September/October, 2013
have vehicles that we have put into production. We have a lot of these commitments to honour from our manufacturers and suppliers.” Knaggs held the view that the association felt it would be better if the effects of the new tax increase would come into effect on January 1 rather than October 1. Knaggs said this would allow car dealers the chance to clear out their inventories and follow through with their commitments In a Guardian exclusive interview with to manufacturers, suppliers and cusreporter Nadaleen Singh, Knaggs said tomers who had ordered vehicles. He the increase could have repercussions on said the association planned to write to shipments which were on the way to the minister to express its views. Finance Minister Larry Howai T&T. “It would have been great if the In the next instance, President of the Government would have seen fit to give us some conT&T Used Car Dealers Association Visham Babwah sultation before hand,” Knaggs said remove in a telesaid foreign used car dealers are not worried about phone interview. the 20 per cent increase in tax for vehicles over 2500 The Government`s position was handed down by cc as announced by the minister. Babwah also spoke Finance Minister Larry Howai in the local budget presduring a news conference after the budget presentaentation on September 16, 2013. Howai said, “In retion. He said: “This will not adversely affect the foreign spect of the importation of new and foreign used cars used cars because 90 per cent of the cars imported over 2,499 cc, I propose to increase customs duty by are under 2,500 cc. The big sellers are cars with 1500 25.0 per cent with effect from October 1, 2013 on new cc engines.” Like Knaggs, Babwah also said the deciand foreign used cars over 2,499 cc, excluding T-vehision to implement this tax from October 1 was not fair cles and vehicles registered for use as maxi-taxis.” because dealers had cars on order that were sold at The issue of the effective deadline is also conan agreed price. Babwah seems to share the same tentious , as Knaggs said he was not pleased. “The view as Knaggs. Babwah said, “They should have improblem we have is that we have vehicles on the plemented this on January 1, 2014 to give us enough water that we ordered and haven’t arrived yet. We time and to be fair to consumers.”
A record TT$61.3 billion dollar budget delivered in Parliament earlier this month brought some increases in customs duty to the local auto fraternity. According to the President of the Automotive Dealers Association of T&T Philip Knaggs, the association was never approached on the decision to increase Customs and Excise duties on cars which are over 2,499 cc.
CarTalk recognises the value of vintage vehicles by collectors across the globe today. We urge readers to understand the importance of how our historic rides have forged a new path for our modern vehicles. Remember to ARRIVE ALIVE, don`t drink and drive, stay off the cell phones while driving and of course...continue to keep reading!
Special Publications Unit (SPU) SPU Producer: Tracey Alonzo Editor (Cartalk): Rodney Granado Head of Design: Denise Baptiste Associate Editors: Lisa Jessamy & Halcian Pierre Design & Layout: Sean Simon • Sherlan Thomas • Keith Lancaster • Psyche Mitchell Contributors: Christine Dalkan, Kaelanne Jordan, Akiela Hope, Nyrere Haynes Sales Sales Manager: George Elias Account Executive: Liz Jagmohan Sales enquiries: lizjagmohan1@yahoo.com Special Publications enquiries: spu1 @guardian.co.tt
NEWS • THE BUDGET AND YOU - CAR DUTY INCREASES
3
SPEACIAL FEATURE • MEET THE V8 CAR CLUB
4
INSURANCE • VEHICLE LOAN
6&7
NEW CARS • JAGUAR LAND ROVER
8&9
LADIES CORNER • A VINTAGE LADY
11
ACCESSORIES & DIY
12
STORY • ARE OLDER VEHICLES INFERIOR?
13
EVENTS • NEW CARS, MOTORSPORT REVIEW
14 & 15
Meet the
V8
Car Club Nyerere Haynes
“The love for American muscle cars and vintage cars saw the start of the Trinidad and Tobago V8 club,” said Nolan Benjamin, President of the Trinidad and Tobago V8 club. About five years ago a small group of vintage car enthusiasts met up and decided to take a cruise around Trinidad. From that outing people began inquiring about the club and began joining. The club is not exclusive to American muscle cars only but also cars over 30 years old.
