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debm55

(57,493 posts)
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 01:43 PM Nov 2025

What was your very first car that you owned. Mine was a 1965 Aqua Chevy Impala. Big tank for a 16 year old to drive.

What about you? Bought it from my parents.

224 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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What was your very first car that you owned. Mine was a 1965 Aqua Chevy Impala. Big tank for a 16 year old to drive. (Original Post) debm55 Nov 2025 OP
63 VW bus BeneteauBum Nov 2025 #1
Peace to you too, BeneteauBum. debm55 Nov 2025 #5
40 horsepower with brand new plugs. Permanut Nov 2025 #28
It got me from one place to the next BeneteauBum Nov 2025 #83
Roger that.. Permanut Nov 2025 #88
Excellent. I've had a 69, 64 and still have a 68. bullimiami Nov 2025 #136
I had a 68 also...bought it in 1972. BeneteauBum Nov 2025 #139
1969-ish Toyota Corolla. Ocelot II Nov 2025 #2
thank you Ocelot II. I have never driven a stick. I always wanted to but it seemed too hard for me. debm55 Nov 2025 #8
It's not that hard, but cars that still have it are pretty scarce now. Ocelot II Nov 2025 #13
No lie...a 1965 Chevy Impala, Aqua...three on the tree. LuckyCharms Nov 2025 #3
Thank you , LuckyCharms. You had one too? I had to sit on two pillows to see over the wheel. debm55 Nov 2025 #9
Yes, Aqua. No power steering and a heavy clutch. LuckyCharms Nov 2025 #11
Same here, No power steering, but it was not a stick shift.Edit. debm55 Nov 2025 #14
Mine was on the column. I still remember the shift pattern. LuckyCharms Nov 2025 #24
Sorry LuckyCharms. I made a mistake. it was not a stick shift. There was a handle on the steering wheel that would put debm55 Nov 2025 #29
'67 Chevelle Lefta Dissenter Nov 2025 #4
Thank you very much Lefta Dissenter. Your color description is funny. debm55 Nov 2025 #10
1965 blue Mercury Monterrey with the inclined power rear window... wcmagumba Nov 2025 #6
Thank you very much, wcmagumba. I had the automatic transmission , but no power steering. debm55 Nov 2025 #16
Cool, mine was a nice car for a HS kid but the blue paint was a bit faded in spots... wcmagumba Nov 2025 #25
A 1962 Oldsmobile F-85. LoisB Nov 2025 #7
Thank you very much, LoisB. debm55 Nov 2025 #17
First car 49jim Nov 2025 #12
Sounds like my kind of car. My father was a Chevy guy. Always bought the Chevy brand. debm55 Nov 2025 #20
1962 Ford Fairlane Convertible montanacowboy Nov 2025 #15
Wow, thank you montanacowboy. That does sound like a classic. debm55 Nov 2025 #21
Oh and by the way montanacowboy Nov 2025 #55
Yes, the turn signals were on the left of the steering wheel and the shift into D, N,R were on the right. debm55 Nov 2025 #117
19666 Corvair. It was smokin'. Three speed on the floor. Dimmer switch on the floor sometimes would turn the lights off. twodogsbarking Nov 2025 #18
Thank you very much, twodogsbarking. Sounds like a great car. debm55 Nov 2025 #22
1965 VW Beetle Ritabert Nov 2025 #19
Thank you Ritabert. I always wanted one. But back then , they only came in stick. debm55 Nov 2025 #23
The main problem for us was a non-working defroster in Boston Ritabert Nov 2025 #26
Its not a Bug if it has heat. Lochloosa Nov 2025 #60
My cousin used to always have blankets in her bug. debm55 Nov 2025 #127
Same here!!! N/T Scottie Mom Nov 2025 #34
Thank you very much, Scottie Mom. debm55 Nov 2025 #42
1951 Blue Chevy Pickup BOSSHOG Nov 2025 #27
I hear ya.. Permanut Nov 2025 #30
It was a fun ride BOSSHOG Nov 2025 #84
Oh that sounds great. Thank you very much, BOSSHOG for sharing with us. debm55 Nov 2025 #44
'78 Datsun 210 dickthegrouch Nov 2025 #31
Thank you very much, dickthegrouch. I hated those plastic seat covers add to that no AC. HOT. debm55 Nov 2025 #48
55 Desoto Fireflite Coronado 4 Door marble falls Nov 2025 #32
Nice!!! Nittersing Nov 2025 #41
52 and 53 Chevy coupes have always been favorites of mine. marble falls Nov 2025 #116
Oh, man, what a great looking car. Thank you, marble falls. Love it. debm55 Nov 2025 #47
Mine was a 1956 DeSoto Fireflight UpInArms Nov 2025 #134
Hemi? I had a flat head eight. marble falls Nov 2025 #144
Yes, a hemi UpInArms Nov 2025 #145
That 426 was a monster. marble falls Nov 2025 #147
Oh wow, that is one neat car, especially in all black. Thank you , UpInArms. debm55 Nov 2025 #190
'68 Mustang SheltieLover Nov 2025 #33
Thank you SheltieLover. Sounds like a great car. debm55 Nov 2025 #49
It was, Deb. SheltieLover Nov 2025 #50
1968 Red Pontiac Lamans with black vinyl top Sedona Nov 2025 #35
Great looking car, Sedona. Thank you. debm55 Nov 2025 #37
'72 Saab 99 justaprogressive Nov 2025 #36
Thank you justaprogressive. I always wanted one. Heard they were great driving. debm55 Nov 2025 #38
My first Front-wheel drive justaprogressive Nov 2025 #58
I hated my front wheel drive. I can't remember the name but it was by Chevy. I had to go down a hill to get to the debm55 Nov 2025 #121
1950 Ford pickup List left Nov 2025 #39
Thank you List left. What a great powerful truck. debm55 Nov 2025 #51
67 Camaro, brand new. sinkingfeeling Nov 2025 #40
Thank you sinkingfeeling for sharing. Nice car. debm55 Nov 2025 #152
1965 Chevy Impala, powder blue, 4 door, automatic. The lead sled. dem4decades Nov 2025 #43
Oh my. Thank you fellow 65 Chevy Impala owner, dem4decades. debm55 Nov 2025 #153
Thank you to everyone The Wizard Nov 2025 #45
no worries HappyH Nov 2025 #75
Thank you for your concern. debm55 Nov 2025 #154
;-{) 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Goonch Nov 2025 #46
1956 and 1957 Chevy was THE car all the high school and college men wanted back in the yellowdogintexas Nov 2025 #93
Thank you very much. My father had one in tan. Thanks, Goonch. debm55 Nov 2025 #192
