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What was your first car and do you wish you still had it?

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  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Saturday, June 23, 2018 9:35 AM

'72 Mustang and no I do not wish I still had it.

Edit: I do wish I had a picture of it though.

It was the first year of the plastic bumper so was an odd-looking thing, though my buddies and I loved to push shopping carts about parking lots with it "because we could".

Detroit was not producing good quality in the early 70's, and the car was a lot of trouble. Liked to stall during acceleration. Left turns scared the crap out of me.

Replaced it with a Triumph TR-7 (the little wedge care, remember that?). I don't recall every having it in the shop. It just ran and ran.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Saturday, June 23, 2018 9:18 AM

My first drivable car was a 1947 Crosley sedan.  I do wish I still had it. It was not a good car to drive.  The brakes were lousy, needed the cylinders repaired all the time- needed very frequent adjustments because disk brakes were not self-adjusting!  But the reason I'd still like to have it is because the price on them today is really up there- they are considered a collector car!

What I really longed for then was a Crosley Hotshot/Supersport, a Crosley sports car.  I thought awhile ago- "I bet I could afford one of them now."  Checked their going price, and I was mistaken- I could buy a new car now for what those things are going for now.  I guess they are just super-rare.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Saturday, June 23, 2018 9:07 AM

1960 red Cadillac convertible, with black interior, and lovely long, swooping rocket-ship tailfins!  If I had it today, in restored condition, I'm sure it would be worth over 6 figures.

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: From the Mit, but live in Mason, O high ho
Posted by hogfanfs on Saturday, June 23, 2018 8:48 AM

SchattenSpartan

I actually just bought my first own car a couple of weeks ago, which also happens to be my dream car.

It's a 2005 BMW 325i with a silky smooth 2.5l inline 6 engine and a manual transmission.

I'm still getting used to it, but I love it and wouldn't want to trade it for anything else.

 

 

I like it!

 Bruce

 

 On the bench:  1/48 Eduard MiG-21MF

                        1/35 Takom Merkava Mk.I

 

  • Member since
    April 2013
Posted by SchattenSpartan on Saturday, June 23, 2018 8:01 AM

I actually just bought my first own car a couple of weeks ago, which also happens to be my dream car.

It's a 2005 BMW 325i with a silky smooth 2.5l inline 6 engine and a manual transmission.

I'm still getting used to it, but I love it and wouldn't want to trade it for anything else.

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by seastallion53 on Saturday, June 23, 2018 3:55 AM

1974 Plymouth Sattelite w/318 v8.

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Orlando, Florida
Posted by ikar01 on Friday, June 22, 2018 11:46 PM

My wife had a 1972 Honda Coupe.  It was a strange little car but it grew on you.  You could pull up to a VW beetle and look up at teh windows.  When she would get off the flight line she would find the car not exactly as she loft it or in some cases where she left it.  The guys she worked with with would take it and place it across a loading ramp at one of their maint. buildings ot put it into the back of a full size pickup.  One time I saw it sticking out the back of a step van as it went down the flight line.  

The guys I worked with liked it and would often pick it for a random vehicle check as it entered the base.

It turned out to be a fun little car to drive, and could even burn rubber now and then.

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by damouav on Friday, June 22, 2018 10:56 PM

A 1977 Peugeot 504 2lt 4-speed manual, it was a 4 door sedan. 

I had done more long distance trips in that old girl than any of my future cars.

The seats where so comfortable, after a long day driving over 700km you had no back or bottom pain.

If I was ever to come across another, I would pick a fuel injected version, they go like cut cats.

In Progress
1/48 Tamiya P47-D Bubbletop
1/48 Hobby Boss TBF-1C Avenger (on hold)
Pending
1/48 Roden S.E.5a
1/48 Airfix Walrus
  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Friday, June 22, 2018 10:43 PM

I wouldn't mind having one of those Fiats.

