Hooniverse Asks- Growing Up, What Car Did Your Family Own That You Wish You Had Today?

Robert Emslie

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vacation_1960s_00

When I was a kid, my family had a ’65 T-bird. It was a deep metallic forest green topped with a black vinyl roof featuring luxurious chromed landau bars. The thing though that I most remember about that car was the sequential turn signals. Bling, bling, bling, dark, bling, bling, bling, dark. It was mesmerizing. One day while driving around, I saw a Mustang sporting the exact same lamps and nearly had a conniption fit. I mean, how did this unholy mating of horse car and bird car occur? Give me a break okay, I was like 5.

My family has had many cars since, but none sticks in my memory quite as vividly as that majestic Ford. That’s one car that I’d like to still possess, even though I know that, like most things from childhood, its experience as an adult would probably sully the memory from when I was a child.  

What about you, was there  a memorable car or truck that your family once owned, say your dad’s imposing Benz, or a family station wagon that regularly filled with both little leaguers and future memories? And if so, do you still lament its loss, whether to sale, unfortunate accident, or just the cruel degradation by time? What if you could buy it back, or one just like it today, maybe for your present family, would you jump at the chance?

Image source: Shorpy

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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94 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- Growing Up, What Car Did Your Family Own That You Wish You Had Today?”

  1. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    The valves probably would not have made it to 2013, but this was the first Ducati I ever heard. It changed my life.
    <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-COXKC22et2c/T0AHJMsj2iI/AAAAAAAAH2U/qmc1ZhnfYC8/w968-h658/Birthday+74.jpg&quot; width=550>

    Reply
    1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      Jeff Glucker

      ooooohhhhhh
      I was just a museum that had about 4 of these. I'm no bike guy but I was impressed.

      Reply
      1. muthalovin Avatar
        muthalovin

        I am totally glad that my dad decided to keep this one:
        <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-prUubbM_vXA/T0AHGBlwc0I/AAAAAAAAH2E/kIJRLRNxRZ4/w955-h658/Birthday+69.jpg&quot; width=550>

        Reply
        1. Number_Six Avatar
          Number_Six

          There seems to be a slight issue with the first pic.
          <img src="http://www.v-duo.co.uk/ESW/Images/Ducati_851-Feb12.JPG&quot; width="500" />
          Forgive my pedantry.

          Reply
          1. muthalovin Avatar
            muthalovin

            Yeah, upon further reflection, I think that is actually a YSR-50. My dad did have a yellow 851, though I couldn't find a photo of it.

  2. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    This was a breakdown machine, and never ran well, but I have very fond memories of learning to drive in the Daytona.
    <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Eg_VY9Y4zsA/Tz_6S0w41KI/AAAAAAAAHxI/_vclJ7JK8tk/w1145-h658/Birthday+77.jpg&quot; width=550>

    Reply
  3. jonathan Avatar
    jonathan

    The first car I can remember falling in love with was my dad's '72 Saab 96 in Amber Yellow. It died in an engine fire in 1984 but we kept it behind our house for more than a decade after that. I used to play in it as a kid and even attempted to revive it as a teen but it was too far gone with rust from sitting in the weeds. It looked exactly like this one:
    <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ATPpnPTkzk/T-fWS68PVQI/AAAAAAAAAPo/PFBRrRzCqhM/s640/4AF3E55B-4BCB-447C-AF2E-29F6C810D624_2.jpg&quot; 'width="600'/">
    I've had a few 96s and I'm currently restoring a '72 in Polar White but I would love to find an Amber Yellow one just like Dad had.

    Reply
  4. JayP2112 Avatar
    JayP2112

    My parents always had some interesting cars- dad has a '32 & a Mercury Park Lane. Mom had a Corvair. Later they had a '70 Mustang convertible that turned into a Plymouth Satellite sedan and a VW squareback. The MG lasted decades, the X1/9 only 2 summers. A few Ford trucks, Mercedes S, Fox LTD and that Fox T-bird that lasted just 3 years.
    The one I'd like to have today, as it sat when we had it would be that '69 F100 Ranger short bed. Flat black and brown primer but the interior was perfect. 390 and a column shift 3 speed was fun to drive. And I could fix it with a 3lb sledge hammer.
    Although, I'd like to have either of my old 5000s. Both were great cars to drive.

    Reply
    1. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      I got Dad's hand-me-down 5000. Despite the electrical glitches, that car had a lot going for it.

      Reply
  5. danleym Avatar
    danleym

    My dad had a 74 Javelin for a long time, like this one but not an AMX (edit: also not a Pierre Cardin, for you really observant types). I'd love to have that car, but not enough to get rid of any of my present vehicles.
    <img src="http://www.hemmings.com/story_image/128653-500-0.jpg?rev=2"&gt;
    He also had a 80 Wagoneer, two tone blue. That thing was awesome, if I could find that exact one I'd ditch my Blazer for it in a heartbeat.
    <img src="http://www.lov2xlr8.no/grom/bilder/y18.jpg"&gt;
    There was a 89 Grand Wagoneer before that one, but I preferred the 80. Much earlier, he also had a mid 60s Rambler that got wrecked, I don't remember much about it because I was really young. He had a bunch of other stuff, never seemed to keep his DDs for more than a year or two until more recently, but those are the most memorable.
    Anyone want to guess where my love for AMCs came from?

