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â€"A4 Wednesday, September 1, 1993â€" Automotive Corvette celebrates 40 great years flank, with a discreet "40" and a little lozenge in metal â€" half with a checkered flag the other with a red Chevy bow tie on black â€" says it all. Several books have been written about the Chevrolet Corvette. They all talk about Chevrolet‘s gutsy move to launch "America‘s Sportscar" in 1953. To me, it has taken an ongoing infusion of intestinal fortitude to have kept this car going through the Great Fuel Crisis and two harrowing recessions. Ferrari is supposed to be a legend and so is Porsche. Some would say the Corvette doesn‘t fall into this category â€" too American to have panache. Porsche and Ferrari are still famous (and still building) the same kind of car 40 years on. The bestâ€"loved (some say only loved) Porsche is still rearâ€"engined and in the form of the latest Speedster, still surprises the unwary. Ferrari still has a frontâ€"engined V12, the 465 GT, as its prestige model. And Corvette still has a big V8 at the front driving the rear wheels and all encased in a plastic (polymer composites in 1993â€"talk) body. Because it has always been a big mistake to radically change American cars aimed at Americans, the Corvette has stayed even more faithful to its roots than the Italian or German legends. For 1993, Corvette is offering a very limited edition 40th anniversary package on all three models of the Corvette â€" coupe, convertible and the redoubtable ZR 1. GM Canada allowed me to use the 40th anniversary convertible for a week. It comes in an exclusive "Ruby Red" color inside and out and a 40th emblem on the headrest, plus the badging on the sides. As is standard, a space frame is used. This allows the entire front end to open up like a huge clam shell to expose the 5.7â€"litre LT1 version of GM‘s longâ€"lived and longâ€"loved V8. Once restricted to about 250 hp, GM engineers found out four years ago that by reversing the coolant flow, they could get a lot more power. In the LT1 there are 300 Allâ€"American ponies and 340 ft/lb of torque. Prodigious indeed! The convertible came with a fourâ€"speed automatic Jusl a badge about the size of a jam jar lid on the "It‘s like being in a dragster" transmission but you can also have the same sixâ€"speed manual used in the ZR1. P285/40ZRI17â€"inch tires on the back mounted on 9.5â€"inch wide wheels would be more than enough, you‘d think, to put the power on the road. Ha Ha! Up front are a set of P255/45ZR17s on 8.5â€"inch wide alloy wheels. With the top up or down you still have to throw you leg over the high side member and let yourself plunk down into the seat. Seemingly less wide than an econoâ€" seat on a Japanese charter flight, you really are part of this car. The transmission tunnel is level with the midâ€" dle of you back. The steering wheel, with air bag, is adjustable for height and you‘ve got to fiddle with it to see as much as you can of the instrument panel. To the left and right, minor gauges follow the halfâ€"cirâ€" cle instrument binnacle around and down out of sight. Thankfully, the electric seat adjustâ€" ments are on the transmission tunnel and so is the centreâ€"mounted shock absorber dial for touring, sport and performance modes. Climate control is simple to use and is centred on the console as is a blackâ€"out screen with a host of secâ€" ondary warning notices. Get behind the wheel and it‘s, as my Dutch/Canadian photographer friend said, "like being in a dragster." And that is a fair summation. You‘re not down in a fiberglass tub with your bum two inches from the ground like the Corvettes of the 1970s, but there‘s no question this is American Muscle perhaps in its 40s but still potent. It‘s also brawny, sometimes a throw back, yet also civilized. I know that doesn‘t make a lot of sense, but this is a car which sends you a lot of messages. With your foot down, you lunge forward with that unmistakable big V8 sound. With the top down, the wind whipping through your hair, the front end still quivers when you flash across a pothole. On a 39â€" degree humidex day, indulge yourself with the air conâ€" ditioning on, the top battened down, and the classics booming out of the rearâ€"mounted speakers of the Bose system. P155/80R13 SL1 ALLâ€"SEASON TOURING RADIAL PERFORMANCE EAGLE GA /o Everyday Size BSL Low Price P1B5/7ORI4B7T $133.00 P215/6ORI491T â€"147.00 P205/60R159OT . 