According to Benjamin, getting one of these cars back to showroom condition is no easy task. It takes money, time and discipline to refurbish and maintain one of these vehicles. The members access the parts for their vehicles from North America, as many of the parts simply cannot be found locally. Owning a vintage car involves a lot of dedication and most of the guys in the club do the work on their vehicles themselves. Some of the engines can cost in the vicinity of and beyond $100, 000. Former national cyclist and car enthusiast Peter Mentor has kept his Firebird Trans Am in peak stock standard condition. He has done this because as time passes these cars become more valuable if kept in the original condition. A car enthusiast since his teenaged years, Mentor has owned several cars in his lifetime and takes special care in taking care of them. He used to hang around mechanic garages a lot and eventually he learned how to fix and maintain his own vehicle.
For Francis Paul, if it’s not American he just doesn’t want to hear about it. He loves the design, ride, durability and most of all the power of these cars. “These cars were built for crosscountry driving and can endure extreme conditions,” said Paul. In total he has owned over 12 cars in his life and not one of them has been Japanese. “You have to be in a good mood to drive these cars,” said Mike Mc Gee. He has been a car enthusiast for over the last ten years and credits the condition of his vintage Jaguar to his mechanic Steve Changa who views working on the car as a labour of love. Alan Dickson fulfilled a dream when he procured his 1994 Corvette. He was always attracted to the car’s sleek design, speed and power. He uses the car only once a fortnight, washes it and covers it with car tarpaulin because he said that the car gets cold. In addition to their love of cars the club focuses on giving back to society through work that is done in different communities. Last year they went to Mamoral village and with the help of sponsors were able to host a Christmas giveaway to underprivileged children. The club has also worked with the Grant A Wish Foundation. Using their cars the members gave rides to the children. The V8 club intends to start an educational programme for local youths that will focus on mechanics, auto bodywork and automotive history. The programmes will be designed to also showcase the values and moral lessons that were more common in the time when many of the club’s vintage vehicles dominated the road.
Member pro les: Name: Nolan Benjamin Car: 1975 Chevy Malibu Classic Under the hood: Chevy V8 396 big block
Name: Alan Dickson Car: 1994 Chevrolet corvette LT1 Under the hood: 350 stock, 300 HP, 700 transmission
Name: Paul Mentor Car: 1985 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Under the hood: Chevy V8 396 big block, 225 HP
Name: Clifford Tardieu Car: 1981 Chevy pickup Under the hood: 350 small block, 300 HP
Name: Francis Paul Car: 1978 Chevy Malibu Under the hood: Chevy V8 350 stock, 210 HP
Name: Mike Mc Gee Car: Mark 2 1960 Jaguar Under the hood: 3.8 Litre engine, double overhead camshaft
September/October, 2013
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Eastern Credit Union continues to grow as a financial entity in T&T. With various branches across the country and custom financial packages to serve your needs, the credit union is paving the way with vehicle loan initiatives with a solid background. Eastern Credit Union Co-operative Society Limited is one of the leading financial co-operatives in the region with 40 years experience, over 170,000 memberships and an asset base in excess of $1.5 Billion. Eastern Credit Union is also the first credit union in the English speaking Caribbean to be rated BBB-, which is investment grade by the Caribbean Information and Credit Rating Service Limited (CariCRIS). We have a wide range of products and services that are designed to meet the financial needs of our members with low and competitive rates.
