043A7465

She thinks about him a lot when she is driving. Tom O’Brien was a high school teacher with a hot-red Toyota Tercel stick shift. In the years before he retired, having become chaplain of Senator O’Connor College School in North York, the father of four, who was born in Ireland, decided he needed to size up his set of wheels. There was but one requirement for the new vehicle: extra space.
Space to transport the many things that might keep a community close-knit: food for a communal dinner, equipment for a Sunday singalong, a back seat ready to give any neighbour a ride.
Perhaps Tom O’Brien was not thinking of himself when he bought his 2011 <a class="text-block__link" href="https://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/vehicles/rav4/overview?gclid=CjwKCAiAl9efBhAkEiwA4TorikomGLKd_vza7ZzLUf9NMNwT8VXFsjhzNMUItfarkgrTgyfl8yGjjRoCgdoQAvD_BwE">Toyota RAV4</a>, but of everyone else.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174993" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/043A7380-scaled.jpg" alt="why i love my car rav4" width="2560" height="1708" />
His daughter Wanda, who now owns the SUV, agrees and adds that was just her dad.
“I remember back then being really excited to see this new car that my dad had bought.
“And then I saw it,” recalls Wanda O’Brien, whose late father Tom bought the 2011 Toyota RAV4 second-hand.
“I saw this brown machine in my parents’ driveway and I thought, ‘Ew, dad! If you’re going to spend money on a new car, first of all, why brown?’ I was living overseas at the time, and, on the occasion that I’d be home, I’d use the RAV for errands and such.
“It just felt too big, too uncomfortable. It wasn’t for me, but my dad.
"He just loved it.

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"A few years later — three years ago now, this January — my dad died unexpectedly at the age of 72. He had gone in for a routine surgery and things just went very wrong.
"The loss of my father has been the first major grief I’ve experienced in my life. The pain of it has been so vast and enormous.
"My family and I feel it was a grace that my father passed away right before the pandemic hit. I feel terrible for those who suffered a loss during that chaotic time. But then there I was, stuck in Toronto and in deep grief from the loss of my father. I desperately needed an escape and I discovered one, that same summer, in camping.
"I had a Mazda at the time, but it was always just so tight to pack it up for those trips into the wild that I needed so badly. My thoughts started turning to the RAV for the same reason my dad had considered it: for its sheer amount of space. I put my hand up to say that I wanted it and took over the ownership in 2022.
"The first time picking it up and getting into it as my own was in my childhood driveway. I remember getting into it and feeling a bit emotional. Sitting there in the driver’s seat I thought, ‘Hey, Dad. Thanks! I really appreciate it.’
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174994" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/043A7462-scaled.jpg" alt="why i love my car rav4" width="2560" height="1708" />
"The car, in I suppose more ways than one, enabled me to move again. I’ve learned that grief doesn’t just have to be painful. And now having this vehicle available to me, and having experienced this slow burn of coming to absolutely love it … I feel so safe and comfortable in that car and I know that’s so clearly linked to the safety and comfort that he always provided. I even love the colour now.
"I think whenever the time inevitably comes that it’s time for this car to go — will that be hard? Yes, but I almost feel like I’m at a different stage where I’m thinking it is just a thing and I’m so grateful I had it. I’m genuinely just really grateful to have it for the time that I do.
"One of the last things my father said, in the hospital before he passed away was, ‘Ah life, there’s great pain, but there’s great joy, too.’ With grief, I’m at that point where, yes, there is pain, but there is so much joy.

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"This car, in its connection to my father, brings me so much joy."
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174992" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/043A7371-scaled.jpg" alt="why i love my car rav4" width="1708" height="2560" />
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<div class="text-block-container">“I listen to my dad sing while I drive”</div>
Being an older car, this RAV has a CD player. My dad was a very humble singer and guitar player who had actually written some of his own songs. As a retirement gift, we had purchased him some studio time and when he passed away we used those recordings to produce a CD. I listen to it often when I drive, and I do cry sometimes. But it helps ground me in the loss, because, although no one I meet going forward will ever have a chance to truly know him, we have his voice and his words. They can get to know him through his music.

<div class="text-block-container">“There’s room enough for anything”</div>
The fact that you can bring the seats fully down in this car means you can really load it up. It has made packing for camping so much easier and does things like enable me to have easy access to my cooler while I’m out there — I like to keep it safely tucked away as I’m a bit bear-paranoid. My mom actually said to me recently, ‘You know, they don’t make them like that anymore.’ Apparently the new RAVs are much shorter than this one. She said, ‘That’s why your father got it’ and I thought, ‘That’s why I love it.’
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174996" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/043A7560-scaled.jpg" alt="why i love my car rav4" width="2560" height="1708" />
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<div class="text-block-container">“Who knew how fast it could go?”</div>
Several times since his passing, friends of my father’s have found out he drove this particular car and been shocked that he would drive something so speedy. This car, I’ve discovered, has a 3.5-litre 2GR-FE V6 engine, which means it can go very fast. But it surprises everyone, because my dad presented as such a gentle man. I actually wonder if he ever really knew the capability of it. Me, I’m a pedal-to-the-metal person, and often when I drive now I can hear him saying, ‘Wanda, would ya slow down?’ and I say with a loving eye roll, ‘Yes dad. I see that car, Dad. Thank you.’ ”
Do you love your vehicle? Email us at <a class="text-block__link" href="mailto:wheels@thestar.ca">wheels@thestar.ca</a> with “Why I Love My Car” in the subject line and tell us, briefly, why you do!
Correction — March 8, 2023: Tom O’Brien was a high school teacher and chaplain at Senator O’Connor College School in North York, and he drove a Toyota Tercel. A previous version of this article misstated the location of the school the and the model of the car.

