Why do I focus so much on what I haven't seen

[Sherlock77]

This is related to classic cars... I'm a huge classic car geek, I live in western Canada on the prairies, and have far more interest in unusual British/European cars (plus classic Japanese tin too), in a place where American cars are far more common

And I do tend to complain about cars I've never seen and probably never will see, largely because of where I live, there are lots of classic European cars I would recognize immediately if I saw them for the first time

Yet I also realize that I should celebrate what I have seen, and I will admit that I dislike just seeing photos in a book (why can't I ever see it!)

Meantime a list of unusual classic imports I have seen and photographed right here in Calgary, this list might only make sense to fellow car geeks

1) A 1968 Jensen FF in the winter snow at my local grocery store, the FF is an AWD version of the Jensen Interceptor and considered to be the first production AWD(4x4) car ever produced, so rare and very few were ever made, never sold in North America as the FF, I was shocked to leave the store and see the car, talked briefly to the owner as he left the store not long after, and was allowed to take a couple of photos

2) A Gilbern GT, not the most exotic car ever, but a low production British sports car never sold here, it was parked at a local car show in the parking lot, I didn't get a good photo but can say I saw one

3) Citroen 2CV, admittedly there are a few of them here but still not common... One Christmas Eve on a rather snowy and cold evening I saw one parked downtown, certainly something I never expected to see in mid-winter

4) 1969 Toyota Crown station wagon, another super exotic car (yeah), but an unusual and fairly rare early Japanese car from when they were first being imported into North America... The owner is fairly active at car shows, and i always love spotting it

5) One of the biggest small town surprises I've ever seen, about ten years ago passing through a hamlet in remote southern Alberta I saw a VW Dasher station wagon (ca. 1980) parked rather nicely on the small main street, the only time I've ever seen one, once again the last thing I expected to see

6) Plus...

Yet I have a tendency to complain about all the other classic European/British cars I've never seen (the list is endless), including import cars that were sold here in low volumes in the 1950's and 1960's, few probably survive today, thus my odds of seeing one is extremely low...

I even remember when I lived in southern Ontario (1999 to 2003), doing film photography, took over 150 rolls of film!, here are just some of the cars I saw and photographed - Marcos Mantis, DKW 3=6 van and pickup, Berkeley sports car, 1978 Tatra sedan, 1958/59 Allard (possibly the last Allard ever built), Arnolt MG, Triumph TRS roadster/race car, many more, but I had a crappy camera back then, and I'm very unlikely to see cars like that here in hinterland... I still wish I could travel back in time (in a sense) and have a far better camera and the better skills I have today

But... I know I need to celebrate what I have seen, even if I didn't always get a photo, even if it wasn't the best photo ever... Plus the fact that I actually drove a 1967 Triumph 2000 sedan (er... saloon car) once, right here in hinterland (AKA Calgary), thought of buying it but that never happened, that was 20 years ago...

 

[Judge]

Understandable. From my own perspective it's frustrating to see both time and locality play such a detrimental role in seeing fewer and fewer motor classic cars every year. Reminds me of how different the Greater Metropolitan Reno/Tahoe area is compared to the San Francisco Bay Area when it comes to cars on so many levels. Like when living in the Bay Area, we actually had a Ferrari/Lamborghini/Aston Martin dealer on the city's main drag. Conversely in Reno, it's extremely rare to see any exotic car here.

As for British sports cars though, they were a type of car I owned for 13 years. While I had a great deal of fun driving them, their upkeep and ultimate decay and demise was another matter. Reminding me that after living here for so many years, I saw only one MGB on the road having nothing to do with upcoming car shows. Just one. As for so many other makes of British sports cars, I've seen virtually none at all other than one Triumph TR6 and a Triumph Spitfire over the years. But in such instances it isn't just living in a different locality.

It's also that these cars simply didn't last. Which ironically reflects my prior sports car, a 2000 Toyota Celica GTS. Most owners managed to trash them straight to the junkyards, as my dealer once told me. They used to laugh at seeing me come in for servicing, because they hardly ever saw that model in later years.

So yeah...in essence I too have similar sentiments about what I don't see. But for the most part, I know why. And I accept that here while they revere the automobile, the focus remains primarily on American classic cars and no others. So all I have left are most just fond memories of the cars I owned and what amounts to a bygone era and living in a community that has other values when it comes to four wheeled vehicles.

 

[Mary Terry]

@Sherlock - I guess it is human nature to want what we cannot have. I'll pay more attention to cars that I see here and will take photos if they are unusual and send to you. Hopefully, one day, post-pandemic, you'll be able to travel to distant car shows to see what's there. Covid can't last forever.

 

[Sherlock77]

Understandable. From my own perspective it's frustrating to see both time and locality play such a detrimental role in seeing fewer and fewer motor classic cars every year. Reminds me of how different the Greater Metropolitan Reno/Tahoe area is compared to the San Francisco Bay Area when it comes to cars on so many levels. Like when living in the Bay Area, we actually had a Ferrari/Lamborghini/Aston Martin dealer on the city's main drag. Conversely in Reno, it's extremely rare to see any exotic car here.

As for British sports cars though, they were a type of car I owned for 13 years. While I had a great deal of fun driving them, their upkeep and ultimate decay and demise was another matter. Reminding me that after living here for so many years, I saw only one MGB on the road having nothing to do with upcoming car shows. Just one. As for so many other makes of British sports cars, I've seen virtually none at all other than one Triumph TR6 and a Triumph Spitfire over the years. But in such instances it isn't just living in a different locality.

