What Was Your First Car?

[ncgirl05]

Reading the "Guess I'm Getting Old" thread made me think about something that's always of interest to me - whenever I see a person of the "older persuasion" I always want to know 'What was the first car you ever drove?' I like hearing the stories of when the cars were on the roads and not at the shows! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Soooo - what was your first car/first car you drove?

[Matt Harwood]

My first car was a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible that I acquired when I was 13 years old in 1983. It was probably an insurance recovery, as it had been crashed and had an incorrect '75 Eldo front clip. There were still blood stains on the back of the passenger's seat--ugh! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> But to a 13-year-old kid, a big, yellow convertible was irresistable. I spent the next 8 years gradually restoring it until I realized that it was just too nice to drive and that I constantly worried about it. I sold it to go racing instead. I miss it on sunny days, but there's no shortage of '76 Eldos around should I ever need another.

To All the Cars I've Loved Before

[Guest Skyking]

The first car I ever drove was my parents 55 Buick Century. My first car was a brand new 1964 Chevelle 2dr post stick 283. I paid $2100 for it. That wouldn't even be a good down payment today! Pictured on the hood is my wife to be..........

[Shop Rat]

The first car I ever drove was a 1965 Dodge Dart GT. Bright red with lots of chrome and a black vinyl Crown Victoria top on it. I was fourteen years old and I only got to drive it in empty parking lots or on the roads in the local graveyard.

My first car was a used 1967 VW bug. I got it when I was twenty years old and had my first job. I loved that car. It was off white when I got it and I saved my money and had it repainted Electric Blue.

[Clipper47]

First car I drove was my fathers 1948 Ford. I bought my first car a 1952 Chrysler Windsor in 1965 for $200. Sure wish I had it know!

[Guest myfirstbuick]

My first car was a 1970 Mustang Mach I. It was navy blue with black racing stripes. I had saved money to put Creager's on the back and it was FASSSSST! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> 4 Speed/351 Cleveland. My stepdad bought it for me on my 16th birthday. I kept it for a couple of years and ended up trading it in for a '73 Nova hatchback. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I got $1500 on the trade in. I got rid of it (the Mach I) because my then-girlfriend didn't like my 'racecar' she liked the 'stupid Nova' better! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> What an idiot I was <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> - if only I had that Mustang today. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Thinking back now, I should have traded in the girlfriend and kept the Mustang. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Guest rbl2]

My first car that I bought and paid for myself was a 1952 Chevy, 4 dr sedan, standard transmission for $50. I have no recollection of the first car I drove but it would've been MUCH older than the 52 I bought.

[TG57Roadmaster]

The first car I got to drive was a '62 Mercury Monterey 2-door sedan. Since I was just nine, mom would sit between the door and with me behind the wheel, she'd let me steer and use the accelerator.

Never the brakes. We lived on a dirt road, so the only danger was winding up in a ditch.

First car, though not street legal was a '65 Opel Rekord 2-door wagon I'd bought (age 14, for $35) with paper route money. It had a 4-on-the-tree, so I'd scoot up and down the fields, learning how to shift, raising clouds of dust. My mom got quite a few nasty phone calls from ladies on my route; the dust was messing with their clotheslines!

TG

[Barry Wolk]

In 1968, at age 15, I went to Roosevelt Military Academy in Aledo, Illinois. There was a car collector across the street from the campus. I bought a 1930 Oldsmobile from him for $60.00. He let me work on it in his barn. When the school year was over he told me he would keep it for me for next year, and I never went back. I wonder how many other cadets he sold the car to?

The first car I ever bought was a 1968 Firebird I bought for $1,400 in '71. I got rid of the car when the floorboards rotted away, but I kept the girl!

[MCHinson]

OK, I know that this seems weird, but in 1975 (just before I turned 16 and got my driver's license), I talked my father into helping me buy a 1961 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Hearse. The hearse was loads of fun to drive for a few years.

[Bhigdog]

41 Mercury convertable. Blew the tranny and sold it for $50. Would someone please kick me till my nose bleeds......Bob

[Jim Bollman]

My first car was a 1949 Crosley Wagon. Bought when I was 14 and still have it.

Yep that's me. just befor I turned 15.

[Dosmo]

In 1969, my first street legal car was a 59 Ford Custom 300 with 223 six banger/3 on tree. Wouldn't pull a greasy string - well you know. Drove it for 3 weeks till it had a rod knocking. Had engine replaced with 292 V8 out of a 56 2 dr. wagon, don't remember if it was Parklane. Never ran well from that point. Dad finally bought a 60 Stude Lark Wagon w/V8 and auto tranny, paid $75 for it. Man, I was completely mortified till I took it out and drove it. It would run rings around the Ford. I had it up to nearly 100 MPH on four bald tires, passing cars on a 2 lane hwy, had to hit brakes quick, and pedal went to floor. One of countless close calls in that car. Met a cheerleader from a rival high school while I was driving the Lark, got a date with her. Went to pick her up in my mom's two tone Coral/white top 59 Bonnevile 2-dr HT, thought it would impress her. She got mad, wanted to know where the "Stud" was - that was what everyone called the car, not me. Drove that car for about 8 months before blowing the engine - ran it dry of oil. It was a fun car to own and drive. That was 38 years and 160 pounds ago.