    Reply
    1. muthalovin Avatar
      muthalovin

      My parents had an AMX, but it was before I was born. My mom used to take it to the 1320.
      <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6SEMAglMi54/T0AGxknw_zI/AAAAAAAAH0c/bGqU2OdncfQ/w960-h272/Birthday+41.jpg&quot; width=550>
      Also, I found a Pierre Cardin on ebay yesterday. Gorddamn. <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AMC-1973-AMX-401-4-SPEED-GO-PAC-PIERRE-CARDIN-COWL-INDUCTION-NUMBERS-MATCHING-/181131163992?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2a2c423958#ht_791wt_1182” target=”_blank”>http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AMC-1973-AMX-401-4-SPEED-GO-PAC-PIERRE-CARDIN-COWL-INDUCTION-NUMBERS-MATCHING-/181131163992?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2a2c423958#ht_791wt_1182

      Reply
      1. danleym Avatar
        danleym

        Yeah, my dad took that one to the track a few times, it was a stock 360 so it didn't do much better than 14 and a half seconds. Which led to him getting rid of it and getting a 12 second Spirit with a built 401 instead.
        Wow, that's cool. When you do a google image search for 1981 AMC Spirit 401, my dad's is the second result.
        <img src="http://jaxairnews.jacksonville.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/11731772.jpg&quot; width=500>

        Reply
        1. danleym Avatar
          danleym

          Hey, I just found mine on google, too! Haven't noticed that before. The paper back home did a story on AMCs last year and used my dad and I as the main people in it, so I guess that helps. These pics are from their site.
          OLRF should recognize the setting of this picture:
          <img src="http://jacksonville.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/11731537.jpg&quot; width=500>

          Reply
          1. longrooffan Avatar
            longrooffan

            just to the right in the above image was a sweet ass Rambler longroof right beside a bunch of those SRamblers.

          2. danleym Avatar
            danleym

            Wow. Good memory. I couldn't even tell you the exact year this was, and I'm in the picture! 2008 was the last year I made it to the Spring Spectacular, and I don't think I had those wheels in 06, so I've got it narrowed down to 07 or 08, but without getting on my home computer and looking at where the picture is on there I couldn't tell you which year it was.
            I miss going to that show. I was there pretty much every year for about 10 years, though I only had my car for the last 4. It's a bit too much a trip anymore, though.

  6. racer139 Avatar
    racer139

    From my parents cars I would most like to have the 79(or so) honda cvcc or the 510 datsun sedan. My grandparents had a 77 grand prix se in while with red vynal top with red velour interior. Or there was my other grandfathers 70 ford econoline van or his 81 econoline that he camperized complete with 20" t.v and beta and vhs vcrs. And an airhorn that played somthing like 80 different tunes.

    Reply
  7. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    Dad was a Chevy salesman and a bit of a car guy. We had a few neat cars – the ones I really wish were still around…
    1968 Camaro RS/SS
    1972 Volvo 142
    1976 Porsche 911s
    1980 Rabbit Convertible (a surprisingly great car)

    Reply
    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      How did his colleagues tolerate that he drove non-domestic vehicles?

      Reply
      1. Alff Avatar
        Alff

        By the time he moved to imports, he had switched careers to advertising sales. He tended to buy cars from his clients then – his first client being the local Volvo/Datsun dealer. For a period in the early to mid 70s we had two Datsuns and three Volvos.
        The Camaro was my mom's first new car and it was a beauty. I saw it on the road in the early '80s, sporting rust and a coat hanger for an antenna. I still wanted it.

        Reply
        1. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          …we had two
          Datsuns and three Volvos.
          That's about the right measure.

          Reply
    2. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      Dude, I live in the KC area. I DD a 1980 Rabbit Convertible, though I wouldn't call it surprisingly great anymore, just full of character.
      Do I have your old car?
      It's for sale.
      ::nudge nudge::

      Reply
      1. Alff Avatar
        Alff

        Yours is not my old car – I grew up in Seattle.
        I saw yours on CL this week (my 15 YO son spotted it and sent me the link). I'm tempted but have too many minor restoration projects pending as is. My '84 Alfa needs some cosmetic love first, truck needs rust repair and my wife's Dodge minivan needs … replacement.
        You've done some key maintenance to yours, but is that rust through the drivers' side rocker that I see?

        Reply
        1. I Think Not Avatar
          I Think Not

          Yes, it's rusty — and on both sides. The pans are solid, though, as is the trunk.

          Reply
  8. Van_Sarockin Avatar
    Van_Sarockin

    My dad's '49 Studebaker Starlight Commander coupe, black with grey mohair interior, six with a three speed.

