The best vehicle I ever, or never, had...

[ri702bill 8,327]

All:

Please share your thoughts and memories on either the best car you had, or the one that got away, or both ....

 

My best was a 1957 Chevy model 150. All black with the 235 six cylinder engine and 3 on the tree. Bought it for $40 as a running parts car for my 57 210. I had the car for 2 weeks at a friends house and after school every day went there to switch parts that were better than what I had - hood hinges, chrome trim, 1/3 of the rear bumper and so on. At the end of two weeks I put it in the local paper for $100 - two guys showed up at the same time and had a bidding war - I ended getting $125 for it. Why was it my best car - I never registered or insured it, never put gas in it, it never broke down on me, and I got all my parts and tripled my money!

The one I wanted as a first car, but couldn't get was a 2-tone blue 57 Chevy 210 Wagon. It was at another friends house, abandoned by a former tenant. We only had a one car driveway and my father refused to let me park it where we kept the boat. My friend ended up buying it from the tenant for $50 and got it running. The elderly lady next door to him stopped driving and gave him her sweet low milage 1964ish Rambler American. The car needed a clutch (no easy job on those - it had an enclosed driveshaft - you had to unbolt the rear axle on the leaf springs and pull it back to get the transmission out) He bartered the wagon for all the clutch parts, I gave him a hand with that, but I was not very enthused about it.

Bill

Edited April 10, 2022 by ri702bill

[rjg854 11,372]

I wish I had my '66 GTO, lots of great memories associated with that car.

[WHNJ701 4,165]

I had an 87 ranger 4x4.  First truck, beat the crap out of it.  I traded it in had 296k.  No motor work was ever done to it besides maintenance.  That little V6 ran strong no oil burn.

My sister had a 99 Honda Civic.  The only car I ever seen that could run without oil in it.  I think it only held 3 qts.  Many times I put 3 into it. 

She drove that up down the east coast.  Even got a few grand when that got traded in

Edited April 10, 2022 by jabelman

[Pullstart 62,904]

11 minutes ago, jabelman said:

The only car I ever seen that could run without oil in it. 

My buddy had an ‘86 front wheel drive Nova (Toyota engine I believe).  That had a 4 qt capacity and we often times dropped 4 qts into that one.  Between that Nova an my Jetta, we did a lot of crazy stuff.  Long live flat bottom cars with winter tires!

[squonk 41,131]

First car:

61 Ford Falcon with the 170 6 popper. 3 on the tree. Glass bowl carb. Great heater which was handy when the driver's door window fell down and broke. Coil over shocks all the way around. Looked like a mini lift kit. Western Auto retread snows all the way around too. Loud freakin horn. That's about it

 

Worst car 71 Chevy Vega;

$50 car with a $150 air cleaner. Quart of oil every 100 miles. Close 2nd 84 Dodge Rampage

 

Coolest: 73 Chevy C-10 "Easter Egg Truck 4 different colors

 

Favorite Tie 2 69 Chevy Caprices One a 350 and one with a 327. Both quadrajets and dual exhaust. Would feel like riding on air at 80 mph!  Honorable mention: 89 Olds 88

 

 

 

Edited April 10, 2022 by squonk

[ri702bill 8,327]

2 minutes ago, squonk said:

Western Auto retread snows

Mike - that brings back memories. I had a pair of nylon cord snow tires on the 57. They would "flat spot" overnight from sitting in one place - rode like Flintstone's tires in the morning until they heated up a bit and regained their round shape.

[clueless 3,001]

Best is hard to say, but probably my '70 and '72 VW bugs, slow, hot in the summer, cold in the winter and cramped for a big old boy, but with the help of John Muir's idiot book they were as simple to work on as Mike's WH 704. Friday afternoon with a friend drop the engine put it on a table and pull the jugs, clean and hone them clean up the heads and valves. Early Saturday morning put new ring on put it back together put it back in the bug fire it up let it run a little check for leaks. Go take a shower, strap the two surf boards on top and head to the beach by 13:00. Total cost was probably under $50.00 and good for at least another 60,000 miles. On a side note I had a hell of a great childhood and teenage years  anybody else? 

