Back When We Were Poor
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Back When We Were Poor
The cheap gas topic got me thinking about what it was like back in those early days and some of the cars we had to drive because of lack of funds and thought it might be fun to hear about some of the nasty rides that we had. Myself , I tried to keep my cars in pretty good shape but we would take turns driving to school and a friend had a 1954 Ford convertible that the canvas roof had literally a three foot hole in the roof that the tattered pieces hung in you face . We rode in that car with snow all year when it was his turn to drive and just put the heater on high. Sometimes came out from school and had to brush the snow off of the seats before getting in. Then there was the usual dead batteries so someone would offer rides to your destination if you would help to push to get them started. Yep , Those were the days ! I'm sure some can relate.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 114
From: St. Louis Mo
The cheap gas topic got me thinking about what it was like back in those early days and some of the cars we had to drive because of lack of funds and thought it might be fun to hear about some of the nasty rides that we had. Myself , I tried to keep my cars in pretty good shape but we would take turns driving to school and a friend had a 1954 Ford convertible that the canvas roof had literally a three foot hole in the roof that the tattered pieces hung in you face . We rode in that car with snow all year when it was his turn to drive and just put the heater on high. Sometimes came out from school and had to brush the snow off of the seats before getting in. Then there was the usual dead batteries so someone would offer rides to your destination if you would help to push to get them started. Yep , Those were the days ! I'm sure some can relate.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
"Back when we were poor"?!?!?
I have less toad pelts now than my early daze, except way back when my transportation was 2 wheeled not 4....by the time I started into the nightclub biz, I bought beaters to drive to work, I miss a few of them like the 70 Catalina convertible, busted exhaust manifold, lots of rust but ran great and was huge....
I have less toad pelts now than my early daze, except way back when my transportation was 2 wheeled not 4....by the time I started into the nightclub biz, I bought beaters to drive to work, I miss a few of them like the 70 Catalina convertible, busted exhaust manifold, lots of rust but ran great and was huge....
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Just married. Took on a mortgage. Not much spare change. Car was a 1973 Gremlin X with Levis interior, 304cid V8, and a TorqueFlite transmission. That was a fun car. But it was like early Honda Civics: rusted out in less than five years.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,872
Likes: 3,548
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
When I bought my 71 (still have) as a senior in High School (Jan 1981).... I picked it up from the dealership- gas gauge was on empty and had to borrow $5 from my Girlfriend's sister to get home!!!
A week later the starter crapped out- I quickly learned how to park it backwards on the nearest hill- then I could easily roll start it -did that for a couple weeks till I got paid!!
A week later the starter crapped out- I quickly learned how to park it backwards on the nearest hill- then I could easily roll start it -did that for a couple weeks till I got paid!!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
When I bought my 71 (still have) as a senior in High School (Jan 1981).... I picked it up from the dealership- gas gauge was on empty and had to borrow $5 from my Girlfriend's sister to get home!!!
A week later the starter crapped out- I quickly learned how to park it backwards on the nearest hill- then I could easily roll start it -did that for a couple weeks till I got paid!!
A week later the starter crapped out- I quickly learned how to park it backwards on the nearest hill- then I could easily roll start it -did that for a couple weeks till I got paid!!
I would have been class of 82, but dropped out before that to go to auto body school, I bought my 72 bb somewhere around that time...
My 72 is long gone, the 69 fixed that mistake.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 260
From: Jamison Pa
St. Jude Donor '11-'25
The good old days.
I remember pooling our lunch money to buy gas in the late 60's. I had a '60 Chev Brookwood 2 door station wagon. I'd love to have it back.
After I got out of high school I got married and everything went towards the family.
Fast forward to now, l have a little more toy funds. I can now fill the gas tank as needed.
After I got out of high school I got married and everything went towards the family.
Fast forward to now, l have a little more toy funds. I can now fill the gas tank as needed.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 139
From: Syracuse NY
1994: I remember only dropping 17 cents into the 25 cent toll road bucket on the way to work during my freshman year in college in Va. I was THAT broke.