    Reply
  9. Number_Six Avatar
    Number_Six

    <img src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/68/196433068_42998dae7a_z.jpg&quot; />

    Reply
  10. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    Vanagon
    S10
    Samurai
    X1/9
    LeCar
    B210
    Granada
    Cavalier Wagon
    Reliant
    This is the list of the cars owned by my parents during my formative years. They are listed in the order of how much I want one, but admittedly, the desire takes a significant dive after the X1/9.
    I will someday own a Vanagon.
    I actually got to own the aforementioned S10, as it was handed down to me when I was in college. I miss that truck, but if I were to replace it, I’d want it to be 4wd.
    I may never own any of the others on the list, since even though I want a Samurai and an X1/9, I don’t know that I want either of them enough to pay actual money for them.

    Reply
  11. hdsalinas Avatar
    hdsalinas

    the 1972 chevy nova 2 door that my mom had when I was a kid. It lacked A/C and the vinyl seats would burn my childhood memories for ever. but it was a great car very well kept. My parents sold it in the late 80's for around $1000. Wish I could go back and buy it from them,

    Reply
  12. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    I'm not sure of the exact vintage, but Papaw had a 1960s Chevrolet C-60 stake bed dump truck.
    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt238/joek3167/20090620_3.jpg"width=500&gt;
    (Not his truck, he had his in really nice, almost restored shape when he died in 1980.)
    Or Mama's 1959 Chevy Bel Aire that sat in our backyard until the early 1980s.
    <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M-hpN54M4Vo/T1y8__oCjtI/AAAAAAAAOs4/E51XMf8zT-8/s1600/1959-Chevrolet-Chevy-Bel-Air-4-door-sedan-Belaire-348-283-235-cubic-cu-inch-in-blue-flame-inline-6-straight-six-V8-eight-cylinder-engine-biscayne-impala-powerglide-automatic-transmission-fourth-generation-2.jpg"width=500&gt;
    Mama's was this color, but a 4-door hardtop.
    They were before my time, but I would love to have either my Dad's 1966 Ford Fairlane 390 GTA or Papaw's 1940 Ford.

    Reply
  13. Maxichamp Avatar
    Maxichamp

    We had a burgundy on burgundy Lincoln Versailles. It was such a strange car.

    Reply
    1. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      I'm no hipster, but I'd wear the label if I could find one of those today.

      Reply
    2. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      OMIGOD!!
      <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/3G23Kc3F85Nf5K55H8d4m1ec813ebc9f1135d.jpg"WIDTH=500&gt;
      <a href="http://southbend.craigslist.org/cto/3759925733.html” target=”_blank”>http://southbend.craigslist.org/cto/3759925733.html

      Reply
      1. Maxichamp Avatar
        Maxichamp

        I never say this in the comments section, but LOL.

        Reply
      2. JayP2112 Avatar
        JayP2112

        I'd totally hoon that.

        Reply
  14. Jeff Glucker Avatar
    Jeff Glucker

    I kind of miss my dad's 97(?) Mercury Cougar. Not that special of a car, but I learned how to handle RWD in the snow and rain in that thing.
    Also, one time I followed a high-speed chase for a few miles just to check it out… that car was quick.

    Reply
  15. I Think Not Avatar
    I Think Not

    The first car I actually remember was my folks' 1986 Plymouth Colt Vista (hooray captive imports). With the mighty 4G63 (nonturbo ~100hp) and a 5-speed, it was plenty entertaining for my dad to drive, but it wound up being my mom's daily driver, and she got tired of driving a manual after just a few years.
    I love how unapologetically square and functional it is. There's just nothing about it that lends a single pretense to style. It is the epitome of the cardboard box on wheels, and I love it for that.
    <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TsdjySqKQlI/S9mkJl8lX-I/AAAAAAAADhc/u0aibKx0YAM/s1600/1986 Dodge Colt Vista Wagon. – 1.jpg" height="75%" width="75%">
    Ours was a two-tone cream and dark brown, but this is more or less the same vehicle.

    Reply
    1. JayP2112 Avatar
      JayP2112

      My pal Nigel's dad had a blue Vista wagon. Manual transmission and AWD.
      In 1986, it was faster than any of the cars my pals owned in high school!

      Reply
  16. James Avatar
    James

    [img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS6MLAHm4UxQ8oWnKtt1_sY6ibCbSlLyjNo7-DSf1GzRUre1fD9"%5D
    From the ages of 6 to 8, dad had a teal 1993 SVT Cobra. It was the most badass thing imagineable. He replaced it with a yellow 93 LX 5.0 vert, which was cool, but not as cool.