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: Vancouver, the "wet coast"
Posted by castelnuovo on Friday, June 22, 2018 10:32 PM

Fiat 600, followed by Opel Kadett. Fiat was the first car for many of my generation in ex Yugoslavia. It was affordable and the parts were available even in a grociery store! It was our workhorse and there were even races organized for it. I wish I still have it, if for no other reasons then for fuel economy.

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Far Northern CA
Posted by mrmike on Friday, June 22, 2018 8:32 PM

First car was a '56 Mercury 2dr. HT with a 312 cu.in. 4bbl. Bought it for $200, and had a blast with it, being 16 yrs. old and full of myself! My Dad sold it when my grades didn't meet his expectations (or my commitment).

The one that I wish I still had was a '54 Merc HT, an original Arizona car with no rust, no dents and about every mechanical problem you can think of except the engine. Drove it from AZ to Maine, then to Virginia where I sold it to get money to buy a bike, a Yamaha 650XS in 1972. I had a lot of fun with the bike, but sure wish I'd kept the Merc!

Mike

  • Member since
    July 2016
Posted by D. Lindsey on Friday, June 22, 2018 7:01 PM

1971 Pontiac Ventura Awful baby poop green color. Put a Pioneer super tuner, power boost eq and Altec home stereo speakers strapped in back seat. Spent more on stereo than car. Don’t really wish I had the car but would love to have the stereo back!

Denny 

  • Member since
    August 2012
  • From: Parker City, IN.
Posted by Rambo on Friday, June 22, 2018 6:59 PM
A 1991 Chevy corsica that wad my dads old work car, hated the thing. My next car the first one I ever bought was a 97 Pontiac grand am gt that was a nice car. Third was a 01 Chevy Silverado that after 10 years started having so many problems that neither me or the master mechanic at Chevy could figure out what was wrong with it, mostly because the computer was saying everything was just fine. The car I wish I still had was my 79 Camaro z28 bought it cheap rebuilt the 350 bored over .5 new crane mild cam 3000 stal crane lifters and rockers holly street avenger 4brl double pumper rebuilt turbo 4 transmission with ratchet shifter. It was a drag car ended up selling it when need money for the house and my wife had some health problems.

Clint

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Friday, June 22, 2018 6:52 PM

modelcrazy

You guys are bringing back memories. BTW, I got that 69 Camaro literaly from a little old lady for $550. I regret selling that car almost every day fo my life.

Blacksheep, those slant 6's were amazing good engines. Funny, I'm a service valet for dealerships and I drive Lincolns and BMW's to customers on occasion to pick up a little extra income since I can't work full time yet. The transmissions have gone back to push button. I guess since most cars aren't stick anymore, why try to simulate a shifter? Why not go back to where cars started? Pushbutton start and pushbutton transmissions.

 

 

Yeah. When my grandmother gave it to me for college, I knew that car was special. And they wondered how a beater like a 64" Dart could beat them at a light. LOLOLOLOL!!!

My grandfather kept the engine in pristine running condition. Sadly, I owned it for a summer until one day something fell out from underneath driving home. Come to find out it was a piece of the frame that was rusting badly. I was heartbroken. To this day, I still love to own another like it only in a 2 door. Someday......

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Friday, June 22, 2018 6:28 PM

I remember seeing my first Honda and thought it was the silliest car I had ever seen with those tiny wheels. I don't even know what year or model but if I had ANY foresight.....

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    July 2012
  • From: Douglas AZ
Posted by littletimmy on Friday, June 22, 2018 6:28 PM

My first car was a 1973 Ford Econoline van. It had window's all the way around, ( Half of them broken ) ...and the heater only worked when the Left turn signal was on. At the same time I had a  1971 Honda CB350 motorcycle.

The van served me well from 1983 till 1986. Then got "passed" to another family member when I bought A 1976 Oldsmobile "Land yacht ".

The motorcycle met it's demise on a bridge covered with Black ice. I had roadbar's on it so when I went down, I slid right out from under it as it "Tumbled 3 times . It landed on it's wheel's ... engine still running.... until I got back on it . Then it died, never to run again. I sold the "mess" to a Neighbor for the Princly sum of  ....   O N E   C E N T  !