It's also that these cars simply didn't last. Which ironically reflects my prior sports car, a 2000 Toyota Celica GTS. Most owners managed to trash them straight to the junkyards, as my dealer once told me. They used to laugh at seeing me come in for servicing, because they hardly ever saw that model in later years.

So yeah...in essence I too have similar sentiments about what I don't see. But for the most part, I know why. And I accept that here while they revere the automobile, the focus remains primarily on American classic cars and no others. So all I have left are most just fond memories of the cars I owned and what amounts to a bygone era and living in a community that has other values when it comes to four wheeled vehicles.

Agreed... This is very much the principle of the matter, it could be about anything... I think in many ways my approach to cars is a little like those people who bird watch and keep lists of what they have seen...

It's also very much luck of the draw, being in the right place at the right time, it's being present in the world and fairly active, it's also because I'm tactile, I really don't like just seeing things in a book when I didn't actually see it... But yet of course that isn't practical for anyone really...

 

[Judge]

@Sherlock -Hopefully, one day, post-pandemic, you'll be able to travel to distant car shows to see what's there. Covid can't last forever.

Yes. It's all about location pertinent mostly to major metropolitan areas. In his case, probably Vancouver. Much as I'd have to travel to the Bay Area or further to see such cars.

 

[Mary Terry]

Yes. It's all about location pertinent mostly to major metropolitan areas. In his case, probably Vancouver. Much as I'd have to travel to the Bay Area or further to see such cars.

There are occasional car shows near where I live, and an annual "cruise the coast" show of antique cars along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I'll keep my eyes peeled for exotic European cars for Sherlock.

 

[Sherlock77]

@Sherlock - I guess it is human nature to want what we cannot have. I'll pay more attention to cars that I see here and will take photos if they are unusual and send to you. Hopefully, one day, post-pandemic, you'll be able to travel to distant car shows to see what's there. Covid can't last forever.

This has nothing to do with Covid, actually part of it is that I have had never deep enough pockets to travel much outside my local region to places where I'll be more likely to see interesting European cars... I just know too many of the richer folks who seem to have an almost unlimited ability to travel, when it's really only a dream for me...

 

[Judge]

This has nothing to do with Covid, actually part of it is that I have never deep enough pockets to travel much outside my local region to places where I'll be more likely to see interesting European cars... I just know too many of the richer folks who seem to have an almost unlimited ability to travel, when it's really only a dream for me...

Just observing auctions like Barrett-Jackson and annual events like "Hot August Nights", it's a game for the wealthy as participants. Leaving the rest of us as mere spectators. And just seeing how much these people put back into their automobiles versus what they draw at auctions, it's usually at a loss. Not a loss the average wage earner can endure with a smile.

Yeah. It's sadly a game for the rich...not the rest of us.

 

[Mary Terry]

Being broke is depressing and prevents us from pursuing things we would love to do. I can afford to travel (within reason), but covid prevents me from doing so. I just got an email alert from the US Department of State about avoiding travel in Mexico due to covid. I will be so happy when this pandemic ends or we all just resign ourselves to the fact that it will be here forever. *sigh*

 

[Sherlock77]

Being broke is depressing and prevents us from pursuing things we would love to do. I can afford to travel (within reason), but covid prevents me from doing so. I just got an email alert from the US Department of State about avoiding travel in Mexico due to covid. I will be so happy when this pandemic ends or we all just resign ourselves to the fact that it will be here forever. *sigh*

I'm not necessarily "poor", but also not all that wealthy either, if that makes sense, speaking of which, I'm off to work now to earn my pennies

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

I am enjoying my 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder. i've finished the safety upgrades; roll bar, proper seats with 4 point camlok harnesses, and the next is an engine swap for a 2ZZ-GE. Plan to take it on the track next year.

 

[Sherlock77]

I am enjoying my 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder. i've finished the safety upgrades; roll bar, proper seats with 4 point camlok harnesses, and the next is an engine swap for a 2ZZ-GE. Plan to take it on the track next year.

Meantime... Me and my boring car... Maybe some day...

But this is the Triumph 2000 I drove about 20 years ago here in Calgary, flirted with buying it at the time, never really had the money to do it to be honest...

 

[Luca]

Cars are cool.
Btw, you mentioned a Citroen, not too familiar with them but is it similar to an Opel?

 

[Sherlock77]

Cars are cool.
Btw, you mentioned a Citroen, not too familiar with them but is it similar to an Opel?

This is what a Citroen 2CV looks like, considered to be an iconic design, and this the Christmas Eve photo I referred to earlier... But they are a well known company with a few fairly iconic car designs, nothing like Opel...

 

[Luca]

This is what a Citroen 2CV looks like, considered to be an iconic design, and this the Christmas Eve photo I referred to earlier... But they are a well known company with a few fairly iconic car designs, nothing like Opel...

View attachment 72665

Love that photo!! Looks like a classic Christmas card

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

Cars are cool.
Btw, you mentioned a Citroen, not too familiar with them but is it similar to an Opel?

The Deux Chevaux (2-CV) is a classic oddity with a top one could roll open like a sardine can. An Opel has entirely different engineering.

 

[Judge]

I always thought Richard Dreyfuss made that Citroen famous in "American Graffiti".