Robin from 8-Bit Show and Tell begins his latest video with a story that’s part misfortune, part triumph, and entirely relatable. It starts not with vintage computers but with a wrecked van and a rough year. After a near miss with a drunk driver that totaled his family’s full-size Ford E350, Robin found himself on a long search for a replacement vehicle.
Months later, he spotted the perfect match in southern Ontario—a near twin to his old van. The plan was simple: fly to Toronto, buy the van, attend a family birthday, and pick up some long-promised Commodore gear from his wife’s uncle. But simplicity, as it turns out, isn’t part of this adventure.
The Van that Failed the Test
When the van rolled up at the dealership, things immediately went sideways. The side door jammed, the step collapsed underfoot, and the floor had an actual hole exposing the pavement below. The seat belt anchor dangled from a rusted piece of metal—a clear safety failure.
For a vehicle that supposedly passed Ontario’s safety certification just days earlier, this was beyond disappointing. Adding insult to injury, the front defroster didn’t work—an absolute must in a Canadian winter. Robin and his wife quickly decided to walk away from the deal, but not before the dealer kept their $1,000 deposit.
The 8-Bit Show and Tell video captures his frustration with dry humor and candor. He cites the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, which clearly states that deposits must be refunded if no contract is signed. Robin’s calm yet pointed delivery makes it both a warning and a public service announcement for anyone considering buying a used car sight unseen.
From Disaster to Discovery
With their travel plans upended, Robin and his wife improvised—renting a Corolla Cross and carrying on with their trip. What started as a failed van purchase turned into an unexpected adventure. They made it to the birthday celebration, reconnected with family, and finally arrived at Uncle Mike’s house—home to a lifetime of Commodore history.
That’s when things took a far brighter turn. Uncle Mike, a lifelong Commodore enthusiast and former BBS sysop, invited Robin to tour his old setup and take home ten boxes of vintage computer gear. The segment shifts from travel woes to pure retro bliss as Robin opens box after box on camera, each filled with classic treasures from the golden age of 8-bit computing.
The Heart of a Commodore Collector
The focus keyphrase Commodore Treasure Haul perfectly fits the moment when Robin begins unboxing. The first box reveals four VIC-20s, one featuring the ultra-rare Euro-style keyboard. Next come stacks of boxed software—Heart of Africa, Championship Wrestling, Summer Games II—along with early productivity programs and GEOS disks. Each item is handled with care and a spark of curiosity, reminding viewers why collecting is as much about discovery as nostalgia.
The second half of the Commodore Treasure Haul includes Canadian-made Commodore 64s, rows of 1541 disk drives, and more magazines than most retro enthusiasts will ever see in one place. Compute!, Run, Commodore Magazine, and rare TPUG and Transactor issues fill box after box. For Robin, each issue isn’t just paper—it’s preserved history from a time when users swapped code, shared discoveries, and built communities before the internet existed.
A Visit with Uncle Mike
The video’s emotional core comes from Robin’s visit with Uncle Mike, who shares stories from his days running a local BBS in the 1980s. His setup included twin Commodore systems, multiple 1541 drives, and even a “Love Link” chat channel that, as Mike laughs, “didn’t get much action.” He reminisces about teaching word processing, managing online discussions, and even using the system to connect at-risk youth with professionals who could help them.
That human side of computing—the warmth behind the machines—gives the episode its charm. The conversation feels like a cozy fireside chat for anyone who remembers dialing into a BBS at 300 baud just to talk about games or programming.
Preserving the Past, One Box at a Time
Back home in Thunder Bay, Robin begins cataloging the massive Commodore Treasure Haul, unpacking VIC-20s, C64s, and crates of printed history. Each discovery sparks new video ideas, from rare Canadian distributors like Lane Marketing to the story of Transactor, the legendary technical magazine that inspired so many early programmers.
He notes that these materials debunk the myth that the Commodore 64 “died” in North America after 1985. The presence of Compute’s Gazette issues from 1990 proves the opposite—enthusiasts and publishers kept the flame alive well into the 90s.
From Misfortune to Meaning
What began as a disaster ended as a gift. The trip that could have ruined his year instead gave Robin a new trove of material to explore, share, and archive. It’s a perfect example of how the retro computing community thrives on both luck and generosity.
Through setbacks, travel headaches, and one shady dealership, 8-Bit Show and Tell delivers a story that’s equal parts travelogue, cautionary tale, and digital archaeology. The video is a reminder that sometimes the road to preserving history is as bumpy as the highway to Barry—but it’s always worth the ride.
So grab your favorite floppy disk mug, settle in, and watch Robin’s latest video. You’ll laugh, shake your head, and maybe even feel inspired to dust off your own attic boxes of 8-bit memories.
