Started out on an 8N Ford tractor around the place and followed up on a 1964 Chevrolet Bel Air straight six, three on a tree. Once I had mastered it, I was eventually turned loose on the surrounding dirt roads that are still unpaved today where I did my best to channel my inner low- speed Joie Chitwood.

1964 Triumph Herald, the old mans commuter car.

67 VW Beetle

Opal Manta station wagon

M1A1 1/4 ton. AKA, a military Jeep.

1943 Willys Jeep in the US Army 1986. God Bless !!!

1982 Toyota Truck

1959 Austin Healy 100-6.

1951 Jeep. I was about 11-12.

Jeep Cherokee Chief 1976 era

I learned to drive a stick in my Dad's 1959 Chevy. My first car was a new 1970 Duster with a 3-on the floor Had to trade it in, in 1973< for an auto, as my current wife knew nothing about sticks.....

Last stick was a 1996 Dodge RAM p/u that I had for 6 years....

Honda Prelude. Not sure what year. Would have likely been early 80s.

1946 4-door Desoto with a Tip-Toe semi automatic transmission. Yes, had a safety clutch and a column shifter. Kinda oddball to say the least. After that was a 1957 Chevy with 3 on the tree.

First manual transmission I drove was back in the late 1940's.

Strangest one was my 1972 Citroën DS-21. Four speed transmission, shifter on the column, same lever also served as the starter, no clutch pedal.

1970 Dodge Dart. 225 Slant Six and three on the tree.

My Pawpaw's 1980 Chevy Luv. First I owned was an '82 F150 with 3 on the tree.

A mid-60's Chevrolet pickup with a 3-speed column shift was my first trial. Our family was visiting family in rural Nebraska. I think I had my learner's permit at the time. My uncle asked if I wanted to go with him over to my cousin's place. What I didn't know was that he was planning to come back with two trucks.

As we were on our way to my cousin's, I was asking about gear selection and shifting while moving. He reached up and downshifted and upshifted several times while we were going down the road. He told me that a person gets used to it after a few times.

When I found out what was going to happen, my uncle told me not to worry as the pickup truck was very durable. I made it back but did have to learn timing for the clutch.

My second car after I got my license was a 1973 Mercury Capri - six cylinder with a 4-speed on the floor.

Have had two Mustang GT's (1982 and 1988). Have driven other cars with manual. I rented a Vauxhall Insignia (looks like a Buick Riviera) during a trip to the UK in 2014. Right hand drive and left-hand shift - with a diesel engine. Don't ever try popping the clutch if you stall the engine - it is like a variation of an emergency brake if you do. Don't ask me how I know. . . .

For me it went like this:

Step 1. Buy a 1986 Mustang (in 1987)

Step 2. Learn how to drive it.

I had to get a friend to drive it home from the lot.

My brother's '71 (I think) Ranchero with three on the tree.

Always drove family hand me down automatics till I bought my first brand new car, a 1979 (or ‘80?) VW Rabbit Diesel manual. Taught myself manual on that car, somehow not destroying it.
Only manuals since.