Canada

[55bloke]

We're just about over the jet-lagg after our 2 week visit to Calgary, so I'm going to start posting some pics. Canada is heaven for shite spotters- they don't have any annual test, so there's LOTS of old clunkers still running around, plus, the "old car culture" is MUCH commoner there- there wasn't a day went by when we didn't see "classics" of one sort or another being driven out on the streets. These pics represent only a tiny proportion of all we saw- shite photographing wasn't high on the list of priorities, but I did as much as I could!

A clue as to what was to come was the half hour drive from the airport to our accomodation, when this was the 1st thing to catch my eye

and 10 mins later, saw this- forgive the pic quality, it was moving, so was I, and the light was fading

Upon arrival at the house we were staying in, this was parked in the alley at the back

and this was just round the corner

[55bloke]

A few days later, I went for a walk round the estate on which we were staying, in a fairly obviously afluent part of town, and was amazed at the variety of old cars to be seen

1st example I found was this house, where a fellow shiter obviously lives! Notice that the windows are open, common on both cars and houses, crime doesn't seem to be an issue!

Same house, a day or so later

I'm not good with American cars of this era- is this a later/earlier model of the same car?

How much would this be worth in the UK?

This is clearly the US version of the Cavalier

Badged as a Mercury, this must be the same as a Granada Scorpio?

No idea what this is

Or this

or this!!

Classic suburban Americana!

A Plymouth Sunburst, I think it was badged

another ratty Mustang

Even rattier El Camino

Not so ratty Z car

A couple of Mercs

This beauty was being tended in one driveway

Not far away, an open garage door revealed this- a '29 Model A sitting on '32 rails, by the look of it. THE classic hot-rod!

Whilst, a few doors down, this Firebird was lurking

Then, in the next street, I spotted this lovely '56 Chevy hooked up to a serious trailor!

it had a louvered "hood" and cropped side trim

plus custom tail light lenses

Toyota Tercel

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/55bloke/IMG_4374-1.jpg

Ford Escort

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/55bloke/IMG_4378-1.jpg

C.P.A.T. challenge

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/55bloke/IMG_4379-1.jpg

Lovely Olds 98

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/55bloke/IMG_4380-1.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/55bloke/IMG_4381-1.jpg

Another complete mystery

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/55bloke/IMG_4382-1.jpg

Crappy Caddy

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/55bloke/IMG_4383-1.jpg

Unexpected veedub

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/55bloke/IMG_4384-1.jpg

Unexpected Saab

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/55bloke/IMG_4385-1.jpg

Another crappy Caddy

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/55bloke/IMG_3676.jpg

Another mystery to me, but what a stunner!

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/55bloke/IMG_3679.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/55bloke/IMG_3680.jpg

And finally, for the walk round the astate section, this was in the yard of a house a few doors down from us

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/55bloke/IMG_4366.jpg

 

More to follow later.

[pogweasel]

No idea what this is

Or this

or this!!

 

First is a Ford Thunderbird, second is a Toyota Celica Supra, third is another Ford Thubderbird I think, but happy to stand corrected on that one.I know Ive a matchbox 1:72 of one somewhere...

[Richard]

The general condition of cars has improved since I was in Toronto in, I think, 2000. I saw countless cars being driven with the best part of a foot rusted off the rear arches.

[55bloke]

Thanks for filling-in some of the blanks Pog. I am astonished that a place like Canada has no equivalent of the MoT test- we saw quite a few cars with levels of rot in the sills or A posts that would have seen them scrapped years ago over here. Just didn't have the chance photograph many of them.

[55bloke]

Anyway, here's some more pics. These are all taken whilst walking close to the parkways that run close to the estate on which we were staying.

Another of those Cavalier things

wonderful Jag

Tasty Camaro

Chevy Nova, I think?

Almost missed this lovely Ford. Circa '54, I'm guessing?

This was exiting a car park. Haven't got a clue what it is!! My knowlege of US tin ends about 1965!

Again, not sure what this is, but it's lovely!!

[55bloke]

As here, supermarket car parks can be good spotting places. The following few pics all taken on one visit to one place

Another unexpected Saab. European cars not common there- Mercs, VWs and Audis well represented, and Volvos, but not much else. Didn't see a single French car!

This was in the car park when we arrived

and this pulled-in just after us!

[55bloke]

We spent a few days in the Rockies, in British Colunbia. Jaw-droppingly stunning scenery, but I still managed to keep a look out for shite!

Not sure if this just might be the best spot of the trip?

and this drove past about 5 mins after I took the above shot!

VW Rabbit?!

Mustang Sally?

This is just lovely! It's a Ford, but which one? Galaxie?

