Man Toy

[Rick]

My first car was a 1949 Olds. For my birthday my son gave me a die cast 1/24 scale die cast model of a 1949 Olds.

Can't believe the quality of this model. The hood opens and it looks just like the original engine, trunk opens and the tire tools are in the right place, and the doors open and the dash,handbrake are a dead ringer for the original. Even is the same color as mine down to the yellow rims and hubcaps.

The engines of new cars sure last a lot longer but as far as ride and performance we haven't improved cars that much in the last 60 years. As far as speed the 1949 Olds was supposed to be the first production car that would do 130 mph. In this day and age the roads are in such bad shape in my area are so crowded with cars that even the speed limit is pushing the envelope of safety.

Back in the day I thought the Hudson Hornet was the real speedster. Never found one to race so I don't know which would have came out on top.

What was your first car and what was the fastest set of wheels in your town?

[Ken The Kanuck]

1956 Ford Niagara.

Straight 6, it was 292 cu. in. believe. 3 on the tree and it would beat the small block V-8's.

I paid a $150 for it in 1968 and it was in great shape.

Power nothing, but a back seat a 16 year old boy put to good use.

KTK

[IditarodJoe]

Mine was a butt-ugly turquoise Chevy Biscayne, 6-cyl, 3-spd on the column. A previous owner had decided to give it a brush-painted black "vinyl" roof. Cost me $200 and sold it for the same. To me, it was the best car in the world!

The truth is, even a really good car in the early 1960s had no set belts or air bags, got maybe 12 mpg (and gas in 2010 dollars was $2.50-$3.00 per galllon). Changing plugs, rotors, condensor, shocks and batteries were regular events, and if you were lucky, the beast would last to maybe 110.000 miles (that is, if it didn't rust to pieces first). Compared to today's cars. they were death traps. Marginal brakes, safety glass in the windshield only, gas tanks not well designed. The best commercial suspension in 1960 would be totally unacceptable today.

I grew up just north of Detroit. I will fault the American auto industry, management and workers alike, for being greedy and needlessly sending millions of good factory jobs (not to mention manufacturing capacity - a national defense issue) overseas. But would I like to have to drive a 1960s car on a regular basis - NO THANKS!

[joem]

I had a 1962 chev super sport, 409, dual quads and 4 on the floor. pass anything but a gas station. Black with red interior. girls loved it.:)

[Dave Waits]

My first car was a 58Chev Impala 2-door with a 348, 3-deuce, three speed on the floor and a 4:10 rear end. I had much quicker cars later but that was my first and one of my favorites. Surprised alot of 270 horse Mustangs with it.

60s-era cars were designed to cruise at 70 Mph. Try that with today's iron and you'll burn things out in quick fashion. As for the safety features of then vs. now...If you're that afraid to drive..don't.

[Rick]

My second car was a 58 Olds 371 with 3-deuces. It was the J-2R engine. The R stands for restricted for use in police car and ambulances. Mine belonged to a Doctor. They had two more coils in one of the front springs to keep it level from the torque. Mine was a automatic called a slush bucket in the day.

Dave's Impala was a cooler looking car than my Olds. The Olds was a pinkish color and looked like an old persons car but would really put you back in the seat.

[Dave Waits]

I remember those Rick, the mid-50s Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles had brute engines.

[John Sukey]

55 Ford six cylinder two door. You could actualy WORK on the engine. Try changing spark plugs in todays cars, IF you can find them! anybody remember what "points" were for?

[M1Riflenut]

1968 Chevrolet Camaro. Bought it when I was 15, worked my butt off to get the money. It had a blown 6 cylinder engine, I replaced it with a 1970 350 V8,11" clutch and trans from a pickup etc. It took a ton of abuse. It was also the first and only car I ever wrecked. I ended up replacing the whole nose,radiator fan etc and sold it with a multi colored paint scheme from all the different used parts I put on it to fix the damage.
Later in life I got another 68, this one was a convertible. My current toy collection is a 1970 chevy shortbed p.u., a 1921 Overland model 4, and a 1940 Oldsmobile 4dr sedan.
Dad's got a 55 Buick Roadmaster convertible, a 57 chevy belair convertible, a 59 caddy eldo biarritz conv. and numerous others in various stages of restoration. He had a 59 chevy conv with tripower 348,fully restored but traded it for the 59 caddy tripower eldo basket case.