1966 Chevelle SS 396 Super Sport dual-Holley 4-barrel, 8 mpg Submariner Nov 2025 #52
My roommate in college had one of those Turbineguy Nov 2025 #158
HAHAHAHAHHAHA. Thank you very much for sharing with us. Submariner. debm55 Nov 2025 #194
1976 Ford Maverick Arger68 Nov 2025 #53
Thank you very much for sharing with us. Arger68 debm55 Nov 2025 #196
I also had a 1965 Chevy Impala CanonRay Nov 2025 #54
Thank you Canon Ray. That sounds great. debm55 Nov 2025 #124
40 Chevy DRiggs Nov 2025 #56
Wow, Thank you for sharing. DRiggs. debm55 Nov 2025 #197
67 Delta 88. Loved that boat. The perfect car for high school. Lochloosa Nov 2025 #57
Thank you very much for sharing the "the boat" with us. Lockloosa. debm55 Nov 2025 #200
'57 Chevy Bel Air BarbaRosa Nov 2025 #59
Thank you very much, BarbaRosa for sharing with us. debm55 Nov 2025 #198
I had a 1971 Plymouth Cricket. markodochartaigh Nov 2025 #61
That is very wise of you, markodochartaigh. Thank you very much. debm55 Nov 2025 #201
1970 Ford BigMin28 Nov 2025 #62
Thank you very much for sharing with us, BigMin28 debm55 Nov 2025 #202
1966 Dodge Dart Wicked Blue Nov 2025 #63
Thank you very much. Wicked Blue. debm55 Nov 2025 #203
It was an 1973 orange VW Superbeetle. rsdsharp Nov 2025 #64
I almost bought one, but needed my money for college, so I stayed with the Impala. Thank you redsharp. debm55 Nov 2025 #66
63 bug. turquoise. mopinko Nov 2025 #65
Thank you very much, mopinko. All the cars from the 60s were tanks, I like the idea of a push button trans. Sounds neat. debm55 Nov 2025 #68
My first car was a 1959 Volkswagon Beetle, a convertible. PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2025 #67
Thank you very much PoindexterOglethorpe. I guess we are opposites, I can't drive a stick, too much to do. I like the debm55 Nov 2025 #71
I understand why most people prefer an automatic. PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2025 #140
That little car would be worth a lot today. Hard Emile Nov 2025 #159
Mine was a '66 1/2 Beetle, a gray market car from Canada HappyH Nov 2025 #69
Thank you very much, HappyH. It sounds nice. Did you give it your bother and get a new car? That was so kind of you. debm55 Nov 2025 #73
Yep I had to HappyH Nov 2025 #74
1973 Pinto Runabout ProfessorGAC Nov 2025 #70
Thank you very much, ProfessorGAC. My cousin gave me her Pinto car. I think it was a lemon as it didn't go very fast. PS debm55 Nov 2025 #72
i had a pinto. mopinko Nov 2025 #76
I Had Mine For 5 Years, Too ProfessorGAC Nov 2025 #78
1977 Pinto wagon my Dad gave me sdfernando Nov 2025 #77
Thank you very much, sdfernando for sharing with us. debm55 Nov 2025 #205
Forest green Flo Mingo Nov 2025 #79
Oh, That is a nice color. Thank you for sharing, Flo Mingo. debm55 Nov 2025 #206
Mine was a 1960 Ford Falcon. Very basic automobile; 6 cyl. standard. patphil Nov 2025 #80
Thank you very much, patphil. Mine was 10 years old when it got towed. debm55 Nov 2025 #189
1st car I owned that was not my parents wss kacekwl Nov 2025 #81
Oh wow. Yes, I don't think your parents would be driving that. HAHAHAHAH. Thank you,kacekwl debm55 Nov 2025 #119
'67 Ford Custom. boonecreek Nov 2025 #82
Thank you boonecreek. My girlfriend had a Celica, We used to pretend we were in France and driving around. Oh to be debm55 Nov 2025 #114
1973 International Travelall Hey Joe Nov 2025 #85
Thank you very much Hey Joe. Sounds heavy duty. Do you remember when we would pick up change on the floor or in the back debm55 Nov 2025 #125
1963 Plymouth Belvedere Onthefly Nov 2025 #86
Thank you very much.Onthefly. That sounds like a great car. debm55 Nov 2025 #113
A 1968 Mercury Cougar catbyte Nov 2025 #87
Oh , I love the looks of the car, especially the color. Thank you catbyte. debm55 Nov 2025 #112
1968 VW bug w/a sunroof CountAllVotes Nov 2025 #89
That car does sound great. Wish I had one too. Thank you CountAllVotes debm55 Nov 2025 #111
'68 Dodge Charger Flo Mingo Nov 2025 #90
Great. Thank you very much, Flo Mingo. debm55 Nov 2025 #110
1964 VW Beetle. I learned to drive a stick shift with that car. yellowdogintexas Nov 2025 #91
Thank you , yellowdogintexas. I tried to learn on VW Bettle. Couldn't get it together to move. However. it did make a debm55 Nov 2025 #108
1996 Mazda Elessar Zappa Nov 2025 #92
Thank you very much, Elessar Zappa. debm55 Nov 2025 #106
A 1961 Chevy red Corvair 3 speed stick floor shift. My doc03 Nov 2025 #94
Wow, a red Chevy. Thank you, doc03. My shift was on my steering wheel. debm55 Nov 2025 #105
My second car was a 1964 Agua Chevy Impala doc03 Nov 2025 #95
That is funny. Hope no one was hurt. My brother totaled mine. Thank you doc03 debm55 Nov 2025 #104
1964 Ford Fairlane. Paid $50 bucks for it, sold it for $200 to my Uncle's kid SWBTATTReg Nov 2025 #96
Thank you so much, SWBTATTReg, That sounds like a good deal. debm55 Nov 2025 #102
1975 Ford Maverick. OldBaldy1701E Nov 2025 #97
Love the color combination, Thank you OldBaldy1701E debm55 Nov 2025 #100
not gonna count the shitty 80's delta 88 my paternal unit got me. i got a 72'delta 88 w/ 56k miles. i drove the ss queen pansypoo53219 Nov 2025 #98
Thank you very much, pansypoo53219. Wow you get a lot of milage from your cars. debm55 Nov 2025 #99
back when we did emissions tests, every year mine were lower. mechanic paternal unit said i cleaned it driving faster + pansypoo53219 Nov 2025 #215
HAAHAHAHAHAHHA. I drive like a little old lady that I am. slooooooow debm55 Nov 2025 #216
That was a pretty cool car for a kid. viva la Nov 2025 #101
Thank you viva la. Yes, I loved the color. Somewhere along the line, I had a burnt orange second hand car. It was a debm55 Nov 2025 #103
1972 Ford Gran Torino Americanme Nov 2025 #107
Thank you very much, Americanme. Yes, free is great. debm55 Nov 2025 #109