[The Old Guy]

The first car I drove was my Dad's 29 Buick 4 door. That was 1948 and I was 14 years old. I got my license then and bought a 1931 Buick 4 door, and have been hooked on Buicks ever since.

[JohnD1956]

Oh man this was a life time ago, but the first car I ever drove was Dad's 55 Buick Special with a stick shift. Technically the first car I ever owned was a 61 Electra Convertible, but being young this turned into a complete mess regarding ownership and I never had the car in my name even though it truly was mine. Now the first car I owned and drove was a 57 Special convertible. But there was a few other cars between these Buicks that I drove but never officially owned.

JD

[Guest]

The first car I ever drove was a 1930 Pontiac Custom Sedan. It was my grandfathers and I took my drivers test in it June 1959. In 1962 he transferred it to me. I am still driving it as my daily driver.

The first car I ever bought was a 1928 Pontiac in 1960 and by 1964 I had a 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1931 Pontiac (all 4 dr sedans), 1926 Studebaker Touring, and a series 11 Packard all licensed and insured.

Then came a wife and sons and all the cars went except the Custom Sedan.

[pakkrat]

My first one was a 52 chevy 2 door sedan picked up for free off a radio swap meet show. Rough, I sanded on it for 2 years off and on to no avail. Then 16 came along and I ended up getting a 66 El Camino to actually drive for $600. This was in 1986. Had a 327 with one small and one big plug head. Could have made good money fogging for mosquitos with that car. Sold the 52 for $150.

[Guest JDHolmes]

Learned to drive in a 72 Nova 350 3 speed....never could drive that car slow. My first car was a 64 Chevy Belaire 4 door, 3 on the tree with a bashed driver's rear door. Knew nothing about cars and it started running poorly (I know now it just needed a tune up) and when it got a flat and I rounded off a lug, sold it for $50 to a soldier across the street. My biggest screw up with a car <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

1957 Chevrolet

[West Peterson]

After seeing Bullit with Steve McQueen, I just had to have either a 1968-69 Mustang or 1968-69 Dodge Charger as my first car. It ended up being the 1969 Charger. I put some wide "60" tires on a set of 1976 Cordoba rims (turbin style) and it looked and drove pretty neat.

[rocketraider]

First car I drove was my dad's 68 ElCamino, 307/3-speed, I was around 13. He'd pull it around in the side yard and wash it on Sunday afternoons and would let me put it back in front of the house. Trouble was, I had to start off on a slight hill and would usually end up with the back of the truck up against the japonica bush till I got comfortable with a clutch.

I remember once he told me to move it and I backed it into a jitterbug drag. Tractor was a Farmall Super A with fast hitch, and the point on the jitterbug's hitch bar punched a hole right thru the hyphen on the rear license plate. He raised teetotal hell at me until Mama asked him why he had left the jitterbug out in the first place instead of putting it back under the shed.

First car I actually owned and insured in my name was a 1966 Olds 442 sport coupe at age 17. There's been an Oldsmobile of some description around ever since.

[Guest Moepar]

First car I drove was my dad's bright orang '73 Honda Civic. I was about 11 or 12, on a dirt road where we were camping (only meet one other car on the road). First car was a '73 Chrysler New Yorker. Couldn't wait to get rid of that blasted thing as it hardly ever ran. Sold it & got a '76 Audi that I kept for a couple of years til someone t-boned me. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> I really liked that car - it hardly ever broke & <span style="font-style: italic">ran</span> like a scalded cat!

[novaman]

First car I owned: '49 Willys Station Wagon 6cyl. Needed to be totally restored. Did actually show it at a car show. There was an award for the vehicle most in need of restoration. Got beat by a Model A. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Never did get the car on the road. I was about 14 at the time I got it.

First I owned and could drive on the road: 1964 Chevrolet Chevy II 400 Nova, 4dr sedan, Ermine White, blue cloth interior, 194 CID 6 cyl, 3-speed transmission. Ended up trading it in on a used '86 CJ7. Still missing that CJ..... Have owned several Chevy IIs since, currently have three '63s

[1937hd45]

First car I owned was a 1926 Model T Ford Tudor Sedan I bought on my 16th birthday. Cost $225.00 delivered on January 1, 1967. First car I bought and had licensed was an original owner '54 Chevy. Learned to drive and took my drivers test on a 1961 Ford. Here is a September 1969 photo of the three vehicles. Never finished the T, sold it to buy a few vintage race cars.

[Restorer32]

My first car was a '60 Corvair 4 Door Automatic and I was still able to get dates.

[Bob Kinker]

My first car was a 65 Valiant, leaning tower of power, 3 speed manual. That was a tough little car!. It was followed by a 64 Plymouth Sport Fury, 383, auto, bucket seats. That was a fast. good looking car!!!