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A daughter finds her own road to healing in dad’s car

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Between hot rolling her hair and picking out the perfect outfit, Kendall Savage is also used to getting her hands dirty. After a day riding through Toronto on The Beast – as she calls it – she will busily clean the dirt and dust off her Vespa Piaggio at night.

Though it is road-worn and rugged, the Vespa was a bucket list item for the actress and professional clown who also works in a vintage clothing store in Kensington Market. And, although it is not as polished as she is, Savage said her vespa – complete with all its quirks and flaws — is the perfect beast to her beauty.  She tells us why she loves her 1986 PX200 Piaggio Vespa.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-172905" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/wh-WhyLove-Vespa-Look-Nov12-scaled.jpg" alt="Vespa" width="1708" height="2560" />

“When I decided to buy a Vespa, I’d never driven one before – I had never driven anything before,” said Savage, who bought the two-wheeler in 2019. “Up until that time I’d been an ornament riding on the back of someone else’s scooter.

“The first thing I did was get my motorcycle’s license. It took a weekend, and it was surprisingly easy. Then, through friends, I was put in touch with a wonderful Vespa and Lambretta mechanic in town. I went down to his little workshop at Dupont and Ossington and there it was for sale, a 1986 PX200 Vespa Piaggio. I took one look at it and said, ‘Okay this is my baby.’

“Three years later and I use it almost every day during the season. It’s a dream to drive around town on it. But honestly, I never know what this thing is going to do, or how many kicks it’s going to take to start it. It is definitely a character and has attitude, just like me. That’s why it’s called The Beast, a.k.a. Trouble — which is my nickname.

“The original price was $2,500, but I’ve probably spent about $5,000 on repairs. To fix just about anything, it takes a few hours for a specialty mechanic to take apart the motor, and that can get pricey. I’ve almost sold it twice because it bleeds me dry financially, but I don’t have the heart to give it away.

“Truly, the experience of owning it has been priceless, not to mention the community I’ve discovered. I’m in a wonderful femme-driven group called the Piper Doves. It’s a huge group of scooter and motorcycle enthusiasts and I’m one of the originals. We do charity events, we go to ice cream gatherings almost weekly, we try to do a lot for charity.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-172906" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/wh-WhyLove-Vespa-Shopes-Nov12-scaled.jpg" alt="Vespa" width="1708" height="2560" />

“As soon as it’s unbearable to drive in my fur jacket, I put it away for the season. I personally don’t do winters and I definitely don’t do the highway. I have some friends who do. But I would never survive it. This thing has a mind of its own it keeps me on my toes.

“At the moment, I drive it to work every day in Kensington. The freedom it brings me, the character of it — I always feel fantastic. I’m a comedian, I’m a clown and I’m an actress. I live for attention. The Beast and I on the road? We’re impossible to miss.”

A CLOSER LOOK: 1986 PX200 Piaggio Vespa

Perfect size

“At first, I was a little intimidated by how big it is,” said Savage. “I know it doesn’t look huge, but it’s the largest you can get from the era it was made in, and I’m only five feet tall. Plus, this is a non-electric start, so you must use the kickstand to get it going. It was overwhelming to drive at first, but I got used to it quickly and got lots of advice from other scooterists. Now I feel confident riding on the back of it.”

 A glam compartment

“If I need to wear proper driving shoes, I can stash my fancy ones in here,” said Savage, flipping up the seat of the Vespa to reveal a convenient storage space. “There are a lot of Vespas that don’t have a compartment but this one does. Mine is a mess right now, but you’ll always find a gear cable and a few sparkplugs in there and maybe a grooming instrument, like my comb. I added the rack on the back as well since I often have bags or props that I need to bring with me to rehearsals.”

Safe and sensational

“I always drive the Vespa with my pink, sparkly helmet on. I got lucky. There was a family that was moving and posted it on Facebook Marketplace. They sold it to me for $50, which was such a steal. And while I’m always dressed up to the nines, I’m thinking it is time to give The Beast a bit of a makeover in the coming year. I’d like to add some more bling. I really want to put a long antenna with a foxtail on it or add some chrome. A little something extra like that.”

This article was edited for space and clarity. Want to be featured in Why

I Love My Vehicle? email us at wheels@thestar.ca with “Why I Love” in the subject line.

Why I Love My Vehicle: The tale of beauty and her beast

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John Pearce remembers it clearly. It was his 50th birthday and he was outside his Toronto home sharing a drink with a few of his neighbourhood friends. At one point, the English-born businessman casual leaned against a car – it had a protective cover over it – parked next to the curb.

His action was greeted with a yell of “happy birthday,” as the cover was quickly pulled off the vehicle to reveal a British-made 1972 MGB Convertible – a present from his then wife. Nearly 20 years later, Pearce tells us why he loves his vehicle (and whether the time has come to sell it).

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-172732" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/wh-WhyLove-MGB-Interior-Nov5-scaled.jpg" alt="1972 MGB Convertible" width="1708" height="2560" />

“The idea for the gift came from one of my friends,” said Pearce while standing next to his forest green ​​convertible. “He was heavily into British cars and every so often when we were talking, I’d toss around the idea of getting one someday, but only casually saying it.

“And then there it was, this MGB. I’m honestly not a big car guy, I just need to know that a car drives and how it works. So, as a gift, it was surprising. And while it’s afforded me several nice memories over 18 years, it hasn’t gotten a ton of use.

