home was not exactly direct, I had to get some gas and then I had to get the feel behind the wheel. I quickly learned this was a tired old car, but it was MINE!
With the car at home, I went to work on it. A big bucket of bondo and several spray cans of hotrod primer I had the body looking pretty good. Next it was off to Happy Henry's Auto Wrecking yard for a pair of Volkswagen wheels. Turns out the 15" VW wheels have the same bolt pattern and were much wider than the Anglia's 16" wheels. I got a pair of used 900x15 tires mounted on them and with the wheels installed backwards on the back axle. I had a car that looked like the aforementioned Anglia gasser. It still had the little flathead four under the hood but I didn't care. I've always been more about the look than the go. With Pop as my cosigner, I was able to insure the car for $49.00. That's more than I paid for the car, but it was within my $100.00 budget and I was on the road!
My part-time job washing dishes at the hospital paid enough to keep gas and oil in the car, but there was little else left for the car. And it did use more than a bit of oil. There was always a little blue cloud following me whoever I went. In fact I remember every few days, putting in about four gallons of gas and a quart of Mohawk bulk oil. Gas was less than 40¢ a gallon and the oil 37¢ which added up to $2.00.
The battery had a dead cell, so would only hold enough juice to start the car for about thirty minutes. After that, it was either push it or crank it. Fortunately every English car of that era had a crank as standard equipment. I got pretty good at cranking and pushing. And whenever possible, I would park on the top of even the slightest hill. Just get it rolling, put it in second gear and pop the clutch.
I had many great times with that car, and it taught me a very valuable automotive lesson. If you treat a car properly, it'll do the same for you. Like many other car guys, I wish I still had that first car!
 |
| Anglia's looked the same from the 30's to the early 50's |
Friday 28 March 2014
Your Automotive Identity • Part 3
This is the third and final instalment in the creation of your automotive identity. Let's call this the car the one you'd choose if you were suffering from a mid-life identity crisis. Remember, I'm giving you MY choices, it's up to you to choose your own. I'd be pleased to see your selections.
Now most men will immediately think about a powerful two-seat convertible, red in colour. Maybe a Corvette, Jaguar, Porsche or if they're a rock star or hockey player... a Ferrari. There's nothing wrong with ANY of those choices, I find now that I'm getting on in years, my choice is going to be a bit more subtle. It's going to be a classic. Sure it will still be a two-seater, and the top will go down, and it could be red, although I'd prefer silver. I'm not going to go all the way back to the tin lizzy era, I still want something that's fun and exciting to drive. But I don't need to go fast anymore, a car that looks good and is not too big (I've always favoured smaller cars) will fill the bill.
My choice is a Porsche 356 Speedster. It's got the classic look that I'd need. And for its era, it drove very well and was extremely reliable compared to other sports cars from that time. Picture a warm sunny day, a winding road and me in my Speedster. The steering is precise, the gears shift smoothly and the engine gurgles away. There's no need to hurry, this is something to be savoured.
When I was seven years old, I got to ride in a brand new 356 Speedster. I was immediately hooked... and I still am.
To see one of these cars in motion this youtube video captures it nicely.
Here's a digital painting I did based on a photo taken at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart Germany. And yes this is in my ebook.
That concludes my three posts on Your Automotive Identity. Tune in tomorrow to see what other car stuff I come up with.
Now most men will immediately think about a powerful two-seat convertible, red in colour. Maybe a Corvette, Jaguar, Porsche or if they're a rock star or hockey player... a Ferrari. There's nothing wrong with ANY of those choices, I find now that I'm getting on in years, my choice is going to be a bit more subtle. It's going to be a classic. Sure it will still be a two-seater, and the top will go down, and it could be red, although I'd prefer silver. I'm not going to go all the way back to the tin lizzy era, I still want something that's fun and exciting to drive. But I don't need to go fast anymore, a car that looks good and is not too big (I've always favoured smaller cars) will fill the bill.
My choice is a Porsche 356 Speedster. It's got the classic look that I'd need. And for its era, it drove very well and was extremely reliable compared to other sports cars from that time. Picture a warm sunny day, a winding road and me in my Speedster. The steering is precise, the gears shift smoothly and the engine gurgles away. There's no need to hurry, this is something to be savoured.
When I was seven years old, I got to ride in a brand new 356 Speedster. I was immediately hooked... and I still am.
To see one of these cars in motion this youtube video captures it nicely.
That concludes my three posts on Your Automotive Identity. Tune in tomorrow to see what other car stuff I come up with.
Thursday 27 March 2014
Your Automotive Identity • Part 2
What is your automotive identity? First of all, forget what they cost, this is a fantasy, price is irrelevant. There are three cars that make up your profile.
You're counting the days until you can get your driver's licence. Nothing is more important than getting on the road. In this pre-driver stage of your life you will see a car go by that stops you dead in your tracks. All you can do is stand there, mouth open, staring at it as it rolls by. For me that car was the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Coupe. Early in the morning while I was delivering my papers, a new red coupe would rumble by. It was a thrill to see that car every morning and I never got tired of seeing it.
And now for some shameless self-promotion, I've published an ebook of my digital automotive art, check it out at https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-automotive-art/id823992580?mt=11
Your Automotive Identity • Part 1
What is your automotive identity? First of all, forget what they cost, this is a fantasy, price is irrelevant. There are three cars that make up your profile.
I know an infant isn't going to be picking out cars. I'd suggest waiting until several decade have passed – that way you won't have picked a car that turns out later to be a dud. For me, the 1950 Jaguar pictured below, I can relate to. It's got style, handles well for its age, and while it was relatively inexpensive to buy when new, a well-preserved example is now quite valuable. Click on the picture to see an enlarged version – yes it's one of my digital paintings. My next post will delve into the second car in your automotive profile.
And now for some shameless self-promotion, I've published an ebook of my digital automotive art, check it out at https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/digital-automotive-art/id823992580?mt=11
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