what did you learn to drive in

My folks had a 73 Olds Delta 88 four door and my Dad's 1975 F150 shop truck. Drove those for a while on my permit. Bought my 65 Mustang coupe about two months before actually getting my license. This was 1976.

Learned to drive a stick in 1980 in a friend's late 60s VW bug (one lesson) and needed that to drive the shop truck at the Goodyear store where I was working. That was "bump side" Ford Ranger with a lift gate on the back. I believe it was a '69 and likely had a 300 6 cylinder in it and a 3 speed. Fond memories driving that thing, even though it was pretty clapped out. Look Ma' ... no brakes! It was like the barefoot shoemaker's children .... poor thing.

If I were to need a pickup, I would be looking for another one of these (without the lift gate ...lol). Neat truck, short bed, looked great with whatever tires were on it ... 10.50s, I think.

 

A '73 Charger SE. At my high school driving range they had six new Dodge cars. I asked for the Charger and got it most of the time. It was green with a white vinyl top. It had bucket seats, console and floor shifter! I have a Hot Wheel Charger just like it.

The very first car I drove was my cousins '70 yellow Mach 1. I went to the beer store with him and he was a little drunk so he told me to drive it home. The car was new and I was only 15 years old. I did a good job but the car didn't have power steering so I had some trouble getting it in the drive way. The party store was not to far away for there house. My brothers '69 Mustang convertible was parked out front and my cousins Karen's '68 Mustang coupe was in the drive way. Wish I had a picture of that! We didn't tell anyone about my driving the Mach 1 until a few years later! My Dad still wasn't to happy about it. The Mach 1 was sharp, 351 automatic.

 

My moms 1963.5 Falcon Sprint Convertible. She is the original owner and we still have it.

 

Mine was a 1973 Hillman Avenger and I guess there aint many in the states. I also turned it in to my first race car.

 

I didn't even have a permit when my brother Bob and I would take my grandmothers 74 Maverick, 4 door, out around the country-side.

 

i was like 14..out hunting with my dad in his old 84 ford f-150..he got out tossed me the keys and said meet me on the other side of the mountain just before dark. took her real slow trying to turn it around and get off the old washed out logging roads on the side of the mountain!

 

A 1972 Olds Delta 88 Royal. I had to sit on a pillow just to see over the steering wheel of that tuna boat.

 

My friends dads dirt track car on a friend of his dirt track out in Eastern Oregon, I don't recall what kind of car was under all the dirt and dings and paint. A few weeks after that we went for some laps on a circle track in a corvette. My friends dad was friends with quite a few smaller race track owners, did a lot of the amateur circuit races.

After that it was all grandma cars with automatics.

Flash forward about 20 years and with my brother-in-law buying my wifes Honda with a manual 5 speed. I'm like btw I haven't driven a manual since I was 10 in a friends dad's corvette. He's like mine's a stick too, guess you better learn fast. I killed that car 14 times between the house we bought it at, and getting it to my wife. Felt like a total fool, was being mocked about it. Then that car died on my wife and wouldn't restart... anyway. Turns out I remembered more about driving a stick than I thought, that car was faulty.

 

I took my driving test in my mom's '02 Explorer. Very boring, but I learned to drive a stick in my dad's '05 Mustang GT which was a lot more fun.

 

WOW Lot of great posts on this!! I love the feed back and my 14 year old son is in awe at some of the cars listed as 1 st time drives! My 1st car was a 71 Grabber 3 on the tree but I had driven some tractors and such before. I am considering giving him the Stallion or the Sprint for his 1st car. The grabber is just too much car for a new driver. Am i crazy to give a kid one of these or should i buy him his own Mav to make memories in? Give me sum in put! Thanks for the offerings folks!!
Jerry

 

You asked!!

No way would I give a teenager a Maverick, let alone give them your Sprint or Stallion. Kids wreck cars....just one of those things that happen. Plus, in my opinion, Mavericks do not make a good daily driver in Indiana. It snows here, salt on the roads, etc.

What would make a great car for a teenager? An Escort, a Focus, a Mustang, etc. They are plentiful, cheap, easy to find parts for, have WAY more safety features than any car that is 40 years old.

I am sure you will get lots of feedback on this...so just remember....you asked.

 

Craig,
I totally understand your thoughts. Had them myself. But the underlying truth is my son is not your typical teenager. He is very smart and very cautious. Not to mention he LOVES the cars. His total round trip to school and back is 5 miles. Any of my cars can do that with no problem on a daily basis. I might consider an additional daily driver but getting him a Mav is kind of a right of passage don't you think. The only question really is whether i give him the stallion/sprint or buy a mav of his own. I personally think the kid can handle the grabber but his mom is not buying it. The love for the cars must continue after we are gone. (You and i are close to the same age). Might as well start now. JMO
Jerry

 

You Guys make me feel old. The first car that I drove was a 39 Lincoln Zephyr 3 window coupe. But I really learned on a 1938 Chevy 2dr Master Deluxe. I owned two 1940 Ford 2 drs. before I was old enough to legally drive. My first nearly new car was a 1949 Ford 2 dr that I bought in 1951.

 

I think you are overlooking something, he does not have the experience or maturity yet. Honestly I would not risk my son's life diving a 40 year old car with virtually no safety features. I would get him a fairly modern car with airbags and crumple zones and give him the Maverick when he is older. You asked for opinions. Everyone is different but I am glad I had a slow truck because I am sure I would have killed myself otherwise.

 

I welcome all opinions! perhaps a newer driver and one of the Mavs when he gets accepted to a college? I just am glad he wants a mav instead of a fart pipe modified Honda (no disrespect to Hondas they are some well made cars just sick of seeing everyone of them with a 4" exhaust pipe).
Jerry