    Reply
  17. Dan Avatar
    Dan

    Funny was just talking to my cousin about this yesterday:
    In the 70's my mom had an Impala, a BMW (1600?), an Opel and an Audi (prinz?). All of which got wrecked somehow or other.
    My uncle had some sort of pre production Pontiac Grand Prix (something about having HEI) and he also had a bunch of hot rodded Vega's and a Mustang (He still has plenty of Harley's though).
    My dad still lusts for the Corvair he had, though now he'd never give up his STi… Pretty sure he had a 2nd Gen F-body as a rental and said it was one of the worst cars he ever drove (funny that they're seeing a resurgence)

    Reply
  18. rennsport964 Avatar
    rennsport964

    I wish we still had the family Ford Cortina. Sadly, my Dad sold it to buy a frumpy 71 Plymouth Valiant because he was going broke trying to fix the Cortina (due to the parts coming from the UK rather than the US parts bins), it only had two doors, and he had a growing family.
    Alas, I was too young to appreciate it. He sold it when I was three(?) but Dad still speaks of it fondly.

    Reply
  19. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    I don't remember riding in them as an infant, but my folks had a Mustang notch back, followed by a Fastback.
    It was never his daily driver, but my dad later had a '56 T-bird with a modded FE 390 crammed under the hood.

    Reply
  20. SSurfer321 Avatar
    SSurfer321

    Red on Red Ford Bronco II. With the horrible vinyl seats.
    My Dad would take me out during the winter to "climb" the piles of snow mounds from the plowed parking lots. A few times we had to walk back home to get some shovels to get it out.
    Eventually we junked it since it kept going through ECMs.
    <img src="http://images03.olx.com/ui/5/47/01/1272448013_90544601_1-Pictures-of–RED-1990-Ford-Bronco-II.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  21. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
    Irishzombieman☆

    Jeez, this question. . .
    Any of our five Wagoneers or three Jeep trucks
    <img src="http://images.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2010/10/1969JeepWagoneer_01_700.jpg&quot; width="350/">
    Either of the 66 New Yorkers, or the 78 Brougham.
    <img src="http://www.lcclmr.org/gallery/78-NY-nick-full.jpg&quot; width="350/">
    Any of the Imperials, of which there were at least four. One was some sort of factory 2-door hot rod that had a speedo that went to 160.
    <img src="http://www.misterw.com/Imperial/71Imperial09.jpg&quot; width="350/">
    But if I had to pick one, it'd be the 1964 Plymouth Belvedere. I'd really like to have this one back.
    <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B5ZvFLIhJN8/Sm1ib4H70WI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/Ovpaf65Rc2o/s400/xxl.jpg&quot; width="500/">
    —
    noneofthesepicturesaremine

    Reply
  22. MVEilenstein Avatar
    MVEilenstein

    My family had many cars, some forgettable, some dearly missed.
    I think I've mentioned this before, but my dad had a '77 El Camino that my brother got to drive a lot when we still lived at home. I even got to take it college with me for a while, and I got lots of comments about it. That's probably the one car that I wish I could own today.

    Reply
  23. Bryce Womeldurf Avatar
    Bryce Womeldurf

    My dad had a Jeep CJ-7 that I loved as a kid. My Springer Spaniel, Kahlua, and I would ride in the back with the top down and the doors off. I was so mad when he sold it for a minivan. When he remarried, he moved up North and no longer saw the use in it. If I had the garage space for a third vehicle, I'd love one, as something to drive the beach in.
    <img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8544/8705084766_dc9f4680ce_z.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  24. dwegmull Avatar
    dwegmull

    I think it would be a toss between my mom's FIAT 500, Autobianchi A112 Abarth and my dad's first generation FIAT Panda.
    The first two, I could conceivably buy and run here and now (There's the exact duplicate A112 Abarth for sale in Florida, right now), The Panda would be impossible to register in California…

    Reply
  25. quijoteMike Avatar
    quijoteMike

    <img src="http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Austin/67_Austin_Mini_Cooper-S_DV_07-PCS_01.jpg&quot; width="600">
    We used to go rock climbing together in one of these two 6ft 4" blokes – well I took some time to get there – and camping gear in it. Couldn't have been happier!

    Reply
  26. pj134 Avatar
    pj134

    My parents were all done with cool cars by the time I was born. Maybe I'd want the 89 voyager… that's about it though.

    Reply
  27. Macko Avatar
    Macko

    My Grandad's 72 Monte Carlo with the smooth hubcaps you never see and the split bench seat you also never see. Green with green interior. I remember going to OKC to pick it up from a friend in 1977 when his rusted out 66 Impala died. My mom had it after he did. I guess we got rid of it in about 1987. It was nearly a basket case by then.
    My Granny's 1966 Sedan De Ville. Baby blue with blue interior. Always garaged. Magnificent machine. 472 V8. She sold it in 1981 and bought a like new
    1979 Coupe De Ville that was three tone green with green leather interior, every possible bell and whistle and a 425.
    Before I was around, my mom had a 59 T bird, grey with red interior and a 57 pink Plymouth Belvedere. My dad had a 1957 Ford Fairlane coupe, and my grandad had a 37 Dodge, and 47 Dodge, a 55 Dodge that I would have liked.