[rcnixon]

My first car was a 58Chev Impala 2-door with a 348, 3-deuce, three speed on the floor and a 4:10 rear end. I had much quicker cars later but that was my first and one of my favorites. Surprised alot of 270 horse Mustangs with it.

60s-era cars were designed to cruise at 70 Mph. Try that with today's iron and you'll burn things out in quick fashion. As for the safety features of then vs. now...If you're that afraid to drive..don't.

Hmmm, GPS says 202 miles, rolling average 68 MPH, Raleigh to Manteo NC via US-64. 2002 Saturn L-300, 96,000 miles on the odo. The first tuneup will occur at 100,000 miles. Early July, Woods Hole, MA to Raleigh, NC using the inland route of I-95, local roads in CT, I-84, I-81 and local roads in VA and NC; just a shade ove 30 MPG (sorry, no GPS for that trip). I was a service tech in the early to mid-70's for Datsun/Nissan. Today's cars are almost unbelievable in their durability, handling, safety and economy.
To stay on topic, my first car was a '63 Nova with a six and a two-speed Powerglide. I inherited that one from my big sis. The first one with my money was a '67 Austin-Healy Sprite, not much go but it handled like a housefly.

Russ

[herrmann]

"They don't build cars like they used to."

Thank God. Carburetors vs fuel injection. No replacement of plugs & points now. AC and audio that actually works. Engines that ALWAYS start. No stuck chokes or float valves. No engine fires. Doors that click shut. Etc.

[herrmann]

P.S. There has never been a production car then or now from anywhere in the world that will pass a new Vette!

[Crispy]

1969 VW microbus. No, I was'nt some tree hugging hippie. This was 1978 and I could afford it, it was good on gas and you could'nt get a speeding ticket with the thing floored, running down hill with the wind, so my perents "approved" the purchase.
Lots of room in back for things I'm sure Mom would'nt "approve" of!
Worst excuse for a heater ever.

[JDBoardman]

My first one was a 1959 Porsche 356 A GS-GT coupe. Bought it wrecked with a blown engine, and rebuilt it back to original (could still buy parts then). 160 hp, 4-cam 1600 cc displacement, dual Webers and a BBAB hillclimb gearbox. It had plexiglas side windows, rear windows and aluminum hood, decklid and doors. No heater, no sound deadening, but went like a raped ape. Used only Amoco 100 octane white gas. Reliability was about on a par with a '50's Jag, but it sue was fun. And by the way, it would blow the doors off a 'Vette from stoplight to stoplight. Us sports car types referred to the Corvette as the "plastic pig" back then.

[Hal O'Peridol]

First car was a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda with the 273 V8 and 2 bbl carb, could barely get out of it own way.

Sold it for a 1969 Pontiac Lemans 2 door hardtop with the BOP 350. 9 mpg city or highway, did not matter.

Sold that one off and bought a 1971 Triumph Spitfire MkIV. 1300cc 4 banger, got 44mpg on the highway, 10 gallon tank.

Dream car was a 1980 Triumph TR-8. 3.5 ltr V-8, built by Rover from the Buick 215ci V-8 of 1961-63. The TR-8 of that year would soundly trounce the same model year Corvette. Both in straight line acceleration and handling. It embarrassed GM enough to revamp the 'vette.

Fastest car? Either my 1973 Porsche 911 Targa or the 1979 BMW 633cs, both bought while living in Germany. The Porsche cost 1500 dollars, and the BMW 1000.