149.00 P215/65¢15955 â€"156.00 P205/7OR15 951 â€" 158.00 $93.10 $79.80 102.90 88.20 104.30 89.40 109.20 93.60 110.60 94.80 Earn AIR MILES on tires and service Ask your participating retailer Tire sale ends Sept. 11, 1993 Call for additional sizes and sale prices Savings may vary. Up to four months to EJ\ on credit card purchases exceeding 250.00. 0.A.C W Size XNW Ples/orI383s $109.00 $76.30 $65.40 P185/80R13 905 PI85/7SR1489S . 126.00 â€" 88.20 P195/75R 4 925 ONLY 7 Size Clearance Price $45.95 47.95 63.95 67.95 67.95 74.95 78.95 81.95 89.95 STARTING FROM P155/B80R12 SL1 BL P155/80R13 SL1 XNW P185/80R13 SL1 XNW P185/70R14 SL1 XNW P195/75R14 SL1 XNW P205/75R1 4 SL2 XNW P205/75R15 SL2 XNW P215/75R15 SL2 XNW 95 P1SS/BORI2 1 BL _ P235/75R15 SL2 XNW ALLâ€"SEASON RADIAL INVICTA GS Everyday . Sale Price . Savings Low Price . Each Por Pair 145R13 745 ALLâ€"SEASON RADIAL CORSA GT LIGHT TRUCK VAN 5 RADIAL WORKHORSE Size Everyday Low Price 235/75R15 C6 OWL $99.95 215/85R16 D8 OBL _ 107.95 225/75R16 D8 BSL _ 119.95 235/85R16 E10 OBL 245/75R16 E10 BSL 12200 85.40 73.20 75.60 78.60 91.80 131.00 91.70 235/75R15 C6 OWL STARTING FROM 121.95 131.95 FREE ROTATION |Z] FREE INSTALLATION NO CASH DOWN NO INTEREST OAKV"_LE 297 Speers Road (at Dorval) 845â€"4227 5 o 303 Upper Middle Road E. 338â€"0011 After 40 years, the Corvette still draws admiring glances. Goodyear honored for its new Aquatred The American Marketing Association has recognized the most awardâ€"winning tire in history with its Edison Award. The Goodyear Aquatred allâ€"season radial tire, with an unprecedented seven engineering, design and marketing awards to its name, was honâ€" ored at the AMA‘s seventh annual blackâ€"tie dinner. A panel of 300 leading marketing and advertising executives nationâ€" wide selected the best new products of 1992. "Aquatred was one of the top voteâ€"getters on the Edison ballots," said Calvin Hodock, Edison Award chairman. "This innovative tire proves innovation is not dead in America." The Edison Award, Hodock continued, is based on innovation in the marketplace, technological leadership, pioneering new marketing, sales success, lasting product value and impact on society. Goodyear produced its oneâ€"millionth Aquatred less than a year after its launch, a significant accomplishment for a new premium replaceâ€" ment auto tire sold solely in the United States, according to Barry Robbins, vice president of marketing. This year, the Aquatred line is expanding into Asia and Europe and is being exported to Canada and Latin America. "We‘re honored by AMA‘s recognition," said Robbins. "The awards Aquatred has garnered are only surpassed by the level of acceptance by consumers. I think we struck a responsive chord among tire buyers who were looking for previously unattainable wet traction in their family sedan." Goodyear‘s marketing program in 1992 included television advertisâ€" ing that made the Aquatred appear to rise out of a puddle of water and vignettes of Aquatred customer testimonials. Coupled with news and feature coverage by key automotive writers and broadcasters and numerous awards, the "tire continued to gain momentum throughout the year," he concluded. Aquatred‘s awards include recognition from the Industrial Designers Society of America and Popular Science, Popular Mechanics and Discover magazines for engineering and design excellence. Advertising Age magazine gave Goodyear a marketing award and later named Aquatred one of the top 12 products for 1992. Fortune magazine named it one of 1992‘s best new products. ADVANCED CAR CARE! s Ju_=C _FOURTH LINE AUTO 3 1+oTAL CAR CARE Lubrication Oil Filter W1 Accessory Repairs MÂ¥ Exhaust L Brakes ) Heating Air Â¥ Cooling Â¥ Inspections 1 Electrical Lubrication Â¥ Engine ) Suspension Steering [Â¥ Drivability Â¥] Tires Wheels 559 Speers Road _ 842â€"3001