    Reply
  28. Spring-heeled Jack Avatar
    Spring-heeled Jack

    1965 Mercury Marauder hardtop. If Lincoln had made a musclecar, this would have been it.

    Reply
  29. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Car-wise, I had a sad childhood. Trabant 601, Skoda 130, VW Scirocco, a heap of Renault Twingo and a Kia Shuma. The Skoda is the only interesting vehicle, but didn't really stay with us long.

    Reply
  30. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    At the time I was actually scared of it, because it broke in a spectacular fashion one day when I was five and I was convinced it would explode, but my parents had an Olds 98 from the '70s that I've heard legends of to this day. Apparently it had a 455 in it, which doesn't quite line up with the model year but I was 6 when my brother crashed it in a ditch so who the hell knows, and it was quite potent.

    Reply
  31. Preludacris Avatar
    Preludacris

    <img src="http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/08/CC-108-116-800.jpg&quot; width="600">
    Who am I kidding? My parents haven't had anything cool since way before I came along.

    Reply
    1. JayP2112 Avatar
      JayP2112

      Your dad is Mr Rooney?

      Reply
      1. Preludacris Avatar
        Preludacris

        Haha, no. Ours was actually black with maroon interior. It was totaled by Mom getting her Tercel key stuck in the ignition.

        Reply
      2. 1978 SAAB Avatar
        1978 SAAB

        Am I the only one that got that? Hi-lar-i-ous!

        Reply
    2. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      'Strewth.
      A follow-up question should be "What cool car did your parents or grandparents own before you were born that you wish they had saved for you?"
      In my family, all gone before I came along, were a Pontiac Tempest 326 (uncle), an MG Midget (uncle), a Corvair Monza Turbo (dad), a '69 Cougar 289/4speed (grandmother), and a Toyota Corona with a 22R from a newer Celica (dad).

      Reply
      1. Preludacris Avatar
        Preludacris

        This image is on facebook so I'm not sure it'll show up. My grandpa had a Porsche back in the day. Now, I know absolutely nothing about P-cars, but I have to say it sure looks cool now.
        <img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/222975_10150183470220749_6774712_n.jpg&quot; width="400">

        Reply
        1. JayP2112 Avatar
          JayP2112

          I would only hope to look that cool in brown pants.
          That's pretty damn awesome.

          Reply
  32. longrooffan Avatar
    longrooffan

    I'm gonna have to go with pretty much every car TheGentleManFarmer owned.
    Hillman Minx
    50's Jeep Station Wagon
    Citroen DS21
    Model A Coupe
    Dodge Sweptside Pickup
    63 Corvair Convertible
    A pair of vintage Microbuses
    A pair of mid 60's Country Squires
    hell….i could go on and on.
    And don't get me started on my older brother's rides when I was a kid.

    Reply
    1. MVEilenstein Avatar
      MVEilenstein

      No, please do get started!

      Reply
  33. Christopher Avatar
    Christopher

    Over the course of my childhood, my folks had a '73 Pinto, '78 Corolla, '81 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser wagon with wire-wheel covers and woodgrain applique, '85 & '88 Chryco minivans, '85 Plymouth Duster, '88 LeBaron, '95 Intrepid…there is only one that I would really want, and if I located one I would buy it immediately.
    <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MiZ-UqDwf6c/TBvlLl0GghI/AAAAAAAAFgo/o3n8clkhtYk/s1600/1978+Toyota+Corolla+SR5+SR-5+Liftback+Lift+back+and+Trudy+3.jpg&quot; width="600">
    That is the 1978 Corolla SR-5 LiftBack that my dad drove from 1979 or so until around 1991. 1.6 liter hemi-head 4, RWD, 5-speed stick. It was a fantastic car and my dad still reminisces about it. I bought him a couple original magazine ads for that car one Christmas, as well as a Haynes manual for it, just for nostalgia.

    Reply
    1. Christopher Avatar
      Christopher

      The picture is not my Dad's car, his was burgandy. Had the same wheels, though.

      Reply
    2. quijoteMike Avatar
      quijoteMike

      Splendid car. Rumour is that they wanted to emulate the Lancia HPE – one of which I had. I would prefer yours now

      Reply
  34. desolit Avatar
    desolit

    Oh man. We had a 77 or 78 Jeep Cherokee Chief with a beefed-up 401 and a lift on it with 35s. The thing i remember most about that thing was the Levi Strauss interior (yes, Levi denim seats). ____<img src="http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/1977_AMC_Jeep_Cherokee_Chief_401_V8_4x4_For_Sale_Rear_1.jpg">____my moms was lighter blue though

    Reply
    1. desolit Avatar
      desolit

      just noticed the one in the pic has been patched up a couple of times. 🙁

      Reply
  35. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
    BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

    A Ford Escort Mk1, my dad had a green one when I was 8-9 years old.
    <img src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00840/motoring-graphics-2_840733c.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  36. topdeadcentre Avatar
    topdeadcentre