New or Used Vehicles, Eastern Credit Union Has the Loan for You VEHICLE LOANS; • One Stop Shop for vehicle loans and insurance as we are Colfire Agents • Up to seven (7) years to repay on new vehicles • Five (5) years to repay on used vehicles • Interest rates as low as 0.9% monthly on the reducing balance VEHICLE LOAN INSURANCE; • Loan for the sole purpose of covering vehicle insurance premium • Members who acquire Insurance from Colfire, will be eligible for an additional 20% special discount • Loan can be applied for insurance to cover the following types of vehicles; Cars. SUVS, Maxi Taxis, Pick Ups, Trucks and Vans • Loan is applicable to new, used, roll/ roll of vehicles. OTHER LOANS; • Mortgage; Win Big with an Eastern Credit Union Mortgage Loan. Get low low interest rates of 0.56% on the monthly reducing balance, and valuable prizes when you sign up today! • Light Up the Season Loans; Cover your Divali and Christmas expenses and new vehicle purchase. One successful loan applicant will have a chance to win the Grand Prize of having their loan repaid up to $15,000. • Reap the Rewards of your Harvest; Tobago, get loans from $2500 to $50,000 to cover Harvest Expenses such as repairs, renovations, purchase of furniture and appliances, with low low interest rates. For further details contact our Call Centre at 800-4ECU (4328) or 800-LOAN (5626). Visit our website: www.easterncutt.com. Like our face book page and follow us on twitter.
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When it comes to cars for some, the adage: “The older the berry, the sweeter the juice” applies to their taste in cars. In this case, the older the cars the better it is but would insurance companies insure vintage cars? If so, what price range would the insurance sell for? According to one insurance company, vintage insurance
is classed as special type insurance. Though not in high demand, vintage insurance is still offered in the insurance market in T&T at a cost of approximately $2800. Without a doubt, the definition of a vintage car changes depending on what insurance company you approach to get your insurance, this means the cost of insurance for a vintage car can vary.
“Though classic cars can cost less to insure than a standard vehicle, your classic car policy is likely to have restrictions. They can include: • Limits on how many miles you drive the car each year • Mandates on how the car is stored (usually in a secured garage) • Restrictions on who may drive the vehicle Another insurance company said as required by law, insurance companies can only issue third party insurance. Insurance for vintage vehicles means that the insurance agent must ensure that it is in proper mechanical condition if it will be driven on the roadways. However, if it will be taken on a trailer/flatbed wrecker to the exhibitions, then no insurance will be necessary. We will not cover the vehicle for own damage, as in T&T it will be problematic getting these vintage cars properly valued.” Old or new, colour or size, whatever their use, like it or not… vintage cars have etched their footprints deeply in the automobile industry and will be there for a long time to come, much to the satisfaction of the car enthusiast or collector, but always at a risk.
cartalk
September/October, 2013
cartalk
As the only automotive manufacturer to hold all three Royal Warrants from Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Jaguar Land Rover was proud to support the Coronation Festival which took place in the gardens of Buckingham Palace from July 11th to July 14th. The company showcased 60 years of innovation with a display of vehicles which represented Jaguar Land Rover's past, present and future. Amongst the esteemed guests visiting the Jaguar Land Rover Pavilion were Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales.
