First Cars & Fond Memories

[Seeking Hobbes]

The other day, I came across an old advertisement for my first car...
It was the first car I saved for and finally begged my father to let me buy...

Although it was a 10 year old (heavily USED) car when I bought it... I LOVED this car for the 10 years that I drove it; through high school... colleges... and job interviews.

When I finally landed a "real" job... I succumbed to responsibly (and reliability) by trading my GT for a "slightly" used Honda Accord (yawn).

Still, I'll never forget my first love... she taught me a lot.

Am I alone with a fondness for my fist car?

 

[rescueme]

My first car was a 1969 Dodge Dart GT with a 273-2bbl carb, purchased new when I returned from Nam, in September 1969 two weeks before I was married to DW.

Don't have the car (wish I did); still have DW (glad I do ). Drove the car a bit over 10 years, and almost 100k on the odometer - something unusual in those "pre-foreign" days. Maybe I was just an LBYM'er and didn't know it at the time ?

Metallic blue with a black vinyl top. Here's a representative photo of a similar car of the same year/model, but in a different color and without the vinyl top:

 

[Seeking Hobbes]

Wow, what a great car! The father of an old college friend had a Metalic Blue dart.
No wonder you were fond of it.

If I remember correctly, they were practically indestructible... down to the painted steel dash!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Nodak]

Mine was a 1948 Cadillac 7 passenger limo. Bought in 1965 and sold in 1970. A few weeks ago I was contacted through Facebook by the guy that has the car now (he found an old registration card in the glove box) and am waiting for pics of it as it is today.

 

[Alan]

My first car was a Ford Anglia.

 

[rescueme]

down to the painted steel dash!

Thanks for sharing!

No, dash was also vinyl (along with the seats, which would burn your skin in extreme heat).

BTW, I had the seats covered in clear plastic vinyl for protection (if anybody remembers Rayco) since it was my first car (along with the payments of $83.39 for 36 months - yes, I still remember, since I was in the military and not earning multiples of that amount).

My next duty station was in Florida. Imagine a car (without AC, and vinyl seat covering) in that heat. I believe I still have some impressions on my butt from those days...

 

[73ss454]

I think the most popular plastic covers were made by Fingerhut as I remember.

http://www.irememberjfk.com/mt/2007/02/clear_plastic_seat_covers.php

http://www.motorwayamerica.com/content/whatever-happened-seat-covers

 

[rescueme]

I think the most popular plastic covers were made by Fingerhut as I remember.

"clear plastic material that had raised triangular bumps all over it"

Exactly ...

Heck, this was my first car and the most expensive thing that I (or the finance company) owned. Would I settle for less? ...

 

[golfnut]

First Car

My first car was a 1973 Volkswagon Bug. Bought it in 1975 from my cousin. Beat the c**p out of it until I sold it in 1979 after a front end accident. Took it on many road trips. Fun times!

 

[braumeister]

Ah, yes. Mine was a 1968 bug. When I finished college, I took my entire life savings ($1,800) and bought it new. I loved that car. When I lived in the snow belt of upstate New York, it was one of the few cars that could get through after a blizzard. The thing was so lightweight that you just drove over the top of the snowdrifts!

 

[dm]

My first car I bought with my own money was a 1966 corvette convertable. I paid $6,000 and my dad thought I was nuts. But I drove the crap out of it and sold it years later for $8,500.

 

[Bikerdude]

My first car was a 69 Triumph TR-6 bought new in 69 and sold in 1976 for a 76 Camaro.

 

[GregLee]

My first car was an MG Magnette from the late 50s, a hand-me-down from my parents in 1965. Staid, but stylish. I don't know the exact model/year, but this looks like it:

 

[Sarah in SC]

My parents had a VW Bug as our family car when I was born. Still can't imagine how they fit five of us in there, but I guess we were small. They replaced it with a brand new Vega, if you can imagine.

My first car and love was a 1984 full size Blazer, given to me when I was 15. It saved my life when I rolled it off a 30 foot embankment the next year--I drove it home after replacing all 4 tires that had blown out from the impact. When it threw a rod a few years later I cried so much that Dad took me down to the dealer to pick out the only new car I've ever owned, a 1988 GMC Jimmy that I put 385k miles on before selling it.

The Blazer in convertible mode:

 

[Keim]

Blue 1976 Chevy Monte Carlo. Bought it from my brother in about 1984. Still have it.

 

[East Texas]

A pre-Ralph Nadar 1964 Corvair.

 

[Sue J]

Mine was a 1971 VW Beetle. It was a big surprise from my parents for my 21st birthday in 1976. I loved the sound of the engine and the feel of the stick shift. The lack of a fan on the heater and defroster was a problem in Ohio winters but I had big sturdy mittens for wiping the inside of the windshield.

Loved that car! We were still in college and not married yet but having that car allowed DH to start working for a county social services department in the same pension system that he retired from last year. So that car has a special place in our hearts.

 

[73ss454]

The first 2 pictures are the day I picked up my 1966 Chevelle, it was May 6th 1966. I had just turned 17 by a few days. These pictures were taken in front of my parents house. The car was a SS 396 4 speed.

The 3rd picture was taken in 1969 at NY National Speedway out on LI.

Man did I have a good time back in the day.

 

[ProspectiveBum]

My first car was a '66 Mustang, handed down to me from my Dad in 1990. With a straight-6 and a 3-speed manual that shifted like a tractor, it could barely get out of its own way, but it sure looked cool! Sadly, I killed it about a year after I got it, by running it with no oil until it seized.

First car I bought with my own money was a '74 Superbeetle, which was nowhere near as cool-looking as the Mustang, but drove significantly better.

 

[eytonxav]

Can't find the actual pic, but mine was a 67 SS396, 4 spd, just like the one below, except with a black vinyl top and black interior. I wore out the wide ovals after about 3k mi. Unlike 73ss454's national pic, my races took place on Mamaroneck Ave, NY; Goats were delicious for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

[LightningDawg]

Mine was a 1977 Toyota Celica, purchased new for $5600.00.

 

[W2R]

I don't have a photo of my Aggie maroon 1988 Dodge Daytona, but it was similar to this one. It had a sunroof, and louvres on the back window. I loved that car!

 

[LightningDawg]

My Ford Truck!

How about this beauty?

 

[LightningDawg]

Sorry....picture was too small. This one is larger.....

By lightningdawg at 2010-12-30

 

[packrat44]

!940 Ford coupe - Chevy 283 engine; 3 carbs; Duntov cam. Met a lot of police officers with that car. Some friendly; others not. What really matters - the girls liked it.