InMotion
GREATER VICTORIA Advertising Feature
Your community’s transportation station... Send your driving, boating or biking-related events to
jblyth@telus.net
• February 1, 2013
Events & Activities... FEBRUARY 13 – The Vancouver Island Mustang Association meets at Jasmine’s Restaurant on the Old Island Highway in Colwood. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting following at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. FEBRUARY 17 – Steve Copp Construction Winter Hornet Series Enduro, 1 p.m. start at Western Speedway. FMI: www.westernspeedway.net
Send your driving, boating or biking-related events to jblyth@telus.net
The Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz was the height of luxury for 1960 with sweeping chrome, front and rear grilles and a fiberglass convertible top boot cover.
Photos: Bruce Stewart
One big-finned land yacht wasn’t enough for Victoria couple Ron Tomlinson’s gold 1960 convertible is one of only 1,285 Eldorado Biarritz convertibles made. One of a pair of ‘his and hers’ finned Cadillac convertibles owned ALYN EDWARDS by the Langford car CLASSIC enthusiast and his wife, RIDES Miriam, it’s equipped with everything but a toaster. The red one is the standard 62 series. Both have huge fins with front and rear grilles resembling a jukebox of the same era. Gargantuan land yachts, yes. And, no: you don’t need a special driver’s license to pilot one. These Caddies are surprisingly nimble to drive with the four corners very visible. Parade dignitaries have discovered that crowds pay more attention to the car they are riding in than them. Since the 1959 Cadillac had twin taillights mounted aboard Detroit’s most towering fins, the designers have been quoted as saying they got the 1959 design right in 1960. The 1960 Cadillac is representative of the last of the great romantic road cars. The owner’s manual has instructions regarding tire pressures and oil viscosity as if one will be cruising all day long at speeds in excess of 150 kilometres an hour. The 62 Series was the base model convertible. The 1960 Eldorado Biarritz convertible offered over-the-top luxury appointments and was nearly six metres long (225 inches), weighing in at 2,400 kilograms (5,060 pounds). Features include air ride suspension, air conditioning, cruise control, power everything, a custom fiberglass convertible top boot and triple two barrel carburetors delivering fuel to a giant 390 cubic inch (345 hp) engine. Ron Tomlinson literally bought his Eldorado Biarritz at a fire sale almost exactly 40 years ago. The owners had driven the car from Chicago when they
This red 1960 Cadillac Series 62 convertible was a 25th anniversary gift to Miriam Tomlinson from husband Ron who owns a similar car. Photos: Bruce Stewart
bought a campground near Nanaimo for a complete lifestyle change. Ron’s father, who had befriended the family and suggested they move to Vancouver Island, had surveyed the property for the owners of the Cadillac. Young Ron had dropped in to see the campground when the owner’s son showed him the big Cadillac Eldorado convertible. Ron told him he would love to buy the car if it ever came up for sale. Three years later, the son called Ron to tell him he could have the car. But there was a catch. The complicated triple carburetion setup had caused an engine fire as his mother was driving out of the campground and the car was no longer drivable. The insurance company was offering $500 for the car and planned to send it to the crusher.
The son said if Ron couldn’t fix the car, they would buy it back for the same price. Ron responded that he would buy the car and, if he couldn’t fix it, he would put the car up on blocks and polish it. For $750, Ron rewired the engine compartments and replaced the carburetors to put the car back on the road within a year. But it was five years before the body work and paint was done for $1,300. One of the first trips with the car was back to the campground for an emotional reunion with the family he had purchased the Eldorado Biarritz convertible from. Continued on Pg. B3
Don’t wait too long! Timing Belts Bring in this coupon for
A broken timing belt can cause extensive damage to your Honda’s engine. Refer to your owner’s manual for recommended replacement. • Replace Timing Belt • Replace Water Pump*
• Replace Drive Belts* • Includes Genuine Honda Parts & Labour
Why compromise on safety? Our Honda-trained technicians know your Honda like no one else. The job will be done right - the first time. * If required. Applies only to Honda vehicles. Cannot be combined with other offers.
Campus Honda 506 Finlayson Street, Victoria, BC V8T 5C8
s WWW.CampusHonda.com
15
%
OFF P Parts and L Labour
! AND M DE
LAR OPU ONLY P BY R 2 WEEKS E V DO REMAINING! HEL