Is this one of those Eagle things that shares things like doors and windscreens with the Renner 25? Has that look about it.

This is the other contender for spot of the trip. Don't recognise ut at all, and never heard of the name Acadian that it carried on the "trunk"!! But, it's toooooooooo cool!!

[mattblack]

The '56 chevy is a bottom of the range '150', or has 150 side trim...

 

The 'Acadian' was the Canadian version of the Chevy II.

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acadian_(automobile)

[Richard]

That's the sort of thing I remember seeing when I was there, often the jagged edge was as high as the trim line on this truck.

[alfetta]

nice selection, you won't see anything french since the last thing offically imported was probably the renault 'le car' about 25 years ago....think peugeot finally pulled out of North America in 1990....

[michiel]

Great pics - that Subaru wagon is fab. US tin of all ages confuses me, except for Tuckers and Edsels - well, the early ones at least.

[VWPowered]

blimey that poor jag

[55bloke]

blimey that poor jag

Ha ha, I know, it's tooo sad isn't it!!

[55bloke]

Just been going through my pics to check if I'd missed anything, and discovered that I had!! Just one pic, but one of the better ones, I think. There really are derelict vehicles mouldering quietly away in the corner of just about every other field, but they're mostly pick-ups. However, I spotted this absolute gem, and just managed to grap a quick shot as we sped past. Late '40s coupe by the look of it! What a gem!

[AnthonyG]

here we go 1st post Blue convertible - Chevrolet Beamont circa 1968 - Canadian version of the ChevelleRed coupe - Chevrolet Camaro 1968Black saloon - Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera circa 19862nd post Blue saloon - Ford LTD Crown Victoria circa 19851st Brown coupe - Buick Regal circa 19792nd Brown coupe - Chevrolet Monte Carlo 1981 - these two are essentially the same carGrey Cavalier relative - Oldsmobile Firenza, circa 1983Grey Granada relative - Mercury Sable circa 1986, actually nothing in common with Granada Scorpio despite appearances - FWD for a start. (They did try to sell the Scorp in the US but thats another story)Blue coupe - Ford Thunderbird 1983Black coupe - Toyota Celica Supra circa 1982White coupe - Ford Thunderbird 1988Beige wagon - Chevrolet Caprice circa 1980Red pickup - Ford, around 1960.3rd brown Coupe - Oldsmobile Toronado, circa 1987.Crappy Caddy 1 - 1965 or 1966 Sedan DeVilleCrappy Caddy 2 - 1992ish DeVilleMystery Stunner - 1988 Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis, this is the same car as the blue banger at the top of the post with the updated 88' on front end. This car (with more rounded, smoother body panels) is essentially still being made today. 3rd post White convertible - 1988 MustangBeige saloon - 1974 Plymouth Gran Fury - (the same car as the Bluemobile, which is badged as a Dodge)Smaller beige saloon - Dodge 400, circa 1984Two tone saloon - 1988 Toyota Camry, but you prob. knew that!Big gray saloon - Buick Roadmaster circa 199553 or 54 Ford68-72 Chevy NovaCavalier Relative No 2 - Chevrolet, actually badged as Cavalier, a facelifted one circa 1990.4th brown coupe (with primer) another Monte Carlo or Regal, also sold as a Olsmobile Cutlass White saloon - Plymouth Valiant or Dodge Dart, 65 or 66.4th postBig shiny barge - Pontiac Parisienne, circa 1983, known as Bonneville in the USWhite and rusty - Another 88 CamryWhite and topless - 67 or 68 Cadillac De Ville Red and topless 76 Cadillac Eldorado5th post Red and topless 2 - Chevy 2 circa 1964 - Acadian is just another Canadian brand nameRenault 25 sibling - Eagle Premier, planned when AMC was still owned by Renault.Maroon convertible - 1968 Ford TorinoRed/white coupe - Dodge Aspen or Plymouth Volare 76-80Brown saloon = Plymouth Gran Fry or Dodge equivalent - popular cop car in the 80sRabbit - bizarre name for US market Golf - Mk1 Passat was known as 'Dasher' and Mk1 Audi 80 'Fox'Grey and silver saloon - another Ford Crown Victoria, pre facelift so about 1985Rusty pick up - Ford Ranger circa 1985Big heap with ripped vinyl roof - Lincoln Town Car circa 1985Maroon saloon - Ford Crown Vic againMaroon Coupe - Chrsyler Cordoba, circa 1976, advert for this was legendary in the statesSilver sedan - Another Crown VicMaroon heap - 1973, 74 or 75 Plymouth ValiantFinally the thing in the field is an early 40s General Motors product - possibly a Chevrolet.

[55bloke]

WOW!!! Thanks for that, I'm genuinely impressed!!