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Wednesday March 17, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER C1 Are You Going on a Trip? m CAA Authorized Inspection Centres 12345 Fairview St. 4121 M om s Dr. 632-8151 634-4211 GAilFORANAPPOMTlUENTl Business To reach this section call 845-3824 Fax:337-5567 IS YOUR GARAGE PROTECTING YOUR CAR BETTER THAN YOUR BARGAIN-RATE CAR INSURANCE? Don't trust just anyone to insure your car. see me: Hal Mayer 2861 Sherwood Heigho Dt 829-5200 Ford unveils high-performance pickup Photo by Peter C. McCusker Ford of Canada President Charles Shortridge and Lightning Project Manager AI Suydam with the first vehicle to roll off the assembly line. Office machines saved from oblivion Typewriters, adding machines have friends here Justin Caiger jokingly refers to his workroom as a graveyard, crammed as it is with the broken bones of old typewrit­ ers, adding machines and other sundry office equipment. The owner of Oakville Office Machines on Fourth Line knows that his shop often represents the last chance for some aging old clunkers such as manual typewriters. 'Lots of the elderly still have the old manuals. They're comfortable with them," says Caiger , "so we do our best, even though the parts are gettting scarce." Caiger says the old machines now represent only a minor fraction of his business which specializes in the sale and service of multi-function fax machines, copiers and laser printers. Since taking over the business five years ago, Caiger says growth has been 500 percent, owing in part to the takeover of two Mississauga businesses, (S e e 'B u s in e s s ' p a g e C 3 ) Photo by Peter C. McCusker Oakville Office Machines staff (l-)receptionist Suzy Caiger, repairman Mike Mead, owner Justin Caiger and repairman Ahmad Khatri. 'Lightning' rolls off the line & already has buyers waiting By How ard M ozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF By all accounts the only thing faster than Ford of Canada's SVT F-150 Lightning will be public demand for the new limited edition, high-performance pickup. On Monday, the first Lightning officially rolled off the line at the Ontario Truck Plant (OTP) after proto­ types were unveiled there last June. Oakville is the only facility where they're built. OTP Plant M anager Charles Shortridge said this coup means a great deal to him and to everyone who works within the organization. "This is an outstanding moment for the plant," he said. "We want to build on our continuing success." Lightning - brainchild of the Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) - was unveiled to the public in March 1998 at the Chicago Auto Show. Derived from Ford's F-150 Regular Cab XLT two-wheel drive Flareside, it began full production this week and will be limited to only 4,000 units a year, approximately 150 of which have been earmarked for Canada. "Demand has been building and we may soon have to double that," said Shortridge. "I don't think 4,000 will do." The first truck cleared the line Monday morning with Shortridge behind the wheel, accompanied by CAW Plant Chairman John Teixeira. Both men credited the rank and file for earning the honour to manufacture the vehicle. "There are great people we've got working in the plant and everyone is excited," said Shortridge. "There is total focus on the customer." Monday's event will likely be the last time anyone will see a Lightning travelling so slow: it boasts a 5.4-litre Triton V-8 engine that produces 360 horsepower, a top speed of 225 kms/hr (140 mph) and acceleration of zero to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. It can also haul 5,000 pounds. "It's like a Mustang Cobra with a pickup box," said Group Brand Manager Al McCormick. Adds Shortridge: "We've always been proud to build the best-selling vehicle in North America, the F-Series pickup, but everyone's excited when Lightning comes down the line." The Lightning - which made the January 1999 cover of Car and Driver - will appeal to the discriminating dri­ ving enthusiast who appreciates high perform ance, said McCormick. Collectors - the "SVT Club," he says - will also be lining up. McCormick explained that production numbers will remain low to keep interest high. If the expected clamour material­ izes as expected, says Teixeira, the possibility exists for a second shift at the plant. "The people here are second to none," he said. "We are all looking forward to building the vehicle." The Lightning comes with only two options, trailer hitch and bed cover. Program Manager Al Suydam said a special Canadian version of the Lightning will be offered, one with daylight running lights, engine heater and other goodies. "We are very proud to be associat­ ed with this plant," said Suydam. "This is a story of teamwork. All the people here are obsessed with quali­ ty." This attention to detail, Suydam explained, extends into all facets of the Lightning's manufacture and feed­ back was solicited from the shop floor. Like other SVT vehicles, the Lightning will be sold at 620 specially trained SVT-certified dealers, 23 in Canada. The closest one, as might be expected, is Kennedy Ford in Oakville. McCormick outlined how the crite­ ria for such dealerships includes per­ formance car sales, customer satisfac­ tion and market share. Dealers are also charged to be franchisees and yearly training is mandatory. "It's a very exclusive club," said McCormick. "Our customers want to talk to people who understand the product." Specially trained technicians dedi­ cated to servicing SVT products will ensure quality while establishing a vir­ tual first-name basis relationship with customers. Previous successes by the Special Vehicle Team include the Mustang Cobra (1993) and previous incarna­ tions of the Lightning (1993-95). " ftOwauPAOi .virtuallyoakville.com d Internet;- Address [diiriB www.brantflorist.com gifts@brantflorist.com YOUR OAKVILLE HOME CONNECTION Elizabeth BILBUA Saies Representative ■1M.H!IIIIIIIIIII!IIIIIIIIII r o y a l Lepage ebilbija@oakvillespecialist.com T O W N E CHEVROLET OLDSMOBILE GEO www.townechev.com G E A R * Now Playing At www.interlog.com/~gear O a k v il l e B e a v e r www.metroland.com OAKVILLE " □ S B www.oavkillehonda.com ©AKVILLE PLACE www.oakvilleplace.com l h e * l n g t c ( f . «»r«n« Upscale Social Events fo r SINGLES THE SINGLE GOURMET www.thesinglegourmet.com Phone: ( 905) 827- 5912. 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