I have been a car guy most of my 72 years. My first car was a 47 Ford coupe I bought when I was 16 in 1958, had 47,000 miles on it and cleaned up like a new one, dark green. I lowered it, fender skirts, shaved the hood and trunk and redid the interior myself a little amature looking but I thought it was great. I paid $150 for it, drove it for 4 years and sold it in Homestead Fla. for $150.
I worked for Ford Mo Co. for 30 years at an engine plant as an electrician. Naturally most of my cars have been Fords. I have a list of all the autos somewhere but can't find it now. It was over 20, probably more than most people and why my retirement savings is small!
When I sold my first car I bought a 1954 Mercury convertible, white with a white top, black and red leather upholstery. That was a honey.
A car I loved was a 1964 Chevy 409 SS, stick shift, dark blue w/bucket seats and stick shift. My first wife bought it in 1964 while I was in Turkey w/USAF and sending her all my money. When I got home she said she wanted a divorce, I took my car and stayed with my parents. I think I got to drive it for 3 or 4 days then the Sherriff showed up and said I had to return it since it was in her name! I lost the wife but was probably a blessing, sure hated to lose that car!
When I married my wife of 47 years my car was a junk 58 Chevy then bought a 1963 Corvair Coupe, red and a fun car to drive.
Worst car I ever had was a 1960 Renault.
Most of our married life I have had family cars and always wanted to be driving a new model of Ford. In 1985 we were at a Ford dealer looking for a new one, leaving they pulled a Mustang GT convertible, automatic, silver with a black top and accents, out they had just cleaned up with the top down. The dealer owner said take that for a spin, I said no we can't afford it. He said go ahead you might never get another chance. We took it for a spin and the wife drove it. We handed the keys back and said thanks for the spin, but we can't afford it.
The next day my wife said, I think we can afford the Mustang. Now that is the only car I ever bought she was excited about. We bought it and found it was the dealer owners car and had some miles on it. He had made a trip to Fla. and back. Later we found it was probably a drug run, the dealer was arrested for cocaine dealing!
We both loved that car and taking rides in the summer with the top down. My wife would turn into a mean race car driver every time we made a trip to my Moms. When she turned onto a back road about 2 miles long she would put the pedal to the metal, I loved that look she got! She would back off at 85. The fastest I ever had it was 105.
Our son and daughter drove it but was afraid to give it to them since it was not a safe winter car. I ended up giving it to my daughter, from my first marriage, and her husband. It kinda made up for not sending her to college like we did our two. They drove it a few years and wanted to save it but finally sold it. A few years back the guy that bought it from Mich. contacted me, from my name on the title and sent me pics, he had redone it in black and looked bad!
The worst car I ever had was a 1960 Renault!
Trucks I have had was a Ranger cab and half, gave that to our son and he drove it a few years. A 1997 Ford 150, and a 1998 Ford Ranger I still have, rust free and looks new.
Cars I wish I still had,
1947 Ford Coupe
1954 Mercury Convertible
1964 Chevy SS
1985 Mustang GT
My Dad's 1953 Buick Roadmaster, straight eight, yellow with a white top, wire wheels and wide whitewalls, power windows, power steering and brakes.
Besides me owning over 20 cars we gave our kids cars to help get started.
Long but thanks for letting me reminisce!
Smokin Don