Edited April 10, 2022 by clueless

[SylvanLakeWH 25,586]

Early 90’s Ford Ranger. 2wd. Manual. 4 Cyl. Standard cab. Never an issue. Hauled way over capacity too many times to count… never even groaned…

 

[CCW 1,295]

Peugeot 404 wagon.  Great little car till it develop a short when someone crossed jumper cables.  Never the same after that.

[pacer 3,173]

My favorite car? No doubt there!!! 

This is me and my honey - that I married and had the joy of her for 62 years!  standing with my 1948 Ford coupe that I put a 265? chevy motor 3 carbs (as shown) , mild cam, dual exhaust, few other things (been so long I'm not sure of the 265 part! The small V8 chevy had at that time) Think I was 18 and was in1958. I cant believe I did that change over at 18 yrs old!!! And the thing would run really nice. Therefore, it is the one car that I wish I still had!!

 

Kept seeing it sit in this yard with the right rear wheel off .... finally asked about and lady sez " oh, thats my sons and he wont get it fixed and I told him I was gonna sell it if he didnt" ---- so, I sez "I'll buy it, how much?" She sez would you give a hundred for it? Yep, bought it and found the rt rear brake cyl was leaking, went to parts store and bought 2 if the rubber cups for $1 and put it together and ---- TaDa!! I had me a really fine car. Low mileage, - was only 9-10 yrs old at that time.

 

[Ed Kennell 38,189]

I bought my first one in 1957.         Paid $100 for a 1930 Dodge Brothers 4 door sedan.    A flat head 6 with 3 on the floor with 37,000 miles on the meter.  19" wooden spoke wheels and was one of the first to have hydraulic brakes.

It ran perfect, but the upholstery was rotten.     I replaced the interior and added a radio and heater and had it ready to go when I got my drivers lisence a year later.    I drove it daily and in parades.

circa 1961   Me and the future Mrs. K

 

Next one was a 1952 Chevy  that I paid $60 for and was totaled by a DUI that didn't see a stop sign.

 

Then there was a '48 merc, a '55 ford, a '57 Dodge,  and finally the one I wish I had.

 

'59 Ford rag top     This was our honeymoon car in 1963.

 

The newly weds with my neice.

 

 

Edited April 10, 2022 by Ed Kennell

[ri702bill 8,327]

40 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

Next one was a 1962 Chevy  that I paid $60 for

1952 ?? Chevy ?

[ebinmaine 67,542]

I've had a goodly share of cars an' trucks.  

Used to buy and sell for the heck of it. 

A few I'd get back if I could. 

 

REALLY had good luck with straight 6 engines of Ford and Chevy. 

Had a 81 Chevy 3/4 ton 2wd. 292. TH400 Auto. 4:56 rear axle. 

I did some exterior add-ons to the engine. Small 4 BBL carb. Bigger exhaust. 

 

An 89 Dodge Daytona C/S. Went like a bat outta hell for it's day. 

0-60 was 7 seconds flat. 

Only American cars that would stay with were the Corvette, Mustang GT and Transam GTA. 

Nothing else. 

Found out just last year it was an ultra rare car. 

Oh well. 

😀

 

Several Camaros. A few other trucks. 

 

I'm finally in a stage of life where I can afford to spend a couple extra dollars to get what I want, instead of what I need. 

I now have a truck I've wanted for many years. Still a project stage vehicle but should be up n runnin' again soon.  

 

1986 Ford F250 HD. 

300 straight 6. 4 speed manual transmission. 

4:10 gears. 

I'll be doing a bunch of parts swapping to "make it my own". 

 

[JoeM 7,874]

I think the one I had the most fun with was a 63 plymouth valiant. transplanted 225 slant 6, 3 speed on tree. Had it during the racing years for the guy I worked for and of course we had a connection with the Mopar Direct Connection guys.  Scavenged the junk yards and ended up with a 4:10 Posi rear, aluminum trans, big 2 bbl carb. electronic ignition. Updated the clutch and put the shifter in the floor.

Had a grey primer paint job looked real bad.

I  could smoke m in all three. Picked off a few small block Novas 

As in true mopar fashion, front frame rail rusted out and the top a arm came loose had to drive it home in reverse 3 miles cause when I went forward the right front wheel would push back into the fender.

