Your first hot rod?

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 27, 2002

My first car that was "cool" was my only new car ever. I bought a '78 Thunderbird in October of '77. It was triple burgundy (paint, vinyl top, interior) and loaded with every option available except an electric roof (takes away from the headroom). It was really neat for the era but far from a classic or collectible. I saw one the other day and it looked huge by today's standards. I remember the neat thing about them then was they were so much smaller and sportier than their predecessor. Funny how perspectives change. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Hank · Sep 27, 2002

<font color=blue>I don't think this qualifies as a hot rod</font color=blue>

Mine neither, but it sure was a looker....a 1953 MG-TD, purchased in 1962 and driven half way cross country to be my college car.

wroughtn_harv · Sep 27, 2002

Paul,

One of my buds built a Monza like yours for his son. They dropped in an LT1 in it. Kid planted the throttle for a burn out and tweaked the body so badly we couldn't get the doors open!

Fathers...........................

Anonymous Poster · Sep 27, 2002

I actually like hearing about the ones that "only a teenager could love". That Chevelle that I remember so fondly, was a piece of crap. There was rust all over it. and the interior smelled like old socks. I just liked the shape of the car, and how cool I felt driving it. I DO NOT miss the good old days, and don't want to go back in time, but I do ocassionally miss that feeling of freedom and invincibility that only comes at age seventeen while driving that first cool car.

abheye · Sep 27, 2002

1938 Chevy businessmans coupe streetrod, 355ci smallblock,400turbo quikshift on the floor, ford 9 rear, nova front susp, tilt wheel, tubbed rear, huge tires!. never 100%finished but driven alot anyway!

s1120 · Sep 27, 2002

<font color=red>Kid planted the throttle for a burn out and tweaked the body so badly we couldn't get the doors open!</font color=red>

They also used to pop windshelds out with the body flex. Did not happen to mine though.

shade2u2 · Sep 27, 2002

Mine was a 1967 Camaro with 283 small block, RockCrusher M22, racing headers that could be uncapped & 373 gears. It had a raised frontend by the previous owner who raced it with blown small block. Blue w/ gold "arrow" stripe on sides. Looked & sounded BAD /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif, but just ran average. I sold it in 89 after not driving it for a couple years -> wish I hadn't... /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Pilgrim · Sep 27, 2002

When I was 15 I bought a 1 year old ( 1970) MGB.
I think I paid something like $1800.00 for it in 1971. It was perfect. Luggage rack, wire wheels, Abarth exhaust system and an eight track player for blasting the Brothers Allman and Doobie.
No help from Mom and Dad. Paper route, washing and busing dishes and odd jobs around the neighborhood. It was easy to save money BC ( Before Chicks ).
I could only drive it up and down the driveway and we had a SHORT driveway. I could catch 2nd if I dumped the clutch in first and slammed the breaks on as soon as I hit second so I wouldn't hit the house.
After I got my license I suddenly discovered girls. That car was REAL cramped quarters but there were many "firsts" in that little car. Golden Days, but I wouldn't go back.

GarageSmoker · Sep 27, 2002

Another "sports car" owner here. 1959 TR3 was my first car. Paid all of $225 in 1965 for it and that was after the used car lot wholesaled it to another lot or I would have had it for $175. I guess they didn't think a 17 year old was serious. After this one was run into a tree by a friend learning to drive, (not much damage but easy to total a $225 car) got another of the same year but at a premium due to condition..$400.

I was also half owner of a '59 Impala convertable with my brother ($500) which was a great date car but with a 283 automatic I can't call it a hot rod. My TR3 could beat it off the line every time, just lose to it in a top end race.

GS