What was your first car and in what year?
- Thread starter Tscott
- Start date
1970 Ford Maverick, paid $300 for it in 1989. Unfortunately no it wasn't a Grabber 
It paved the way to many trades/upgrades. Sold it to a friend a year later bought a 66 Bug for $100, dumped about $500 into the bug sold it for $2000, bought a 71 Pontiac LeMans had that for a few years traded it for an 88 Bronco II, had that for 2 years then traded it in to a dealer in 99 for my First 97 TJ
(not the actual car but it looked exactly the same)
It paved the way to many trades/upgrades. Sold it to a friend a year later bought a 66 Bug for $100, dumped about $500 into the bug sold it for $2000, bought a 71 Pontiac LeMans had that for a few years traded it for an 88 Bronco II, had that for 2 years then traded it in to a dealer in 99 for my First 97 TJ
(not the actual car but it looked exactly the same)
My friend in high school had a 396 '69 Chevelle SS. You could see the gas gauge go down driving in town. 6-9 mpg maybe? The previous owner raced it in street legal form before getting a new serious modified drag racing project. Stupid fast car.
He sold it for a 70s era light blue Trans AM to save money on gas.
He sold it for a 70s era light blue Trans AM to save money on gas.
1984 VW Rabbit 4 door diesel. Had it for about 3 months in early 1997.
It was rotten with rust, smokey and stinky. I might find it funny to mess around with now, but it was an embarrassing car for a 16-17 year old and really ruined my interest in cars for a long time. The steering and suspension broke apart right in front of school after a mildly panicked stop in backed up traffic.
Shortly after, I was able to buy a 1993 Dodge Shadow that lasted all the way through college and was unreliable just enough to teach me how to take care of it without it feeling hopeless.
It was rotten with rust, smokey and stinky. I might find it funny to mess around with now, but it was an embarrassing car for a 16-17 year old and really ruined my interest in cars for a long time. The steering and suspension broke apart right in front of school after a mildly panicked stop in backed up traffic.
Shortly after, I was able to buy a 1993 Dodge Shadow that lasted all the way through college and was unreliable just enough to teach me how to take care of it without it feeling hopeless.
Last edited:
I've owned three Mavericks, two '70s and a '72. The 1970 cars were both green, and named Kermit and The Road Toad. Kermit was my favorite. Had a Grabber rear spoiler and '64 Pontiac Ventura tail lights which gave it something of a Mustang California Special look to it. Dead nuts reliable, and excellent gas mileage.1970 Ford Maverick, paid $300 for it in 1989. Unfortunately no it wasn't a Grabber
It paved the way to many trades/upgrades. Sold it to a friend a year later bought a 66 Bug for $100, dumped about $500 into the bug sold it for $2000, bought a 71 Pontiac LeMans had that for a few years traded it for an 88 Bronco II, had that for 2 years then traded it in to a dealer in 99 for my First 97 TJ
(not the actual car but it looked exactly the same)
View attachment 122571
Yes indeed that little straight 6 200 never failed me, even ran it out of water once and all but out of oil more then once, lifters rattling like they were ready to fall out. topped it back off new oil, ran smooth and quiet as if nothing ever happened.Dead nuts reliable, and excellent gas mileage.
I bought Kermit off my brother-in-law. He had used it for "stump jumping" out in the field. The bell housing on the automatic was cracked into six individual pieces (and yet somehow held together), and the passenger side floor pan was shoved upward by six inches, making the passenger side of the bench seat that much closer to the roof. I replaced the tranny, and beat the floor pan back down, and drove the car as a daily driver for the next three years. Good times!
1970 Ford Maverick, paid $300 for it in 1989. Unfortunately no it wasn't a Grabber
View attachment 122571
Someday when I decide to build a sleeper street car, that is exactly my #1 pick.
back on topic. 1990 I acquired a '77 Olds Delta 88- the pimpmobile. Red, white opera top, white pleather interior. My friends called shotgun for the backseat.
Hammer24
TJ Enthusiast
Makes me sound pretty young, first car was my 2000 TJ bought in 2017 when I was 17 lol
Just remember to brace the ever living SH*T out of that uni-body, had a guy in HS that tossed a built 289 in his and he twisted the car...
The first one I bought, in 1973? Was a 1953? M38 flat fender. It was a blast to arrive at a beach party driving it submerged. Just the snorkel, tailpipe, head and shoulder out of the water. I sold it within the year cuz maintaining all the systems was a full time job.
The best mod I did was fitting a twin tank under the right seat.
The best mod I did was fitting a twin tank under the right seat.
1951 Ford Prefect
purchased 1964 (when I was 16 yrs old)
4 banger, side valve, had a penchant for failed head gaskets.
Similar to the photograph but a ugly yellowish tan colour.
Beat that thing to death, every weekend hunting. up river beds across paddocks, dead deer in boot (trunk), dogs in back seat.
Then daily driver on weekdays.
Memories, memories...
purchased 1964 (when I was 16 yrs old)
4 banger, side valve, had a penchant for failed head gaskets.
Similar to the photograph but a ugly yellowish tan colour.
Beat that thing to death, every weekend hunting. up river beds across paddocks, dead deer in boot (trunk), dogs in back seat.
Then daily driver on weekdays.
Memories, memories...
AMCs are still the best buys.I've owned at least a dozen or more Ramblers, and belonged to two Rambler car clubs for as many years. Still have a '66 Classic convertible project, a '66 Marlin project, and a '71 V8 Gremlin project. Not everyone wants to drive a Generic Motors vehicle.
If an old Chevy costs $25K
The same thing from Ford will be $22K
Dodge maybe $19k, and AMC $15K..... If you can find a $15K AMC that is.
I would love a Rebel Machine or an AMX, way more than a Bubble Top or Camaro.
Kiwi TJ
I don't suffer from insanity I enjoy every minute
Supporting Member
Ride of the Month Winner
I have grill for one of those in my garage...lol
I see the silver fern....are you from NZ ?
1972 Nova in 1984. Parents paid 250 bucks for it. Gutted it, built big block, built TH350, primered. Looked like shit, hauled some ass
Yup
grew up in Wellington, then Morrinsville, Masterton, Napier, then Rossland BC Canada in 1977 been in Canada ever since.
check the username too...