“I’m a wine lover, so I’ve loved driving it down the back roads just beyond Grimsby. And every year they have a British car day down in Burlington. I’ve been taking it to that. It’s a nice little drive, and you go there, pack a lunch and sit in this big, great park along with everyone else who has cars of this ilk. It’s a really great day out.

“If I’m being honest though, I’m 68 now and it’s been garaged most of that time I’ve had it. I’ve probably done less than 2,000 kilometres a year on it. I don’t go long distances in it. In fact, I'm at the point now where I'm thinking, ‘Why the heck have I got it?’

“I don’t think sentimental value has much to do with my keeping it. I think the reason is that to run one of these things is inexpensive. For example, insurance is probably only about $225 a year. Plus, they are very easy to work on. I’ve been fortunate that a neighbour of mine is heavily into these cars, so he does all my mechanical work. Personally, I’ve never had that enthusiasm.

“I’m also getting older, and these are low cars. It can be pretty tough getting in and out of this thing. I’m also now in a relationship, and my other half would really like the garage for her car. So that’s kind of my motivation to get rid of it,” said Pearce.

“How much would I sell it for? Honestly, I don’t know that number. These prices seem to be very subjective. I know that there are people out there that bring cars like mine back to mint condition and then they’re worth quite a lot. But honestly, I would just like someone to enjoy it. That’s it.”

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-172734" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/wh-WhyLove-MGB-Seated-Nov5-scaled.jpg" alt="1972 MGB Convertible" width="2560" height="1708" />

A CLOSER LOOK: 1972 MGB Convertible

Memories of home 

“I love the noise of the engine and the smell,” said Pearce. “I think that’s kind of a guy thing. The noise is throaty but if you ask me why, I couldn’t even begin to tell you. And the smell? Well, you’ve always got that aroma of oil and gas in the air. That’s just what you get from British car. I’m pushing 70 and when I was 16 everybody had a (vehicle) like this. So, it’s something that I’m used to and when I’m in it, it just feels like home.”

A workout 

“The interior looks like it’s a tight fit but there’s quite a lot of leg room and, although I’m sitting low, the site-line through the front window is perfect for me. Plus, I do enjoy driving a stick. It’s more responsive and feels like you’re really driving. Admittedly though, the steering is quite heavy and you’re changing gears all the time. If you go for an hour’s drive somewhere, you really know you’ve been driving it. It’s a workout.”

Driving seasons

“The best times to drive a car like this is actually spring and autumn because it’s cooler and there’s no air conditioner,” said Pearce. “I’ve tried to make a couple of sales calls for work in June or July using the car and it was warm, let me put it that way. But I do have a factory, one-piece hard top as well. All the cars come with the pull-up soft top, but this is one step further. If you wanted, you could drive this all year long. These things apparently are fairly sought after. It’s bits and pieces like that which might increase its value.”

This article was edited for space and clarity. Want to be featured in Why

I Love My Vehicle? email us at wheels@thestar.ca with “Why I Love” in the subject line.

Why I Love My Vehicle: 1972 MGB Convertible was an unexpected birthday surprise

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Whether a breakaway response to the pandemic, a means to circumvent rising housing costs or just jumping on a social media trend, vehicle living (or #VanLife, as splashed across Instagram) has seen a massive, recent uptick across Canada and the United States.

Yet as the cold weather sets in, prompting Ontario residents to seek all things warm and dry, are the province’s hopeful van-lifers condemned to second guessing this choice? Are they leaving their homes on wheels for an apartment, or are they migrating to balmier climates?

“You can absolutely live in your car year-round in this province,” said Madison McNair, digital nomad and part owner of Ray Outfitted, an Ontario-based business which provides custom support for off-grid projects such as campervan builds and mobile office upfits. “It really depends on the person.”

McNair is one such person. She, along with her husband, spent more than two years travelling Canada and the U.S. full-time in their own converted van before opening their business. They have spent several nights sleeping in their wheeled home in minus-40-degree-Celsius conditions.

“What your own winter van-life experience will be like depends on the investments into your vehicle,” said McNair. She said that nearly any vehicle — van or otherwise — can be outfitted to weather winter conditions in Canada.

McNair said that having warm gear, ventilation and a heat source – one that doesn't consume the oxygen inside the vehicle and is properly vented – are key considerations. “Read labels and be careful in your choices,” she said, cautioning that popular products such as Mr. Buddy and other similar propane heaters are for outdoor use only and shouldn't be used inside a vehicle.

“Power is also imperative, and a reliance on solar is rarely enough for full-time Ontario van-lifers. As such, batteries charged by the alternator while driving and shore power (using a public electrical outlet), when it’s available, are a better bet.”

McNair said that any basic winter vehicle conversion should include such elements as a rooftop ventilation system with a weather hood, a heater that taps into the auxiliary fuel ports and a 12-volt electrical system to power the heater’s fan and pump.

However, she said, the sky is the limit for other winter luxuries, such as the radiant heated floors that the couple has installed in their own van.

She said an inverter – which converts vehicle battery power into a different voltage so appliances can be operated – that supports laptop charging can come in handy. “Also, insulating window covers can make a considerable difference when trying to hold in some heat, but make sure to leave a vent open or you'll wake up with frost on the inside of your windows,” said McNair.

