1964 17' Bambi II
1961 24' Tradewind
Strasburg
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 970
1980 Chevy Suburban
I learned (in the early 1990s) on a 1/2 ton 1980 Chevy Suburban. It was the tow vehicle for the family Airstream, and Dad figured if we could learn to drive and test off in a Suburban, we'd be able to drive pretty much anything.
I haven't shied away from driving anything since.
__________________
"The difference between vintage and retro is that vintage is honestly old and cool. Retro tries to be but isn't."
Airstream - Other
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Bosque Farms
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,091
My first wasn't a car, but a truck and a tractor. The truck was a 1950 Ford; the tractor was a 1949 8N. Both had four speed transmissions. I learned to drive both before I started elementary school.
My first car was a used 1958 VW beetle, which I got around 1966. By then, shifting with a manual was hardly a new thing. Indeed, the first automatic transmission -- and with power brakes and power steering, no less! -- was a 2000 Ford F150.
But the manuals have outlasted them all. I still drive my 78 MGB with four speed manual. And my newest car is a 2018 Honda Fit, which has SIX forward speeds in a manual transmission. (Don't laugh. THe thing gets 50 miles to the gallon pretty easily. I got the manual so that I can tow it "four down" behind the Interstate.)
When I was 15 1/2 I bought a 1949 DeSoto for $100 with my after-school job and Schenectady Gazette paper route money. Learned to drive and took my driver's test in it. Flathead 6, Fluid Drive, and a "Tip-Toe Hydraulic" transmission. 51 years later, I still have it!
__________________
"Hot meals, cold beer, dry bed & flush toilet - everything I look for in a wilderness experience..."
My biggest regret.....Selling "The Saint" 64 P1800s
Bob
🇺🇸
Beautiful car. I remember The Saint. I liked the later 1800ES as well. I still remember a part of a winter trip through the Fraser Canyon, snowing heavily, in a P544, probably a 1964. Three brothers in the back seat, mom driving, and dad standing on the rear bumper. Dad was a service manager then; he went from Ford to Volvo, and back to Ford, but to the manufacturer then, not a dealer.
Lots of discussions about manual trans, but how about 30s era manual brakes that were norm when I learned to drive. You quickly learned defensive driving w/out being taught, and white knuckle experiences. Steel fenders, real running boards no radios, air cond. etc. Do I miss those days of learning to drive NO but I think it made me a better driver than is taught in drivers ed in new cars with all the modern inventions.
I interpret "manual brakes" as mechanical, since non power assist brakes were common much later.
The 30s were pretty much the end of mechanical brakes, hydraulics took over. I once had the pleasure of doing a brake job for a customer, on a restored 1919 Overland (Willys Overland) truck, with rear wheel only drum brakes operated by rods. Bedding in the new friction material meant repeated stops interspersed with crawling underneath to adjust the rods.
At 15-1/2 had use of dads 67 Cougar....and moms ford 70's wood sided wagon. Once he was on a long business trip leaving the car, felt the need to upgrade/swap out the Cougar stock radio with an upgraded "stereo PIONEER AM/FM cassette ! Super hot at the time !
Like one ones pictured....
After graduating HS, bought my 1st and own 1969 WV Westie hard top with chrome rims and upgraded drapes. VERY Clean car and did all the routine oil, points, plugs and valves me-self. Even made internal surf racks to keep the board with but out of site/safe (living 10 miles from SO Cal Malibu). Moved that Pioneer to the VW since dad never pleased with my radio mod... :? as he mostly listened to LA AM News radio on the go. Still wish i had that 4 speed stick.
Fast forward....50 years, wife and I mostly listen to "AM Talk Radio"....even with USB, CD, HD, Sirius, and streaming at hand... and both cars are considered classics.....go figure.
__________________ Relaxing is hard work.
Vantair
2005 25ft International CCD SS
2020 GMC Sierra Denali Diesel 2500 4X4 10 spd 3.43 Int sway/tow controller
1981 Honda Trail CT110 1X0..no sway control
I took driverrs ed my freshman year in high school: Sunset High in Dallas. Elmer Knox was the instructor, the car was a '53 Chevy. I've still got my card!
__________________
2014 23D International Serenity - "Fortune Cookie"
2015 Ford F150 3.5 EcoBoost, Max Tow - "Cookie Monster"
And some stuff
I interpret "manual brakes" as mechanical, since non power assist brakes were common much later.
