Lovers of South Park know how Americans view Canadians. In the eyes of the Americans, Canadians are strangers. Very strange, mostly British foreigners. And Canadians often see Americans as the people whose greatest tour de force has been to exterminate the RESTORE Native Americans and drink Budweiser. A kind of barbarians.
Canada is very European
Because Canada has absolutely major European influences. We believe that it has made the country sympathetic. Canadians are also very different from people of the United States: They love European classics. That could just be because Europe, as the home of ever, is still quite fresh in the Canadian collective memory. And the link with Europe goes so far that in the meantime we have a pleasant communication with Bas van der Hoek, who long ago 'pampered the goat' and ended up in Canada, near Vancouver.
Because we Dutch are economical
From that pleasant contact we learn that there are still many classics in Canada. Apparently, these cars usually live in the 100% white enclaves of somewhat older emigrants, who have been doing well since their arrival since the XNUMXs. An acquaintance from my childhood, Piet van den Burg, who was living here with my grandmother as a village police officer, has hung his police hat on the willows since he in the early XNUMXs. For example, he has built a healthy construction company. And there are many Dutch people in Canada.
European memories, nostalgia
These are all people who have built up a European legacy of thought for the first twenty + years of their lives. And now many of those men are in a phase where they can cherish pleasantly nostalgic European memories. Think of classic European cars. So much European classics is so much fun that the other phenomenon was mentioned casually: there are also many classic Americans in Canada.
Church cars and status
At the time, they were bought as local luxury car / family transport. They are therefore often not the most exotic cars. But if a Dutch citizen who had settled in Canada bought an American, it was usually a V8 sedan. And that pride was cherished. So well cherished that many of them have survived in a particularly beautiful condition, in the possession of now not so young widows. These people usually live in 'all white communities', small, white villages. Whether the owner of the exorbitant - fully working - Aston Martin Lagonda is also in such a somewhat conservative environment? We do not know that. But we do know that there are many less exuberant British classics driving or standing locally.
The land of Bas van der Hoek
When we dream away at the stories of Bas van der Hoek, we see whole rows of gray ladies driving almost new Chevrolet Malibus, Mercury Monarchs and Ford LTDs from the seventies. And these are often what they call 'church wagons' here in NL. The family went to church with it on the Day of the Lord. Because for many ex-Dutch people their faith was still the anchor in their lives. But in living a godly life, the congregation was of course allowed to see that the family going to church had not done it wrong in this earthly existence either.
But that you would encounter a Renault Fuego and a Renault Gordini at a Canadian classic car meeting? Or a Volvo F12 Intercoolers as a cut flower transporter? We think Canada is an intriguing country.
If you have any questions about Canadian classics, you can send them to the editor. We will then forward them to Bas.
Also interesting to read:
- IVA men M / F can be found everywhere
- Import from a classic: do it or have it done?
I find the restomod of that silver-gray CX to the left of the Volvo F12 in the first photo at least as interesting as the other classics shown.
Just a reactive on the Ford LTD from the 70s. That was not exactly a car to impress (no comment, have enjoyed driving a 1977 model myself), not impressive as a basis, widely used as a police car and taxi (tire pressure sticker in the door mentioned those also in the door frame of the citizen version.The basis was in any case the Windsor V8 5,7 L, an automatic transmission and air conditioning, a continuous front seat in skai, otherwise nothing could be broken because it was not on it. the Escort and Kadett of the people here If you wanted to impress, there was the Mercury version with folding headlights and all other options, but a rock solid car, for sure.
And quite big by our standards at the time. I myself have had a very 'bald' LeSabre. That was just the USA Opel record. Civil & obedient
Look at those cars, the people and the environment: it looks like Europe.
And that is exactly the difference with the US: that separated from England in 1776 and formed an ever-growing state where the law of the strongest applied for a long time. Canada remained a European-oriented rule of law and is still a member of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth II is head of state there.
Are Canadians and Europeans better people than Americans now? No, of course not, but compared to Canada, the US is a rock-hard society.
An acquaintance spent six months in the USA for a job. His conclusion? It's a great country if you are white, male, young and healthy and have a job. The USA is also very strange. Many people are simply stupid. Clifton is the example of from cobbler to Prof. Dr. in bacteriology. After a fundraising speech to the hospital where he worked, he was addressed admiringly by a white lady of undoubtedly good pedigree. After all, she was invited to the fundraising speeches? The lady beamed at Clifton, who is African American: "And 'you' speak English so well!"