I was in retail sales for many , many years , and from time to time I would ask customers about their first car especially if they were from my generation ( baby boomer ) . It seemed that even if the first car was trouble , the people would still laugh about it and start talking about all the good times they had with it .
For me it was freedom .....from asking to borrow the family car ( and have my step dad check the odometer for how far I had gone ) ......and a time to take things apart , repaint , upgrade , make mistakes ....guess it was a right of passage into manhood
My first in 1966, was a 55 Chevy 2 door post with a 6 cyl , 3 speed on column ....... for $475 of my own hard earned money . I sunk about $800 more into it with a Hurst floor shift , chrome reverse rims , rechromed back bumper , grille and headlight rims ....and a $100 orange paint job from a body shop manager who felt sorry for my lack of funds ....I was in heaven !
I then dyed the vinyl interior black from the green that came with the car ....................think I could get a bit more than $475 for it today !!
T
-- Edited by teejay99 on Tuesday 3rd of February 2015 01:04:57 PM
My first car was an Austin Healey 3000 with a 327 small block and a four speed. It was perhaps to be kind not built to the highest standards but we had lots of fun with driving and fixing it, mostly fixing it.
I survived the experience but according to current wisdom I would not have although drinking out of the hose may have done me in first.
I will never forget the car nor my friends who supported me and helped me get it running. Johnny Osborne did all the machining for me on the block, I wonder if he is still around. Nice guy who took pity on me I think. His shop was at the QEW and Cawthra when I knew him. Brooke DeShaw put the motor and transmission together for me.
Mine was a 62 volkswagen I bought from Herman Motors in Woodbridge for $75.00. It was their courtesy car. I got one of those $25.00 safeties and went to the town license office . The older lady at the counter looked at the safety and said " there's something wrong here" and she said to me go sit down while I call Herman.
Minutes later Herman arrives and pulls out a pack of safeties from his breast pocket and writes me another one. The sweating was over for now.
I had my learners permit so my friend had to drive with me. I went to the Keele st/401 for my drivers test. I was asked to back up by the tester...so reversed and backed up to discover the rt front tire locked up!!!! I drove ahead to the first left turn in the parking lot. He said do a 3 pt turn...so I drove ahead then backed up...left front locked up again. He said you better run this car through the vehicle check. It was so bad they pulled the plates and we had to take the bus home!
__________________
if the time ever comes you can't see it, you can lay on your back and do it from underneath.
1948 Chev coupe that I bought for $150 from a local farmer (trunk was still covered in hay and grain dust.) Started out maroon but I painted it bright red and white. The 216 didn't last long with a 16 year old driving it as the babbit bearings soon wore out so my brother and I replaced the engine with a 248" GMC. I had a lot of fun with the car and ended up giving it to my brother when I bought my next car.
Mine was a 64 Econoline that I traded for a 69 Falcon that I traded for a 69 Cougar that I traded for a 70 Charger and $400 from my end, that was my keeper till I killed it. Corn fields and bush parties, back roads and ditches. The cheapest car I ever bought and put on the road was a 74 Vega. I bought the car from Avis rental for $100 certified! Unsatisfied judgement for $50 and taxes, plates and paper work under $50. Total $195
my first car was a 1947 ford 5-passenger coupe that I got when I was 16, my parents refused to have it on the property (it was a rusted out ,no windows,no running junker that I just had to have), so I rented a garage @2 miles away and spent the next two years building it. I rebuilt a 283 V8 and had a cast iron 2-speed rebuilt for it. I drove it for 2 years in primer and it had Zoomies out the side.Over the years I have rebuilt it 3 times,now everything done right, and I still have it......Larry.
My first was a 56 Cadillac because my dad would not let me have the 57 Chev Convert. I wanted for $150. It was rough but the caddy was prestine so I scraped up $350 and bought it. This was 1967 so that was a lot of money for a kid still in school. It was a great car but I only had it for a few months. It was too much car for me and I was afraid something would go wrong, so I sold it for what I paid. I always regreted selling and wanted another one for many years. Finally I found one on Jalopy Journal about 4yrs ago. It was in Amarillo Texas so we flew down and drove it back. See it on Projects-Engine Swap.
My first car was a 78 Mercury Grand Marquis, for about three weeks.
My next car was a 71 Chevelle SS454/4 spd. I was suckered into buying this at the time and loved it, I mean what more could a 17 yr old want. The original owner was selling it to help buy a house, he let me borrow it for a long weekend and on Tuesday when he asked for it back, I asked "How much"?
Best part of it all was that I sold it back to the original owner years later and he turned around and gave it to his son. That was cool.
My first car was a 51 Chev coupe which I beat up pretty bad. The bearings didn't take kindly to the beating but that car would run. There were a bunch of Chevys,Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles and the odd 55 Chev that we chalked up. Saturday nights we patrolled main st in Hamilton lookin for runs at the lights. Of course that was mid to late 50s and traffic wasn't as bad then. That was a good car for $175.00.
