pk's fleet

1962 Morris Minor convertible

• 948cc BMC Series A engine
• right hand drive
• British license plates (white on black)
• working trafficators
• working manual crank start

  • "... that's not a Beetle, is it? ..."
  • "Hey! You're on the wrong side! Ha Ha Ha."
  • "... my father/brother/uncle/neighbour used have one of those ..."

1975 Cadillac Hearse

• 500ci (8 litres) Cadillac engine
• power seats
• power windows
• blue velvet upholstery
• original 8-track cassette player
• rear air shocks
• seating for 6 adults and room for all their luggage

  • previously owned by Sweet Daddy Siki
  • "... got any dead bodies in there? Ha Ha Ha."

• SOLD April 2008, via Mike Jones, to his friend in Kearney, ON.

1974 Toyota Corona MarkII station wagon

• 2560cc 4M engine (6 cylinders)
• 4 speed manual transmission
• original equipment National AM/FM-stereo radio

  • a classic example of a 1970's Japanese-built station wagon.

1973 Toyota Corona MarkII coupe

• 2560cc 4M engine (6 cylinders)
• 3 speed automatic transmission
• original equipment National AM/FM radio with analog search
• rust
• noise
• attitude

  • a classic invincible winter beater

1984 Honda Accord S hatchback

• 1600cc engine
• 5 speed manual transmission
• an aftermarket alternator
  swapped in during a snow flurry while in the parking lot of a restaurant located half way between Erie(PA) and Pittsburgh

  • the all-purpose hatchback
  • donated Nov. 17 2006, via Mike Jones, to Mr. Brian Powell's class at RH King Academy

1994 VW Golf

• 2-litre engine
• automatic transmission
• 5 doors

• nice to drive.
• but it turned out to be a costly mistake ...:
  • front crossmember rotted out and snapped ...:
    VW Parts dept sent the wrong replacement part to my mechanic.
    My mechanic had to go to the dealer and actually point at the part on the dealer's screen.
  • left front spring broke.
  • fuel line replaced.
  • wiring harness replaced ...:
    John: "Hi Paul. Did you know you had a remote starter in that car?"
    me: "A remote starter? No, I didn't know that."
    John: "Well ... you don't anymore. We had to rip it out."


• Feb 2, 2014: caught in the middle of a car sandwich. no injuries.
  • this Golf eventually earned my grudging respect.
  • its power and nimble handling will be missed.
  • won't miss the bill for replacement parts and repairs.

2004 Pontiac Vibe

• manual transmission
• 5 doors
• roof rack
• 120v outlet in the dash
• block heater (a post-purchase discovery)

  • power nothing !!!: manual windows, manual door locks.
  • ... ok, ok -- the side mirrors are power-adjustable

• bought just before a woman called the dealer to bid for it. She had wanted to buy it for her nephew in Nigeria (!).
• the clutch-depress-switch died, preventing the car from starting. bypassed the switch with a paperclip ... at 11pm ... at -21C outside.

1998(?) Raleigh Sentinel [ RIP - 2003 ]

• 23(?)-inch hybrid-style frame
• 700C aluminium wheels (3rd set)
• Michelin 700x35C road bike tires (3rd set)
• Canadian Tire puncture-resistant inner tubes (2nd set)
• 2 chainrings with a 7 gear cassette (2nd set)
• drop-style road bike handlebars
• Mirrycle rearview mirror
• 5 inch handlebar stem extension
• 6 inch seat post extension (extra strength)
• other parts of unknown origin (they're caked with grease and road gunk)

  • the all-weather commuter
  • Raleigh's replacement for a factory-defect-affected SuperGranPrix (a break in the weld joining the seat tube to the left rear fork).

2003 Diamondback Miramar (made by Raleigh)

• 22-inch hybrid-style frame
• 700C aluminium wheels
• Continental 700x28C road bike tires
• Canadian Tire puncture-resistant inner tubes
• 2 chainrings with a 7 gear cassette
• drop-style road bike handlebars
• 12 inch seat post extension (extra strength)
• Bobike Maxi child seat

  • the all-weather commuter
  • Raleigh's warranty replacement for the factory-defected Sentinel (the crack in the downtube started at a tiny rust spot in the weld joining the headtube and the downtube)

2004 Norco Tofino

• 20-inch hybrid frame
• 700C aluminium wheels
• Continental 700x32C road bike tires
• Canadian Tire puncture-resistant inner tubes
• 3 chainrings with a 7 gear cassette
• shortened mountain-bike handlebars
• Mirrycle rearview mirror
• Wike single-seat trailer

  • the 3-season commuter
  • an insurance-funded replacement for the car-damaged Miramar