Rare In North America: 1965 Isuzu Elf In Canada

Pre-1981 Isuzu products are rare in North America (never mind that the Bellel and Bellett were briefly distributed in the western US in the 1960s and the Bellett was locally assembled in Canada in the 1960s), and a first-generation Elf truck is not easy to find.

This is a heavily modified truck, with a Chevrolet V8, four-wheel-drive and a lift kit, but could still be restored by an Isuzu enthusiast. Being in Canada, it is not subject to the 25% "chicken tax" due to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Find it here in Hamilton, Ontario for $1200 CDN

Abandoned: 1961 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88

This classic Olds belongs to my friend's dad in Canada. These pictures were taken in early 2010, and the car's still languishing in the same spot in a field as I write this. It was purchased in 2005, probably for very little money. It never ran, but the body looked solid and the interior was still in good shape. I don't expect it to go anywhere for a while and wish someone would save it.

Forbidden Fruit: 1990 Mazda Carol Kei Car

This kei car may be the only one of its kind in North America, and at $1750 CDN, with 86,000 kilometers, it seems like a great deal for those who can legally import a 1990 car or who live in Canada. The automatic transmission/660cc engine may make it sluggish however.

Find it here in Vancouver, British Columbia for $1750 CDN

Forbidden Fruit: 1965 Piaggio Ape Project in Canada

The Piaggio Ape (pronounced ah-pay), made by the company most famous for the Vespa scooter, is not well-known in North America, but is ubiquitous in the Mediterranean and the Third World as an inexpensive working vehicle. This Ape has an unknown streamliner cargo bed and has been stored for many years, but is a great project, and can be imported to the US easily. Parts may be tricky (as with many other interesting vehicles), but eBay is a great source, and this enthusiast website is a great source of info on these interesting microtrucks. 

An advantage that the Ape has over a kei truck is that in places where all kei trucks regardless of model year are illegal, the Ape isn't, since it is legally considered a motorcycle. Most states also do not require a motorcycle endorsement for three-wheelers. 

Daihatsu Midget fans in states that say no to kei trucks, the Piaggio Ape (especially in closed-cab form) is for you!

Find it here for $1000 CDN in Coquitlam, British Columbia (or go here if ad disappears)

Junked: Ford Zodiac Mk II 206E

I had never seen a Ford Zodiac in person before I came across this hulk languishing in a Canadian junkyard three years ago. Zodiac was the luxury variant of the Zephyr, and was the largest Ford passenger car sold in the UK during its production run. This one is a Mk II model sold between 1956 and 1961. They came with a straight six and were sold in two body styles, "Highline" and "Lowline", named for the roof height. In 1959 Ford cut out a couple of inches from the roof and redid the interior with a revised rectangular instrument panel to make the Lowline. That dates this car between 1959-1962. Don't bother asking where to find it for parts, this car is long gone.

Northern Neon: The Lost Facade of Don Wheaton Chevrolet

In early 2010 I was in Alberta, Canada visiting a friend. While we were in the capital city of Edmonton he showed me Don Wheaton Chevrolet-Buick-Cadillac-GMC Ltd., a dealership which has been in business in the same location on Whyte Ave since 1963. The building had undergone few changes in its 40-plus years and had been considered a fixture of the neighborhood. Even in 2010 it had retained its Oldsmobile and Camaro signage. Despite the vintage exterior, Wheaton's dealership was the largest GM distributor in Western Canada and one of the biggest sellers of Corvettes in Canada.

Photos by Jay Wollenweber

In 2011, though, progress came calling. General Motors in their infinite wisdom demanded that Wheaton modernize to the bland new corporate dealership look or risk losing the new car franchise. People complained, but GM prevailed. Wheaton renovated, removing all of the old neon signage and refacing the building. They included some neon on the corner of 82 Ave and Whyte, comprising the corporate logo, and the old signs on the roof remain because the building is a city landmark. It's not all bad - the service department is finally modernized and enlarged, the rooftop inventory lot is improved and the showroom is all new inside. Allegedly the corner sign is a replica of the original 1963 dealer sign (albeit a rather ugly one in my opinion), and plans included restoring the rotating "CHEV" sign on the roof which had been stationary for years. Renovations were completed in September 2012. But otherwise the dealership has lost much of the retro flavor made it unique among GM dealers. It's just as well. Don Wheaton passed away shortly after Christmas in 2011.


Photo courtesy Don Wheaton Chevrolet

BMW Dealer Abandoned Since 1988

This dealership, in Ontario, Canada, sits somehow maintained but unused with an E24 635CSI and E28 5-series sitting inside untouched and an E12 M535 sitting outside in deteriorated condition.

Supposedly the cars are gone, according to YouTube comments, hopefully they were saved.