A craptastic 1976 Datsun B-210. Aristus Nov 2025 #115
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA. Thank you so much, Aristus. debm55 Nov 2025 #118
'65 VW Beetle convertible with a standard transmission buzzycrumbhunger Nov 2025 #120
HAHAHAHHAHAHAH. great post buzzycrumbhunger. I cried when my Impala got towed. debm55 Nov 2025 #187
I hear ya! buzzycrumbhunger Nov 2025 #207
Brand new 1968 Ford Mustang. Fla Dem Nov 2025 #122
Wow, that's great. Thank you for sharing. Fla Dem. Lime Gold Mustang. That sounds very sharp debm55 Nov 2025 #123
1985 Chevy Cavalier exboyfil Nov 2025 #126
Thank you very much, exboyfil. for sharing. debm55 Nov 2025 #181
My mother's 1971 Plymouth Duster - My mother got a new car every 10 years so I was lucky to inherit this one! Rhiannon12866 Nov 2025 #128
When we met, my husband had a Duster. It had this dustball emblem on the back. He had just started working and traded it debm55 Nov 2025 #179
Yup, if you look close, this car has the Duster emblem, just like my mother's Rhiannon12866 Nov 2025 #218
1968 Camaro SS. Paid $1,370 used of course in 74. chicoescuela Nov 2025 #129
Oh, a Camero. I always liked those. Thank you for sharing. chicoescuela. debm55 Nov 2025 #178
1965 AMC Rambler Ambassador SARose Nov 2025 #130
Yep, that is how things were back then. I had a second hand AMC Rambler. Last two years. Thank you SARose. debm55 Nov 2025 #177
1967 Plymouth Fury gopiscrap Nov 2025 #131
HaHAHA. Cheap beer and broken bike. Oil burner. You did get two years out of it. Thank you for sharing, gopiscrap. debm55 Nov 2025 #176
Dad bought me a tank Tree Lady Nov 2025 #132
Thank you very much, Tree Lady. I think that is why my father sold me the Impala. debm55 Nov 2025 #175
'84 Ford Tempo n/t multireeds Nov 2025 #133
Thank you very much for sharing with us, multireeds. debm55 Nov 2025 #174
68' Chevy Nova LogDog75 Nov 2025 #135
Same here with the Impala. It was a pain to drive. Thank you LogDog75, debm55 Nov 2025 #170
Mine was a 1963 Plymouth VIP in dark green woodsprite Nov 2025 #137
I understand, woodstprite. My car didn;t have power steering. It was so hard to turn. debm55 Nov 2025 #168
'69 Chevy Nova TygrBright Nov 2025 #138
My 68' Nova had one really annoying problem LogDog75 Nov 2025 #143
HAHAHAHAHAH. Thank you LogDog75, debm55 Nov 2025 #166
HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA. TygrBright. I am glad that you still miss it. Thanks for sharing, debm55 Nov 2025 #167
1967 Chevy Biscayne..... fantase56 Nov 2025 #141
Thank you very much for sharing with us, fantase56. debm55 Nov 2025 #165
1970 Plymouth Baracuda Bayard Nov 2025 #142
HAHAHAHAHAH. I agree with the green. You are right it is a cool car. Thank you for sharing. Bayard debm55 Nov 2025 #151
1946 Chevrolet Fleetmaster sedan. Emile Nov 2025 #146
Thank you very much Emile. debm55 Nov 2025 #150
1963 Ford Galaxy XL 500 Rincewind Nov 2025 #148
Thank you very much, Rincewind. If I remember correctly. Thunder Birds were huge. debm55 Nov 2025 #149
The mid to late 70's Thunderbirds Rincewind Nov 2025 #219
Thank you Rincewind. debm55 Nov 2025 #220
63 Ford Galaxy 500 NH Ethylene Nov 2025 #155
Yes, I liked the big old tanks too. Thank you very much, NH Ethylene. debm55 Nov 2025 #164
1958 292 Ford Fairlane, shift on the column. gab13by13 Nov 2025 #156
HAHAHAHAHAh. thank you very much, gab13by13. debm55 Nov 2025 #163
55 ford SarasotaDem Nov 2025 #157
Wow, a 55 Ford. Great. Thank you very much, SarasotaDem debm55 Nov 2025 #161
First car Rebl2 Nov 2025 #160
Thank you very much, Rebl2. I had one car with no AC, It was terrible. It was a Saturn. debm55 Nov 2025 #162
nash rambler. sold it as i was moving here . AllaN01Bear Nov 2025 #169
Thank you AllaN01 Bear. I had a Rambler too. But we called it the Rumbler for various reasons. It was second hand. debm55 Nov 2025 #172
A Lincoln 61, huge tank of a car. lark Nov 2025 #171
Very sorry about that. I know about the Providence RI police. and I agree. Thank you very much, lark. debm55 Nov 2025 #173
Chevy here too! Brand new 1974 Chevy Nova. 50 Shades Of Blue Nov 2025 #180
Got that right--Chevy. Love red cars. I heard that about the Novas. Thank you very much 50 Shades of Blue. debm55 Nov 2025 #183
An old Beetle, don't know the year. chowmama Nov 2025 #182
Wow, I couldn't imagine doing all of that. Great job,chowmama. Great job. debm55 Nov 2025 #185
1959 VW Beetle lapfog_1 Nov 2025 #184
What a great post thank you for sharing with us. lapfrog_1, Love it. debm55 Nov 2025 #186
1972 Toyota Celica. waterwatcher123 Nov 2025 #188
Thank you very much, waterwatcher, You are very talented, debm55 Nov 2025 #195
'72 Chevy Nova with a 350 V8 LudwigPastorius Nov 2025 #191
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAH. Sweet. Thank you LudwigPastorious. debm55 Nov 2025 #204
first car wow tmars505 Nov 2025 #193
HAHAHAHHAHAH. Thank you very much for sharing with us. tmars505. debm55 Nov 2025 #208
1972 Olds Cutlass virgdem Nov 2025 #199
Very good and thank you very much, virgdem for sharing with us. debm55 Nov 2025 #209
1970 SS 396 Kammer Nov 2025 #210
HAHAHAHHHAHA. and did you look for change on the floor to pay for gasoline like I did? Thank you very much, Kammer. debm55 Nov 2025 #211
1974 VW Beetle, dark green. Dale in Laurel MD Nov 2025 #212
Thank you very much, Dale in Laurel MD. My first love had a dark green, 1974 VW Beetle. debm55 Nov 2025 #213
1964 Chevy Impala PikaBlue Nov 2025 #214
HAHAHAHHAHHAH.That is great, Thank you PikaBlue. debm55 Nov 2025 #217
1976 AMC Hornet Eugene Nov 2025 #221
You are so right about the Hornet. Thank you very much, Eugene. debm55 Nov 2025 #222
1971 4 door beige Pontiac Catalina Pas-de-Calais Nov 2025 #223
Wow, sharp car. Thank you very much, Pas-de-Calais. debm55 Nov 2025 #224