[Dave@Moon]

This thread from 2001 has some of us covered on this from back in the primeval era: YOUR 1st CAR?

[ncgirl05]

Thanks for the link Dave! I had actually done a search on "first car" before I asked the question - guess I should have thought about "1st car"!

All interesting stories then and now <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Twitch]

1st car I drove was the family 59 Ford Fairlane. It was like looking over a pool table both hood and trunk. The drivers test back then required parallel parking too.

My 1st car owned was a 58 chevy Biscayne 4-dr. sedan with a 6 and a Powerglide.

[26pack]

My first car was a VW beetle. What year you might ask? Depended on what part of the car you were looking at. I think it started life as a '64.

[mrpushbutton]

The first vehicle I ever drove was my brother's '66 Chevy pickup (1972, age 13), 3 on the tree.

The first car I drove regularly was my mom's 1965 Ford Fairlane 500 (1975), Robin's egg blue. If tow trucks had wings they would have flown in circles above that car.

[Andersson]

My first car was an black VOLVO Amazon 1962 with b18 4 on the floor.

[Ivan Saxton]

I found a colour slide of my first car, taken sometime early 1962 not long before I registered it for full road use. I was sent to the man from whom I bought it by a friend from university. I had been talking about a picture in National Geographic of President Eisenhower in a parade in Turkey in Kemal Attaturk's Lincoln. There was a Lincoln at the same place, but I could never buy it.

My father and I flat-towed the 1927 Cadillac 60 miles home behind his utility, which was a much lighter vehicle. The engine required rebore, crankshaft grind, and new fork/blade conrod bigend bearings. There was 4-6 inches of rust and rot round much of the bottom of the body. I had few woodworking tools, and you can see from the photo when it goes up that I could have done a better job with the body. I rebuilt it in the back yard, and painted it there with nitrocellulose also. I was able to borrow a spray gun and compressor at weekends from a man I was working for part-time in Melbourne.

I used the Cadillac as my personal transport for several years; and then traded it and a 1923 Cadillac for a 1918 Mercer.

Though this was not a restoration, but a rebuild; over the years since, the standard of restoration work I aim for has improved considerably, but the output seems to have diminished.

The photo is not brilliant, but at least you can see what I had when it goes up.

Ivan Saxton

[Guest Dave Mills]

The first car I drove was my Dad's 1959 Plymouth Belvedere. The first car I owned was given to me by my Grandfather, a 1951 Plymouth Club Coupe, which I still have. That was in 1965.

[Guest imported_GeorgeCagle]

My dad started teaching me to drive when I was about 13 in his '65 Ford pickup. It had a straight 6 and three on the tree. The first car I owned was a '41 Chevy Special Delux 2 door sedan given to me and my brother by a friend of my dads. I was 16 at that time. We never found time to fix it up, and sold it a couple of years later. The first car that was all mine and that I got to drive was a '64 Tempest convertible with a 326. It was a real mess, totally wore out, and smoked like crazy, but I loved it. This was in 1975. I drove it all summer then traded it in on a '63 Chevy Biscayne. This was my first dependable car.

[R W Burgess]

Below is the link to Ivan's Cadillac, his first car.......

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> My father and I flat-towed the 1927 Cadillac 60 miles home behind his utility, which was a much lighter vehicle. </div></div>

Link--1927 Caddy

[Guest AlK]

My 1st car that I bought in the late 50's was a running driving 1929 model-a coupe, that I paid $25 for. I will not divulge what I did with the car because some of you know where I live or at least are smart enough to find me. Let's just say I should have been horse-whipped.

[Nick_S]

My own first car is a 1969 Chevelle SS 2dr hardtop. My first vehicle I drove regularly after I was licensed was a 1989 Suburban 1/2 ton.

[Jim Anselmo]

My first car was a 64 Buick Skylark that belonged to my Grandfather. The first car I ever bought was a 65 Buick Special Convertible that I bought in 1980 for $200.00. I only bought it after my dad wouldn't let me buy the '67 Fairlane GT convertible that was in a local wrecking yard since he was afraid "it probably doesn't run". Ugh! I do still have the Buick though and it will probably be my 14 year olds 1st car.

[Guest imported_Julian]

First car driven (I learned to drive) 40 Ford Standard belonged to my uncle.(1964)

First car bought 1940 Chevrolet 4dr. Special Deluxe all original car.(1967) Kept that car for 25 yrs. Sold it to a collector in Las Vegas and bought an all original 67 Olds 442. ( I still have it)

First Muscle Car driven..a new 1965 Mustang Hipo 289 2+2 4 speed car.. WWWWOOOOOWWWW...

First NEW car 1970 Olds Cutlass Supreme SX ( sold it in 78 to get a POS Mustang) <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Waited 5 yrs got my current 71 Cutlass Supreme Convertible, 67 442 and 2 1942 Oldsmobiles