MY FIRST NEW CAR

Congrats George on 47 years of marriage, the time flies when you're having fun.

My first new car was a 1967 Mercury Capri, bought in the spring of 1967 from Sams Mercury-Lincoln in Asheville, NC.   Mine was a metallic blue with a white vinyl top, complete with automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes, with a V8 of course.  I had looked at the very similar Ford but Mr. Sams made me a better price and the Mercury was IMO a better looking car.  An even $3,000 and we drove out over the brick street that made up that block of Asheville's streets.  (Mr. Sams fought for years to keep Asheville from black-topping that block;  he said he sold more Lincolns after showing off their smoothness there than for any other single reason.)  That Capri was with me for some seven years with never a major problem.  Good car for a small family.

My first new was a red 1978 F250 Custom work truck.  About 6K as I recall.  Traded in a yellow 1973 Mercury Cougar XR7.  

for me it was a `77 Chevy Van (bought for work).......to this day it`s the only vehicle I`ve ever bought new

My first new car was a 1964 Chevrolet Impala 2-door hardtop.  AM radio, power steering and power brakes. $2,970.  Traded in a very rusty 1958 Ford Retractable. Summer of 1965 we drove from Rockford, Illinois (Northern Illinois) to my in-laws house in North Miami, Florida. Photo was taken in front of their house.  Drove the 1,500 miles with few interstates, lots of 2-lane roads, windows down most of the way because was very hot and no air conditioning in the Chevy.   Our 2 year old son sat in a car seat between my wife and I.  We were all very hot and sweaty when we arrived after three days of driving. A week later we did the same thing going home. Traded the '64 for a 1969 Impala 4-door hardtop with air before our next drive to Florida.  Big anniversary coming up in June....our 60th wedding anniversary. 

Posted by: @john-barry

for me it was a `77 Chevy Van (bought for work).......to this day it`s the only vehicle I`ve ever bought new

I'd had three used cars before I bought the '73 Plymouth Duster NEW in 1973.  And with the exception of a couple collector cars I bought over the years, I've never ever bought a USED car for every day driving again.  My thought has always been, people trade their cars in for reasons, and I don't need to buy a car and have repair issues with it after getting it.  Plus, when it's time to get a car, I enjoy the smell and joy of having a NEW car that I can start fresh with. 

I forgot to mention that my NEW '73 DUSTER was purchased from Bahl's Chrysler/Plymouth in Hastings, Minnesota.  The dealership also sold Farm tractors and machinery.  It had been a staple in Hastings since the 1940's and was a place where every one in town knew everyone.  In the mid 1990's, the old ownership at Bahl's was no more and the business was dissolved.  Today, a Walgreens Drug Store sits on the land where Bahl's building was.  Progress sometimes isn't sweet.  

Got home from my service years and bought my first new car-  a 1971 Maverick-  had little money and set a limit of $2500.00 out the door-  was able to add a few options-  

@2bubbas, thing is, that was a big chunk of money in those days.  But so is a new car today.  It's all relevant.  

I remember when Playboy magazine did a feature on the NEW Datsun Z car......I was in basic training in Ft Jackson......$2700.00 was the price they suggested it would sell for (it didn`t).....even at that,it might just as well have been $20,000 for my $100 / month income

You let the genie out of the bottle. Any excuse to post my wonderful Elroy.

I owned three used cars before I moved to Manhattan, and didn't own a car for 36 years.

On retiring and moving to Florida, I bought my first new car. And I bought it it because I just love it.

Seven years in June.

Posted by: @john-barry

I remember when Playboy magazine did a feature on the NEW Datsun Z car......I was in basic training in Ft Jackson......$2700.00 was the price they suggested it would sell for (it didn`t).....even at that,it might just as well have been $20,000 for my $100 / month income

Playboy had articles???   

@2bubbas, I had a '70 Model, a yellow Grabber. I loved the car! It looked cool and was dependable as all get out but wasn't very fast. I wanted folks to think it was fast, though. Since I bought one of the first Grabbers in our area, I put fake dual exhausts on it and Shelby Cobra insignias on the quarter panels. Raised white-letter tires and trim rings over black wheels with chrome lug nuts completed the look. For the first month or so, no one messed with me...for the first month or so...

My first new car was a 1971 VW Super Beetle, yellow, and it was a bit of a lemon much to my surprise.  A friend of mine coincidentally bought the exact same car and his was a really good one.  I traded in my 63 Impala on it.  I owned it for just 3 months, put 10,000 miles on it and that was enough; I hated the car.  I traded it in on a 66 Mustang coupe, which I loved.