Emilie Guerin, who runs popular van-life YouTube channel The Cat Lady Van, said her own experience of living in her SUV in Ontario was first prompted by necessity and has since evolved into a passion project.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-172626" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-CarLivingWinter-Second-Oct29-scaled.jpg" alt="Van Life" width="2560" height="1706" />

“After a difficult breakup, I ended up moving everything that I owned to a storage locker and sleeping in my SUV,” said Guerin. “The coldest I slept without a heater was around minus-17. I had a lot of blankets, a good sleeping bag, and some hand warmers for extra heat.”

Guerin said that although this time could be perceived as the lowest point in her life, it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to her. Released from the constraints of society’s expectations, she took time to reflect on what she wanted, and did not want, out of life.

“I actually spent three years after that doing van-life without a heater, other than the one which was already in my car,” she said, adding that if the temperature reached dangerous lows, she would stay at a friend’s house or at a hotel.

“Now, myself and my cat are truly van-living full time,” she said. “I have a 2011 Ford Econoline with an electrical system. I spoil myself with a good heater — a Webasto — that taps into my gas tank. I have a thermostat and even a timer that I can set to have my van warm when I get up.”

Guerin said that despite having a nice heating system she still uses all her survival techniques, such as adding extra insulation to her windows and using her sleeping bag as a warm blanket.

“For those considering living in a vehicle full-time in Ontario, I would say don’t be scared of winter but definitely be prepared,” she said “Even when sleeping in my SUV I had Plan B and Plan C if something went wrong. I always think of the worst situation to be prepared for and will take extra precautions such as parking in an appropriate place to not get stuck in the snow, and always keeping extra blankets on hand if needed.”

McNair cautiously echoes this sentiment. She said that while there is a current boom in people turning to van living, they need to take extra care to ensure they are properly prepared for the cold.

“The biggest misconception right now is that anyone can retrofit a vehicle with complex plumbing, electrical and heating systems with finishes ready to compete on Instagram and Pinterest,” she said. “We have a growing number of clients who rushed to pay $60,000 to $90,000 for a ‘professional’ to upfit a vehicle and are shocked to discover it looks pretty in photos but isn't functional, durable or repairable.”

McNair said the vehicle you plan to use as your home needs to be treated with respect, and she hopes people are careful who they trust. As well, she adds that a certain amount of maintenance and repair knowledge is important for anyone deciding to do this.

“It’s important to have tools along with you and the ability to provide your vehicle with the ongoing care it will need,” she said. “Just like a stationary home, everything will need maintenance in time.”

McNair said that while proper care and planning are imperative for thriving through the winter, there is good news for those who impart the proper care, time and research to their plans.

“Remember that Ontario has some of the harshest conditions even within Canada, because not only do we get the extreme cold but also extreme heat,” she said. “If can equip your vehicle to handle the realities of Ontario, then I’ve got great news; you can literally take that rig anywhere.”

Vanlife in the North: Spending the winter on wheels

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When Shauntelle Leblanc first laid eyes on her future husband, he was pulling up to her Toronto apartment in a 1962 Mercury Monterey. The classic car was perfectly in keeping with his online dating profile that stated, “Dave Leblanc, vintage enthusiast.”

Given their shared passion for all things throwback, the wheels of love began to turn. 20 years on, the pair are now the proud owners of Ethel 20th Century Living, a popular mid-century modern vintage store on the Danforth.

And while the Monterey was around for most of this love story, nothing lasts forever. Five years ago, the vintage vehicle’s brakes gave way, banishing Monty – as the convertible was know – to the couple’s carport.

After waiting a few years – and living through a pandemic – the couple decided it was time to buy a new vehicle, one that reflected their mutual respect for vintage vibes. The Leblancs tells us why they love their 1965 Plymouth Valiant Convertible.

“When we started to talk about getting another vintage car, I was pretty focused on the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia,” said Shauntelle. “The problem was that they’re not cheap in good condition and we’re not mechanical people.

“Dave sent me an essay written by a guy who drove a vintage Valiant across the country, He said it was the most boring vintage car in existence, but also the most reliable. That spoke to us because living with vintage you’re always repairing things — like getting things reupholstered and gluing chair frames. I didn’t want to deal with that.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-172606" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-WhyLove-Valiant-Dash-Oct29-scaled.jpg" alt="1965 Plymouth Valiant Convertible" width="2560" height="1707" />

“When we found this Valiant on Kijiji, it was aesthetically in perfect condition. That’s one of the reasons we gravitated toward it. In June of 2021, when we drove it home. I think we paid $14,5000 for it and put another $2,000 into it to get it certifiable. Since then, our Valiant, or Val as we’ve named her, has been all over Toronto.

“Admittedly, this is not a practical car to drive. We do a tiki event in upstate New York every year and our friends ask us if we’re ever going to bring the Valiant. It would cost us $2,000 in gas, so we said, ‘No.’ We keep it local. For us it’s about aesthetics and the industrial design.

Technically, the car is in my name, but funny enough I've never driven it. It's tricky to get cars in and out of our parking spots behind our building and Val does not have power steering. Because of that, Dave is the one usually piloting her around town while I sit in the passenger seat with our dog Bella and enjoy the ride.

My attitude towards vintage has always been that you must actually use it,” said Shauntelle. “We put our feet up on our vintage table at home. We use all our vintage glassware. It’s no different with a vintage car. We put her to good use, and she brings us so much happiness. We say she’s like a holiday on wheels.”

