When John Peirson was a young child, he watched a large, squarish Austin pull up near a house in his neighbourhood.
He liked the look of it and since then has had a tendency to be drawn to "large, square cars."
Born in England during the Second World War, Peirson remembers when there was gas rationing and not many people were able to drive their cars, so the Austin really made an impression.
Later, like most teens, he learned how to drive on his parent's car and by the age of 21 he owned his own: a 1927 Rolls Royce Twenty. At that time, many young people were buying pre-war cars because that's what they could afford, he says. Also about that time, Peirson told friends his ultimate goal was to own a late-model Ghost with four-wheel brakes. It wasn't long before he reached that goal.
Before that, Peirson owned the Rolls for about two years and he sold it for an Austin minivan.
"In England back then it counted as a commercial vehicle so there was no purchase tax, so all the students were driving minivans in England at that period," he explains.
In the two years he owned the minivan, Peirson drove it across Britain and around Europe. After getting married, he and his wife moved to Canada, first to Toronto and then on to West Vancouver in 1972.
In 1976, his wife noticed a 1928 Twenty going past their house on a trailer and Peirson followed it until it stopped on the next block. He met the owners of the old Rolls and was introduced to the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club and the Rolls Royce Owners Club. That year, while on vacation in England, the Peirsons picked up their next classic car: a 1938 25/30 Cockshoot saloon, which they owned until 1980.
In 1979, at the urging of friends he met though one of the Rolls Royce clubs he belonged to, Peirson decided to finally look for the Ghost he had wanted for so long. What he found was a 1926 Springfield Ghost limousine with four-wheel brakes. He kept that car for nearly 20 years and sold it in 1999. He then wanted a pre-war Ghost and in 2005 got a 1911 Silver Ghost 1645, which he still owns.
"The Silver Ghost is the prestigious car that established Rolls Royce as the best car in the world," says Peirson.
Over the years, the Peirsons have owned a number of different classic Rolls and Bentleys. A 1965 Silver Cloud III, which they bought in 1999, is also still among their collection along with a 1968 Austin Mini.
When asked why he enjoys classic cars, Peirson thinks for a moment then answers: "Why do people collect stamps? Why do people have sailboats and want one that's two feet longer? It's a hobby."
Peirson has always done as much maintenance as he can on the cars, and still changes oil, anti-freeze and radiator hoses when needed and also does lube jobs on his cars.
"I do as much as I can myself. In my old age I do less and pay other people to do a bit more," he says. "Fortunately there's enough interest in these cars that practically everything you could possibly want is available, you just have to know who has the parts and who to go to when you need a part."
He recently did the lubrication for the 1965 Rolls in preparation for a club tour, and says it's a job that requires him going into the pit in his garage in order to reach the three greasing nipples for the transmission shaft because the car is so close to the ground. The 1965 goes out about once a week, but the 1911 only goes out when the weather is nice. The farthest it has traveled is to Oregon and Salmon Arm. It drives at a comfortable 75 km/h and is "Not too noisy, not too rough," says Peirson.
Before about 1930 there was no synchromesh so he had to learn to shift gears without making crunching noises. "You have to get your timing right so the gears slide together quietly and don't make nasty noises."
When he got the 1911, the back seat interior was mouldy from getting wet and the upholstery had to be replaced. The '65 was in good shape, but requires a bit of polishing on the woodwork from time to time, and has had paint touch-ups to the interior leather. Peirson says he likely won't own any more cars, but he's always on the lookout. "It's always fun reading the advertisements and looking around. I tell people that my next car will be even older."