    My late grandmother's bright-yellow '74 Gremlin X with a 304 V-8, Levi's interior and supremely chill air conditioning. She wanted a smaller car than the AMC Ambassador that it replaced (which I'm fairly sure also had the 304 engine), and that's what they happened to have sitting on the lot at Zarren Motors in Watertown MA.
    That's a lot of engine for a little car. I would have loved to inherit it during high school, but it went off to California with an aunt who was moving out to the West Coast.
    I also can't stress enough how cool the Levi's interior was – the brand WAS the USA at the time. Other than dress pants, we wore no other brand, and mocked our friends at school who were stuck with Wrangler, Maverick, or (worst of all) JC Penney "Plain Pockets" jeans.
    I don't have a photo of the wee beastie, but it looked just like this: <img src="http://www.lovelyabandon.com/uploads/2011/04/amc_gremlin_74_2.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. MVEilenstein Avatar
      MVEilenstein

      I saw a lime green behind me this morning. It was glorious.

      Reply
  37. salguod Avatar
    salguod

    Dad had a '65 Barracuda with the 273 2 bbl V8 & a 4 speed with a Hurst shifter that I'd love to have today (as would he). It was ta daily driver from new to 1982 when, rusted badly, it was taken out by a potato chip truck.
    Grandpa had a '72 (I think) Galaxie 2 door that would be awesome to have.
    He also had a '37 Cord Supercharged Phaeton that sold at auction in 1997. I would love to have that today.
    Thankfully his '57 Eldorado did not make reserve and Dad still has it. It's been in the family since 1959:
    <img src="http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=124483.0;attach=47102;image&quot; width=600>

    Reply
  38. Wiremaster Avatar
    Wiremaster

    My dad had one of these, sold it because he was in Florida and it didn't have AC.
    <img src="http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2008/03/08/15/54/1969_chevrolet_chevelle-pic-59261.jpeg&quot; width="600">
    He then bought one of these, but crashed it shortly thereafter.
    <img src="http://www.jims59.com/78Datsun/images/DatLtFrt17Jun08.jpg&quot; width="600">
    Later, his parents had a pair of these.
    <img src="http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs51/f/2009/279/b/8/Volvo_240_Turbo_Wagon_by_Mechanicman.jpg&quot; width="600">
    Meanwhile, my mom's dad had one of these.
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/83-87_Mercury_Grand_Marquis_2.jpg&quot; width="600">
    I would have been happy with any of them. But I can't complain.

    Reply
  39. Karo Avatar
    Karo

    My dad had a '69 Charger SE that he ordered brand new. This color combination:
    <img src="http://www.streetlegaltv.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/10/files/2011/03/1969chargerpromo.jpg"&gt;
    Copper with a white top and tan leather; 318 automatic, A/C. I used to sit inside it and read the owner's manual.

    Reply
    1. MVEilenstein Avatar
      MVEilenstein

      What a gorgeous machine.

      Reply
  40. Tomsk Avatar
    Tomsk

    For the first three or four years of my life, my maternal grandmother had a pea green early '70s Oldsmobile Ninety Eight Coupe similar to this one:
    <img src="http://www.carpictures.com/pics/640/10HB9513123159AA/Oldsmobile-Ninety-Eight-LS-Coupe-1973-10HB9513123159AA.jpeg&quot; width="500" />
    She sold it for an '80 Buick Regal.
    Similarly, my mom had a quite ratty '67 or '68 Mustang notchback until I was two. It was then that she and my dad decided I should be carted around in something much safer, so they bought the '83 Mercedes-Benz 300SD that's now my car.
    Finally, my dad had a black-on-tan '77 Chevy C10 shortbed he ordered new. It was stolen from in front of our house when I was about nine, one day after some random creep drove by and complimented Dad on it. (Coincidence? I think not.)
    I'd love to have any or all of the above trio in my possession today.

    Reply
    1. JayP2112 Avatar
      JayP2112

      My grandmother and her sister went to the Olds dealer and bought 2 identical green Old Cutlass's. Both were 305 Chevy engines.
      She had me handle maintenance on it and I'd clean it up on occasion. It never got dirty since she only drive it to Kentucky Fried Chicken and the grocery. It was perfect. She got to where she couldn't drive and I had an idea I might see that car- but she gave it to her sister who was still driving but her car died. When she died, it went to he grandkids and never seen again.
      Not the car- but try to find a green Olds Cutlass on teh googles… get some close to NSFW pics.
      <img src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSnJeAUDi4pbvbwNGvgNFlinIPu28rVPeNlkaXjZ3-Js5XKr0QZBw"&gt;

      Reply
  41. ramLlama Avatar
    ramLlama

    I am way too young for this, but I still have some special ones:
    1) Subaru I don't know about:
    Apparently, I was driven home from the hospital after being born in this machine. It died, permanently, half-way. Which is quite a feat in the tiny town in Ohio that I was born in.
    2) Plymouth K Car, unknown year
    <img src="http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab281/honkphotos/vehicles/plymouth/reliant/sedan/1988/Plymouth-Reliant-Sedan.jpg&quot; width="600">
    We had a black one. First car I remember. May not be great, but first car. I want it.
    3) Chevrolet Lumina, unknown year
    <img src="http://images.dealerrevs.com/pictures/22803657.jpg&quot; width="600">
    Second car I remember. God, we had so many awesome road trips in that car. It was the car that just. would. not. die. And so very big. We sold it to my uncle after several years (Funnily enough, we bought a second generation lumina from another uncle not too long after). It kept running and was only sold when someone smashed into the back in a parking garage. I am told it still ran even with a completely smushed rear end.
    I would totally rock a Z34 Lumina.