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-172607" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-WhyLove-Valiant-Seated-Oct29-scaled.jpg" alt="1965 Plymouth Valiant Convertible" width="2560" height="1708" />

A CLOSER LOOK: 1965 Plymouth Valiant Convertible

Fresh air

“A guy came up to me when I had my 1962 Monterey and said, ‘Oh I see you’ve got the barn doors,’” said Dave. “I wasn’t sure what he meant, but he pointed out that there are these two cubby-looking doors on the right and left side under the dash. You can find them in this car, too, and basically what they do is pull fresh air from the bottom of your car and wooshes it onto your face. It’s a low-tech air conditioner of sorts, which I love.”

Little details

“We look at these cars as sculptures,” said Dave. “I think, just the year after this, horn rings like this one disappeared and I think they’re one of the coolest things. There are the signal lights that look like elegant vintage pens. It’s all very space age and very thin. Even the cigarette lighter is minimalist and beautiful. And what I might love most is the typography you find in the car — this kind of custom and casual script. I adore the fonts from the 1950s and 1960s, and here they are fossilized in this car.”

A Canadian car

“I joined a vintage Valiant and Barracuda Facebook group. When I posted a pic of this car — they’re all Americans on this group — they said I had the wrong dashboard. But what they didn’t know is that this was a Canadian Valiant so there are some peculiarities. If you see a picture of any other Valiant from 1965, this is not what the dashboard looks like. Some of them had different front grills as well. All these different things that make it unique.”

Why I Love My Vehicle: 1965 Plymouth Valiant Convetible was a retro love affair.

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Four thousand per day: that’s the average amount of calls the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) receives in its South Central Ontario region during winter. And while that number doubles during severe weather, Nadia Matos said the reasons behind those surges are not always what you might expect.

“Surprisingly, it’s not the big winter snowfalls that trigger the most calls for roadside assistance,” said Matos, external communications manager for the CAA.

“Where we tend to get hit hardest with requests is when that deep, deep freeze comes on, which can take a significant toll on car batteries and make it all the more common for people to get stuck.”

It is for this reason, said Matos, that having a well thought out emergency kit in your car — particularly in Ontario — is of the utmost importance. She said that there is no better time than now to eliminate as many risks as possible before the first flakes of snow have touched the ground.

“Most drivers are aware of the basic supplies that one should have in their car in case of an emergency,” said Matos. “Items such as matches and a blanket, reflectors, water and some non-perishable items like granola bars are important to have in your vehicle all year.”

What many might not readily consider, she said, are items such as a bag of kitty litter, sand or salt to help create traction under tires if the vehicle’s wheels are spinning out, or even paper and pencil to write down potential instructions. Pens, she reminds, are notoriously unreliable in the cold.

“Remember that the ability to communicate is going to be vital in a winter driving emergency,” she said. “We all have a cellphone now and my car has got a USB port, but what happens if your battery is not working and you’re on the side of the road?”

Matos said that with this in mind, CAA highly recommends that if a person is commuting to work or heading out on a longer drive, they should consider adding an external charging unit to their emergency kit. She said that those in doubt about what items to add can double-check their kit against a stranded driver preparedness checklist offered by the CAA on its website.

“Drivers can also purchase vehicle emergency kits both through the CAA and at many stores,” she said. “There are also different levels of kits for different needs; some for those who venture out into more rugged landscape and some for just daily driving.”

Kerry Schmidt, a sergeant with the OPP’s Highway Safety Division, said that having an emergency kit on-hand in one’s car is imperative all year long, but adds that its presence is the most important during winter, when driving conditions can become challenging and even deadly.

“You really don’t realize when you’re stuck there for hours on end how critical having emergency supplies is,” said Schmidt.

The sergeant said that even he has leaned on supplies from his own emergency kit during a winter conundrum. He urges drivers to go a step further this winter to ensure that their car is adequately prepared for the season.

“Take the time now to get acquainted with your spare tire,” said Schmidt. “Is it properly inflated? Is it actually in your vehicle? Do you know where it is, and do you know what to do if one goes flat?”

He said that having a pair of boots, gloves and a parka available is very important, as commuters have been known to get stuck in freezing conditions wearing only their work attire.

“Make sure your vehicle is maintained. That it’s running well and is reliable,” he said. “Be mindful that we’re also going to get into daylight savings and the days will of course be shorter. Always try to remember to have those headlights in the on position so that you have taillights shining behind you.”

Schmidt said that now is time to inspect your emergency kit — open it up and make sure everything works – and to replenish such things as windshield wiper fluid, which can make the difference between low visibility and no visibility in a sudden onslaught of winter weather.
“I’ve personally run out of washer fluid and when you get that little bit of mist that comes off of other vehicles that’s when you’re going to need it.”

Schmidt said that general winter maintenance, such as putting on your winter tires, is certainly important, but it is never a guarantee of safety. That’s why, he said, an emergency kit is a must for any Ontario driver.

“Always remember when heading out on a winter drive to have a plan and to have someone aware of where you are,” he said. “If you don’t feel comfortable don’t go out.”

Emergency ready

What does the CAA suggest you pack in your emergency kit? Here are just a few of the items it recommends (for a full list visit caa.ca):
<ul>
 	<li>A small tool kit with screwdriver, pliers and other items</li>
 	<li>Extra fuses for the vehicle’s electrical system</li>
 	<li>Bottles water and granola bars</li>
 	<li>A small shovel with long handle along with a snow brush and scraper</li>
 	<li>Plenty of windshield washer fluid, de-icers and gas-line antifreeze</li>
</ul>

Putting safety first this winter

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There is nothing more Italian than sophisticated cars, stylish movies and legendary stars. Take the classic 1981 model of the 124 Spider Pininfarina.

