It’s been nearly a month since that last show of 2024, and there’s clearly been some pent-up demand. A number of gearheads on Insta said they’d brave the cold (and the salt) to come out to Alias Car Club’s meet-up in Mississauga.
Heading out to the show meant filling up the tank with 94 octane and going through the car wash to make the vehicle presentable, Out in Mississauga there’s even a retro-styled drive-thru Mickey D’s right out of the 60s to get some grub and channel the spirits of hot rods past.
A huge number of rowdy youngsters were at the meet. This one was scheduled to start at 9pm and run past midnight, which was perfect for people with jobs who live in the east end.
And considering the fact that some lunatic drove a $100,000 1992 Acura NSX through the snow and salt to the show meant they must be employed!
As always, the fun part of these car meets is the diversity of vehicles on display. It’s hard to top a JDM supercar, but this guy driving an emerald green 1979 Chevy Caprice Classic two-door coupe certainly had the oldest car at the show. When was the last time anybody ever saw one of these beasts?
For Canadian winters, the Subaru is the AWD weapon of choice. Whether its a newer Subaru WRX VAi, a 3rd generation turbocharged Forester with colourful fog lights, or an original ‘New Age’ Subaru Impreza WRX with an STi engine, this brand is so popular in the tuner community.
And if the engine on your Subaru has blown up, a trip to Can-Jam Motorsports (like this guy) will get you a new EJ257 short block for the cost of a used Toyota Corolla. Just remember the slogan; TALK’S CHEAP, WINNING ISN’T!
With no snow in the forecast, and the temperatures only a bit below zero, some particularly nice cars were on display. A Lexus with a carbon-fiber front end glistened under the lights. And a Mk7 Golf GTI was just old enough to start looking retro-cool already.
Friday night’s meet ran really late, and despite the huge number of people, the police never broke up the event. A nice change of pace. But with Toronto in the grips of a ‘polar vortex’ it doesn’t seem there will be another car meet again too soon.
Aww the Caprice Classic, my grandparents had one but the 4 door version, not nearly as cool as that green one!
I’ve only ever seen pictures of the 2-door. That emeral green paint was definitely new because no Caprice Classic ever left the factory looking that good.
.
Its one of those rare cars everyone has a connection to. Your grandparents had one, my next-door neighbour had a brick red 4-door, and how many of us ended up in the back of a Caprice the first time we were arrested, right?
I can’t remember which kind of cop car I was in the backseat of…might’ve been a Ford Taurus lol
Oh… you’re a youngster!
Oh I wouldn’t say that
Looked like a marvelous meet-up. Wonderful photos. Is that a McArch on the red and white stripped building with the yellow trim and arch?
Yes, the McD’s was really cool.
.
As a Canadian, I was raised to hate Americans but secretly loved Americana. I try to visit all the retro old-school diners in town, but this McDonalds was just a random find.
.
Its in the suburbs, a mile off the highway, and is stunning. A faithful recreation of a single arch 1960s style McDonalds. One arch on each side of the mostly glass building. I tried to catch the reflection on the WRX but the drive thru was so busy.
.
Must go back
It looks cool. But Canadians are Americans as well as Mexicans and South Americans. I discovered how American all of the Americas are when I lived in Spain. Talking to Peruvians, Canadians , Colombians, Brazilians, and Argentinians in Spain was like talking to my neighbors here. How culturally similar we all are really stood out in comparison to Spanish culture.
Almost makes you think that there is no American culture, South American culture or North American culture… just people. Good people everywhere when you look for them.
We see the differences in our cultures as huge here, but in Spain, they seemed so minor. It’s like looking at the Americas like Europe or Asia.
So glad I started reading your posts online. You clearly put time and effort into the placement of the photos. Sounds like a great time, except for the “a couple degrees below zero.” Celsius or Fahrenheit, i’m not keen to be around zero.
Oh gosh, it was balmy. Must have been 30F! No winter coats, but one guy was walking around in snowpants (overalls) a toque, and a T-shirt.
.
I take a lot of pics, try to use a filter to boost the colour, then organize then into little vignettes. Tells the story of that night better.
.
And Im glad you enjoy it.