A year later, I moved back to NY and bought a 78 Dodge Ram to ferry my stuff from parents house to Albany. The drivers door didnt open, no heat, bald tires, bad carb. The truck left me stranded more times than I can tell you about. It would sometimes just not start, come back a day later and it was fine. The BEST was driving that truck to a SWANKY Italian Restaurant in Albany with valet parking. (I saved for 2 months to take my lady out) The valet guy just looked at me like "NO FAWKING WAY am I going to drive that".....I spared him the torture and said "just point me to the back of the lot"
A year later, I moved back to NY and bought a 78 Dodge Ram to ferry my stuff from parents house to Albany. The drivers door didnt open, no heat, bald tires, bad carb. The truck left me stranded more times than I can tell you about. It would sometimes just not start, come back a day later and it was fine. The BEST was driving that truck to a SWANKY Italian Restaurant in Albany with valet parking. (I saved for 2 months to take my lady out) The valet guy just looked at me like "NO FAWKING WAY am I going to drive that".....I spared him the torture and said "just point me to the back of the lot"
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Danville Illinois
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
2021 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
My uncle gave me his 54 ford when i was in high school, no heater, no vent window on drivers side and burned 2 quarts oil per 1/4 tank of gas. Had a blast with it.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 691
Likes: 1
From: gilboa ny
Got grandmas yellow 70 nova for my first car in 81. Rolled it into my friends dads bodyshop one weekend and after a marathon 72 hour grind we did 2 cars, rolled out red with black stripes. Put some tires fom my dads station wagon on the back for "mags" 
Remember packing 12 of my closest friends into that car to drive to a party. I take up a bit more room these days lol
Remember packing 12 of my closest friends into that car to drive to a party. I take up a bit more room these days lol
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 67
From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
High school best friend's 1968 Torino GT fastback. You could see the road going down the highway. He used "found" street signs to cover the holes in the floorboards. Any more than $15 in the gas tank from empty and it leaked out. It was a sad day when she went to the boneyard.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,557
Likes: 7,006
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
1973.....fresh from Nam.....I bought a '41 pickup because it was cool. When the old battery got below 6 volts I used the crank handle to start the engine.
Some Friday afternoons I would run out of gas on the way home crossing the Mississippi River bridge and managed to coast to my apartment 1 mile from the foot of the bridge (except that ONE time it quit before I got to the crest on the bridge).
Annnnnnnnd baloney sandwiches two out of three meals.
Some Friday afternoons I would run out of gas on the way home crossing the Mississippi River bridge and managed to coast to my apartment 1 mile from the foot of the bridge (except that ONE time it quit before I got to the crest on the bridge).
Annnnnnnnd baloney sandwiches two out of three meals.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 115
From: Yelm Wa
I worked since the ninth grade, always with the goal of buying my own car (my parents didn't believe in buying us kids a car).
I worked various jobs..a restaurant doing dishes, J.C. Penny stocking/cleaning, Dept. of Natural Resources fighting forest fires, etc.
So when I bought my first car, it was cheap and practical, to get me from point A to point B ( '63 Datsun p/u, 4 spd on the column),
That allowed me to buy my first project car, a '56 Chev Belair 2 dr hdtp, from my uncle for $125, the engine was tired, among other things.
It was a struggle in those days, but all tales told, some of my fondest memories.
I worked various jobs..a restaurant doing dishes, J.C. Penny stocking/cleaning, Dept. of Natural Resources fighting forest fires, etc.
So when I bought my first car, it was cheap and practical, to get me from point A to point B ( '63 Datsun p/u, 4 spd on the column),
That allowed me to buy my first project car, a '56 Chev Belair 2 dr hdtp, from my uncle for $125, the engine was tired, among other things.
It was a struggle in those days, but all tales told, some of my fondest memories.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
I drove a 66 bb convertible I traded for right out of college......traded a nice running 79 L82 four speed .
I had a suit and tie job and the corvette was a pile of dog crap. It was a ex drag car , put back on the road by very amateur people. Pieced together with flares .....it was awful .
I was young , poor and stupid . The car would fall to pieces or break down at least once a week....on the road making me late for work.
The car had no options , no power assist . It was a 425hp car with 4:11 rear.......engine was blown up several times
I needed that car like a hole in the head.
But gas was about 1.00 a gal in think ...it was like 30 years ago or more.
That's the car that would get so hot under the hood the battery exploded.
I hated were the battery was ......pretty much hated the car.
I had a suit and tie job and the corvette was a pile of dog crap. It was a ex drag car , put back on the road by very amateur people. Pieced together with flares .....it was awful .
I was young , poor and stupid . The car would fall to pieces or break down at least once a week....on the road making me late for work.
The car had no options , no power assist . It was a 425hp car with 4:11 rear.......engine was blown up several times
I needed that car like a hole in the head.
But gas was about 1.00 a gal in think ...it was like 30 years ago or more.
That's the car that would get so hot under the hood the battery exploded.
I hated were the battery was ......pretty much hated the car.
Last edited by LS4 PILOT; Jan 24, 2015 at 09:31 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Right out of high school when I was dating my now wife I owned a "BUG EYE SPRITE ". Loved scooting around in that little car on practically no gas but when it rained and I would hit a puddle on the road it would die. She got so used to getting a call when I was going to pick her up that when it was raining she would say " The car stopped right ? " Yes those were the days , don't know if I would want to go back though.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Right out of high school when I was dating my now wife I owned a "BUG EYE SPRITE ". Loved scooting around in that little car on practically no gas but when it rained and I would hit a puddle on the road it would die. She got so used to getting a call when I was going to pick her up that when it was raining she would say " The car stopped right ? " Yes those were the days , don't know if I would want to go back though.