The 30s were pretty much the end of mechanical brakes, hydraulics took over. I once had the pleasure of doing a brake job for a customer, on a restored 1919 Overland (Willys Overland) truck, with rear wheel only drum brakes operated by rods. Bedding in the new friction material meant repeated stops interspersed with crawling underneath to adjust the rods.
Brain fade, yes mechanical no brake fluid [hydraulic] brakes. When I posted was thinkng about grandfathers 34 dodge and dads 36 ford that I did not get to drive until mid 40s. Wat I do miss is room inside as my first car was 1947 ford that had as much room as a station wagon and back seat, [no comment].
My grandmother's hand-me-down, 1947 Morris 8, leather buckets, 4 on the floor, and the dreaded mechanical brakes. No heater. About 900 cc flat head 4 cranking out a whopping 30 hp. Leaf springs on the corners. Top speed about 60 with a good tailwind.
Jim
My grandmother's hand-me-down, 1947 Morris 8, leather buckets, 4 on the floor, and the dreaded mechanical brakes. No heater. About 900 cc flat head 4 cranking out a whopping 30 hp. Leaf springs on the corners. Top speed about 60 with a good tailwind.
Jim
Hi Jim,
That's the engine I pulled out the "Little Red Wagon", I think we registered it as a 52, can't be sure.
I'm still lining up the dominoes, got a few more pictures just have to find them good way to keep the cells moving.
Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
Nothing as exotic as above I’m afraid… I learned to drive on a 1984 Honda Prelude. It was my mom’s car but as she would often say after I got my permit, she had to ask me if she could take it. ;-)
Traveled a lot of 2 lane roads this summer towing the Airstream. One thing I have noticed is that people are afraid to pass on a 2 lane. I could have a mile or more ahead of me clear of traffic, move over to the right to give them a clear view and nada. They would just sit there...
The GTO is an Awesome car now! I can't imagine how happy your are that you hung on to it.
Very! It got away from me for a few years but I was lucky enough to get it back after the guy I sold it to lost interest after he took it all apart.
I'm now in year 4 of a 3 year restoration but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
No power accessories, no A/C, radio and remote mirror were the only options.
2009 25' FB International
2018 27' Globetrotter
Tavares
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,048
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adiredneck
When I was 15 1/2 I bought a 1949 DeSoto for $100 with my after-school job and Schenectady Gazette paper route money. Learned to drive and took my driver's test in it. Flathead 6, Fluid Drive, and a "Tip-Toe Hydraulic" transmission. 51 years later, I still have it!
Thanks for the pictures. Brings back memories. That interior was almost exactly like my 1949 Plymouth. I loved that car. I'm glad you still have your DeSoto.
Beautiful car. I remember The Saint. I liked the later 1800ES as well. I still remember a part of a winter trip through the Fraser Canyon, snowing heavily, in a P544, probably a 1964. Three brothers in the back seat, mom driving, and dad standing on the rear bumper. Dad was a service manager then; he went from Ford to Volvo, and back to Ford, but to the manufacturer then, not a dealer.
My first dealer buckle nusting job after the Service was at a Volvo dealership. Bought a 544 trade in there, kept it a year, sold it, the 4yr old 'Saint' was another trade in. Soldit in 2002.
The ES 'Shooting Brake' was a real novelty here in the US, but got a lot more popular than expected, we sold all we could get.
One of our best "Saint" memories...The the "Cannon Ball Run" from WNY to Glendale CA for my Brothers wedding...58hrs.
Young, brave and foolish...wouldn't have it any other way.👍
Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
Airstream - Other
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Bosque Farms
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,091
YOu know, one of the reasons for traveling two-lane back roads is to slow down and enjoy the sights. If somebody is going a bit slower, well, that's ok. Slow down and enjoy the sights some more. No big deal. Done it plenty of times myself.
Lynn
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oreg52
Traveled a lot of 2 lane roads this summer towing the Airstream. One thing I have noticed is that people are afraid to pass on a 2 lane. I could have a mile or more ahead of me clear of traffic, move over to the right to give them a clear view and nada. They would just sit there...
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Airstream - Other
Airstream - Other
North Central Texas
, USA
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,003
1964 Ford Econoline, single seat, 3-speed on the column. We used a milk carton for the passenger seat. Air bags were people that wouldn't shut up back then! It was the family's grocery store delivery truck. I was next on the list of delivery drivers!
1971 Ford Country Squire station wagon. Initial lessons in the no-longer-there Tampa Stadium parking lot.
Parallel parking was... fun. Now the F-150 does it for us, with amazing precision!
This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.
].
it in 2002. 
Linear Mode