Ocelot II

(129,669 posts)
2. 1969-ish Toyota Corolla.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 01:46 PM
Nov 2025

It had a stick shift, which I taught myself to drive somehow, without damaging the transmission.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
8. thank you Ocelot II. I have never driven a stick. I always wanted to but it seemed too hard for me.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 01:51 PM
Nov 2025

Ocelot II

(129,669 posts)
13. It's not that hard, but cars that still have it are pretty scarce now.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 01:55 PM
Nov 2025

I have read of incidents where a car with a stick shift was carjacked or stolen but quickly abandoned because the young thieves couldn't figure out how to drive it.

LuckyCharms

(22,146 posts)
3. No lie...a 1965 Chevy Impala, Aqua...three on the tree.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 01:47 PM
Nov 2025

I loved that car. Bought it from my B-I-L.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
9. Thank you , LuckyCharms. You had one too? I had to sit on two pillows to see over the wheel.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 01:52 PM
Nov 2025

debm55

(57,493 posts)
29. Sorry LuckyCharms. I made a mistake. it was not a stick shift. There was a handle on the steering wheel that would put
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 02:17 PM
Nov 2025

put you in D, R, N. I am sorry.

wcmagumba

(5,789 posts)
6. 1965 blue Mercury Monterrey with the inclined power rear window...
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 01:50 PM
Nov 2025

Big ole tank of a car my parents had bought used and I bought it from them for $300 when they upgraded...It had brand new fitted seat covers and was great for going "parking" with my gf...automatic transmission and adjustable steering wheel...I loved that car...

debm55

(57,493 posts)
16. Thank you very much, wcmagumba. I had the automatic transmission , but no power steering.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 02:03 PM
Nov 2025

debm55

(57,493 posts)
20. Sounds like my kind of car. My father was a Chevy guy. Always bought the Chevy brand.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 02:06 PM
Nov 2025

montanacowboy

(6,686 posts)
55. Oh and by the way
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 02:51 PM
Nov 2025

the stick shift was on the steering wheel!!! OMG, another world it was.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
117. Yes, the turn signals were on the left of the steering wheel and the shift into D, N,R were on the right.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 07:43 PM
Nov 2025

twodogsbarking

(17,847 posts)
18. 19666 Corvair. It was smokin'. Three speed on the floor. Dimmer switch on the floor sometimes would turn the lights off.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 02:04 PM
Nov 2025

You had to hit it again. Must have freaked the oncoming traffic out. Sure did me.

BOSSHOG

(44,738 posts)
84. It was a fun ride
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 04:41 PM
Nov 2025

Got it in 1970, $150.00. They are on a lot of Christmas decorations, cards and tins of popcorn. “Old Guys Rule” OGR.COM has them on tshirts. I saw one on line from Mississippi a couple of weeks ago for 45,000. I guess we can’t keep everything, although my Dad had much to do with “me” getting rid of it but that’s a different story.

dickthegrouch

(4,376 posts)
31. '78 Datsun 210
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 02:22 PM
Nov 2025

Purchased used in 1982 with only 7500 miles on it. Plastic seat covers and no A/c. I’ve never made that mistake again!

I have put more than 100,000 miles on each of 7 cars since then!

debm55

(57,493 posts)
48. Thank you very much, dickthegrouch. I hated those plastic seat covers add to that no AC. HOT.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 02:41 PM
Nov 2025

Sedona

(3,863 posts)
35. 1968 Red Pontiac Lamans with black vinyl top
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 02:26 PM
Nov 2025

It had a four barrel carburator and way too much house power for a 16 year old girl in 1978

Paid $600 for it. The one pictured is listed at $20K!

?w=1240

justaprogressive

(6,499 posts)
58. My first Front-wheel drive
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 02:53 PM
Nov 2025

Astonishing in snow. You have to change your driving style.

One time got nerfed off an interstate in heavy snow,
car spun around going backwards and sideways, I was
expecting to hit the guardrail, then the car tilted "oops no
guardrail!", slid down a 30ft embankment, and stopped 5
feet from the tree line. It was perfectly quiet, the engine was
still running, I reached between the seats and turned off
the engine (it's a SAAB thing ) Asked my wife
if she was Ok, she was. Got out of the car, someone was stopped
up top. I asked if they were the ones that hit us, he laughed
"No you were hit by a bus! He's parked up the road!

There was a 4-in ding on the top L corner of the L rear
quarter panel! (That's Swedish aircraft steel for you)
Parents didn't believe me! (my f*ing car oy!) Called
the state police and the bus station.

I'm the black sheep if you hadn't guessed!

Currently I love FWD twin-cam Toys!

Some (mistaken) people say you can't drive at speed or drift
around corners in a FWD car.