    Reply
    1. SSurfer321 Avatar
      SSurfer321

      My Mom had a Z34. I hated the car but my brother loved it so much he bought one at 19. The things eat brakes like its fuel due to a design fault in the transmission not slowing the car while coasting.

      Reply
  42. memikeyounot Avatar
    memikeyounot

    I'd like either of these- 1957 Belair or 1953 Studebaker truck
    https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/10511413458768…
    https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/10511413458768…
    The Mercury belonged to my Uncle

    Reply
  43. ReneM Avatar
    ReneM

    Mercury Breezeway, parents owned one for only a couple of years. It was sold due to the horrible fuel efficiency apparently.
    ateupwithmotor.com/family-cars/73-mercury-breezeway.html

    Reply
  44. Slow_Joe_Crow Avatar
    Slow_Joe_Crow

    I'd like to have our 1970 BMW 2000, it was a great with some fond memories of trips to Lime Rock for IMSA and Showroom Stock races. I'd also like a crack at doing my 81 Scirocco properly since the 87 16V conversion was a good idea that just needed a littlle more tweaking.

    Reply
  45. Mad_Hungarian Avatar
    Mad_Hungarian

    This one's a no brainer. '57 Chevy 210 two-door wagon, i.e. the poor man's Nomad. Exactly like this one except imagine it with stock wheels. I was brought home from the hospital in it, but Dad traded it in on a Lark when I was 2.<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6691913455_ccb3a2c60f_z.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  46. RahRahRecords Avatar
    RahRahRecords

    I was just a little tyke, but my dad's 62 Galaxie XL ragtop is still ingrained in my memory. Sadly it was sideswiped by a drunk driver back in 81 or so.

    Reply
  47. mallthus Avatar
    mallthus

    My folks had a lot of oddball GM products (Dad was in HR at the South Gate, CA plant) when I was a kid.
    That said, none of those cars were ones I'd like to have today (well, maybe Dad's Opel Kadett, but…).
    The one car I wish I had today was our rental car on my first trip (with them) to the UK.
    It was an Austin Allegro, arguably the worst car ever built, but I loved it. Hydrogas suspension, crazy curves and a blue I'd never seen on a car before. It was exotic and I want one.
    <img src="http://www.mclellansautomotive.com/photos/B38051.jpg&quot; width=600>

    Reply
  48. LBJ's Love Child Avatar
    LBJ's Love Child

    God, pretty much ALL of them!
    The 1950 Ford convertible I came home from the hospital in.
    The 1956 Ford Country Sedan wagon with Western-motif embossed vinyl.
    The 1949 Morris Minor convertible I learned to drive in.
    The 1957 Ford T-Bird.
    The 1942 Dodge Power-Wagon (US Army edition) we had on the ranchette.
    The 1966 International Harvester Scout I had my first wreck in.
    The 1971 Lincoln Mk III.
    …and then we get into my cars.
    …

    Reply
  49. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
    FuzzyPlushroom

    My mother, while I was growing up, had an '89 or '90 Bronco II (manual hubs, automatic transmission, red bread, white cheese two-tone). The scrapyard (most likely) can keep that one. I really wouldn't mind… don't laugh… the '95 Contour, though. GL, five-speed, no options save for the tape deck and 14" alloys. The weird green hue was a plus; Ford called it 'Tobago Green', and this is the only Mystique I've ever seen in it:
    <img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3318/5695740172_20b5ea5f7d_b.jpg&quot; width="600/">
    That Mystique was a five-speed, too, and obviously a '95 as Tobago was a one-year-only colour. I was sort of tempted, but the lot it was on was pretty sketchy.
    Other than that… my masochistic side hopes to inherit the '01 New Beetle 1.8T/manual she got in '03 with 20k on the clock; it's ticked past 160k now with routine maintenance, so 'Entie' must've been built on a Wednesday. She really, really wants to keep that car, though, as long as she can… and I don't blame her. They only made a couple thousand in Vortex Blue, after all, and they all had the far-nicer-than-nasty-half-grey all-black interior…
    <img src="http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1177/5106050757_d3b3bd3139_b.jpg&quot; width="600/">
    My father was absent for nearly all of my childhood; he's had a few uninteresting beaters, but the only truly desirable thing lives on – a rusty 4.9/five-speed longbed '96 F-150 that I similarly wouldn't mind owning, but who knows how much longer it has left to live.
    As for my grandparents, with whom my mother and I were remarkably close… my grandfather's had a couple of competent Subarus and a loaded-to-the-gills Sable wagon that've been lovely, but my grandmother's '89 244DL was the only car I ever wanted. Then I got it, and it turned out to be a total rotbox. Oh well. I've had two 244s since then.