JAGUAR LAND ROVER SHOWCASED THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES AT THE CORONATION FESTIVAL: Jaguar Land Rover Stand Jaguar C-X75 Hybrid Supercar Prototype Jaguar F-TYPE Jaguar XF Sportbrake All-new Range Rover Range Rover Evoque
Jeremy Clarkson and his Top Gear co-hosts took over the Mall with 200 million pounds of British cars. • Clarkson and his co-hosts filmed a new episode of Top Gear on the Mall • The trio drove three red, white and blue new Jaguars today • They were accompanied by £200million of great British cars • At one point the Household Cavalry passed through the set • Clarkson also drove his own invention - the one-person, hybrid P45. The Mall is a road in London, England running from Buckingham Palace at its western end to Admiralty Arch and on to Trafalgar Square at its eastern end. Before its termination at Whitehall it is met by Spring Gardens, which was where the Metropolitan Board of Works and, for a number of years, the London County Council were based. It is closed to traffic on Sundays and public holidays, and on ceremonial occasions.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE ROSE GARDEN
1948 Land Rover Series I 1953 Land Rover Royal ceremonial vehicle known as State IV 1955 Jaguar Mark VIIM Saloon 1974 Royal review Range Rover 1961 Jaguar E-TYPE Series I 2012 Jaguar XJ Semi-State Limousine 2013 Range Rover Sport At the end of the last series Jeremy, James and Richard rounded up the best of the British motoring industry for a little parade outside the Queen's house. If you didn’t see it, we included marques like Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mini, McLaren and lots, lots more. And now one of the greats is back from the dead and fit to be added to the register: Lister. The firm has been revived by warranty firm Warrantywise. They’ve amalgamated the three previous Lister companies (George Lister Engineering of Cambridge, Brian Lister Light Engineering and Lister Storm) into one - Lister Motor Company Limited. The plan is to use the original working drawings and manufacturing jigs from the 1950s to get that famous 1950s race car ¬- the Lister ‘Knobbly' Jaguar - back on track. They've even dusted off their phonebook and got many of the team involved in the original to come back and fit racing Jaguar D Type-spec engines and gearboxes to the cars, almost 25 years after the last Lister was produced. “The Lister ‘Knobbly' was a powerful, giant-killing racing car in its heyday, and with all the expertise we have brought together for this project, I can promise that the new Lister will be a fabulously exciting and desirable car. This is a passionate undertaking for us and we also have some very exciting plans for the future," sats Lawrence Whittaker, CEO of Warranty Wise and the man funding the project. Source: www.topgear.com
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1. Know what you want Are you thinking about purchasing your fantasy Vintage car? For most people, owning a car is a dream come true; owning a vintage car is considered a luxury. Maybe you’ve got your heart set on owning a 1957 Ford Thunder or even the 1969 Corvette really gets your engine going. Whatever make or model, you have a lot to consider before making your first classic- car purchase. Co- founder of the Trinidad and Tobago V8 Car Club, and proud owner of three vintage cars, a 1975 Chevy Malibu Classic, 1976 Chevy Nova and a 1968 Ford Galaxy 500 fast back, Nolan Benjamin, has taken the mystery out of vintage- car shopping with four tips for making your vintage car dreams a reality.
Shopping for a vintage car is a vastly different experience than purchasing a typical vehicle Benjamin noted. Most people considering a vintage- car purchase will have a particular car in mind already, whether one designed for racing, a twodoor, a stylish ride or maybe you just want to have a piece of automotive history in your garage. If you don’t have a clue as to what classic car you want, then you need to start looking around. A great way to look at a large collection of classic cars all at once is to go to some classic car shows. You will be able to look at a wide range of models, be able to speak to the owners to learn more about the cars, and be able to find detailed information from the owners.
2. The older the better When we say vintage cars, we usually think about the great cars and automobiles that were produced about 30 to 40 years ago and maybe even more. According to Benjamin, vintage cars are like fine wine, the older the better. Vintage cars from 50 - 60, this era were built of heavier, stronger materials and bigger engines with more
power than their modern equivalents. Considerably, the older the vehicle, the more costly it is.
3. Be prepared for costly repair bills and maintenance A person may know a lot about cars but that is not the main necessity, having money is. This is because buying a vintage car can cost a huge sum. One reason for this is that replacement parts can be very hard to find. If ever, these parts can be expensive or they have to be fabricated and custom-made parts are also expensive.
4. Availability of parts According to Benjamin, the availability of parts is crucial to vintage shopping. He says that some model car parts are not available to restore them. He says that since vintage cars are not appreciated, as they should, there is the issue with Customs since we have to import them from abroad. Also finding a vintage car with its original components that is still in good working condition can be nearly impossible. Benjamin concluded that once you’ve taken these points into consideration, you can now enjoy a nice, safe, strong ride… and the public’s attention too.