Drifting with a front wheel drive car is a unique skill. Most cars use the front wheels
for steering. In drifting, these wheels also provide power. This makes front wheel
drifting different. Control is key. Practice is important. Enthusiasts enjoy the challenge.
They find it exciting and fun.

Many car fans love front wheel drive drifting. It’s popular for its challenge. Fans gather
at events to watch and learn. Some even try it on tracks. Videos online show amazing
drifts. This inspires more people to try. Enthusiasts share tips and tricks. They help
each other improve their skills.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
121. I hated my front wheel drive. I can't remember the name but it was by Chevy. I had to go down a hill to get to the
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 08:06 PM
Nov 2025

highway. You can't count how many times, I fishtailed and went down the hill trunk side first. I live in Pittsburgh with the hills. and snow. After reading your post I now think I was driving it wrong. But back then, That was the last Chevy I ever bought.and I wasn't driving it right.Thank you justprogressive. PS No guardrails on the hill either.

List left

(660 posts)
39. 1950 Ford pickup
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 02:29 PM
Nov 2025

Flat head six. Granny gear, you could pull a house with. Had to double clutch when changing gears.

dem4decades

(13,837 posts)
43. 1965 Chevy Impala, powder blue, 4 door, automatic. The lead sled.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 02:34 PM
Nov 2025

I can remember driving down the street with with 4 of my friends and the guys in the back seat were putting firecrackers in the ash trays in the doors and blowing them out.

yellowdogintexas

(23,609 posts)
93. 1956 and 1957 Chevy was THE car all the high school and college men wanted back in the
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 05:16 PM
Nov 2025

1960s and early 1970s.

My mom asked someone why they were so popular and the answer was "they are practically indestructible"

Submariner

(13,275 posts)
52. 1966 Chevelle SS 396 Super Sport dual-Holley 4-barrel, 8 mpg
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 02:46 PM
Nov 2025

It used to eat Mustangs, GTOs, 442s, and Road Runners for lunch.

Turbineguy

(39,902 posts)
158. My roommate in college had one of those
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 10:07 AM
Nov 2025

You could actually see the gas gauge move towards "E" while you drove. Going anywhere involved a gas stop.

Arger68

(732 posts)
53. 1976 Ford Maverick
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 02:49 PM
Nov 2025

The most gutless car ever made (probably not THE most gutless, but it was really bad). Good car for a 16 year old to start out on though

markodochartaigh

(5,196 posts)
61. I had a 1971 Plymouth Cricket.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 03:09 PM
Nov 2025

My parents bought it for me so that I could drive to work unloading trucks before school. I was 14 and not really wanting to drive. The car stayed broken more than it ran and needed parts from England which took weeks to arrive. After a few months my parents bought me Gremlin which lasted for about 5 years.

I never in my life had a car payment. I always bought what I could afford to pay cash for.

I also never had a job where you would be judged by your car, clothes, watch, etc. I didn't even have a concept of such jobs until I was in my 30's.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
66. I almost bought one, but needed my money for college, so I stayed with the Impala. Thank you redsharp.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 03:21 PM
Nov 2025

mopinko

(73,387 posts)
65. 63 bug. turquoise.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 03:19 PM
Nov 2025

sorta hated it. my next car was a big boat. olds 98. 60 something. sold it when it needed new tires, which were more than the car was worth. friend i sold it to drove it for a long time. she had an in for the tires.
next car was a plymouth valiant w a push button trans and 90k+ miles.
have never owned a new car, tho the then hubs did. a honda fit.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
68. Thank you very much, mopinko. All the cars from the 60s were tanks, I like the idea of a push button trans. Sounds neat.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 03:24 PM
Nov 2025

PoindexterOglethorpe

(28,484 posts)
67. My first car was a 1959 Volkswagon Beetle, a convertible.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 03:22 PM
Nov 2025

Last edited Sun Nov 2, 2025, 12:56 AM - Edit history (1)

To this day I will not voluntarily drive an automatic transmission.

I'm sorry, but it strikes me as extremely unsafe that the car starts moving as soon as you take your foot off the brake. I want to be the one controlling how and when the car moves.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
71. Thank you very much PoindexterOglethorpe. I guess we are opposites, I can't drive a stick, too much to do. I like the
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 03:32 PM
Nov 2025

like and can only drive an automatic.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(28,484 posts)
140. I understand why most people prefer an automatic.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 11:51 PM
Nov 2025

But honestly, you ought to be able to drive a stick in case the apocalypse happens. You won't regret it. Although you might when I drive happily by in my VW that needs no extra technology.

HappyH

(191 posts)
69. Mine was a '66 1/2 Beetle, a gray market car from Canada
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 03:29 PM
Nov 2025

A '66 Beetle with a 12 v electrical system and front disc brakes. It was a lovely light blue. Got it from my mom with the understanding that I had to give it to my younger brother in 3 years.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
73. Thank you very much, HappyH. It sounds nice. Did you give it your bother and get a new car? That was so kind of you.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 03:42 PM
Nov 2025

HappyH

(191 posts)
74. Yep I had to
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 03:50 PM
Nov 2025

I learned early that you did not cross my mom. Wasn't too bad, I replaced it with a Triumph TR-4. Lotta fun in that car, but it wasn't real reliable.

ProfessorGAC

(76,075 posts)
70. 1973 Pinto Runabout
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 03:30 PM
Nov 2025

The runabout was the model with a trunk, not a hatchback.
I had money to buy a used car, but my dad bought a new one and made up the difference.
I thought he was buying the pinto for him, getting to & from work, and I'd get his Maverick.
But, he kept the Maverick & I got the Pinto.
I was starting college at 16 as a commuter and he wanted a car with a warranty to get me back & forth.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
72. Thank you very much, ProfessorGAC. My cousin gave me her Pinto car. I think it was a lemon as it didn't go very fast. PS
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 03:37 PM
Nov 2025

I skipped one year of school did not like it, Had to make new friends, Two years must have been difficult. Was it?

mopinko

(73,387 posts)
76. i had a pinto.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 03:56 PM
Nov 2025

it was a great, reliable car. dont remember the yr. bought it used. drove it for about 5 yrs.
course, i never got rear ended.

