Keep in mind I'm a bit younger than ya'll, I grew up in a Chevy family, though, the first cool car I remember my Dad owning was a '55 T-Bird he had restored (I found some pics he must have took during the resto after he passed). Having a 3rd vehicle that was fun and working on it was just what I was raised to believe men did. It would be high school before I realized how many men of my generation were auto illiterate. I started spinning wrenches on cars and boats when I was about 10. Dad liked that I could get in places he couldn't (I got his hands, so I definitely understand that now). We had a 29' Scaraab that used to tear up the impeller for the water to the heat exchangers. Royal PITA for a regular sized man, BUT for a modest sized kid it was much easier.
Like I said, mostly Dad, my uncle (who lived in the farm house of the old farm on which I grew up (and where I still live)), and even our neighbors were all Chevy guys. Round about 12 I started going to the Atlantic City Car Show every year with my dad, and often my uncle and/or neighbor. I just gravitated to the Mustangs more than the Camaros. Maybe it was because I knew I wasn't getting a Vette for my first car (money nonwithstanding that would have been a hard no from Dad), and Chevelles seemed too big. I just liked the look of the Mustang, especially the '67-'68 Shelbys, which I knew I'd never afford (even back then). The rest I suppose is history. The good news was these weren't new cars when I bought mine in '91 or '92. I'd been banking money since I was born (half of all money from every birthday went in the bank), and had been working since I was 12. I bought what I could afford and made it better as I had time and money. I used every birthday and Christmas to get car parts. Dad did pay to paint the car (provided I had a 3.0 or better my junior year), but everything else I did myself and paid for myself.
RTM, I never made a choice based on gas mileage either. I read somewhere (might have been a David Freibuger issue of Car Craft or Hot Rod) that said if your sole bragging point about your car is its gas mileage your car sucks and you secretly hate it.
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6sally6 wrote:
