First car?

Speaking of the Kawasaki KZ1000 (great bike btw). I have a story about its baby brother. I can't beat the Gremlin for a first car, but I can come close. Technically it's a motorcycle, but I consider it my first car; '81 KZ305 with 2k miles. Close to two decades ago, headed back to school, I loaded it up with my duffle, bungie corded to the back, put on my jacket, my thick work boots, gauntlets and helmet and left the city limits of New Orleans and headed out on brisk spring day eastward and northward across Lake Pontchartrain towards Pittsburgh. With the extra weight of the duffle, the rear suspension was pretty heavily loaded. The two cylinders labored mightily to keep it above 55. It would lumber up to 65 and even 70 going downhill... if there was a tailwind. Two days later I arrived in Pittsburgh with a very sore butt, wind-burn on my face and hungry as heck.

Nights when I needed a break from the books, I would take her out to Schenley Park and grind the pegs on Overlook Drive. She wasn't a speed demon on a freeway, but her light weight, high pegs and quick steering made her a joy to ride through the tight sloping curves of Schenley Park. I think I could probably carve those curves right now with my eyes closed.
 
Some of you guys did alright for your first cars.

Mine was in 1986. I rounded up my pennies and bought a 1978 Dodge Aspen coupe with the classic Slant Six with a single barrel carb! Called it the "Buzzin' Half-Dozen". :p

Drove it for a year and a half. Added oil when it started ticking (about 1 quart every couple weeks) and drove the wheels off of it. Couldn't kill it. That engine was bulletproof.

Sold that one when I found a 1977 Olds Cutlass S. Thats the one I miss the most.
 
Mine was a 1973 Buick LeSabre that I got in 1988 for $250. It never went longer than three weeks without breaking, and it was quite a learning experience keeping it on the road - and instilled an enduring interest in mechanical work. My first and only speeding ticket was in that car; an indicated 110 in a 55 mph zone :eek:. Once the door locks jammed so I got into the car by reaching up through a hole in the floor and cranking down the window. Eventually I traded it to a neighbor who ran it in the demolition derby at the local county fair. My friends and I watched it battle valiantly to the final heat and video taped it. I still have the tape around here somewhere . . .
 
I still have my first vehicle, but it's because I've only started driving about two years ago.

1994 GMC Sonoma Regular Cab SLS with the ZR2 offroad package, Vortec charger on the 4.3L V6. 4x4, I can dig it. :D
 
My parents bought me my first car (and its still my car now). Its a 1999 jeep wrangler sport that was a lease termination the dealership had sitting around for a few months, so my parents got it for a song. I'm going to drive it until its no longer reliable, then put it in storage and when I've got the cash turn it into a serious off-roader. My car got stolen this fall, luckily they found it after a few days missing a few parts, but I was really sad that it might be gone forever. I had a lot of "formative" experiences in that thing in highschool and it's full of memories and alot of great camping trips too.
 
Guess I have you all beat, as my first car was a 1936 Ford 5 window coupe, with a rumble seat. Mechanical brakes, flat head V8, 65 horsepower, and of course 3 in the floor. Drove that thing for almost two years, then upgraded to a 1939 Lincoln Zepher V 12. I don't remember what the displacement or horspower was, but it would accelerate from about 15 mph in 3 rd gear smoothly, but sure did like gas. Since I was raised in farming country, I'm sure the many neighbors was glad to see that go, as their tractors and other gas powered equipment suddenly began to get better fuel economy. Drove that over 4700 lb tank up until I entered the Army in 1951. God I wonder what that old Lincoln would be worth today, as it still looked great, had a window raise up out of the front seat back, to assure privacy for the passengers from the chauffer.
When I returned from Korea, bought a 51 Kaiser Henry J. That was the first economy car out, as it sold for about $1359 and up, depending upon options, like a trunk lid, only in 2 door, and with a 4 cylinder flat head, three speed, (electric over drive was option). BTW, the basic Henry J was also sold by Sears and RoebucK, as the Allstate, and listed in the then current catalogs.
I guess I have an unfair advantage over most of you, as I just a week or so ago turned 75 years of age, but if only I had of known then what I know now!!!. Enjoy the thread, and keep posting, as I enjoy reading of others.
 
'73 Triumph 2.5PI, straight six. Constant maintenance but never broke down. A beautiful drive with 4+over drive in 3rd and 4th.

Could cruise comfortably at 100mph, 60mph with the cavernous sun roof open. I have enjoyed many cars, but only loved that one with good all round vision, walnut dash and space.
 
My first car I bought in 1978 was a 1955 Plymouth Plaza 4 door sedan, flat head 6 3 on the tree for $100. Had to put brakes on it before I could drive, $200. Drove it my Junior and Senior year in High School. I could fill the gas tank and drive a full month on it. I only lived 3 blocks from school but still had to drive just to be cool. Used to park it next to a teachers 1955 DeSoto. His used to stick out 3 feet more than mine did in the parking spaces. I actually wish I had my 2nd and 3rd cars: 1964 Ford Falcon 2 door hardtop 260 V8 and 1966 Dodge Coronet 500 2 door hardtop 361 V8.
Bladerunner67
 
My 1st car was a 68 Rambler American that I kept for all of about 45 days. I can remember hosing out the interior of the POS because of the odor and grit. If memory serves, it had something like a 220 CI 6 and an automatic.

The car I really count as my first decent car was a 71 Datsun 1200 sedan that was painted screaming orange with a black pebble grain full final top. About an 1150cc 4 cylinder engine combined with a 4 speed stick. The car had a cheap am radio, dealer add-on air, manual choke, plastic seats, and crank windows. There was nothing fast about this car. If memory serves, I think the tires were either 12 or 13 inch diameter. The car would corner like crazy. Here's a picture of one that is exactly like mine was except for the black vinal top.

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My first car, and only 4 wheeled vehicle I've ever owned, is a 1991 Toyota 4Runner, Daisy. 416K km on it now, on the original 22re engine, is still kickin', although it has been demoted to my winter vehicle now. I've got a motorbike that I use as my sole means of transportation for 9 months of the year.

Here's my truck helping me get stuck this Christmas. We received an obscene amount of snow, and I just wanted to see how far I could get on this one hill.

xmas001.jpg


Travis
 
I bought my first car 4 months after i graduated high school in 2006.
It was a green 1995 chevy 1500 regular cab work truck w/a 4.3l v6.
I got it for $4,500 with a little over 55,000 miles. That truck ram like a champ, i never had one problem.
i would still have it today if i did'nt plow into a telephone pole and a few trees. it's sad when i wrecked it i had only had it 10months and it just hit 70,000mi:(

Trust me if you feel tired when you're driving pull over asap. i wish i did
 
Well you'll make me feel old. My first car was a 1957 T Bird with 3 on the floor and a 312 2x4 intake. Got this from my Mother when it was 2 years old . I still have it Restored in 1996. Drive only on the weekends now. But it was my daily driver for over 30 years.
 
1996 Chevy Cavalier, 2dr, 5 speed manual. Still own it and it still runs like a top.
 
Razzierb said:
The car I really count as my first decent car was a 71 Datsun 1200 sedan that was painted screaming orange with a black pebble grain full final top. About an 1150cc 4 cylinder engine combined with a 4 speed stick. The car had a cheap am radio, dealer add-on air, manual choke, plastic seats, and crank windows. There was nothing fast about this car. If memory serves, I think the tires were either 12 or 13 inch diameter. The car would corner like crazy. Here's a picture of one that is exactly like mine was except for the black vinal top.

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My flat mate at varsity had one just like that. Marigold used to do some serious drinking trips, like from Durban to the Cape Wine Route (Cape Town). I believe they were 13" wheels. The pickup version in 1200 and 1400 were popular with the 1400 only fairly recenly ceasing production.
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SDS said:
1976 Ford Taunus....yep, TauNus, not Taurus.

One of only 3 guys in H.S. to have my own car so even this thing was cool. Mine was tan exterior with green interior and was a 2 dr. Oh the good times!

SDS

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Some interesting cars in this pic! Behind the Taunus is a Ford Escort Mk. 1, then a Renault 5 Mk 1, then another Taunus, another Escort Mk 1, a Renault 4, then something that was old even then, looks a bit like a Hillman Minx. On the other side of the road: Not sure what the estate is, could be a Mk 3 Ford Cortina, then a Ford Consul, next one could be an early Beemer or an NSU, behind the truck a small NSU or a Hillman Imp, both rear-engined and look very similar. then Beetle, Mini, Beetle, Mini, Bettle, Beetle. Another Taunus coming up the road.

My first car was a Renault 6. Agricultural build quality and fantastic reliability. Drove like a hobbled pig though. http://www.stilliz.nl/renault/pics/r6tl.html

Tim, that Triumph 2500 PI was a dream car! A friend of my dad had one, claimed he could drive from Birmingham to London in it in an hour and it would do an indicated 140mph. http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/photos-cars5/triumph_2500pi_126.htm#Triumph 2500PI
 
LOL, mine was a real stinker.. 1972 Datsun 240Z automatic. Great car, just not the one I had! This was 1994, so it was over 20 years old, and it had been ridden hard and put away wet :p. The front right suspension mounts were rusting away from the frame, it had no window roller handle on the driver's side, and only the high-beams worked. Luckily I moved onto RWD Mopars soon after (much easier to work on and find parts for!), and drove them for over 10 years.
 
I bought my first car in 1999 and it was a bright yellow 1982 CJ-8 Scrambler with an AMC 304 V8. Horrible gas mileage, rough/rusty frame and never once put anything more than a bikini top on it. Drove it through the WI winter with no doors and a bikini top. Felt kind of like snowmobiling but it went from pont A to, at least, point A.5 and most of the time to point B. Miss that old girl. I'm on my 3rd Jeep now and wouldn't trade it, wish it was yellow like the first two but it'll do.

-H
 
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