[Stormin 9,981]

  I was never a car man. Motorcycles were my thing. At a rough guess 40 something passed through my hands. My favorite I suppose would be the '86 Yamaha FZ 1000. Practically a racer with lights. Could hit 160mph. Not that I did that very often. Things tended to get a bit blurred. Did have a dual seat, but for some reason SWMBO would never ride pillion. Can't think why. 

[pfrederi 17,741]

1969 Pontiac Ventura   400 ci engine 2bl carb 2.53 rearend 26.5 gal gas tank.. took a while to get rolling but she could out last my bladder during PCS moves...  Back when Hi test was only a nickle or to more per gal i learned if you pushed the timing up and ran high test she would go even further/  Also could hold over 20 cases of Coors beer in the trunk on beer run to Ft Campbell Ky from Missouri

[Beap52 811]

Bought a 1971 El Camino new for $3,688.00--still have it.   I have tried to keep it as stock as practicable other than a camper shell that my wife hates.  Bought a 1947 Chevrolet sedan delivery in 1972--still have it.  I tell others that "Two more payments and this baby is mine!"  Replaced the original 216 engine and drive train with 235 out of a 1957.  Used a engine overhaul kit from Montgomery Wards to freshen up the engine.   Finally my Daily driver is 1992 GMC K2500.

[D_Mac 8,619]

I have a few I can share. A few years ago I worked at a local automobile auction. The auction was for dealers only but I had some friends that would bid on cars for me. As an employee we were not supposed to purchase any cars but I was in good with the boss so he " looked the other way" when I wanted one. We picked up cars daily from local dealerships so sometimes I had the chance to look one over real good before the auction. The first being the 91 Chevy Caprice Wagon. Fell in love with it when it came in. After I bought it I picked up a set of Police Tires and the set of rims for it. Drove like you were floating on a cloud. Paid next to nothing for it and sold it for BIG money. Same with the 84 Buick LeSabre. Car was rock solid, interior like new, and drove silky smooth. I ask the Rep from the dealership about it and he pulled it from the auction and sold me it for 200. Again, picked up some tires and rims for it and sold it for some good money. The same with the 95 Bonneville. Just a great driver, all leather, moon roof. Paid peanuts for it, sold for nice piece of change. I can go on about cars I bought from there. Some for as little as 100 bucks. Those are just a couple of my favorites. The last one I didnt buy from there. I answered an add on Craigslist. 86 Caprice.  No picture of the car just a description. Called the number spoke with a woman, she said it was her dads car. Her dad was 91 years old and the car hasnt been driven in awhile. She said her and her sister wont drive it because it was too big. BTW the daughters were in their 60's. I almost didnt want to go see it because it was pouring rain but I went. I knew when I pulled up I was buying it. They let me start it up. Like I said it was pouring rain so as I am driving it, the engine was skipping a lot. I thought well maybe just wet from all the rain. Then I looked at the oil change sticker. The oil was changed 500 miles ago..... but that was several years old. I asked when the last time they put gas in it.... several years ago. They were asking 1700. I gave them 1500 and drove it home. After I ran all the gas from it, filled new tank of gas and it drove like new.... because it was. The car had 38k on it. Inside and outside like new. Always in garage... Great Car.

[JCM 9,169]

Enjoyed them all. Favorite is the one pictured. Three different brands, Mopar, Ford and GM for a total of 2 Cars, 1 Van and 9 Trucks.

11 hours ago, rjg854 said:

I wish I had my '66 GTO, lots of great memories associated with that car.

Memories of the Chevelle SS are priceless.

[Handy Don 12,232]

Wow, what a variety and for all different reasons! Nice thread.

 

First car was a '66 VW Beetle bought from my Dad while I was a junior in college and it lasted through the first years of my marriage including my city-girl wife learning to drive on it (unibody rusted to where it wouldn't pass inspection). Once replaced the clutch by lifting the car on one forklift and dropping the engine out with pallet on a second forklift.

 

A Dodge Caravan in '84 was the first new car we bought--needed room for three children! We went through four Caravans.

