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I'll never forget mine. The year was 1953 and my Dad had called and wanted me to visit him in Utica. So, I hopped on the New York Central and looked foward to spending a few days with him. After meeting me at the Utica Station, we took off to go down to Pitcher St. where he lived.

As we turned into the driveway, I noticed an old car setting in the lot next to driveway. We got out of his car and he walked over to the ugly green monster. Dad said, "what do you think of her" I said looks ok to me but when did you buy it? His answer was, "uncle Ted gave it to me and I'm giving it to you" After I picked my jaw off the ground, I went over to look at that beautiful car. It was looking better all the time.

Being 16 years old and having my own car was almost unheard of back then. Only the kids with rich parents could afford a car. Suddenly, I was the richest kid in the world. Oh, the car was a 1937 Buick, Special 60, opera coupe. One large bench front seat and 2 little seats in the back that folded down. However, the back was really crowded as there was very little room.

I recently saw this model car sell for over $15,000 on Ebay. Who knew. Anyway, in the trunk was a old coffee pot and a 5 gal. can of oil. I soon found out why.. A trip down West Hill and a few cruises around Norwich took at least a quart of oil. The big straight 8 was a oil eater.

I spent one whole winter painting gangsta white sidewalls on the tires and several coats of wax brought back the original shine. Boy, was I proud of that monster. Driving to school in my junior year was a dream come true.

Time passed and after several transmission replacements, I had to let the ole bus go. Someone on River Rd. bought her and I would see it tooling around town for quite some time.

Do you, "Remember your first car"

11 comments on this topic:

spedly says:

October 2nd, 2008 at 11:38 am

In 1986, I bought a 1982 Toyota Starlet, 1.3 litre 4-banger with less than 100hp and a 5 speed manual tranny! It got 30mpg. If I was doing 70 at the bottom of the hill in Munnsville going south, I was doing 25 at the top!

Yeah, I remember my first car!!

stacyj says:

October 2nd, 2008 at 3:13 pm

stacyj says:

October 2nd, 2008 at 3:19 pm

Oooops..sorry I made a goof!! Anyway, my first car was in 1993, and it was a baby blue 1983 Ford Escort, just like you, my father passed the car onto me. Though the day I got to drive it from my Dad's house to my mom's I barely got down to the halfway house bridge and the engine blew up. My Dad repaired the engine for me and I got it back within six months, he came to Syracuse many times to rescue me from many more breakdowns following the first. It was still a good ole' car, my Dad put a 1957 chevy horn in it, it had a unique sound! My friends and I got a kick out of honking at random people on the street!

issylu says:

October 3rd, 2008 at 9:24 am

My first car was a 1970 AMC Hornet, black and yellow---looked like a big bumble bee!!! I was in my early 40's . No air conditioner , black interior---spent two summers in the plain states. The steering wheel would get so hot I had to use a pair of cotton gloves to steer until the car started moving and got some breeze moving. But I loved that car---I could open up the hood and knew just where everything was and could do minor repairs myself

sal says:

October 6th, 2008 at 11:10 am

My 1st car was a 1960 AMC Rambler 2 dr.Great Norwich Drive in Car. Seats folded all the way down into a bed. Need I say more.

pubbuster says:

October 7th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

My first car cost a measly dollar. A 53 Chevy Deluxe , had just a windshield and rear window. We taped plastic on the side windows in winter. Drove it right up till I went into the service. That old 6 banger with a 3 speed was so cool.

kely8774 says:

October 7th, 2008 at 8:44 pm

My first car was a 1995 Ford Aspire (the updated version of the Festiva). I used to hate driving that car, my mom called it the roller skate, but with the way gas prices are I wish I had it back. I look back now and I miss that little car.

Shanni says:

October 15th, 2008 at 11:50 pm

1996 Cavalier Convertible, sadly what I remember most is not being able to put a brush through my hair after driving. It's nothing like you see in the movies!!

richintalent says:

November 5th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

My first car- bought in 1984 for $200, was a 1969 Cadillac hearse, which I had for exactly 2 months before I sold it- got horrible gas mileage! I had big plans for that car- I was going to make it into something Hot Rod Magazine would feature- life-size chrome skull hood ornament with flashing red eyes, killer sound system, BIG Hemi, pipes coming out of the sides, and- for those annoying tailgaters and people who drive behind you with their high beams on- a coffin that would pop halfway out with a skeleton that would rise up with glowing red eyes... so go the dreams of the average teenager.

richintalent says:

November 5th, 2008 at 3:45 pm

Who owns the pristine looking robin-egg blue 1950s Saab I see around Norwich occasionally?

DanW says:

November 3rd, 2008 at 11:58 am

Mine was a mid 70's AMC Matador, it was previously a FBI car. It was probably the fastest (and ugliest) car that I have ever owned. I could burn the tires right off of that thing. A lot of fun while it lasted.