I was 17 and walking up to our apt in Toronto carring 4 bags of groceries which in 1970 cost about $25 . One of the guys on my floor comes up to me and says hey buddy want to buy my car cause I moving. How much I say, $50 he says . Sorry buddy I just bought groceries and I only got $35 left. Sold he says, I asked the super if this guy was legit and he said he was cool and was going back to the islands ,so I became the proud owner of a totally beat 1962 Austin 850(a Mini). Junkyard carb $8, Gov.hitme ins. $25, can't remember what the tag cost, and on the road . Well most of the time anyway, The starter never worked properly so I learned how to push start it myself ,fortunately it was a small car. Lots of stories with that one most involving the wireing, it smoked , it sparked and sometimes actually burned, they don't call Lucas the Prince of Darkness for nothing. Ed
In 1996 my first car was a 300 $ Plymouth turizmo I drove the hell outta while I rebuilt a 350 small block in auto shop. As soon as the motor was built I bought a 800 $ 1979 firebird to put it in and scrapped the turizmo. I shoulda kept it for a winter beater. The firebird was no good at all in the snow with wide bald tires on the back.
Had my eye on a 50 Ford shoebox that one of the 'cool guys' had for sale. But dear ol' Dad intervened and made that a no go. But...unknown to me, he had a car lined up for me that he thought was the perfect vehicle. A 66 Chev 4 door Belair. It was only 3 years old and a lot newer than what he was driving at the time. So of course, it was the one to have. It had been a trade in by an old geezer. Mom was looking it over, and mentioned how the backseat looked like it had never been sat on. Why it looked brand new. And I should get seat covers.... just then Dad pipes up and says..."Either that, or don't be splashin". Within the next 30 seconds he had a swat...and I had a car. Neither one of us got what we wanted, but I still came out ahead.
We had a family gas station, so my first car was a used up 59 Thames panel.It was used for light service calls and running errands.............. 4 cyl flathead with a non synchro 3 speed............it was a fun little car. I remember loading it up with all the sound equipment for the football games at school. We were driving the stuff back across the field and the jr football team grabbed the car and carried up a set of steps...............
When it wore i out i picked up a 57 Chevy hardtop........and that I wish I still had..........
Black 1947 Monarch coupe, wide whites, was my first ride in 1957. I regret selling most of that were owned by me. First the coupe, then a 55 Ford 2door with a transplanted 312/3speed OD, 65 Chevelle 300hp/4speed, new 68 Camaro Z28. Then I got married, and started driving regular cars.
__________________
If brains were wire, some couldn't short circuit a firefly.
My first car was a 73 Camaro. I drove it for a week or two then stripped it down, cut the floor and rear section out of it, tubbed it, caged it, then realized (after advice from a lot of older rodder friends) that I shouldn't be building a 10 second pro street car for my first vehicle, while I'm STILL in school and SIXTEEN !! Hey, I was young and foolish......I'm older now!?!
__________________
I'd rather be in the garage! I'm old school, I use the "inches" side of the measuring tape!
1964 Plymouth Belvedere. Little old lady car, vinyl bubblewrap seat covers,225/ auto, rubber mats, 15" blackwalls with little caps. No rust anywhere. Bought it when I was 14, had 2 years to compound and polish the crap out of it. Shortly after I turned 15 my Dad insisted I sell it to one of his co-workers whose wife was pregnant because they had no car. That weekend my Uncle Joe from Niagara Falls N.Y. came over to have a look at the car. He and his brother ( who owned a garage in Niagara Falls) were Fargo/Dodge/Plymouth.Chrysler from birth to the day they died. His brother found a wrecked Plymouth wagon for the Hemi drivetrain. My Uncle would have taken it over as a grocery getter and we'd have returned in a Camaro crusher. Just as well it didn't happen, I would have killer myself.
Next car I bought is the Falcon we still own today, then a '64 Rambler Classic 990, '66 Valiant Custom, '69 Galaxie, etc, etc, etc
My first legal on the road car was a 1974 Ford Maverick Grabber with a 302,bought it of off skid row at the local GM deaeler in 1979 for $500,the rotors were so warped from sitting that when I hit the brakes ,the rust on the bottom of the doors fell off and had gaping holes when I got it home,2 fibreglass kits from CTC, some bondo,and primer,bodywork all done :) 2 aluminum 15 X8 slots, 2 good used L60 X 15 Toronados ,weld on 2 glaspacks and a shackle kit,oh and the new Kraco 8 track with the house speakers from parents stereo in the back seat,of to the Port Hope Drive In.I think in a small town CTC was are only speed shop in those days lol.Since then too many cars,trucks,bikes snowmobiles and girlfriends to remember,anybody hear this from there EX girlfriend, when working on your car,"what do you love more Me or your car" I think that is why there were EX girlfriends.Thanks for the memorys.
__________________
If it has Tits,Tires or a Track,your gonna have a problem with it.
