How We Got Here
HISTORY OF THE OCEAN IDLERS
How We Got Here.
Ocean Idlers Car Club was formed in 1990 and incorporated under the Society Act of British Columbia on March 16, 1999.
We started out as a group of individuals who had a common interest in cars. We’ve expanded beyond cruising and car shows. We have become a contributing factor in providing financial support to local groups and charities in the Oceanside area.
Today, the club has over 120+ members.
Our annual Blast from the Past Car Show is held during the August long weekend at the Coombs Fairgrounds.
Some Fun Facts!
REO Speedwagon got its name from...
DYK that the band REO Speedwagon got its name from REO himself. That’s Ransom Eli Olds who was also a pioneer in the automotive industry. Mr. Olds (think Oldsmobile) is credited with many early automotive inventions.
Where did automotive giant Chevrolet get its roots
The automotive giant Chevrolet got its roots not in the USA but in Switzerland where the Chevrolet family originated. They moved to France when Louis Chevrolet was just 9 years old.
Maxwell cars in the early 1900’s
If you owned a Maxwell car in the early 1900’s you know that it came from the Maxwell Motor Company. What you may not have known at the time was that the company would be purchased by none other than Walter Chrysler in 1925. The rest is history.
Detroit was founded by none other than Mr. Antoine Cadillac?
DYK that the city of Detroit was founded in the year 1701 by none other than Mr. Antoine Cadillac. And 201 years later a man by the name of Henry Leland formed the Cadillac Car Company named after Mr. Cadillac. One year later the first Cadillac was developed.
In 1917 Mr. Leland went on to compete head on with the Cadillac when he developed the Lincoln.
Detroit was founded by none other than Mr. Antoine Cadillac?
DYK that the city of Detroit was founded in the year 1701 by none other than Mr. Antoine Cadillac. And 201 years later a man by the name of Henry Leland formed the Cadillac Car Company named after Mr. Cadillac. One year later the first Cadillac was developed.
In 1917 Mr. Leland went on to compete head on with the Cadillac when he developed the Lincoln.
The first car ever built
The first car ever built was created by Carl BENZ in 1885 nearly 140 years ago. It was known as the Benz Patent Motorwagen. Top speed of the car with its 1 cylinder motor was 16 km per hour.
The 1908 Model T invented by Henry Ford
The 1908 Model T invented by Henry Ford was the first car available to the masses. It retailed for about $850.00. Interesting to note that by 1925 cars cost less. This was due to the invention of the assembly line.
2 billion cars will be on the road By 2040
By 2040 it is estimated that approximately 2 billion cars will be on the road. 4 X as many as there were when you could still buy a brand new AMC Pacer (mid 1980’s).
Did You Know?
1. DYK that Automotive Recycling is the 16th largest industry in the US?
2. DYK that about 80% of today’s cars/trucks are recyclable.
3. DYK that the Pontiac was named after Chief Pontiac who fought against British Colonialism in the Ottawa area.
Transmissions, Manual or Automatic?
Over 95% of cars found on US/Canadian roads have an automatic transmission. By comparison about 80% of cars on European roads have a manual transmission.
Japan was the world’s leader in car manufacturing
In 1980 Japan was the world’s leader in car manufacturing. Today Japan is third behind both China and the US.
Another purchased a new Volkswagen Beetle.
Canada’s population of just shy of 40 million translates to every second Canadian having at one time or another purchased a new Volkswagen Beetle.
Don’t take a dirty car over to Russia
Don’t take a dirty car over to Russia. It is a criminal offence to drive a dirty car there. Not that anyone on this site would ever be so inclined to stoop to such levels as having a dirty automobile.
And speaking of dirty. Did you know that 16% of car owners…..never wash their cars.
Your 1961 Biscayne has some level of remote control
If your 1961 Biscayne has some level of remote control, which I suspect is highly unlikely, please be careful not to press the remote more than 256 times in succession. Doing so will make the remote inoperable. I’m assuming that 250 times is AOK!
The best seller for Buick over the years has been the Buick LeSabre
DYK that the best seller for Buick over the years has been…..the Buick LeSabre with some 6,000,000 built over a 46 year period. For AMC the number one selling vehicle was the AMC Hornet with some 860,000 built. 13,000,000 is the top number for Chevrolet with that many Impala’s having been built. Chrysler’s top performer at the sales desk was the Imperial with just shy of 2,000,000 sales orders over a period of 20 years (1961-1981). Other interesting names include the Coronet as best seller ever for Dodge, the Rambler Classic over a period of 1961-1966 sold nearly 1,500,000 units, the Mercury Cougar was the top seller under that fabled brand. The Fury, Grand Am and Cutlass Supreme led the way for Plymouth, Pontiac and Oldsmobile respectively.
The four top selling cars ever
Oh, and as a side note the four top selling cars ever include: The Toyota Corolla with ~ 50,000,000 on the roads everywhere over the years. Second place to the famed Volkswagen Beetle, third goes to….. the LADA which was based on the Fiat 124 and rounding out the top four is the Ford Model T with nearly 17,000,000 sold over a 19 year period in the early 20th century.
