1987-2001 NORTHWAY Piranhas

Instructions

The Story of the 1989–2001 NORTHWAY Piranhas A Canadian Legend of Steel, Snow, and Survival In the late 1980s, when most automakers were chasing aerodynamic shapes and high-tech electronics, a small company in Northern Ontario had a different idea. Northway Motor Works, known mostly for rugged fleet trucks, announced something nobody expected: a family sedan. But not just any sedan. A sedan that could survive a Canadian winter. While other companies bragged about luxury features or fancy engines, Northway engineers started their pitch with one simple line: “It will start at –45°C. Every time.” Birth of a Beast (1989) The first Piranhas rolled out in November 1988 for the 1989 model year. Workers in the Snowfall Bay factory joked that the car didn’t roll off the line — it marched. Built on a heavy steel frame with extra rust protection and a thick underbody shield, it weighed more than most sedans in its class. Critics mocked it at first. Until the first blizzard hit. When cars from the U.S. Midwest kept stalling and slipping, the Piranhas clawed through the snow like an animal. Its steady low-end torque and special WinterLock differential gave it the bite it needed on ice. Drivers quickly understood the name: It wasn’t fast, it wasn’t pretty— but it bit through winter like a piranha through wood. 1993: The Snow King Rises By the early ’90s, the Piranhas had become a cult hero among Canadians living outside the big cities. Hunters, teachers in small towns, postal workers, taxi drivers — everyone knew someone with a Piranhas, or had one. Northway added a few updates for 1993: Heated door locks (a first in its class) Triple-sealed doors A “Blizzard Package” with a factory block heater, heavy-duty battery, and raised ride height A tougher 4-speed automatic called the IceShift The legend grew when a Piranhas taxi in Yukon was filmed plowing through a snowstorm so bad most emergency vehicles were stopped. The video got played on national TV, and suddenly people across Canada called dealers demanding one. 1997: The Only Car That Didn’t Quit In 1997, an extreme cold snap hit western Canada — the kind that freezes lakes solid and turns eyelashes to ice. Dozens of cars refused to start. But there was a story that made the Piranhas truly famous: A family on the outskirts of Churchill, Manitoba, got stranded during a storm when their generator failed. They used their Piranhas as a backup heater, sleeping inside the car for two straight nights. The engine kept starting, hour after hour, even in –50°C wind chills. Northway never used the story in commercials, but Canadians shared it everywhere. After that, the Piranhas wasn’t just a car. It was a lifeline. 2001: The Final Year By the late ’90s, the world was changing. Lightweight materials, digital sensors, emissions restrictions — Northway couldn’t keep up. Their old-school steel tank of a sedan didn’t fit the new rules. The 2001 Northway Piranhas was the last model. It didn’t have fancy features or modern styling. But it kept its thick frame, rugged drivetrain, and the ability to shrug off blizzards. When the final Piranhas left the Snowfall Bay plant, workers lined up to salute them. A few cried — not because they loved the car, but because it felt like the end of a Canadian era. Northway Motor Works closed the next year. Legacy Today, the Piranhas is a legend in northern towns. Mechanics still tell stories of: Ones with 500,000 km on the odometer Ones that started after being buried under snow for a week Ones that survived moose collisions and kept driving Many sit in barns, still solid, still waiting. Because everyone knows… If you need a car that affordable and can survive a Canadian winter, you need a Northway Piranhas. _________________________________________________ space bar to start the car _________________________________________________ I4 base: $2,000 (RWD, 200hp) I4 premium/AWD: $5,000 (4WD, 200hp) I4 turbo: $4,000 (RWD, 260hp) V6 base: $3,000 (RWD, 230hp) V6 premium/AWD: $6,000 (4WD, 230hp) V6 Turbo: $5,000 (RWD, 290hp) V8 premium/AWD: $7,000 (4WD, 310hp) V8 Queen: $15,000 (RWD, 310hp) V8 sport: $8,000 (RWD, 370hp) V8 Performance: $9,000 (RWD, 400hp) V10 Sport: $10,000 (RWD, 500hp) V10 Performance: $15,000 (RWD, 550hp) V10 Performance 1000+: $40,000 (4WD, 1001hp) Wagon: +$500 All V10 models are made in 1997-2001 All model has 4 seats, 4 speed transmission, and can survive the cold winter.