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Akiela Hope The colour of the car grabs your attention, the license plate glitters, the shape of the car’s body tantalizes your driving fingers, the sound of the engine ignites your speed urges, yet when the car gets closer, the imagery of a coquettish lady transcends from the vehicle. If you think this is a dream it is not, it happens right here in Trinidad and Tobago, where ladies are obsessed with their rides... just as men. However, for some of these females their car, ride, prize possession, as many may call it, is not the typical ride of today. Some of these ladies opt for a more classical vehicle with time and tales attached to its era. One of these ladies who take pride in her vintage coupé is Shabana Smith. She takes us on a journey of her life with her car, from the time of acquiring her baby machine to the present. She said, “Firstly, let me thank you for featuring me and my 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air - registration number PC4220 - on your Car Talk Magazine. I think the story of me acquiring this beauty is a bit surreal as I support my husband, Derek Smith and his hobby so much that I myself have grown to love the collection of Antique Cars as he does. How I came about my 1955 Chevrolet “Bel Air” which I have owned for the past 3 years - is pretty interesting. This car was first discovered by my husband in 1985 when he visited a well known Port of Spain mechanic, Mr. Ivan Chang, who specialized in repairing American Chevrolet. My husband had just purchased a 1937 Chevrolet from the late Mr. Jeffrey Serville and while visiting the mechanic, discovered the 1955 Chevrolet stored among Mr Chang's collectibles. He immediately asked whether Mr. Chang would sell the car which at the time was in immaculate condition. Of course it was like asking Mr. Chang to separate with part of his being. Suffice to say years passed and my husband relented and gave up the chase.” Shabana said, “Fast forward to 2009 and I am now Mrs. Smith and my husband gets a call from a car dealer in Princess Town who informed him that there is this guy - Mr. John Leagair - who was looking to sell his Chevrolet Classic, only to discover that it was the same 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air which he was trying to purchase some 24years earlier. My husband told the guy to bring the car to his hotel and if I liked it, he would purchase it for me. The rest is history. I now have my own 1955 Chevrolet - nicknamed “Twetty Love” - an original 1955 Chevrolet, four door, Bel Air Sedan. I am the fourth owner of this beautiful car. We immediately began the process of restoring the car’s external body which had deteriorated considerably. However, my husband convinced me to make this car a “Street Low Rider” exhibit which meant that the car was installed with a hydraulic system which causes it to be raised and lowered mechanically. This job was done by “Barely Legal”, a San Fernando company owned by Aleem Ali. For the body restoration, original body parts were easy to access/buy. We found a supplier on the world wide web - Chevs of the 40's which carried a complete range of original parts for 1955 Chevrolets. The car took the greater part of 2010 to complete its body restoration. This part of the job was done by Boysie Seepersad from Siparia. The interior of the car was totally restored by Tony’s Upholstery, a company owned by Mr. Krishna Ramsaran of Debe.” She concluded, “Mechanically, the car was preserved except for minor repairs to the braking system. Both Mr Chang, the original owner and the previous owner, Mr.John Leagair managed to meticulously maintain the mechanics up to today. Again, any replacement part was imported from “Chevs of the 40’s. My plan is to rent my 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air as part of a fleet of cars from Vintage Car Rentals for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, graduations, photo shoots, movies, advertisements and any other event that may present itself. Being a “one of a kind restoration” makes my ride very unique and makes me feel very special when I drive it. I love my ride and will never part with it.”
