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[caption id="attachment_3079" align="alignnone" width="497"] Classic car mural on a garage in Kitsilano, just off West Broadway. The tires seem a little flat. Click on the image to enlarge.[/caption]

Fare mural of a London taxi ►

The Fairview neighbourhood has it's share of classic cars on display. I wouldn't be surprised to learn there's an investment angle, but I'll stick with the tried-and-true, "grown up boys and their toys." One such "boy" owns the cherry-red Ford Mustang pictured above. He also owns an Austin Mini wagon -- also cherry-red. I watched, over several months, while he restored the side wood panelling, and I suspect he did a lot more. He may well have done all the mechanical restoration on both the Mini, and the Mustang. One of his neighbours owns a white 1990 Mazda Miata -- original in every regard. The owner once explained to me the many nuanced reasons a 1990 Miata was so special; at one point, I think he was either drooling, or foaming at the mouth. These guys take these cars so seriously! Click the images to enlarge them.

Here's a beautiful 1967 Mercury Cougar, that, year-after-year, mostly sits in its carport, near Cambie and 16th, gathering dust. I chose to snap these pictures on a rare day when it's owner, Ted,  was taking it out for a spin, so not a lot of time for chit-chat. I did catch that Ted is, and has been, the car's third owner, for eight years. He pointed out some racing-related emblems on the car which hint at a real racing pedigree. My interest is the styling -- that "electric shaver" grille, for instance. The Cougar was the Mercury division's answer to parent company Ford's Mustang. There's no question in my mind that it was a good answer. Click the images to enlarge them.