The vehicle was one of the last cars to be tested on Fiat’s rooftop racetrack at the automaker’s factory in Turin's Ligotto district, a setting prominently featured in the 1969 version of the caper film “The Italian Job.” More recently, the Pininfarina appeared during the opening of the movie “House of Gucci,” driven by Lady Gaga, who portrayed the fashion socialite and convicted criminal Patrizia Reggiani.

But no discussion of Italian cinema is complete without talking about the legendary movie star Sophia Loren – who has lent her name to a 124 Spider Pininfarina that is appearing on Leslieville streets.

The 41-year-old Sophie, as she is known, arrived in Toronto – complete with a red binder full of service records and artist’s etchings – after being purchased by Bri Trypuc and Michael Grabowski. They tell us why they love their vehicle.

“I think it stems from my childhood,” said Trypuc, a philanthropic strategist who has always dreamed of owning an eye-catching convertible. “When you grow up in rural Ontario, and your mom hands you a shoebox when you ask for a Barbie convertible and tells you to use your imagination, yeah, I think it started from there.

“I never lost that passion for convertibles and have always loved the vintage look, so at the peak of the pandemic, when my fiancé Michael and I were able to buy something fun, I told him I’d been eyeing cars online. Luckily, he was down to do this with me, and that’s when our search began.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-172437" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-WhyLove-Spider-Stick-Oct22-scaled.jpg" alt="Spider" width="2560" height="1708" />

“We saw a lot of duds along the way. One convertible we looked at was basically a parts-car that was glued together. We took it for a drive, and it stalled about 80 metres out. We were disheartened but not deterred.

“When we finally found Sophie — or Sophia Loren, which was the name she came with — she was being sold by a gentleman named Mitch. He loved the car but was moving and wanted to make sure she went to a good home. After a virtual meet-and-greet and a visit with Sophie at a mechanic in Woodbridge, we got a call from Mitch. He said he had another offer but felt we were the right fit. We couldn’t believe she was ours.

“Since then, we’ve driven whenever the weather is nice. We get a lot of attention from children and older folks — not a ton of people from the population in between,” Trypuc said. “I can remember on one occasion we were driving in Yorkville and a guy leaned out of his C-Class Mercedes and yelled, ‘Rev it, drive it,’ in our direction. The thing is this is not a race car.

“People to try race us all the time and that makes me feel unsafe because it’s a tiny car. We avoid the 401 for that reason. There’s this road culture that exists here that we never knew about before. Sophie’s brought a lot of joy to our lives, and she deserves to be recognized. I mean, just look at her.”

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-172436" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-WhyLove-Spider-Engine-Oct22-scaled.jpg" alt="Spider" width="2560" height="1708" />

1981 124 Spider Pininfarina

Hard to miss

“I really like the way it handles,” Grabowski said about the front-engine and rear-drive car. “It has a short turning radius and doesn’t have power steering, so it takes a little bit of elbow grease but it’s an enjoyable drive. I find Toronto has some terrible drivers but because the car is so loud at least they can hear us coming. It’s not obnoxious like a Honda Civic with a massive muffler because we’re not racing from traffic light to traffic light, but admittedly the straight pipe exhaust system makes it hard to miss on the road.”

Detailed past

“Sophie came to us with this huge red binder,” said Grabowski about the vehicle, which has its own Instagram account @sophie_fiat. “It’s got records of every owner and service and maintenance that was ever done on the car, so we can really go far back into its history. It was in North Carolina at one time, and it was imported to Georgia (from Italy) in January of 1981. It was built in December of 1980. Plus, I know that just under 200,000 of these were made and something like four per cent of them are still operating.”

Driving stick

“I hadn’t driven stick in 20 years but when we got this car it did come back to me,” said Trypuc. “I’m grateful that my grandmother had a Subaru Loyale and she made us learn on that growing up, just in case we were ever stuck somewhere in Europe or needed to drive in a bind.”

This article was edited for space and clarity. Want to be featured in Why

I Love My Vehicle? email us at wheels@thestar.ca with “Why I Love” in the subject line.

Along came a Spider named Sophie — a fetching ride that turns heads

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It shone like a diamond. Patti Abrams remembers being a child and accompanying her father, an auto mechanic, to the local junkyard. It was one of their regular adventures digging for used parts.

Amongst the rusting vehicles she spotted a Chevrolet Bel Air – painted bright red with a white roof. Abrams fell in love with it.

Decades later, Abram’s husband, Steve, who knew about her passion for the Bel Air, would give her key chains or diecast models of the car. It became an inside joke between the two of them. So, on their 13th wedding anniversary, it didn’t seem odd when he handed her a card with a photograph of a banged up 1954 Bel Air inside it. “Cute, whose car is this?” she asked. “It’s yours,” her husband replied.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-172176" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-WhyLove-BelAir-Curves-Oct15-scaled.jpg" alt="1954 Chevrolet Bel Air." width="1707" height="2560" />

Abrams tells us why she loves her 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air.

“I think I was in shock,” said Abrams about receiving her anniversary gift from her husband. “He had bought the car from a friend in New Jersey. It took a few months to get here, and it looked very, very different. You couldn’t drive it and the tires were not just flat but shredded and it had no brakes.

“The first thing we did was take it to our friend Stony Smith at Oddball Kustoms, and together we started the process of putting the car together. It took about three years to get it to where it is now, and it’s been a wild adventure along the way.

“The parts have truly come from everywhere. For example, we realized quickly it had been in an accident at some point, so Stony straightened the frame as best he could but couldn’t get the trunk to fit properly. After a ton of searching, we finally found one in Manitoba.

