|
It is always interesting to ask others about their first car. My Dad’s first car was a 1946 Ford that he purchased upon his return from France at the conclusion of World War II. He had hoped to purchase a Chevrolet, but the waiting list was just too long. My Dad was frugal and often told me that if I could afford my own car, I could afford my own college tuition. Needless to say, that stymied my purchase. However, after I finished my sophomore year, my Dad partially relented. I would be allowed to purchase a car in May as long as I sold it in August before I returned to campus for my junior year. So the search began. I wanted a station wagon as I mowed lawns and did odd jobs in the summer. My Dad vetoed the first car I found. A 1959 Edsel with seats that “crunched” as the seat foam was disintegrating. The second car received a similar veto. It was a 1958 Chevrolet with rust holes and a generator light that was blinking. The third candidate became mine. It was a 1963 Rambler 770 which I purchased for $235.00 and drove it home. In addition to being a station wagon, it had reclining front bucket seats. It served me well over the summer even though it got better gas mileage than oil mileage. While gas was 23 cents a gallon, I could buy “reclaimed” (used) oil for 19 cents a gallon. It changed its own oil as it used a quart every fifty miles. As with every year, summer ended too soon. I sold the Rambler for $250.00 and took my cash back to college, being the only car I ever sold at a profit. |