 

My favorite car, though, is the '04 Volvo V70 2.5T that's in my garage right now. Bought it CPO in '07 with 32k and its now over 290k. It was a one-year only model (really!) called the Titanium Edition with a lot of upgrades and options but because it came for sale when everyone wanted AWD and this one is FWD only, I got it at a very good price. As a mid-size wagon (or estate for our across-the-pond members), it's versatile, roomy, economical, quiet, and it'll get up and go (turbo) when asked. With the right rear and front passenger seats folded down, I can get 10' sticks of lumber or moulding inside. Cleaned up, it's ready for a fancy evening date.

[C-85 681]

On of my favorites was my '88 Chevy K1500 short bed, which I had for 30 years.  I ordered it special with a 5.7L 350 and its 4 speed manual cast iron transmission (the 5 speed aluminum was the standard one) with a creeper gear.  I loved driving it every time we used it.  We sold it in 2018 and I've missed it ever since!

 

 

I guess my favorite of all time is the 18 Honda Ridgeline we have now.  I've loved my Chevys (that's all I ever had), but this Honda is the nicest vehicle we've ever had!  Why is this?  The Honda has more power and tows better, and gets twice the MPG than my Chevy.  It's incredibly quiet and rides great, it's truly a truck that rides like a car!  The seats are very comfortable and it's interior is smartly designed.  The rear seat is higher than the front seats, so anyone that rides in the back is comfortable and can easily see out the front.  It's low to the ground, but not to low and it is very easy to get in and out of.  The tailgate opens like a normal truck and also can swing open, which is very handy.  It even has a trunk in the bed that we keep stuff in.  It's also quite wide, much wider than Colorado's and Tacoma's, with this truck we can easily put a snowmobile in its back! 

 

 I worked at a Ford/Mercury/Lincoln and heavy truck dealer for 14 years and drove all kinds of luxury cars and I don't think I was ever as comfortable in any of them as I am in this Ridgeline!

 

 

                       

We liked the Ridgeline so much we bought its clone for my wife!

 

 

 

C-85

[Daddy Don 905]

My first car was a 1956 ford Fairlane with a 312 Thunderbird V8. Won a lot of races with it. I was a in the 12th grade. Lots of Memorys 

Being looking for one but when I find it the owner thinks it is a bar of gold. One in restored condition starts at about $30,000.00 and up.

Wife just won't let me do it. She thinks we need food more than another hobby. I will get one sooner or later. Will just stick with my Wheel Horse hobby for now.  

[JimSraj 430]

First car was a 1959 VW I bought in ‘69 for $200. Great on gas but couldn’t get out of its own way. Then a 1964 273 V8 Barracuda with a 3 on the floor. Lots of good times in that one. January term trip to Florida with girl friend. Woohoo!  

Then there was the 1965 IH Scout cross country trip moving to Oregon, loaded like a stagecoach. Lived outside of The Dalles where it took a few miles of old log trails to get to our cabin. Sometimes chains on all 4. 

Best truck was a 1966 IH 3/4 ton pick up, 242 straight up 6 cyl, 4 on the floor. Tiny little pistons with a stroke as long as your arm. Had 2 1/2T on stone,sand, Portland and a couple sacks of feed on it one trip. I could lug that motor down, give it a gear and it would just climb back like no other I’ve every had. I can’t say how many u-joints, brake shoes and wheel bearings I replaced in that truck from fording 3 creeks to get to my place in WV but it was a lot. What a work horse that truck was. 

I gotta agree with eb on the Ford 300 six cylinder motors. I’ve had 4 trucks with them paired with a 5 speed manual trans and several different rears. Bulletproof. Too bad they stopped making them. 

[ebinmaine 67,542]

4 hours ago, JimSraj said:

gotta agree with eb on the Ford 300 six cylinder motors. I’ve had 4 trucks with them paired with a 5 speed manual trans and several different rears. Bulletproof

4 trucks. Same here. 

Best before my current rig was a 92 or 3 bought through a dealer friend who got it from a charity auction - after the 17 year original owner - donated it. 

2wd. 300. 1/2 ton with 3/4 rear springs. 5 speed. 

I once put a trailer with a 600 lb tow ball weight rating on it with NO helper hitch. Squatted down to about level with the front and went like a dream.  

[D_Mac 8,619]

My daily driver... 2004 Silverado... reg cab, short box,4x4 with 31k original miles on it.