[phil441]

First car bought and paid for myself was a '51 Ford Convertible. I paid $600 for it during my Junior year in High School in 1958. I learned a lot from that worn out heap. I had to learn about hydraulics to get the top to go up and down. I learned about carburetors installing kit after kit to make up for worn out parts. I learned that I couldn't keep stressing the 4:11 rear ends because soon there wouldn't be any left in any salvage yard in the area. Learned that tie rod ends had to have real bushings in them. Learned never to touch the roof of a convertible while in a rain storm.
Yep, learned a bunch of stuff from that car.....

[noslack 327]

My first car was a 58Chev Impala 2-door with a 348, 3-deuce, three speed on the floor and a 4:10 rear end. I had much quicker cars later but that was my first and one of my favorites. Surprised alot of 270 horse Mustangs with it.

60s-era cars were designed to cruise at 70 Mph. Try that with today's iron and you'll burn things out in quick fashion. As for the safety features of then vs. now...If you're that afraid to drive..don't.

Well said, My first was a 68 chevrolet camaro I bought it returning from over seas. And next a 70 dodge challenger R/T convert , Wish I had both. My week end car today is a 68 pontiac Le Mans, And the 8 track still works.

[Weasel]

My first car was a 1961 Corvair Station Wagon.:eusa_dance: Eat your heart out Ralph Nader.:icon_twisted:

[Troy (WA)]

My first car was a 1964 Ford Falcon that I bought from the bartender at work for $80. I was bussing tables at Dennys after school from 5pm til 11pm and it was a long way to ride a bicycle from home to work. A friend helped me tow the car home because it did not run. I didn't know diddley about cars and was told that the carb needed rebuilt and a new battery was needed. A set of U-joints also needed. It had a 170 CU straight 6 and a 3 on the tree which I later converted to floor shift. I did the work and drove that for a couple years until I found a 1964 Ranchero that I had to have (no running gear) I took the running gear out of the Falcon and put it into the Ranchero and drove that til I went into the Army. I learned a lot from those old cars and they will have a fond place in my memory. In fact I currently own a 1965 Ranchero with a factory 289 and a T-10 4 speed. Thats the weekend lets go get an icecream cone car.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k116/tgmans_rifles/DSC00499.jpg

[mjpchief]

Bet most of the people that hate the older cars are driving ricer's now. Back in the day you got to work on your car and learn all about life in general. Today most people buy ricer's and spend the day playing computer games.

How many kia's do you think will be restored in the future?

By the way. Never had a plastic pig outrun my Cyclone. And I ran a bunch of them.

[Garandy]

1976 Camaro Rally Sport, bought new, for just over $5000.00! Wish I had it now, though too much pollution crap on it
http://www.classicchevyandcorvetteshow.com/76camaro.jpg

[mike24d20]

First was a 68 Chevy Impalla station wagon. Had a 310 buick Wildcat engiune a olds trannie and she could chit an get between Ft. Bliss an McGreggor range.

[Rick]

Would love to have a Troys truck.

Number three for me was a 1963 1/2 Falcon Sprint. Made it to about 350 thousand miles before it was to rusty to salvage. 260 V-8, lots of chrome engine parts, and very cool at the time. A bugger to start on very cold days and I had it set up for an engine heater. Haven't seen those used in a number of years.

All of you guys had some really neat cars. Imagine if you had them now what they would be worth.

[holdover]

First one was a '54 Merc 2 dr ht, I will agree the new cars have it all over the classics in speed, safety and handling etc. If you think an old muscle car was fast, drive a 2010 Vette with nearly 700 HP, they also turn left and right and STOP! I have owned and driven most of them ,427 cobra, 426 hemis, 409s, 440s, 454s on and on, with that said I really like the classics and have a '65 Mustang FB 289/271 4 speed and a '67 Mustang FB 390 4 speed GT. My toy is a '84 RX7 with a C4 corvette front and rear end and a built ford 302 making about 375HP with a toploader 4 speed. It handles and stops like it is on rails and is pretty quick. My goal is to put in a 427 small block ford and go 200 mph at the East Coast timing Association.

[talucah]

My first car was a 31 ford sedan, paid $125 for it, drove it for two years and sold it for the same. To show how successful I've been, at the time it was all I could afford, and now I can't afford one.
Bob