ProfessorGAC

(76,075 posts)
78. I Had Mine For 5 Years, Too
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 04:08 PM
Nov 2025

The 3 years undergrad & the first 2 years working.
I sold it then to a younger cousin who drove it at least 4 more years.
So, the family got 9 years out of $1,900 car.

Flo Mingo

(499 posts)
79. Forest green
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 04:11 PM
Nov 2025

1968 Dodge Charger.
I-275 was brand new through St Petersburg. Out near Toy Town I broke 100 mph for the first time. I loved that car!

patphil

(8,806 posts)
80. Mine was a 1960 Ford Falcon. Very basic automobile; 6 cyl. standard.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 04:11 PM
Nov 2025

Only had it a few months before someone turned into me at an intersection in Albany, NY.
My second car was a 1960 Chevy Impala convertible. This one I had for several years. I really loved it.
I sold it when I went into the military.

kacekwl

(8,971 posts)
81. 1st car I owned that was not my parents wss
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 04:20 PM
Nov 2025

a red 1967 Chevelle red with 327 four speed. Yah baby.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
119. Oh wow. Yes, I don't think your parents would be driving that. HAHAHAHAH. Thank you,kacekwl
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 07:49 PM
Nov 2025

boonecreek

(1,422 posts)
82. '67 Ford Custom.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 04:27 PM
Nov 2025

It was the lower trim level of the Galaxie. Had it from '69 to '71 when it
blew its water pump in Minnesota and cracked a cylinder. A few months
later I got my first new car, a '72 Toyota Celica ST.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
114. Thank you boonecreek. My girlfriend had a Celica, We used to pretend we were in France and driving around. Oh to be
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 07:39 PM
Nov 2025

young.

Hey Joe

(482 posts)
85. 1973 International Travelall
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 04:41 PM
Nov 2025

Huge white beast with a large block V-8.
Got 9 mpg , had dual fuel tanks and needed them too.
When I needed parts I had to go to a truck and tractor dealer for them. Every thing on that vehicle was heavy duty and weighed a ton.
Good thing gas was cheap then.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
125. Thank you very much Hey Joe. Sounds heavy duty. Do you remember when we would pick up change on the floor or in the back
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 09:33 PM
Nov 2025

of the seats to pay for gas?

Onthefly

(1,190 posts)
86. 1963 Plymouth Belvedere
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 04:50 PM
Nov 2025

Bought it from my dad. Ran great. I went on cross country road trips. Had a slant six engine and three on the tree.

CountAllVotes

(22,130 posts)
89. 1968 VW bug w/a sunroof
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 05:03 PM
Nov 2025

I loved that car. I called it my "Blue Wonder".

It clocked 100K going over Ebbets Pass.

Great memories! Wish I still had that car today!



Flo Mingo

(499 posts)
90. '68 Dodge Charger
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 05:05 PM
Nov 2025

1968 Forest green Dodge Charger.
I-275 was newly completely in mid 70s through St Petersburg. I found a pair of hemostats under the front seat and out near Toy Town I broke 100 mph for the first time. I loved that car!

yellowdogintexas

(23,609 posts)
91. 1964 VW Beetle. I learned to drive a stick shift with that car.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 05:11 PM
Nov 2025

It was a sort of greyish ivory color.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
108. Thank you , yellowdogintexas. I tried to learn on VW Bettle. Couldn't get it together to move. However. it did make a
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 07:13 PM
Nov 2025

very loud noise. I never asked him to teach me again.

doc03

(38,914 posts)
94. A 1961 Chevy red Corvair 3 speed stick floor shift. My
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 05:21 PM
Nov 2025

dad got me a $300 cash loan that I paid off myself.

doc03

(38,914 posts)
95. My second car was a 1964 Agua Chevy Impala
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 05:28 PM
Nov 2025

four door with a power glide transmission. A
tree ran into me one night and totaled it.

SWBTATTReg

(26,135 posts)
96. 1964 Ford Fairlane. Paid $50 bucks for it, sold it for $200 to my Uncle's kid
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 06:13 PM
Nov 2025

He fixed it up, and it looked pretty damn good afterwards...

pansypoo53219

(22,944 posts)
98. not gonna count the shitty 80's delta 88 my paternal unit got me. i got a 72'delta 88 w/ 56k miles. i drove the ss queen
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 06:26 PM
Nov 2025

victoria 4 yrs + sold it before 100k. drove it to tennessee severfal times + virginia. then i found a pea green 73 delta 88 w/ 52k miles. another 4 yrs. that one went to tenn too. up north wi too. the 67 pontia catalina was the most fun tho.
talking tanks. drove my mom's 73' crysler new yorker. the biggest land yacht i drove. but big rubber baby bumpers.

pansypoo53219

(22,944 posts)
215. back when we did emissions tests, every year mine were lower. mechanic paternal unit said i cleaned it driving faster +
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 07:37 PM
Nov 2025

farther. teehee. i drove the 73 new yorker like a ferrari.

viva la

(4,540 posts)
101. That was a pretty cool car for a kid.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 06:52 PM
Nov 2025

I mean, aqua!

Mine was a burnt orange 1974 Vega. And yes, it was a complete lemon.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
103. Thank you viva la. Yes, I loved the color. Somewhere along the line, I had a burnt orange second hand car. It was a
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 06:56 PM
Nov 2025

lemon too.

Americanme

(424 posts)
107. 1972 Ford Gran Torino
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 07:10 PM
Nov 2025

It was a junker, been in an accident or two. I got it for free, my friend enlisted and gave it to me. I was thankful to not be walking to work.

Aristus

(71,845 posts)
115. A craptastic 1976 Datsun B-210.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 07:42 PM
Nov 2025

Bought it in 1988. It had already had four owners. And I don’t know how many car accidents. By the time I bought it, the body was mostly Bondo. Had it for a little over a year, and sold it at a loss before going into the Army.

buzzycrumbhunger

(1,728 posts)
120. '65 VW Beetle convertible with a standard transmission
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 07:50 PM
Nov 2025

I’d learned to drive in a ’63 Beetle so it was comfortable to me. I think it cost me like $250. The rag top was FUBAR as the wood in the front had warped, so I had to use duct tape to keep the rain out, which meant we couldn’t really put the top down, but as a pasty Celt, that wasn’t really a negative.

