Who has has their car for a really long time

Who has had their car for a really long time and has stories about your adventures with the car to tell. Post 'em with pics documenting the changes the car has or has not gone through. Let's hear some stories!

 

Pick up my books (see below)...read all about 'em to your hearts content...

R-

 

I guess I qualify. I got my '40 coupe in '67 when I was fifteen. The '41 pickup came along in '75, and the roadster in '82. All three have been used for adventuring, as well as daily transportation. The coupe should be back on the street soon; the pickup is the daily right now. The list of "firsts" that goes with these cars is basically my life story.

 

I've had my chopped F-1 for 36-37 years? Way too many stories!

 

I'm not sure how long is considered a long time....I've had my '56 pickup for 24 years now, and it's was my grandfathers before that. I don't have any pictures, but I do have stories. Making out in a pickup isn't easy, and with the big back window privacy is pretty much a wish...not a reality. I've had rainy days where the wiring went up in a blaze of glory, I've had wipers fail in torrential downpours, I've been in a couple fender benders, I put my fist in the dash (dent is still there) when it wouldn't start 15 minutes before my senior year finals at UC davis, I've raced a cop, been offered cash on the spot in a gas station, been flashed and flashed back (while driving), have burnt rubber many times and once I was seen by a cop who called my parents and told them, I broke a couple fingers swapping a transmission, lacerated my arm to the point of 3 stitches, carried 3 naked drunk sorority girls across campus (the short route - accross the quad) while driving in my skivvies (almost got caught by campus police on that one), beat an '87 IROC for pinks and told him I didn't want his POS...even for free, drove it up the Oregon and Washington coast, slept in it on more than one occassion on long trips, blew a head gasket going through the steepest part of Grants pass Oregon, spent many nights at the drive-in waking up the next morning in the bed under a blanket alongside my cute girlfriend...memories, I have a few. That truck will NEVER leave the family...

 

I've had my 33 about 10 years. A buddy of mine has had his 32 roadster since high school. He's in his 70's.

 

I still have my first car......but I'm only 35.......

 

I've had the Impala in my avatar since 81 and the motor and interior in it since 79. That car became the parts car. Took ten years to get it on the road. Wore out the engine and now refreshing it. Still has a gennie interior with all the stains that were there from previous owners and from my kids growing up. That car was the ice cream car to my little girl while she grew up. Now she's almost 23 and that's her best memories in that ride. Countless trips to GGs Indy and other show esp. Charleton Park on Father's Day here in MI. are the trips my son liked...I think he enjoys this car more than I.. Esp when we need to work on it.

 

I have had the truck you see on left since 1976. Paid 600 bucks for it. It now has a 396 big block bored .030, an m-20 wide ratio 4 speed, big gm 12 bolt posi rear with 3.21 gears. I upgraded front end to a Fatman MII kit in 1998 and just got through putting a vintage speed 3x2 adaptor plate w/3 Rochester 2g's. That is the only way I could afford that and it seems to work just fine. I have turned a clutch disc to powder once and torn out one rear axle seal. It,s a fun toy. I think I will keep it. I am currently upadating the interior and ridding myself of some nasty upholstery and some misguided billet pieces I never did like. Will post some pics of my upgrades soon.

 

A little visual history of my 40. 1961-present. Still own it.

 

Here's the story on my '32 (2 parts) that I posted here. Had 'er for long time.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=251884
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268369

 

I bought my truck in 1967 for $75.00 after selling my 35 coupe.

 

Hey.. bought the coupe as a stocker in 1961....Due to a nasty medical issue, car was converted into a hot rod start'n in 72.. Been on the road for 23 years..
Long story but if interested
www.badlandscoupe.com

Pontiac Slim

 

is 10 years a long time? feel like a long time, but im only 27 it was my first car, and it will be my last car....unless someone steals it

 

Bought my 55 Chevy 2door post as a shell in 1975 while in High School...A 55 was the ONLY car I had longed for . I remember telling my parents how I wanted a 55 Chevy with a 427 when I was about 8..I would stand at the end of my street just to watch the kid who lived around the corner drive by in his grey primered straight axled ,nose high 55.Every time I look at my own car,it takes me back there! Anyway,I've been through a 396,then a 327.Finally about 10 years ago I smartened up and went back to a big block 427 and thats where she stands.I still get a big grin on my face every time I nail it!!!! This car is a part of me,really!

