I was King of the World when I drove it. .
I learned about cars, I learned about cops, and I learned about responsibility. .
The gas cap is in the left rear "wingtip". The windows rolled up and "locked" in place with a little tab. The gauges were big and round, they reminded me of aircraft gauges and I loved the way they glowed at night. Every light, every gauge worked, I made sure of that. I was proud of that, even then the older cars seldom had them all functional..
The body felt solid, strong. Both door closed with a resonant "ker-chunk", not like today's car doors. .
I added seat belts myself, dad insisted. I always felt like I somehow "hurt" the car drilling those big holes for the anchor bolts..
The front seat was huge, plenty of room for three people, or just two "close up". (Remember the "S-O-B" corners?-" Scoot over Baby!).
That car had an engine compartment you could sleep in. I had an Eldebrock "Torker" manifold, "Hooker" headers, a "bored out" 283 cu in engine to 302 cu in, a Muncie "Rock Crusher" tranny 4 speed on the floor, a 4.11 12 bolt rear end, and wide tires..
I could chirp the tires "in all four gears". .
In fact the ONLY ticket I ever got in that car was for "Exhibition of speed" just off the main street drag. I was -ahem- in a speed contest with the chief of Police's son. He had a Duster, purple with yellow accents. A Dodge, 318 cu in. I smoked him. It was the first AND LAST time I "raced" it. Really. Dad grounded me for a month after that one..
(Sigh) I still get excited just talking about it. It was every 18 year old male dream car. Think cruising main street every Friday and Saturday night..
Think "American Graffiti". I LIVED that movie. I would have been Curt....
1957 for me as well. But it was a Dodge that my dad had driven into the ground. Had the old push button automatic...but the interlock was broken--it would start in gear as soon as you turned the key.
Made for some wild accidental take-offs when I forgot to push the neutral button and turned the key in Drive or Reverse.
You can see the push button pod to the left of the steering wheel.