I loved that car. At the time, (early ‘80s), you could get parts for a song at Target—fuel filter for like $0.75, a Haynes manual for $8. I think the most expensive thing was a muffler for $25. Over the years, the floorboard rusted out (heavy salt on the winter roads in Iowa!) and when the time came to admit the car had seen better days and it was more than a little concerning to see the highway whiz by at our feet, a guy from a monastery offered me what I’d originally paid for it, saying they’d be converting it to some Frankenstein creation to use in their huge garden. I figured that was a pretty cool way to go for the old girl.

buzzycrumbhunger

(1,728 posts)
207. I hear ya!
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 02:28 PM
Nov 2025

My son’s last two cars have been Impalas—both former cop cars, so heavy-duty everything. Hurricane Milton tossed an entire tree on the last one and thankfully, FEMA paid for it to be repaired. Took months, but a small shop did a great job pounding out the roof and repainting, and he’s happy once again. I don’t know how he’ll fare once he has to move on to a new one because the heat’s all driving SUVs now…


Fla Dem

(27,473 posts)
122. Brand new 1968 Ford Mustang.
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 08:06 PM
Nov 2025

Went to work at a national company in Boston right out of high school. Did pretty well at my job, got serval promotions the first 3 years, living at home paying a very small rent and saved enough to put a down payment on a brand 1968 Lime Gold Ford Mustang. Best car ever.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
123. Wow, that's great. Thank you for sharing. Fla Dem. Lime Gold Mustang. That sounds very sharp
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 08:22 PM
Nov 2025

exboyfil

(18,347 posts)
126. 1985 Chevy Cavalier
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 09:36 PM
Nov 2025

Bought new after walking to work for six months . Didn't own a car in college. Used parents cars in high school.

Rhiannon12866

(251,790 posts)
128. My mother's 1971 Plymouth Duster - My mother got a new car every 10 years so I was lucky to inherit this one!
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 09:37 PM
Nov 2025

debm55

(57,493 posts)
179. When we met, my husband had a Duster. It had this dustball emblem on the back. He had just started working and traded it
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 01:09 PM
Nov 2025

for a brand new red Mustang. Thank you very much for sharing , Rhiannon12866

Rhiannon12866

(251,790 posts)
218. Yup, if you look close, this car has the Duster emblem, just like my mother's
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 11:28 PM
Nov 2025

BTW, my mother always chose a white car since she thought it would show up better in the dark.

SARose

(1,831 posts)
130. 1965 AMC Rambler Ambassador
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 09:49 PM
Nov 2025

Both seats in the front folded down to make a bed! 🤭 She was a beautiful shade of blue.

I paid my father $50.00/month for a year for it. Why? Because I could not get a car loan in my own name. I was 18 and a single female. Yes, I had a full time job at a hospital.

Had to be 21 and male, I guess!🤣

debm55

(57,493 posts)
177. Yep, that is how things were back then. I had a second hand AMC Rambler. Last two years. Thank you SARose.
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 01:02 PM
Nov 2025

gopiscrap

(24,579 posts)
131. 1967 Plymouth Fury
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 09:54 PM
Nov 2025

I bought it for a case of cheap beer and a broken 10 speed bike. It burned more oil than gas I had to add a quart every 45 to 60 miles
Had the car for twoi years and drove it 18K before selling it for $182.57

debm55

(57,493 posts)
176. HaHAHA. Cheap beer and broken bike. Oil burner. You did get two years out of it. Thank you for sharing, gopiscrap.
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 01:00 PM
Nov 2025

Tree Lady

(13,081 posts)
132. Dad bought me a tank
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 10:00 PM
Nov 2025

Ford Fairlane bought used in 1974 for $300 don't remember the year. 4 door yellow huge.

Dad wanted something safe for me to drive. I was 18.

LogDog75

(1,153 posts)
135. 68' Chevy Nova
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 10:28 PM
Nov 2025

I bought it off my father. Comparing it to the cars of today, I wouldn't buy it again.

woodsprite

(12,560 posts)
137. Mine was a 1963 Plymouth VIP in dark green
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 11:10 PM
Nov 2025

It was garage kept, stored over the winters, and had the cloth upholstery covered with clear plastic tailored seat covers. I was 17 and my dad bought it as a surprise for me thinking I could take mom shopping, appts, or wherever she wanted to go. She didn’t drive. That thing was beautiful, but was a boat to drive. With a 426 engine, if you stepped on the gas pedal, you could watch the gauge go down. Way too much car for a teen.

TygrBright

(21,316 posts)
138. '69 Chevy Nova
Sat Nov 1, 2025, 11:12 PM
Nov 2025

Never had much trouble with the engine although sometimes in the winter I had to drop a screwdriver into the butterfly valve to get a start out of it. But the rest of the car had a tendency to shed things.

After it dropped the second muffler I got smart and had Midas replace it with the full warranty and they put in two more for free...

The rearview mirror came off a couple of times, the passenger armrest came off once.

But the worst time was when I was parallel parking and the steering wheel came off in my hands.

But it never stopped running.

Still miss that car, LOL...

nostalgically,
Bright

LogDog75

(1,153 posts)
143. My 68' Nova had one really annoying problem
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 12:16 AM
Nov 2025

When I'd make a right or left turn, sometimes the horn would honk on it's own.

Bayard

(28,947 posts)
142. 1970 Plymouth Baracuda
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 12:09 AM
Nov 2025

Nauseating green, big V-8, lots of rust because I was living in Minnesota at the time, but I was so cool!

debm55

(57,493 posts)
151. HAHAHAHAHAH. I agree with the green. You are right it is a cool car. Thank you for sharing. Bayard
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 09:32 AM
Nov 2025

Rincewind

(1,346 posts)
148. 1963 Ford Galaxy XL 500
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 09:20 AM
Nov 2025

390 Thunder Bird V-8, I know it was a Thunder Bird V-8, because it had Thunder Bird stamp on the valve covers. Bought it for $500. It got around 10-11 mpg, which while not good, wasn't considered too bad at the time. My senior year in high school (1972) premium gas was $0.299 a gallon, full service gas station.

Rincewind

(1,346 posts)
219. The mid to late 70's Thunderbirds
Mon Nov 3, 2025, 09:11 AM
Nov 2025

were huge, the early 60's ones were smaller, what was a mid-sized car back then.

