[robg]

Originally Posted by Terry Kennedy

I had to buy my first 3 cars unassisted, and my parents wouldn't add me to the family car insurance until I had shown I was responsible enough (in my father's view, this was by fixing an inoperable car to the point where it would pass DMV inspection). My first 4 cars were:

• 1965 BelAir sedan, black. 1974-1974. Got it for free from a friend because it needed a ring job, which at the shop was more than the car was worth. Rebuilt the engine but missed something and it grenaded after a few thousand miles.
• 1965 Impala station wagon, green. 1974-1976. Got it for free for towing it out of the field where a friend's parents had abandoned it. Did an auto-to-manual swap and put in a 427 V8. Sold it to a mechanic I knew who ran it in a demolition derby - twice -to pay for the Charger.
• 1966 Charger Fastback, gold/brown. 1976-1977. Did an engine swap to get it running. Stolen.
• 1977 Toyota Corolla, silver. (new) 1977-1979. Loan co-signed by my father if I got my own insurance. Car was $4600-ish, payment was $123.39/month after downpayment on a 36-month finance. Was run off the road by a maniac and totalled.

I've had a thing for charger fastbacks since that movie "big fish". Pretty cool looking cars.