 

This is old news to most everyone on this site but I drove my '34 Vicky to high school in 1962 and I still have it. It's been through several wheel/tire combos and the Turnpike Cruiser motor was replaced in the 60's by a 289, C-4 and 8" Ford rear. It currently runs the blackwalls.I've owned my '32 highboy for about 10 years.I own 8 other original (no rust) Fords ranging ,in years, from a '31 tudor deluxe phaeton to a '36 Ford phaeton. I've had them stored inside since 1965-1968..Mike

 

I found my '57 in Oxford NC in the summer of 1975 while making a pit stop on the way home from grandma's house. The guy did not have a for sale sign in it, but I asked anyway. The price? $300. My dad and I went back the next weekend and dragged it home. I was in high school and worked on it for about two years before it was ready for a paint job and new interior.

The car outlasted my first marrige and it now sports factory colors and interior, AC, drop spindles, disc brakes, 327, four speed, and 9" rear axle.

In 2006 I took it on the Power Tour. And last fall it was at Good Guys at Lowes Motor Speedway.

 

I know a guy that still has the first he bought back in 1937, 71 years ago and he still brings it out. here is an article about him that was in the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/19peoplect.html?_r=1&oref=slogin .....................................He is Connecticut's oldest Hot Rodder..

 

one ive had since 1980 not a HAMB friendly car though.
still got it & its still pretty nice. 70 SS454 chevelle ---- police chases, drag racin, street racin, naked girls inside, wicked smoke shows, driven HARD! never blew it up or knocked a trans or rear end out. its "real" American muscle made to "pound" on!! 'born to burn'

55 chevy nomad since 1996 had alot of fun with it in 96 took it apart in 97 though. made a good table & storage bin in the garage for 10 years now back together & so close to ready to go again.

 

My first in 1959, a 1936 Ford P/U, is still around. I've also got a 47 Willys Jeep that I bought in 1963.

 

Had my '32 5w since 1972.

Frank

 

My first car is a 1937 Chrysler, I swapped a Suzuki TS125 for it in 1976. I still have it. It's in my shop right now on a rotisserie being freshened up again. I seen my first real boobies in that car. I want to see my last real boobies in it too.

 

Had my 56 Chevy since I was 17, I am 44 now so I guess that is quite a long time. My 56 PU is a new addition to the family, we have had that for 10 year this year....

P.

 

I bought the body of the pickup in my avatar during my first year of High School (1976).
I had it for a week when my Brother and I chopped it 5".
The plan was for me to drive it school my senior year. Life got in the way and it sat for almost 20 years (I did continue to collect parts).
I started back on it in the winter of 1996 and its been on the road since August 1997.

 

Had my 57 Olds since 81, same original drivetrain, new paint, interior and custom work about 98. Only have had my 34 since 2001. Will likely have both until I depart this world.

 

My '57 Chevy PU...my dad bought new and passed it to me back in the late 70's when I started to drive.

My '36 Ford PU's...dad had one since the early '50 and another he bought in the mid/late 50's...which is the one I'm working on now.

These are the only ones my dad ever put his foot down to keep...against my mom's griping at him to "get rid of that junk"...I recall he drug home a '32 and a '40 Ford (the '40 was a Businessmans coupe?), from the same guy, both looked like they were paint brushed with a real puke lime green paint, mom sold them when he went to the Bay Area one summer to work in the shipyards (mid '60's), and sold the '40 or '41 Ford pickup to the same guy, along with my dad's flatbed trailer, to haul it all away.

Mom's become a bit more lenient over the years, I have her barn stuffed full of old cars...well, maybe she isn't more lenient,,,maybe she just doesn't get out back too often

 

My 38 (see profile) has been in the family since 1971. Dad bought it in High School and started doing bodywork in my grandparents garage. Finished it finally in 1982. The only thing that has changed is the wheel/tire combo and the exhaust.

 

I've had my '59 Chevy P/U since high school, so about 12 years. Lots of memories in it and now I am finally getting to build like I've always wanted to.

 

I've had my 36 sedan since 1973, got it on the road in 1974. Took down to the bare frame and back in 1976. Brought my son home from the hospital in 1978.

It has been gray primer, metallic blue, a crazy purple that would never photograph as a true color, and 2 different shades of chrome yellow. Have done all the work on it myself including the top chop and the interior. Maybe some day I will actually finish the car.

 

Then all the fun is gone and you have to sell it and start over