NH Ethylene

(31,301 posts)
155. 63 Ford Galaxy 500
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 09:48 AM
Nov 2025

Also a big tank for a 16-year-old. I paid $200 for it. We had to push it to get it started to bring it home and my Dad laid in the driveway and changed the starter. I loved it. You never forget your first car.

And I do miss driving the big tanks.

Rebl2

(17,510 posts)
160. First car
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 10:35 AM
Nov 2025

I bought was a red Pinto-scary. No air conditioning and I live in MISSERY or what is commonly known as Missouri, and yes that car was miserable to drive during the summer months and scary to drive in snow during winter. Next car was a mustang, again no air conditioning 🙄. It had been owned by a young woman that went to college in Minnesota I believe, so she didn’t really need air conditioning or so they said.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
162. Thank you very much, Rebl2. I had one car with no AC, It was terrible. It was a Saturn.
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 10:39 AM
Nov 2025

debm55

(57,493 posts)
172. Thank you AllaN01 Bear. I had a Rambler too. But we called it the Rumbler for various reasons. It was second hand.
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 12:36 PM
Nov 2025
Lasted two years.

lark

(25,945 posts)
171. A Lincoln 61, huge tank of a car.
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 11:51 AM
Nov 2025

Got it for a song from an old man in RI who couldn't drive anymore. Stupid drunk cop wrecked it, sent 2 of my friends to the hospital and tried to set us up for drug trafficing when we filed a lawsuit. We left town quickly - Providence police were known for being very corrupt.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
173. Very sorry about that. I know about the Providence RI police. and I agree. Thank you very much, lark.
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 12:39 PM
Nov 2025

50 Shades Of Blue

(11,342 posts)
180. Chevy here too! Brand new 1974 Chevy Nova.
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 01:11 PM
Nov 2025

Red 4-door, 8 cylinder engine. Total gas guzzler. Had one thing wrong with it after another. But it did take me a lot of places.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
183. Got that right--Chevy. Love red cars. I heard that about the Novas. Thank you very much 50 Shades of Blue.
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 01:21 PM
Nov 2025

chowmama

(1,029 posts)
182. An old Beetle, don't know the year.
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 01:19 PM
Nov 2025

No heat, and you could see the road through the floor in places. Cost me $200.

I had my hands in every part of that engine, aided by a Volkswagens For The Compleat Idiot book. Tuned it on the regular. Then My Baby developed a rattle, so I eventually took it to a rent-your-own garage space that let you use their tools and equipment, and advice from the owner. As it turned out, a pebble had gotten past all the shielding, punctured a push rod tube and was up inside, wearing out the push rod. I (and the owner) were surprised it hadn't snapped yet. While the engine was in pieces, I sent the valves out to be redone and did everything else myself.

The owner gave me the fisheye at first and admitted later he didn't think a teenage girl could do it. He only helped me in two parts. To get the engine out of the car, you had to undo almost all the bolts, push a transmission jack under the engine, undo the last bolts and then lift the back end of the chassis and 'wheelbarrow' the car out of the way. This takes two people to accomplish, and not that much effort. He probably could have done it by himself.

The second and last part was the carburetor. I took it apart and cleaned it, put it back together - and the damned car wouldn't run. I just sat there, completely unable to think what to do next. The owner and his visiting friend advised me to take it apart and put it back together again. I did and the sucker ran. The friend said "Congratulations, now you know how to fix a carburetor".

My favorite part was changing the oil. The original Bug had an oil filter...Well, imagine a tennis ball made out of window screening. Cut it in half and staple it down to a platform. Take your thumb and press in a divot about halfway to the bottom. This is your filter. The divot catches rocks, bolts and small children; everything else gets through. Change the oil monthly or woe be unto you. Every time I changed it, I found a half a nut. No clue where the other half went or what it held up.

I loved that car in a way I haven't loved a car since.

lapfog_1

(31,766 posts)
184. 1959 VW Beetle
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 01:21 PM
Nov 2025

34 hp engine... air cooled... I could ( and did ) disconnect it and pick it and carry it to my parent's basement to work on it.

6volt batter system that always gave me issues.

A retractable canvas moon roof - I could sort of drive it standing up ( one foot on the gas, hands holding the steering wheel, head out the moon roof ( not entirely legal ).

No fuel gage... there was a mechanical switch near the clutch pedal, if you ran out of gasoline, you flipped it and it gave you something like 1.5 gallons more from the bottom of the tank. You needed to remember to flip it back when you filled up ( or the next time it died... no extra fuel ).

But it always started in winter ( air cooled so no anti-freeze or water ). fun to drive to commute to high school. And I paid $300 or $400 to buy it used in 1972. I saved that much from my late summer job cutting milk weeds out of soybean fields using a hand machete. You had to do that job fast... before the combine would harvest... and not give the weeks time to regrow and spoil the beans.

LudwigPastorius

(14,351 posts)
191. '72 Chevy Nova with a 350 V8
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 01:40 PM
Nov 2025

It had a perfect "secret compartment" in the trunk next to the wheel well where I could stash my bong.

tmars505

(32 posts)
193. first car wow
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 01:44 PM
Nov 2025

my first car was a 1951 Chevy with an engine built by MotionMotors. My older brother had a 1956 Ford also with a MotionMotors engine. The bodies looked like crap, but they had a pile of giddyapp in their "git along".

Kammer

(117 posts)
210. 1970 SS 396
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 03:02 PM
Nov 2025

Bought used in 1973. Paid $1,200. Came with a 45 record, SS396 by Paul Revere and the Raiders. About 7-8 miles to the gallon the way I drove it.

debm55

(57,493 posts)
211. HAHAHAHHHAHA. and did you look for change on the floor to pay for gasoline like I did? Thank you very much, Kammer.
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 03:17 PM
Nov 2025

PikaBlue

(466 posts)
214. 1964 Chevy Impala
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 06:56 PM
Nov 2025

Silver body, white top, blue interior. I received it in summer 1969 right before my senior year of high school. My father made me take our family's Great Dane with me whenever I drove anywhere other than to school. He (the dog, not my father) sat in the back seat with his head hanging over my right shoulder, drooling all over me. At least no one ever approached the car. He had been sent to training school to become a body guard, which was extremely important when you lived in a rural area with a large population of cows and pigs. It was said that some of the livestock were gang members, like the Holsteins versus the Gurnseys. When you're a Holstein (Jet) you're a Holstein (Jet).

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