The cars we drove back then.....

[Adam Helmer]

I recall my first car when I got my driver's license in 1961. My first car was a 1949 Chevy "fast back" with mud flaps and cost $110. Ok, that was cheap for a bedroom -on-wheels.

What were the first cars for other folks, Way-back-when gas was 24.9 CENTS per gallon?

Adam

[muledeer]

1956 Chevy. Paid $400.00 used and my payments were $20.00 a month. Put in a three speed (on the floor) close ratio trans out of a vette, four barrel carb, and cheater slicks. Wish I had that car now!!! I do have a 1965 Mustang fastback that's a time machine. Every time I drive it I turn 18.
muledeer

[toxic111]

Ok I can't go that far back.. but my first car was a '71 Mavrick... $150.. my second (and just about still my favorite car) a '73 Comet with a 302 V8... 95mph in the 1/4 bone stock...

[Rabid Rich]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,
Thanks for draggin up good OLD memories...
My first car was a 1955 Ford Custom 4 door with a factory 2 inch lowered rear end, a Continental kit, "three-on-the-tree" and manual overdrive.( there was a pull lever under the dash that you pulled out for over drive) It was "Fawn Tan" when I bought it as a Re-po from my local bank. The year was 1958. I had my drivers license for 5 years prior to making enough to make car payments without having to scrimp. I was out one night "carousing about" in another town and went to sleep at the wheel trying to make it back in time for work. The resulting wreck ended up being great as along with replacement fenders and such I had it painted Black on bottom and White on top. I bought some chrome headlight covers from "Western Auto" that help trick it out to my liking. I added black and white carpet that I cut and laid myself. As you can tell by now I was quite thrilled with it all.
One thing I remember most about it all. That was the feeling of being totally FREE to go and do as I wanted, when I wanted. What a "RUSH". You folks remember that feeling???
And how many of you ever went around after hours to "filling stations" and drained the hoses on the gas pumps? It probably wasn't worth the trouble gas wise but it SEEMED like it! I even had a LEO help me once! HA!
Thanks again for this post and thanks for lettin to an ol codger
re-live some great times!!
Oh yeah, I almost furgot, It was a Jack Rabbit huntin buggy. It had fenders and a hood ornament you could hold onto while shootin rabbits in the headlights!!!! HAW!
Now hows that for OLD!!!
My best to you all!
RR

[DogYeller]

In 1962 I bought a 52 Chevrolet Coupe Delux, It looked just like this one.

[BILLY D.]

1st car. WOW. 1940 Plymouth Club Coupe. Gas was 17.5¢ a Gallon. Wages $1.25 an hour.

Fastest thing on the street Ford Flatheads, fastest thing on the highway, Chrysler 300's, Buick Century or a Caddy.

They weren't much out of the hole but once they got to 70MPH they'd suck the glass out of your mirrors.

AHH those were the days.

Best wishes, Bill

[Adam Helmer]

Guys,

Thanks for the nostalgic memories.

When I got to my permanent USAF post of duty in Denver in 1963, I quickly found a girlfriend who also had a car. WHAT a car! Dear Bev had a 1959 Edsel convertable that we gleefully drove all over the Eastern Slope of the Rockies. I wish I had a picture of Bev and the car, but I have only the memories. I wish I could go back to 1963 and begin all over. As the PA Dutch say, "Too soon old and too late smart." I was 19 years old and not too smart, but damn it was fun.....

I had just made A2C (Corporal E-3) and had enough cash on payday to drive Bev up to Cheyenne for Frontier Days in 1963 and 1964. To bad time stands still for no man.

Adam

[Dan Morris]

First vehicle was in 55, a red 1949 Ford PU (ranch special).
First car was a 57 Ford 2dr. My....time does fly!!!!
Dan

[Adam Helmer]

Rabid Rich,

I liked Colorado when I was there 1963-1966 in the USAF. I was at Lowry AFB in Denver and then at Peterson Field in Colorado Springs. I left there in 1966 and suppose I would not recognize my old stomping grounds today.

Please feel free to open a thread here on the Good Old Days stuff you lived. I collect Social Security checks, so that dates me. I am in my 4th year as President of my county historical society.

Back in time makes me think of lots of stuff I recall growing up. You, and all others, are free to post stuff here that makes us go back in time.

Adam

[Adam Helmer]

Dog Yeller,

Thanks for the fine photo. I remember when that car was NEW!

Adam

[Dan Morris]

Adam, Lowry is a housing project....FitzSimmons is a civillian
medical park. AFB is Buckley AFB...out east...was a NG area.
Colfax queens are still there.......I think some of the originals...LOL
Area grew FAST...I can remember shooting pistols with some cops
in areas that are now 10 miles in the city of Aurora!!!
Dan

[BILLY D.]

Originally posted by Adam Helmer
Dog Yeller,

Thanks for the fine photo. I remember when that car was NEW!

Adam

Yup! And I was a Freshman in High school.

Three years later Chevrolet brought out their first V-8, and a year before that Ford produced their first Overhead Valve Engine.

And most Aircraft still had propellers.

Oh my God, I feel old.

Bill

[skeet]

Was a 49($50 ) Studebaker 4 door(Airbrakes??) and that car was a DOG but it got me places. Then 4 months later I bought a used 1960 Chevy 2 door Hardtop. 550 bucks Aaaahhh! best price on gas that I ever remember was 5 gallons for a buck...and they pumped the gas cleaned the windshield and gave you some kinda gift for buying from them. oh well time do fly when ya be havin fun!!

[Dom]

Man, I can't compete with you old geezers interesting tales here.

My first vehicle, I have to say, was a 1968? or so 100cc Kawasaki cycle, for a car just used my older brothers '65 Chevy Impala.

First 4 wheels was a '71 Chevy C10 pickup, three on the column, V8 307, and I still got it and it runs fine. I'm saving it for a 'retirement' project, will take some time & effort but I like that body style and it's still sound enough to work on. I can't believe my dear old Dad, God rest his soul, sold his '56 Chevy pickup in the mid 60's for $400. Ya, too bad we can't go back in time!

P.S. I have an alibi, cheapest price I ever seen for gas was 17.9 in Detroit, would guess about early to mid 60's, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[buckhunter]

My first was a 53 Bucik two door with a auto transmission. Car was a tank. Would pull the heads and replace them just to see what was under there. Would top out about 110 downhill.

Ended up blowing the transmission. Paid $50 for it in 1963.

Second car was a 55 Chevy four door. Got a great price on it cause the car got caught in a hail strom and was dingged up pretty good. Had 3 on the tree. I believe it was a straight 6. Painted it RED. Chrome wheels. Bald tires. My bro ended up totaling it.