    Reply
  50. Eywolf Avatar
    Eywolf

    When I was growing up, my father was the CEO of a dealership here in Iceland, and also collected classic cars.
    The dealership carried a selection of European and US car brands; Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Peugeot and Skoda
    This meant a variety of fun cars in the family, Turbo K-Cars, Alfa's, Peugeot 1.9 GTi's and everything between.
    My father's collection of classic cars was combined from cars imported new to Iceland, along with cars he bought and imported himself from the USA. (at the time a hard thing to do due to import restrictions and currency restrictions in Iceland)
    He collected the cars from the 70's until the early 90's (and was a co-founder of the Icelandic Antique Car Club)
    His collection consisted of:
    1934 Ford Victoria 2-door – found in a playground in West-Iceland and restored
    1955 Ford Crown Victoria – Bought and restored to the last bolt in the USA, then imported.
    1955 Mercury 2-door – Bought through Hemmings and imported/restored
    1959 Ford Thunderbird Convertible – Bought on a trip to New Jersey and imported/restored
    1959 Plymouth Fury 2-door – Original survivor car bought from the original owner in Arizona and imported (no need for a restoration)
    1964 Ford Thunderbird hardtop – Bought in Iceland and restored
    1968 Cadillac Eldorado – Bought in Iceland and restored
    1968 Plymouth Superbee – Bought in Iceland already restored
    But the one I'd most like to have is the 1961 Chrysler 300G Convertible that he imported in the 80's from the US, and only half-finished restoring before selling it (to be then completed and sold off to a collector in Norway)
    Here's a video that my father cut from the arrival of the 300 and halfway through the restoration:
    [youtube qCaexsfTDCg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCaexsfTDCg youtube]
    Unfortunately my father sold all of his collection before I got my driving licence, so I never got to drive any of those gems, but I have the memories and the still and moving pictures.
    I have more stories/photos/videos and can get information from my father if there is any interest in a write-up about car-collecting in the unlikely place of little old Iceland?

    Reply
  51. sporty88au Avatar
    sporty88au

    My father had only 2 cars that he owned during my childhood – a Vauxhall Viva ('inherited' from my great-grandfather when he gave up driving) and a Holden Gemini, neither of which I find particularly desirable today. Other than those, he had a succession of completely forgettable company cars during my childhood and teen years. My mother doesn't drive.
    Pretty much all of my car-related nostalgia relates to cars owned by people outside my immediate family. An EH Holden station wagon owned by a neighbor who used to pick us up after school (we kids would fight over who was going to ride unrestrained in the load area). A Citroen DS (just completely different to every other car on the road) and a Lancia Beta coupe (even at 13 years old and being relatively small for my age I could not comfortably fit in the back seat) owned by an uncle. A Fiat X1/9 and a VW Squareback owned by a rather glamorous female family friend who my 13-year-old self had the tiniest bit of a crush on. Different cars owned by guys that my mother dated over about a decade after my parents divorced – a Ford Falcon XD running a worked 302 Cleveland (to my then 12-year-old ears, the sound of this car was incredible), a Ford Falcon XA GT 351 (fire-engine red exterior, black interior, one of the fastest cars ever built in Australia at the time – even 30-odd years later still one of the most awesome cars I have ever been in), a freshly-restored MGB roadster, and a VW Beetle (relatively humble compared to some of the other stuff on this list, but it was the first car I learned to drive in).

    Reply
  52. cjkdmd Avatar
    cjkdmd

    1974 buick estate wagon. Good luck finding any 70's GM wagons anywhere. Love the clamshell back door.

    Reply
  53. slo turbo Avatar
    slo turbo

    1966 Triumph TR 4A /IRS with overdrive and real wire wheels. 1984 pontiac fiero

    Reply
  54. Pat Froehlke Avatar
    Pat Froehlke

    1957 Chevy Belair 4-door station wagon. It was a pinkish coral (a very popular color that year) and white, a black and grey interior with a 283 V8 and Powerglide transmission. I remember riding in the back and falling asleep listening to the sound of the tires on the pavement. If I ever get the money, I'd love to restore one to look like that car.

    Reply
  55. I remember L.A. Avatar
    I remember L.A.

    My folks had a '65 Pontiac LeMans. Wish we held on to that one. Sold it in '69 when we moved to Los Angeles. We kept the '69 Catalina. Too bad.

    Reply
  56. Dan Avatar
    Dan

    1967 Mercury Monterey 4-door hardtop. I'd love to find another one like it, but with just over 4,000 made that could be a problem.

    Reply
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    how do you buy twitter followers

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    san diego std testing

    Chickenpox is a highly contagious illness common among children brought on by the varicella zoster virus.
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    probiotic Pills

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