What car did you learn to drive on?...

[ROBERT CROSS]

Dad loved Studebakers. We had four during my teenage years.
*
I learned to drive on a 53 Commander V8 stick shift.
Never forgot that car.

He even let me cool it up a bit. 3" lowering blocks, spun aluminum Bonneville moon hubcaps, glass-pac duel exhaust, 3 on the floor and of course the Black Dice in the windshield.

I only had my learners permit at the time, but boy that car was fun. I really think he enjoyed doing it as much as I.
One of the memorable things we did together.

I still have those Dice...wish I had that car to put them in.👍

Bob
🇺🇸

This is not the car but it looks just like it...two tone Green

[InsideOut]

The first car I drove was a '65 Mustang convertible w/pony seats. It was not my car, just a friend's in high-school. My first car to learn with was a '70 VW Squareback, manual.

Shari

[Saluda372]

Volkswagen, standard shift. Most of it done in a cemetery, probably figured less apt to hurt anyone there.

[SpinWhite]

Poppin Johnny

[Squire]

I bought my first car a week before I turned 16, November 17, 1973 for $285. It was a 1957 Chevy Bel Air Two Door Hardtop. Still own it today. It was either restore it or buy a Tommy Bahama Airstream. The forum this is posted on is a pretty strong indicator which way we went!

[Bubba L]

63 blue Ford Falcon standard column shift when I was in the 8th grade. Sold it for $50.00 when I was in the 10th grade.

[Hittenstiehl]

Inside Out, love that fast back.

Mine was:
1970's Ford LTD Country Squire baby blue station wagon with wood panels and with rear facing seats.

1960's VW Beetle.

[ITSNO60]

1969 Rambler American

[mikeinca]

1961 Plymouth Belvedere

[Rich W]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Dad loved Studebakers. We had four during my teenage years.
Bob
🇺🇸

This is not the car but it looks just like it...two tone Green

My dad had a 50-51 Airplane Nose Studebaker, which I barely remember. He loved it and thought it was an excellent car. He traded that for a 1953 Studebaker; worst car he ever owned. He was driving it down a 2 lane road at 45 and the hood popped open against the windshield. It burned oil, leaked oil and had other problems. I remember the starter was a button on the dashboard, not turning the key. I loved the look of that '53 even if it was a dog.

Years later when I had turned 16 dad signed me up for Yellow Cab driver training. The guy showed up in a 1959 Chevy boat. Not at all a good car for a skinny kid learning to drive. I told the instructor I wanted to learn stick and the next time he comes in a 1963 Studebaker Lark. It was very easy to drive, shift and park. I took all my lessons in it. The day of the driver's test the guy shows up in the '59 Chevy boat. I lost 3 points because I parked too far away from the curb.

Memories...memories....

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

The first car I drove was a '65 Mustang convertible w/pony seats. It was not my car, just a friend's in high-school. My first car to learn with was a '70 VW Squareback, manual.

Shari

Originally Posted by Saluda372

Volkswagen, standard shift. Most of it done in a cemetery, probably figured less apt to hurt anyone there.

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Inside Out, love that fast back.

Mine was:
1970's Ford LTD Country Squire baby blue station wagon with wood panels and with rear facing seats.

1960's VW Beetle.
Attachment 405311Attachment 405312

The first 'Car?' I owned.
Dad & Mom gave it to me as a HS Graduation gift...in pieces.

Dad's proclamation.."Put it back together and it's yours."

I did and it was..."The Little Wagon".
Replaced the 4cyl flat head wilth MG 1500cc and we rocked....'kind'a.'

Bob
🇺🇸

[InsideOut]

Yeah, the first car I “owned” was not so cool….a1978 Datsun B-210. Not cool, but it was “mine” - I bought it brand new.

Shari

[mikeinca]

I learned to drive in the '61 Plymouth Belvedere and my parents gave it to me when I left for college. Eventually sold it for $300.

First car I bought myself was a 2yo 1969 Plymouth GTX for $1800. 440 cu inch, 375 HP, 4 speed Hurst shifter. Muscle car personified. Started me on my long car fever journey.

[Rich W]

I'm assuming you meant legally learning to drive. I used to take mom up to the store when I was 14, driving the '59 Plymouth Sport Suburban. Cop followed us home one day but didn't stop us. After that mom said I had to wait until I was 16.

First car? Well that was a 1960 Austin 850. Austin Healey!? "No, son, an Austin 850. (I think dad paid $100 for it, maybe not that much.) You can drive it home from the other city." We almost got home before the gearshift broke and we pulled it home with a ski rope. I had to wait 4 weeks for a new one to come from England. I think it cost as much as the car did. Oh, and I had to do the installation.

It didn't look this good, nor go faster than 58 mph. After we owned it about 6 months dad took a ride with me one day. He sold it the next, fearing for my life.

[farafield]

Volkswagen Bug c. 1968, with the top taken off, standard shift. That's me driving (about 12 y.o.) with my little sister.

[LDM]

1950 MT John Deere I was 10 in the fields

[DaveP]

Car I learned to drive in. 1966 Volkswagen station wagon with stick shift.

First car I owed. 1963 Triumph Spitfire. Bought it wrecked for $100 and rebuilt it myself.

[featherbedder]

My grandfathers 1934 dodge on dirt & mud up and over running boards in ruts country rd. Very few rds. graveled. Streets in town all bricked, or gravel, black top unknown that era. Dad let me drive tractor, horse team, but wouldn't teach me about cars. In Il. could obtain dr. lic. at 15, drivers ed not invented yet. Dad would never let me drive his car. First car owned 1947 ford sedan before that had doodle bug scooter then whizzer motor bike.

[yardleymoon]

1965 corvair monza . 4 carbs . 4 speed independent suspension. a big change from prior models that would flip in corners. "Unsafe at any speed" book killed the corvair. ( the car killed people too) But when the new suspension was placed in '65 it made it one of the best US cornering cars on the road that year. Had a problem with a oil leak on the exhaust that would give a blue haze in the car..( prob with monzas, not sure about the other models. At the end of my driver road test ,the examiner told me I should drive with windows cracked open at all times.. He still passed me.. Thanks dad for the good driving training.

[Hans627]

Great idea for a thread. Brings back good memories!

I learned to drive in my Dad's 1946 Dodge pick up truck. That machine was a beast and really took a licking! Not much HP and not fast but I swear that thing would drive up a cliff. Lot's of fun!