You Know You Are Old When

[drssg]

I liked the early 1600cc engines but not so much later the 2000cc, 2300cc and 2800cc V6…

I much preferred my 1970 slant 6 valiant…

My first car was a 76 Plymouth Volare. Guaranteed to begin rusting out on the showroom floor.

The slant 6 engine ran weird when cold. It worked OK if I barely gave it any gas or if I floored it. Anywhere in between, and it would bog down and wouldn't accelerate.

It collected water somewhere under the hood, and it would periodically pee on my feet during a left turn. I had to keep fresh duct tape above the taillights, or else they would fill up with water, and the bulbs would pop.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

You were hauling the mail 30mph!
Thanks got the clip bro!

There was a guy who beat a speeding ticket in one since top speed is 74!
52 horsepower!

 

[Alan46]

Guaranteed to begin rusting out on the showroom floor.

“Guaranteed to begin rusting out on the showroom floor.”
Damn funny!

 

[ultrarunner]

My first car was a 76 Plymouth Volare. Guaranteed to begin rusting out on the showroom floor.

The slant 6 engine ran weird when cold. It worked OK if I barely gave it any gas or if I floored it. Anywhere in between, and it would bog down and wouldn't accelerate.

It collected water somewhere under the hood, and it would periodically pee on my feet during a left turn. I had to keep fresh duct tape above the taillights, or else they would fill up with water, and the bulbs would pop.

I think 1970-71 was a sweet spot before choked by emissions…


Still own that $800 car I bought in school… no rust out yet.

Here is a early picture of the 3 of us at work… Valiant, Dump Trailer and Me at my first home purchased age 22

I still own that home today and only on my second renter…

 

[newbury]

My first car was a 76 Plymouth Volare. Guaranteed to begin rusting out on the showroom floor.

I can still remember seeing Chevy Vegas less than a year old with holes in the side from rust, this was in Burlington, VT. about 1972-73.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

My first car was a 76 Plymouth Volare. Guaranteed to begin rusting out on the showroom floor.

The slant 6 engine ran weird when cold. It worked OK if I barely gave it any gas or if I floored it. Anywhere in between, and it would bog down and wouldn't accelerate.

It collected water somewhere under the hood, and it would periodically pee on my feet during a left turn. I had to keep fresh duct tape above the taillights, or else they would fill up with water, and the bulbs would pop.

Those smog control years were tough. My Dad bought a new '72 Valiant 225 slant six that was fantastic...then a new '76 Valiant six, nothing but trouble. They lowered compression and all these vacuum lines and gadgets supposed to lower pollution. A good friend had a '76 Volare six (with the "rich Corinthian leather" ) and lots of problems also.
That slant six was fantastic, but they should have had a big access door in inner fender to get to distributor. All the big four sixes would run forever.

 

[Jstpssng]

I can still remember seeing Chevy Vegas less than a year old with holes in the side from rust, this was in Burlington, VT. about 1972-73.

My father bought a 1973 Torino in 1975. Everyone marveled at what great shape the body was in. It had been an insurance company's business vehicle and he got a good deal because it was a high mileage car... 80,000 miles.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I've always liked Rambler American and I have the first ('58) and last ('69) & ones in between. What's strange is the '58 has a 195.6 cu.in. flathead as well as the '64, but the '64 has a dual master cylinder (Rambler was the first) and oil filter drains down. Old cars were so easy to work on.

 

[ultrarunner]

Still have my 59 Rambler American... white with a blue interior/ radio/heater auto.

Also have a Continental kit I never installed... had to buy s 58 car to get it...

 

[not2old]

Didn't have a crank start, but the incline came in handy when I couldn't afford a new battery. (That was pre-everything is an automatic) for you younger folks.

My first car was a 1962 Volvo 544. It needed a new battery and I would push start it myself, on a level driveway and it would be good for the day. After about three weeks of that I scrounged up the cash for a new battery while making payments on a house for the first time.