“We only ever drive it around the city and people film us all the time. I’ve had people step out of the curb right in front of the car to ogle at it— which can be a bit unsettling. Kids wave and when you wave back, they’re so excited.

“The thing I’ve noticed most as a woman driving this car is the comments I get along the way. I take it into the shop and explain that I need to get a certain part replaced and they interrupt me and say, ‘Let us figure this out.’ I was at the gas station recently and a guy came up and said, ‘Awesome car, is this your husband’s or your dad’s?’ I get that a lot.

“My dad instilled a passion for cars in me from a young age, and for him, gender had nothing to do with that. In fact, he taught automotive repair and started the first female-only class at his school because he hated the way women were treated in his classes.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-172178" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-WhyLove-BelAir-Seats-Oct15-scaled.jpg" alt="1954 Chevrolet Bel Air." width="2560" height="1708" />

“My dad unfortunately never got to see this car before he passed away, but he knew it was coming. Steve, my husband, called him and told him he was going to buy it. He would have loved her,” Abrams said. “When I’m asked how much I’ve spent on the car, I just say ‘a lot.’ You put more money into things like this than you will ever be able to sell them for and that’s the passion behind it.”

1954 Chevrolet Bel Air

Modern touches

“The body of this car is original but almost everything else is new,” said Abrams. “It’s got automatic windows, it’s got a rear-view camera, it’s got a sound system I can hook up to my phone. Admittedly, this is a very modern take on the Chevy Bel Air, but I did want to maintain some traditional elements, especially when it came to the upholstery and the chrome. All that said, it doesn’t drive like a new car. It’s got a lot of play in the steering, and it hasn’t got power-assisted steering so parallel parking can be difficult.”

Classic curves

“The shape of this car is so sexy. I just love old curvy cars and wasn’t a fan when vehicle design shifted to boxy and sharp lines. The 1954 model was the last year that the Bel Air was this shape,” said Abrams. “I named her Talulah Blue. My daughter gives me a hard time both for naming it and for assigning it a gender, but all cars are girls — that’s just the way it is.”

Custom seating

“Stony got the car’s seats from an old pickup truck. The backseat is closer to what the Chevy Bel Air’s would have originally looked like, but the front seat would have also been a bench seat. Interestingly, neither of these seats move. They are welded into place and custom-fit to me. When we put them in, Stony asked me, ‘What position do you want to be in” How close to you want to be to the steering wheel?’ So, it’s a little uncomfortable for my husband to drive, but it’s perfect for me.”

Why I love my vehicle: 1954 Chevrolet Bel-Air was a perfect anniversary gift

wh-WhyLove-Corvette-Main-Oct8

Ray Mills, who used to play second base for his Unionville slow-pitch baseball league, had just stepped up to the plate when he heard a whisper. Following a sharp psst from the umpire, Mills turned around to hear a mid-game proposition.

“Hey Ray,” the hunched umpire whispered, “I want to buy your car.”

Mills – who is known as Rayzer among his friends – has many similar stories. He has received several offers for his red 1980 Chevrolet Corvette, which he got the year it was released. Yet no amount of money will convince the former General Motors employee to part with what he now refers to as a member of his family.

Fresh from his daily round of morning golf, the Markham resident tells us why he loves his vehicle

“I would buy my cars through my employer, General Motors," said Mills, who was overseeing material management at the company’s manufacturing plant on Eglinton Avenue. “When I decided to buy a Corvette, I put my name in at the plant to buy one. I was fifth on the list and they only allowed four names that year. A friend of mine purchased that last one, to celebrate his divorce of all things.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-172046" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-WhyLove-Corvette-Interior-Oct8-scaled.jpg" alt="Corvette" width="2560" height="1708" />

“But here’s the thing, that same friend had two boys, who were 12 and 13 years old. When fall came around that year, he was picking up his boys from a hockey game. With the boys came two hockey bags and hockey sticks. You only need give that car one look to know that its not possible to get that all inside.

“The next day my friend came into work and said, ‘Ray, do you want to buy the car?’

“I couldn’t resist. I drove the car into my driveway that day. It was bright red, and so was my wife. She was mad. She went up the wall, across the ceiling and back down the wall again screaming at me; ‘We have two children. We have a mortgage. Are you crazy. Is there something wrong with you?’
A week later, I came home from work and there was a guy in the kitchen. My wife hands me his business card and said, ‘You bought a Corvette, I’m getting a brand-new kitchen.’ And she did.

But 42 years and 80,000 miles later, I think the car has grown on her. For a long time, we’d load it up on Saturdays with a picnic basket, blanket and bottle of wine never knowing exactly where we were going. These days, we take it out for brunch on the weekends or head up to Muskoka or to Musselman’s Lake (north of Markham) in for an ice cream cone.

And, of course, we start it up on special occasions, like when my daughter and I grabbed the Canadian flag from my garage and drove up and down the streets of Markham during the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

I used to belong to a car club, but the truth is, I love driving this car. When you go to these car shows your poor car just sits there. I’d rather be driving.”

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-172045" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-WhyLove-Corvette-Engine-Oct8-scaled.jpg" alt="Corvette" width="2560" height="1708" />

A CLOSER LOOK: 1980 Chevrolet Corvette

Built for speed

“When I first got the Corvette, I put two new cams in it to boost the horsepower and I stripped the exhaust system because you don’t need catalytic converters on these cars. I increased the size of the muffler to get the back pressure off the engine. It’s quick and it runs almost like a brand-new car, but admittedly it doesn’t have the power like the new ones have. I had the pleasure of recently being able to drive the 2019 Corvette Convertible Z06. It just flew.”