September/October, 2013
WIN 6 m car pa onths ymen FREE* ts (3 win ners i n all)
Christine Dalkan
According to Philip Knaggs, President of the Automotive Dealers Association of Trinidad and Tobago, “the importation of foreign used vehicles was born in Trinidad and Tobago out of the decision to help middle and lower income people buy cars.” Apart from this influx of vehicles into the country that are about four to six years old, what is the status with vehicles that we have known for as long as we can remember – the Royal Saloons, the Nissan Laurels, the 280Cs, the Datsun 1200s and others? It is no secret that all vehicles need regular maintenance, but an older vehicle may need more care than a new one. Another disadvantage is that it may carry less warranty than a newly bought car from the showroom. In fact, this seems to be the point Mr. Knaggs has been trying to get across – that the older the cars are that we import equals more inferior cars with lower emission standards clogging up the nation’s already busy roads. He refers to these vehicles as “unroadworthy” and says allowing older cars to be imported sends a wrong message about this country's If this is true, then what message do the Royal Saloons and similar cars send about our vehicle standards? What exactly do owners of such vehicles have to deal with and if Mr. Knaggs is right, why on earth would anyone want to own such a car? Car Talk thought the best way to find out would be to ask such owners. One factor most of the owners we spoke to had in common was their occupation as taxi drivers. Not coincidentally as they explained, these vehicles have stood the test of time and provided great mileage (diesel fuelled), as they usually ply the vehicles for hire seven days a week, all day long. Another great advantage they were quick to point out is that parts are cheap and easily accessible. Regular maintenance is easier with an older vehicle, they claimed, as they spend less money to get repairs done than they would otherwise have spent on a new car. Another advantage is they can get the parts quickly and thus get their car repaired within a few days. With a new vehicle, they say, one may have to order the part from the dealer and then wait for it to be shipped to this country. Being a taxi driver, this would mean several days without work. However, part of maintaining a vehicle is having a good mechanic who knows and understands your vehicle. Is this difficult when one owns an older vehicle? It doesn't seem that way, as these owners say it is instead quite the opposite – most mechanics locally know an older model of a vehicle better than they know the new ones. Therefore, it does seem that having an older vehicle is really not that tough, until we ask the question of how often you find yourself taking a trip to the mechanic. With age comes wisdom, but also ailments. Owners of aged vehicles tend to find themselves regularly paying for repairs, and although parts may come cheap, service doesn't always. In fact, minor repairs or not, constant servicing of your car will eventually add up to a tidy sum. So while one may think they are paying less for repairs to an older vehicle than a new one, ask yourself, when you add up how many times you've visited the mechanic for the month, the time you've taken to find parts and then wait for your vehicle to be serviced; how much money have you spent in total, how much money have you lost when you could have been working instead of sitting at the mechanic? Is it really cheaper to maintain? Additionally, you really don't know how long your vehicle will hold up to the test of time. Eventually, you may find yourself having to get another vehicle, one that does not need constant repair. Therefore, it's no wonder that Mr. Knaggs is “very disappointed” at the Minister of Trade's decision to change the import age of foreign used vehicles from four to six years. As he says, “sixyear-old cars are six years closer to being unroadworthy”. Maybe what we should be looking at are other avenues to allow lower income bracket citizens to purchase new and proper working vehicles.
A modern showroom awaits Tobagonians interested in all the popular models offered by Neal & Massy Automotive Limited. The launch of the upgraded building was the talk of Tobago in August as specially invited guests got a first-hand look at the Service Centre as well. Tobago Service Limited has been in the automotive business for more than 40 years and has proudly served its customers with class and efficiency. The launch signalled Tobago Service Limited's commitment to consistently meeting the growing needs of its clients. A well stocked bar and live entertainment also added to the warm atmosphere.
Action in the local series continued recently at the Arima Race Club. Kristian Boodoosingh maintained his fierce attack on the championship before a large crowd and secured another fastest time. A special drift display close to the end gave spectators more to talk about till the next event. Look out for the schedule on www.trintuner.com
Reform was the place to be as Bajan driver James Betts continued his onslaught on the locals. He eventually topped the day’s proceedings but special mention comes in for Ryan Peyrau and Crag Sumairsingh as they also put on a great show in their respective classes.
The 4x4 Trailblazers hosted another great event out at Caroni with some obstacle courses that had everyone searching for traction. From novice to expert stages, it seemed as though everyone had a blast and a taste of the muddy conditions.
September/October, 2013