Madeira's Marvellous Motors
“Since moving to this island, I’ve developed a slightly worrying passion for older cars. ”
You can summon a classic car to take you out for the evening.
If an older Merc or even a 70s Simca drives by, my head is turned and I’m ‘oohing and ahhing’ as if I've just seen the most beautiful woman. Madeira’s full of them! Classic cars that is - and beautiful women!
On most weekends, owners park their cars in public spaces to let passing visitors admire them.
BUILT-IN NOSTALGIA
The design of cars is one of life’s more distinct mile-markers! Decades are defined by cars’ form, functionality and even smell, especially the older ones.
Within my lifetime, cars have had a profound effect. We’ve moved from horses to horsepower to kilowatts in a remarkably short space of time.
As a kid in Scotland, I could tell what marque was driving simply by the sound of it. My grannie bought a Rover Saloon in those early days and I still remember the smell of the leather seats, hand-cranked windows, trafficators (pop-out indicators), gangster-style running boards and big, bulbous headlights. I seem to remember my uncles having to crank-start that one too!
This Rover is pretty much identical to my granny’s. I can almost smell it now.
We emigrated to Canada in 1966 and then on to the American Midwest and cars took on a new significance for me. By that time, kids my age were driving and we’d go on ‘drive-in theatre’ double dates and snog in the backseats. This all gave a whole new meaning to my love of motors.
MADEIRA MOTORS
“Madeira’s climate is kind to old codgers... like me and the 800 classic cars that are on the island!”
As much as I liked the huge American cars of my teenage years, (especially for their roomy back seats) it’s the old British and European marques that seem to grab my attention nowadays.
Madeira’s full of them! It’s estimated that there are around 800 classic cars on the island of Madeira.
‘Classics’ are defined as being more than 25 years old. Then there’s a subset called ‘vintage cars’ which were manufactured pre-World War II.
There’s a real passion for restoring old motors here on the island. Frederico, the restaurant owner next to our building has just bought a little Morris Minor, fully restored and refurbished and completely charming!
Frederico’s Morris Minor in mint condition.
This beautiful old Merc showed up last week opposite our local eatery. I reckon this would be the kind of thing I would go for.
There are also plenty from the 70s or 80s still in daily use and, whether they’ve had work done or not, in very nice condition.
The great thing is you can summon any number of classic cars on this island to come and tour you around or simply take you to dinner. The only way to go!
Cars like this don’t stay in such good condition in northern climes.
This little gem parked next to me and I felt like picking it up and putting it in my boot.
Here’s another one!
And another!
My first car was a Ford Cortina Mk 1 purchased in 1976.
OWNING A CLASSIC
I must admit, I’m tempted to own one! A Mercedes would be my marque of choice, an early 70s saloon with a big, V8 engine. But what would you do with such a car on this island? Take it along to the next Classic Car event I suppose.
For the moment, I’ll stick with my nearly new 1-litre Hyundai Kauai (7-year warranty) and continue to ogle the classics as they roll by.
Everywhere in Madeira, you see beautiful cars like this in everyday use.
