Posted on 11/10/2017 6:19:44 PM PST by Army Air Corps
Calling All Freeper Gearheads!
Let's talk about first cars! What was you first vehicle? What did you like most about the car? What drove you nuts? Do you wish that you still had it?
First car that I drove regularly was my Dad’s ‘67 VW Beetle - 4speed, air-cooled, 1300cc.
First I bought with my own money was a ‘73 Triumph Spitfire. Lots of fun to drive, but the Lucas electronics drove me nuts. Always was something going on with them. Plus anything with a gasket or seal was prone to leaks: clutch master cylinder, clutch slave cylinder, brake master cylinder, valve-cover gasket & rear main-seal - all replaced in my 2 years of ownership.
The Brits thoughtfully had the bonnet tip up and forward on hinges, exposing the full engine bay for easy access. Plus, the front tires were pretty comfortable to sit on while adjusting the carb, which was about once a month.
I fitted a ski-rack to the trunk lid in the winter, and did mostly top-down cruising in the summer.
Can’t say I’d want another, but would love to try out a Miata or Honda S2000 so I could get the same driving experience, but with a lot more reliability!
66 Ford T-Bird
Cockpit like a fighter get.
8 mpg downhill with a tailwind.
Man that’s a good looking ride. Glad I didn’t have one. I would have had a kid way way to early.
A real party bus.
1949 four door Cadillac with steel visor, twin spotlights. $200.00. Marilyn, and Donna loved it.
It was a tank, but ran great. Was 1963. I had nothing but motorcycles prior to that car.
My first car was a Pinto. What I like most about it was getting a new one.
Hey, had more seats than my current car...
Jag 3.4 Saloon. 283 Chevy motor. Nothing electrical worked. No wipers, brake lights heater etc. Only headlights re-wired for negative ground.
Those are pretty sweet looking rides, and I often see them at car shows in the region. Personally, I think that they look sharp as a tack when painted black or burgundy.
And then some. Those were the days!
My first very own car was either a 1973 or 1974 yellow Ford Maverick with I thought it had white on the bottom, definitely had those detail or racing stripes, brown fake leather probably upholstery, don’t remember if bucket seats or not. My father bought it for me after I was divorced at the Ford dealer. I felt kind of cool driving it, and yellow was my favorite color, didn’t have a/c, auto transmission, don’t remember much else about it. I thought the trannie went out and sold it to someone super cheap who parted it out. I think I was stupid to do that.
My first was a 55 Ford. It had a 272 with a two barrel. 4.11 rear end, three speed on the column and overdrive. It actually ran really well.
Daddy paid $300 so I could drive to college.
I almost got a Jaguar XK-150. Ft. Walton Motors which is the same dealer I got the Ford from wanted the same price, $300 for the Jag but it needed an engine rebuild which would have been an extra $300. Just could not convince Daddy to pay that much.
I once beat a 352 with a 4 barrel. It was no fluke as my best friend had the same car. They bought a new 64 which had the 352 4V. His Dad and older Brother raced the new and old one and sure enough the 55 272 beat the 64.
About a year later, me and some Marine buddies were driving back to a base from a camping trip on Mount Palomar when the transmission gave out. I simply took the license plates off the car and left it on the side of the road. We hitch-hiked back to base.
Different times back then.
Two thumbs up, Big.
Was yours made before or after the filler redesign?
I dont know. I know it was a piece of junk.
That’s a whole lotta car.
1969 Chevy Nova 350SS. I paid $700 for it in 1975. Blue with black vinyl top. Glasspack exhaust. 8 track stereo. Firestone Wide Ovals on chrome ET mags. A real chick and cop magnet. It seemed like it got about 5 gallons to the mile. I wish I still had it, but I got tired of buying gas every day and traded it for a 1972 Pinto. That cost me my girl friend.
I am thinking of a Johnny Cash song, now.
The joys of growing up in grandad's junk yard.
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