When I was 15 one of my uncles gave me a 1976 Dodge Aspen, slant 6. (I had no interest in cars then)
It sat in my dads back yard for a couple of years. I learnt to start it with a big old screwdriver.
Sold it to the neighbour for $200.
Never got my drivers license until I was 30.
Then I got a long roof LOL, 1988 Ford Taurus Station Wagon. It hauled the family around for half decade and almost had 400,000 on the OD.
What's amazing here , when it comes to cars ...especially our first car , we can remember the smallest details . But when I go to the store now , I cant remember to pick up a bag of milk , or a loaf of bread ....or , or
What's amazing here , when it comes to cars ...especially our first car , we can remember the smallest details . But when I go to the store now , I cant remember to pick up a bag of milk , or a loaf of bread ....or , or
yep and cars are not the only firsts a guy remembers........
__________________
if the time ever comes you can't see it, you can lay on your back and do it from underneath.
She was blacked out with a marker on the insistence of the next girl friend . Atleast the next girl friend had the decency to take her shoes off on my new orange carpeting ( hallway runner fron Woolco ) .......and I think she took a few more things off after that but that's another story ....
My first car My dad gave me his 1972 Javelin SST 3 months before my 16th birthday, I started by doing all the wheel bearings and brakes, then dad got me a brand new set of good year bias ply tires by the time I got my 365 in May and my full licence 1 month later! try that now!!!
anyway, what I remember best and so did my dad that the car looked worse once I got my hands on it than before dad gave it to me, long story, I burnt the tires off in 1 month and My dear dad traded it in on a vw rabbit to save me and my wallet.
I did love that car it was plenty fast for a 16 year old with a 1 month old lic.
My father sold me his 56 chev 210 series 2 door wagon for $75 It had 157000 miles on the 265. Shortly after that it had a variety of engines, all from Chant's. Also it was mostly CTC fiberglass from the windows Down. Much fun and good memories.
At 15 i bought a 37 Chev pickup for $60.00. Ran, had brakes, but no exhaust at all. and only one headlight worked, no tail or brake light, drove that thing around at night after dark, with one vibrating loose headlight , never did meet a cop or get pulled over. (stayed on the back streets and back roads.)Lol Sold it a year later to a guy who put a 283 4speed in it and totaled it.
What's amazing here , when it comes to cars ...especially our first car , we can remember the smallest details . But when I go to the store now , I cant remember to pick up a bag of milk , or a loaf of bread ....or , or
It's like your first roll in the hay. You remember every little detail.
__________________
If brains were wire, some couldn't short circuit a firefly.
My first, given to me free ( I know why) a third world foreign born piece of **** 1969 Rover 2000.
Ass backwards mentally challenged engineering.
1 master brake cylinder to operate 2 slaves with in turn operated 2 vacuum boosted slaves/masters (who the fock knows)
Infested with whitworth thread fasteners, I still have nightmares.
Amazing the british are still building crap and some even stays airborne.
CSIS, PETA and SPCA won't let me post pictures.
Once you got Domestic you never go turd world !
__________________
Fords Rule ! If it ain't designed and manufactured in North America it sucks ! I don't do rice, pasta, fish and chips, sauerkraut, Ikea or other third world motor vehicle !
My first car was a 64 Chev Biscayne 2 door post with a factory 327/300 HP and a 4 speed. I sold it to get into a Firebird rag top, what the hell was I thinking ? ? I still miss that Chev even 47 years later.
In 1969 I bought a one owner '55 Pontiac 2 door post from the neighbour. It had a 261 automatic.
This was just after safety checks had started.
The auto shop teacher at Beal safetied it for me as he also worked part time at Canadian Tire.
I paid $50 for the car and $100 for two new tires and the safety.
Drove it for a year and a half and bought a bright yellow '62 Impala convertible with white interior.
It was a sharp car but sure was junk.
TMJ
My 55 that I had at the end of high school. 56 I bought while working in California then after it was hit by a guy running a red light. And my 36 dodge that was never completed.
-- Edited by entourageguy on Thursday 5th of February 2015 09:34:11 PM
Bought my first 57 chevy when I was 16 . Paid 1400.00 and drove it through high school and then got hit by little old lady running a stop sign. Sat for a few years until got the ambition to fix it. Sold it and got my present 57. Kept the engine and it's in my 69 camaro. Lots of memories in the old girl!!
1st car was a 1971 Pinto ;1.6L& 4 spd, with Hooker Header and Thrush muffler went 19.27 in the 1/4 mile air shocks & Bight GREEN! Sold to a local who rolled it. About 1973/74. $5 would fill the tank,$5 would buy 24 beer. The fine for open booze in the car was $35. To be young again;with out the Pinto!
__________________
Reality; A test of Mind and Spirit And BODY. (`-`)
air shocks & Bight GREEN! Sold to a local who rolled it. About 1973/74. $5 would fill the tank,$5 would buy 24 beer. The fine for open booze in the car was $35. To be young again;with out the Pinto!