I do not want to ever own either of these vehicle's again !    ( I don't have enough Duct Tape ! )

 Dont worry about the thumbprint, paint it Rust , and call it "Battle Damage"

  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Friday, June 22, 2018 6:19 PM

It seems most responders had muscle cars, but mine was a 1983 Honda Accord hatchback.  It was underpowered (1.5 liter inline four, 75 HP - no that's not a typo), but it was an excellent car.  It was our family's first Japanese import and a real eye-opener for someone whose dad bought GM and Chrysler products.  I kept it for 23 years before selling it.  It only had 92,000 miles on the odometer, since I just used it to go to the hobby shops!  Stick out tongue  I really loved that car.  If money were no object, I would like to have an exact copy of that car, but with electric drive.  That would be so sweet.

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: Summerville, SC
Posted by jeffpez on Friday, June 22, 2018 5:56 PM

My first was a ‘69 Z-28 Camaro it took me 3 years of saving to buy. In ‘71 it got hit by a drunk in a parking lot and the frame was bent so badly if was junked. The worst part was that it was replaced by a Volkswagen that fortunately became a new ‘72 Chevelle six months later. I kept that one until ‘77. I wish I had both if the Chevys and to this day won’t buy a VW. 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Friday, June 22, 2018 5:56 PM

1970 Mustang Fastback.No not crazy about them,sat low to the ground,rough ride.It was fun while I had it,but no nostalgia for me.

Before I started driving,for a few years my father had a 1970 Dodge Coronet I think it had a 440 engine,wish I had that one.

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: From the Mit, but live in Mason, O high ho
Posted by hogfanfs on Friday, June 22, 2018 5:40 PM

My first car was a 1979 Pontiac Grand Prix with a 301 Pontiac V8. I put a Cherry Bomb glasspack on it to get it to sound meaner! lol! 

It was a great car and I do wish I had it back, but, I sold it so I could get my dream car at the time - 1978 Pontiac Trans Am with a Pontiac 400 and a B&M slap stick. It was repainted royal blue, and had t-tops. This car was way too much fun, to the tune of $250 reckless driving ticket because I was clocked at 98 in a 55 (When highway speed limits were still 55, reminds me of a song! And the speedo stopped at 85!). Really wasn't a good car for a 19 year old, but, I really wish I still had it now.

Steve, another great idea for a thread. You guys are on a roll lately! 

 Bruce

 

 On the bench:  1/48 Eduard MiG-21MF

                        1/35 Takom Merkava Mk.I

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Friday, June 22, 2018 5:07 PM

71 Datsun 510.  Sure wish I had it now - they make great little track cars.

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Friday, June 22, 2018 4:23 PM

You guys are bringing back memories. BTW, I got that 69 Camaro literaly from a little old lady for $550. I regret selling that car almost every day fo my life.

Blacksheep, those slant 6's were amazing good engines. Funny, I'm a service valet for dealerships and I drive Lincolns and BMW's to customers on occasion to pick up a little extra income since I can't work full time yet. The transmissions have gone back to push button. I guess since most cars aren't stick anymore, why try to simulate a shifter? Why not go back to where cars started? Pushbutton start and pushbutton transmissions.

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Friday, June 22, 2018 3:24 PM

My dad bought a new 1971 Dodge Dart Swinger, 2 door hardtop, 318 V8 automatic, dark green with white vinyl covered top. I tried to sell my dad on the 340 with the scoops but he said it was too much. He rarely drove it so I used it for college till I saw the 1976 VW Sirocco. It was love at first sight and bought a brand new one OTD for $7,000. It was metallic pearl with terra cotta interior, 4 speed manual. It did about 35 MPG in the city. Great looking sporty little car but after 2 years started having electrical problems that not even the VW dealership had a clue how to fix.

It went to my brother for a VERY cheap price and then enter the 1983 Datsun 280ZX, Regatta Red with grey velour interior, 5 spd. manual with Z wheels and T Tops. It had an aluminum inline 6 that got over 30 MPG in the city. That one I wish I still had!

