Got my first car 49 yrs ago at the age of 12,,My parents were quite suprised when We arrived (the car and I ) it was a 42 Ford sedan,,Flathead V-8 and 3 in the tree...By the time I could get a license at 16 I had 3 cars..#2 was a 35 3W coupe chopped and chaneled.. First car to be driven with a license was my 3rd car a 56 Fairlane...Its been a good time with cars...By license time in 1965 Muscle cars were everwhere, and I became a weekend flager for the local street drags..I got to drive alot of the period muscle,, Mustangs , Fairlanes ,Camaros, GTO's Firebirds, TransAms,
I must be old (55)..although mentally It doesn't seem like I am, now physically that is a different story (can you say where is the Ibuprofen every time you have been crawling under a car).
My first street rod 1960.http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1137740&stc=1&d=1288746137
Old snuck up on me. Fortunate to live through the greatest time in hotrodding history over the last 70 years. Started on a 1953 Buick Skylark last week.
68 in March and building an Ardun 34 highboy. Had a 29 highboy in 1959, numerous street, road race and sports cars since but figured it was time to build another pure 50's hot rod. Can't wait to get it on the road.
First car 34 Ford 5 window 1959,current truck 48 Ford 1/2 ton roadster p/u 440 /t flite.I can`t remember how many in between..Avatar is my toy.My only time without a rod was 60-64 USAF. My blood type is 30 wt.
I guess I'm an old hot rodder--been into old cars since I was 10. The one I have kept and still drive is a '50 Ford Panel Truck I have driven since 1960. Ran 10 used motors into the ground the first 40 yrs. and have 120,000 miles on its first new motor that is now 6 yrs old.(a ram jet 350) 9' rear end, caddy clip, truck 4 spd.(granny low) with a advance adaptors 2 speed tranny in front of that.(direct and over-27%) AC,power steering, cruse control,etc. Go to www.curbside.tv click on the "discuss" button, to "where is Denny DuVall" and read 3 truck storys,and 6 articles. Over 6k hits.
Interesting thread. Bought my first model A when I was 12 in 1960, loved flatheads and built the car with one for a couple years, then adapted a 283. ya thats what we did back then. Anyway uncle sam give me an all expence paid year in sunny south east asia, and when I got back I think rodding was at an all time low and I got into building choppers, then family, college for the kids, you know how it goes. Got back into rodding and my grandson now has shown an interest, he's 14, and we are building him a 52 chevy p/u, so ya some kids still love there cars.
Turned 63 last month, old age is trying to catch me but I'am still running fast (not fast enough though) RON
I'm with you, Ron - I'll be 61 in 2 weeks and I've had my license since I was 15, learned to drive on a 4-door Chevy 58 Belair - V8 - still driving V8s but most of them are flatheads. My Dad, who is 86, keeps asking me when I'm going to stop building these old cars - I tell him I will continue as long as I am able and no matter at what speed I build 'em at!
yea one must first define old. I have been building for 40+ years, I can still open my hood and repair anything under there. There are guys on here that I learned things from when I was starting out so they are probably old to me. I don't doubt that I am old to someone else. My daughter thinks I am old and she was born before Edson 1314 built his first car.
Wow, you guys make me feel young! I got my motorcycle license in '72 & started drag racing in '74. Been drag racing ever since although this year will probably be my last.
Got my license in Feb of 1962. I cut school that Friday and went to Pomona for warm-ups for the first Winternationals. It was great, the stands were empty and we could go everywhere and look at the cars and talk with the drivers. How times have changed.
Legally licensed in 1957, but had allready worn out a 37 Humpback Ford and a V-8 60 powered 30 A model. Upgraded to a 40 Chevy coupe, split manifold and duals, it's been downhill ever since. Be 70 next month, still have my CARBURETED SBC powered 46 Ford.
Drivers licence used to be paper and no picture on it. now your SS check is not a check,they just put it in your bank for you. I had old cars when they were not even cool. I still have our 46 ford and the wife has a 84 monte ss. We must be getting old. later Russ
I actually had to scratch my head and jar my memory, if that tells you how old I am. I got my first vehicle in 1963 at the ripe old age of 13. I was crazy about anything to do with cars and although my dad didn't have the car bug, he understood and told me I could buy my uncle's 1946 International panel truck if I saved my own money and never left the property once I got it running. I've always had a fast car or hotrod of some sort ever since. Can't even begin to imagine not having some sort of hotrod ever!
Started driving go karts at ten, in 1958. Some of the first karts in Texas. Got a "hardship license" at thirteen. And a car, a '51 Studebaker Commander Starlight coupe V8 auto., and a social security card, and a job. My dad was an invalid, and I went to work to help pay the bills. Ironically, I had to take driver's ed in order to graduate, and I already had a licence. Wouldn't change a thing all these years later. Learned things about what's important in life that my peers wouldn't learn for many years. I think it's telling that our society won't let a mature, responsible teen go to work early anymore. Maybe I'm seeing things wrong. Maybe it's best for the teens. Mike
I'll be 75 in one week, started driving at 16 in52, Started my frist hot rod in 53, this is me in 54.
This thread has been good for me; I was feeling a little old today. I bought my first car in 1976; it was a 1951 Dodge and I paid $50. I got my licence in 1978. It feels good to be a kid again!
Howz about this? Got my license in '57, and got a title from the state of Minnesota for the first car I built (a T-bucket with a 270 Dodge Hemi) in 1966. I built the car from surplus steel tubing for the frame, a Model "A" front suspension, a dodge 3 speed transmission, and a 4:30 rear end out of a '53 Plymouth wagon. I don't remember what the steering was out of, but I do remember you had to unbolt the master cylinder and push it out of the way to change the starter. Painted it and had some chrome work done and drove it for several years. Never had the money to do the upholstery. With that powerplant and drive train, the only thing low gear was good for was smoking the hard Ellingson recap slicks. I got divorced and had to the store the car in a barn where someone stole all the goodies, so I sold it. I can't tell you how many times I wish I still had the car. I later heard that whoever bought the car took out the baby Hemi and swapped in a SBC. If anyone out there has a bucket with a Minnesota homebuilt title with a VIN of MINN 66-4456, I'd like to hear from you.
Got my drivers license in 1963 ... bought my first 55 chevy in 1963 too ... $75 bucks for a Belair 2 door hardtop ... would like to buy another for that price ....Put a Duntov cam in it and a 270 HP corvette WCFB set up ... I thought it was a rocket ship .... Joe
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