Do you have a memory of that first drive with your new license? I took my friend Carol out for ice cream at the Eat-n-Park (Pittsburgh). It was dark and storming, and I think I forgot to put the headlights on. Fortunately, we made it home safely — and Carol is still alive and well and living in New Mexico.

1961 VW Bug. It was a hand me down from my mom & dad...they bought for $100. Air cooled, no heater and 6 volts (compared to most cars being 12.) It was originally light blue, had been repainted by Earl Scheib to dark blue. I spent a summer repairing rust and becoming an expert at Bondo, let Earl Scheib repaint it bright yellow, then sold it for $400. The first ride was just over to a friend's house...and I haven't looked back!

MaryJo, I love this pic. And I now love that this photo is forever in our archives. :-) My first car was a 92 Subaru Loyale. I don't have any pictures. :-( There exists, somewhere in my photo books, a picture of me with the first car that I took out a loan for: a 2001 Nissan Sentra. That was exciting.

My first car was a lemon yellow International Harvester Scout II that my dad gave me for my 17th birthday (he paid $100 for it as it "needed some body work"). Much like Gary, I learned how to apply Bondo and other adhesives to make the car look 'whole'. But it was only recently when I realize the brilliance of my father gift... you see, every single person in town knew it was me due to the unique make and color of the car and reported to him whenever they saw me driving around...

I think it went something like this... A random friend of my dad, "I saw Rob driving last night around 2am down Route 20, I thought it odd that he was out so late. Hope everything's okay!"...

My dad, "wait, what? did you say 2AM?! He said he was going to bed early last night!"

1990 Acura Integra - Turino Red. LOVED that car! Not a present, bought it myself (gotta love those 5 years of payments!) Had it for 9 years till I got married and was expecting my first baby...

Well, it wasn't my own car, but LOL, a 1957 Mercury convertible that was peach, had an oversized Lincoln engine, was covered with chrome, and felt like it was built in a tank factory. Almost killed me (or should I say I almost killed myself) first day out passing a truck. My father kept that car for a few years (normally he traded annually) and it was perfect for all those things teenagers liked to do in those days. Perhaps my now wife's attraction to it is one reason we have been together 50 years. My father would let me use it often, and he generally gave me a buck to buy gas for the day. My own personal first car was a blue Ford Falcon that required a clutch every 10,000 miles and couldn't really operate over 5,000 feet, which was too bad because I took it with me when we moved to California. But life with that bummer is another story. Back in the 90s I went to Brazil and was shocked to see they still made them, and blue Ford Falcons were used by the police. Another LOL.

Ron, do you have any photos to share? Would love to see the peach convertible or blue Falcon! (and, of course, you driving them!)

Officially, a 1963 VW bug. It was built from a collection of spare parts, the right front fender was from a 63 with the dome headlight, the left was from a 67, the engine was from a 66. The car was painted metallic blue with wide wheels and mags on it. $300, drove it from CT to Norfolk, VA when I transferred stateside. Blew the heater box on the ride down so it was always hot, but had a stereo system that was more expensive than the car. Priorities!

Love it! The stereo system was always the priority! :)

My first car was a brown 1976 Ford Maverick. I bought it myself for $1500 with all the money I made at my after school job and babysitting. I dont remember where my first trip in it was. Heck, I can barely remember where I drove last week. I got rear-ended after having the car 3 months and totalled the car. I cried when they took it away. I bought this car while I was a senior in high school and havent been without my own car since.

Oh, Ruth Ann, that is so sad! Though, I probably spent that and then some just trying to keep my first car repaired enough for it to run... until my now-husband said to me one day, "Wouldn't it be cheaper just to buy a new car?" Ding, ding! He was a keeper! LOL!!

My first car was a 1968 dark green Ford Mustang. I paid $400. in 1976; it needed a new engine and lucky for me, my boyfriend was able to rebuild it. I loved that car!