Very interesting to realize what a well restored version of many of these "first cars" would be worth now.

My first was shitty Czechoslovakian Skoda 120L. Looked like this one:



And also East Germany Trabant 601 deluxe

quote:

Originally posted by Jiri:
My first was shitty Czechoslovakian Skoda 120L. Looked like this one:



And also East Germany Trabant 601 deluxe

Body shape is similar to a 1978 Peugeot 504 diesel sedan we owned in the 80's. One of the best cars I've ever owned.

Yep, they got the color right, like most everything else in the Soviet bloc.

Wow you guys are youngsters!

My first car was a '50 Chevy 4 door. I paid cash $100.
Making $1 an hour unpacking appliance's and helping on deliveries @ 15, 1959.
Plus 3 years before and 2 after summer hay crew $8 day.

Folks bought me a set of tools and Motor Manual.

Dad said: "IF you can't figure it out from this, come and ask me".
The only time I was too stumped and had to ask
was how to fish a broken axle stub out.
True to his promise. Dad explained all the parts and where to start.
Sure thing. Every bit of it matched his description.

I still feel that was the best education a kid could get about keeping a car running.

George

By 1971, our family of six had nine Ramblers in the driveway. I had already bought and sold a clapped-out Bonneville with 389, paid $1 for it and the Pennsylvania DMV wasn't having it. They charged me $6 for sales tax, on the assumption that a used car was worth $100 minimum.

The previous owner wanted to keep his electric fuel pump, I said OK. My curiosity about the fuel pump was answered when we started it up once, the mechanical fuel pump shot gas two feet in the air and it lit up. Oops. I don't remember exactly what we did with that one, but it was gone not too long afterwards. I kind of wish I'd saved the 389 but didn't have a place to keep it.

Back to the Ramblers, we had the same discount at the parts store as the local dealers, and were treated like royalty at Skip Stewart's scrap yard in State College. Saturday mornings we'd line them up outside the two-story garage my father built, load up the wood stove and go to work on whichever ones needed something. At the time I drove a 1965 Rambler American with a 2-barrel 232 engine, used it for everything from Saturday night dates to jeeping in the mountains (scraped the muffler off once). I'd say that was kind of my first car.

My first real car was a Hurst Rambler I bought in Massachusetts on a road trip. Lots of stories about that one, still have it in the garage...

I love Ramblers. Always have.

All right ramblers, let's get ramblin'.

More.

Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man

It’s cultural.

quote:

Originally posted by georgeld:
Wow you guys are youngsters!

My first car was a '50 Chevy 4 door. I paid cash $100.
Making $1 an hour unpacking appliance's and helping on deliveries @ 15, 1959.
Plus 3 years before and 2 after summer hay crew $8 day.

Folks bought me a set of tools and Motor Manual.

Dad said: "IF you can't figure it out from this, come and ask me".
The only time I was too stumped and had to ask
was how to fish a broken axle stub out.
True to his promise. Dad explained all the parts and where to start.
Sure thing. Every bit of it matched his description.

I still feel that was the best education a kid could get about keeping a car running.

George

My 1st. was a 51 Chevy coupe. Had to realign the shift linkage every once in a while to get it moving.

Got a kiss from a sweet young lady one time when I realigned the linkage for her.

Hip

1950 Chev business coupe. Took me less than two weeks to blow up the old 6-banger. Dropped a Chev 283 V-8 in it. Took me less than two weeks to scatter the trans. Installed a Muncie - blew the torque tube rear end.
Installed a complete rear end from a '50 Olds. 2.91 gear ratio. Would pull over 60 in second gear. Car hood latch didn't work properly. Blew the hood back over the windshield. Sold the car and went back to college!

1959 Pontiac Starchief with the 370 cubic inch V8 PM model (330 HP)

1955 Pontiac Starchief Convertible. 1961 for $500. Dad was in the auto parts business. Took me to the warehouse and gave me a big tool box and a set of tools.
"There you are son when it breaks you can fix it or walk"
Shortly I had a flat tire and wanted to get it repaired at the Humble station. No way. Dad said get your tools. Showed me the tire tools and a hot patch kit. Stood there and gave me instructions. Priceless experiences.