A variety of different vehicles (manual & automatic) from the '80s as supplied by the school drivers education program.

I really learned to drive in a 1975 Stepvan (Squad 3) with 4 speed manual, and a 1976 Mack triple combination class A pumper (Engine 11) with a Detroit diesel engine and manual transmission without syncromesh gears (double clutching fun)

1961 Chevy Biscayne. 6 cylinder, 3 on the tree, and no power steering or brakes. In my backyard.
Drivers Ed was a 71 Chevy Nova.

Excluding the driver ed cars, I learned to truly drive in a 1968 Ford Custom 500, like this one, same color, even. Yes, a two-door sedan (note the B-pillar behind the door).



302, automatic, power steering with four turns lock to lock, manual drum brakes. Downright luxurious compared to the previous family car. It also had A/C, but that didn't work. Besides learning to drive in it, it was also the first car I seriously worked on.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,

'48 Chevy Convertible

a series:

49 Ford sedan, ah yes, Flathead V8/3 speed;
51 GMC pick up
55 Chev sedan
We had an acre of ground & driveway into opposite ends, I got a lot of short runs & back-up practice.....

1956 Caddy Convertible (oceanliner version)
finally took the driver test in a classy 54 Plymouth flat head 6 with column 3 speed & overdrive; easily twice the performance that Ford had.

Steering wheel of a 65 Mustang, full on driving with a 63 corvair

ford 8n first

1958 Ford 4 door

model T in Texas.

Drove my grandfather to the package store for half pint of Four Roses bourbon. He would drink it on the half hour ride home... he would not drink and drive.

He did not want Grandma to know about the bourbon, but I think she knew anyhow.

I was 12 y/o big for my age back then - 78 now.

Tore up the streets of my neighborhood from about 12 on in a Sears go cart with a 3 1/2 hp pull start motor. Boy was that fun. Got me ready for the 75 Caddy my mom gave up to me, which I quickly sold and bought a 75 MGB.

1946 Desoto with a flathead six cylinder engine, and a semi automatic transmission with a safety clutch. Infamous suicide rear doors, and a plush velour type fabric covering the seats.

1963 Pontiac Catalina. I don't remember what the Drivers Ed car was, some GM sedan. This was back in 1975.

1970 Dodge Dart. 225 Slant Six. Three on the tree.

I learned to drive in my Fathers 1972 Olds Delta 88 Royale.
I (age 16) learned to drive a stick in my employers 1963 Jeep.

I learned in my zdad’s work vehicle a 4x4 Willy’s Jeep, standard transmission, with 3 shift levers, if I remember correctly, one to change gears, one for 2 or 4 wheel drive, can’T remember the third one, roughest riding vehicle I ever drove, felt like it had no springs, it had a small plow on the back to allow us to make firebreaks until the state truck with a cat could get there to make a big firebreak.

1965 3/4 ton step side short bed GMC truck with 3 on the tree. It was all I could do to get the clutch pedal to the floor. After that truck any automatic I drove (1962 Fairlane and 1960 Corvair) was easy.

1972 VW Super Beetle.

Besides various farm tractors, 47 International 1.5 ton farm truck. When I was about 10. Like this on. Except the one I drove had a big dent in the front bumper where I hit a fence post.

1964 VW Variant

I learned how to drive in a 1963 Porsche 356. Was my Dad's car. I learned how NOT to drive in my first car, a 1972 Opel GT. I wrecked it at least 4 times that I can remember. 2 accidents were snow related...My Dad ended up with the Opel and totaled it in the early 90's. I'll have to dig up pictures of both cars

Driver's Ed in high school was a 77 Olds. At home was a 71 Dodge Polaris wagon and, a 73 Plymouth wagon and a 75 LTD wagon. My dad had a thing for wagons then.