Inside and out

“I just finished repainting it and I wrapped the front end from the wheel shell forward in plastic because it used to get a lot of stone chips. This plastic is called XPEL, and the film stops the stone from chipping the paint. The interior is all original except for the sound system. I redid that and there are now two speakers in the back. It’s a cassette player and I happen to have just one cassette in here, the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack.

Classic style

“I just love the styling of a Corvette,” said Mills about his two-door passenger sports car. “It’s truly unique. When Corvettes first came out in 1953, they only made 300 of them. There were only three years where this particular body was available: 1981, 1982 and 1983. It was when production switched from Missouri to Kentucky, making it even more special. I bought it for $13,800 and recently had it appraised for $45,000. But I wouldn’t sell it for the world.”

This article was edited for space and clarity. Want to be featured in Why

I Love My Vehicle? email us at wheels@thestar.ca with “Why I Love” in the subject line.

Why I love my vehicle: After 40 years, the love for his 1980 Corvette remains strong

wh-WhyLove-Bug-Main-Oct1

Julian Stewart has an astonishing memory for detail. Remembering full names, precise dates and to-the-cent prices from the past, Stewart is also able to recall his first-ever memory.

It is of him holding a toy car in his hands when he was three or four years old in wartime England. It was a model of the Chrysler Airflow, a streamlined vehicle – futuristic for its time – that Stewart found unique and different looking than the other cars he saw driving around London.

Perhaps it was this memory that, decades later, moved him to purchase a new 1967 Volkswagen Beetle – its shape reminding him of his toy Airflow – from a dealership in Toronto’s Willowdale neighbourhood. While he originally had no intention of buying the vehicle, a little bit of pushing from a determined salesperson sealed the deal and has led to decades of additional memories.

Stewart tells us why he loves his Volkswagen Beetle.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-171930" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-WhyLove-Bug-Sun-Oct1-scaled.jpg" alt="Why I love my Bug" width="2560" height="1708" />

“It was 1967, and I was new to Canada,” said Stewart. “My brother had bought his own Beetle from Willowdale Volkswagen, which used to be on Yonge Street north of Highway 401. I went there with him one day for an oil change and a grease up – that cost $3 at the time if you can believe it.

“I didn’t have a car and had just gotten a job at the airport. When the salesman found that out his eyes lit up. I told him that although I was looking, there was no way I was buying a Beetle. I had no money, and they were way too small. My girlfriend (now my wife) and I took one of the Beetles on the lot out for a ride to get him off our back. He was insistent.

“When we got back from our spin, he asked me what colour I wanted. I said, ‘No. I have no money.’ He replied that I must have some. I pulled out five dollars in bills and quarters and plunked it on the counter as a joke. He then said – and I kid you not – ‘Great, that’s enough.’

“So, I purchased this thing for $5 down, I’ve got the actual bill of sales. All together it was about $2,300. It was $1,900 for the car plus $100 the sunroof, $15 for the undercoating and $18 for the Blaupunkt radio.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-171928" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-WhyLove-Bug-Radio-Oct1-scaled.jpg" alt="Why I Love my Bug" width="1708" height="2560" />

“Since that time, the car has gone everywhere. One of the first things we did was drive it to Expo ’67 in Montreal. It’s brought both my children, who are now in their 40s, home from the hospital. It drove me backwards and forwards to work, which incidentally was a model car business that my wife and I owned named Durham Classics. The first model I created by hand as part of that business was a Chrysler Airflow.

The years have gone by, and the Beetle is now 55 years old. I’ve put some dollars into it to make sure it still works well, and you can see it’s pretty immaculate. But, at this point, given all it has done for me, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It holds a lot of history. Cars come and go, but this vehicle is irreplaceable.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-171929" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/wh-WhyLove-Bug-Skirt-Oct1-scaled.jpg" alt="Why I Love my Bug" width="2560" height="1708" />

A CLOSER LOOK: 1967 Volkswagen Beetle

Wheel skirts

“One thing that’s unusual about this car are the skirts on the wheels, which I added,” said Stewart. “They were a Volkswagen option, but I added them myself later. The skirts are usually made from metal, but these are fibreglass. I painted them to match the car and, honestly, I put them on because with them the Beetle looks more like a Chrysler Airflow – the car that I played with as a boy.”

Hot air

“Back in its day, the car came with what’s called an Eberspaecher: a gasoline heater,” he said. “Usually, water from a car’s engine circulates around the heater and the hot air is blown to warm you. That’s not the case with this vehicle. The Eberspaecher takes gas, burns it and blows out the hot air. The downside is that the heater gets so hot it could melt plastic — not great when you have personal items in the boot (trunk) of the car. And speaking of danger, this is the very first year that the Volkswagen Beetle had seatbelts. Before 1967 they were sold with nothing at all.”

Clean glass

“Typically, when it comes to washing your windows, a car has an electric pump that squirts water up the windows. The 1967 Beetle doesn’t have that. What they did is took the spare wheel and ran a little pipe from it. They then put that through a little valve and pressurized the washer tank. When you press the button on the dash it releases a little bit of air out of the tire and blows the washer fluid up on the windshield.”

This article was edited for space and clarity. Want to be featured in Why

I Love My Vehicle? email us at wheels@thestar.ca with “Why I Love” in the subject line.

Liz Beddall

Articles by Liz Beddall