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by PFJN on Friday, June 22, 2018 3:17 PM

Hi,

My 1st car was a beige 1965 Plymouth Belvedere 4-Door.  It was great for me at the time.  It had a 20 gal gas tank (back when gas was just about $1 a gallon) and had a cavernous back seat, trunk, and engine bay.  I was just learning about cars at the time and you could almost stand in the engine bay next to the motor because there was so much space (or at least it seemed that way Stick out tongue)

My 2nd car was a tan 1977-78(?) Ford Fiesta.  That car was great too because it was so small.  I think the tires were only 12" and were dirt cheap because they were so tiny.  And when you put the jack under the car to lift it, to change a tire, it would actually raise the entrie side of the car off the ground.  I think its only drawback was if you were trying to change the oil at home before trying to slide your head under the car to loosen the oil pan nut, you actually had to turn your head in the right direction, because once you were under the car there wasn't enough room to try and roll your head in the other direction.

I do miss both those cars (and in fact, now that I think about it, I kind of miss all the old cars that I have had Smile)

I don't have any pictures handy, but here are some off the internet very similar to what I had.

Plymouth

Fiesta

Pat

1st Group BuildSP

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: State of Mississippi. State motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)
Posted by mississippivol on Friday, June 22, 2018 3:00 PM
An orange 1978 Ford Pinto. Had a white stripe down the side (almost like the Starsky and Hutch Torino). I kind of wish I still had it. It'd be an oddity these days...
  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Friday, June 22, 2018 2:59 PM

Easy... 1964 Dodge Dart 4dr. Slant six, push button automatic. I blew away countless idiots challenging me at a stop light. LOL!

  • Member since
    June 2017
  • From: Winter Park, FL
Posted by fotofrank on Friday, June 22, 2018 2:47 PM

My first car was a 1955 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. It was Cadillac yellow with a white interior and a hole in the floor to drop beer cans out of. I was a two striper airman at the time. The car I wish I still had was the second car, a 1963 Falcon Futura convertible. Black with a red interior and a white top. Straight six with three on the tree. What a great car! Kinda like this but with a bench seat:

OK. In the stash: Way too much to build in one lifetime...

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Orlando, Florida
Posted by ikar01 on Friday, June 22, 2018 2:43 PM

My first car was a 1962 Mercury Comet.  It didn't have power steering, brakes or windows.  There was no FM radio or air condidtioning.  Don't forget, this was not a luxury car.  It had vacuum powered wipers, a acble connected to the carberater and fresh air by opening the main windows and the wing window.  It came with what was considered a whimpy engine, 6 cylinders.  Eventually I added a 8 track that I bolted into the metal of teh dash board and slipced it into the power line and speakers.  Sometime after that we were told that we had to have seat belts so everybody started drilling holes into the floor boards and running them through the seperation of the seats.  It ust so happened that Seaars had a large supply of belts available in time for everyone.

This cae didn't last to much longer.  It was smashed into by a brand new '69 Camaro going too fast on a turn.

After that came a '63 Chevy Biscayne, lost in a accident, a 64 Galaxy, lost when the mechanic forgot to replace the oil he had drained out, and then a '63 Pontiac Catalina.

I wish I had anyone one of these cars again.  But oddly enough, he one I wish I had sitting in my fromt yard right now was teh 1969 M-706 Cadilliac-Gage Commando Car I used to drive in the Air Force.  Or at least a M-151 jeep or M-715 weapons truck.

  • Member since
    May 2016
Posted by learmech on Friday, June 22, 2018 2:40 PM
1977 Camaro. It came with a dog 305, I rebuilt and installed a 350 out of a 1970 Impala. Bored .030, edelbrock intake and cam, aluminum heads. holly 4 brl carb. I had lots of fun in that car and yes I wish I stll had it.
  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Friday, June 22, 2018 1:59 PM

1963 VW bug.

No I do not wish I had that car. But my daughter sure does.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

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