What kind of car did you grow up in?

[Rare Pony]

Hey Bob, I hope your buddy isn't taking a leak on your driver's door.

I didn't notice that, it does kind of look that way!

[Steven Harris]

Well I was born and raised in a country called the Central African Republic. My parents were missionaries there beginning in 1950. We live the farthest inland of all the missionaries and maybe saw 5 other vehicle a year. From where we lived we went even deeper into the interior. Once or twice a year we traveled out to the capital of the country to buy all our supplies. We had no public electric, water, etc.

In 1971 (I was 6) my Dad bought this 1971 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45 pickup and till 1986 my brothers, sisters and I rode on top of the load (we sat on those gray military boxes) just behind the toprack over the cab. We averaged 5 mph unless it was raining and then we marked progress by feet.

As they say, "It's not the age, it's the miles!" I enjoyed every minute and some of them have been very hairy. I still don't tell my parents some of my ventures in the jungle. There's only One reason that I am still alive!

[Rare Pony]

Pretty cool story; sounds like you all were living on the edge but was/is a very rewarding life!

[Klutch]

No kidding, when I was five, our family car was a 1968 Firebird with a 400 4BBL. It was white with a tan interior. It was my grandfather's car. My dad inherited the Firebird when my grandfather died suddenly.

My mom used to complain that us three boys had to ride in the back of a car with all bucket seats. (Seat belts? What's that?) My youngest brother at the time, Jimmy, always had to sit on the "hump". But the truth was, none of really minded. It was a cool car!

Then one day my dad traded in the Firebird for an LTD Country Squire wagon. It even had the fake woodgrain paneling on the sides. Under the hood was a 429 4V. I don't know what kind of option package was on the wagon, but that 429 was a killer motor.

[mymachone]

This is going to date me but , I learned how to drive at 10 yrs old in a 49 cheby pk up and drove it for years after wards , then went to a 58 buick ( dads) and then to a 1964 Falcon wagon , which by ther way was pretty fast , then MY first real car was a 1963 fairlane 4 dr and then a 1969 Mercury Cyclone
( Dan Gurney special ) and then trucks but always fords.

[Rare Pony]

This is going to date me but , I learned how to drive at 10 yrs old in a 49 cheby pk up and drove it for years after wards , then went to a 58 buick ( dads) and then to a 1964 Falcon wagon , which by ther way was pretty fast , then MY first real car was a 1963 fairlane 4 dr and then a 1969 Mercury Cyclone
( Dan Gurney special ) and then trucks but always fords.

That dosen't date you too bad unless the 49 truck was new when you learned how to drive!

[mymachone]

This is going to date me but , I learned how to drive at 10 yrs old in a 49 cheby pk up and drove it for years after wards , then went to a 58 buick ( dads) and then to a 1964 Falcon wagon , which by ther way was pretty fast , then MY first real car was a 1963 fairlane 4 dr and then a 1969 Mercury Cyclone
( Dan Gurney special ) and then trucks but always fords.

That dosen't date you too bad unless the 49 truck was new when you learned how to drive!

Well if this helps the truck was only 10 yrs old when I was 10 yrs old !

[Rare Pony]

This is going to date me but , I learned how to drive at 10 yrs old in a 49 cheby pk up and drove it for years after wards , then went to a 58 buick ( dads) and then to a 1964 Falcon wagon , which by ther way was pretty fast , then MY first real car was a 1963 fairlane 4 dr and then a 1969 Mercury Cyclone
( Dan Gurney special ) and then trucks but always fords.

That dosen't date you too bad unless the 49 truck was new when you learned how to drive!

Well if this helps the truck was only 10 yrs old when I was 10 yrs old !

So your the same age as the truck. You have about 4 years on me then!

[mymachone]

This is going to date me but , I learned how to drive at 10 yrs old in a 49 cheby pk up and drove it for years after wards , then went to a 58 buick ( dads) and then to a 1964 Falcon wagon , which by ther way was pretty fast , then MY first real car was a 1963 fairlane 4 dr and then a 1969 Mercury Cyclone
( Dan Gurney special ) and then trucks but always fords.

That dosen't date you too bad unless the 49 truck was new when you learned how to drive!

Yes I am 4 yrs ahead but they are some very good yrs

Well if this helps the truck was only 10 yrs old when I was 10 yrs old !

So your the same age as the truck. You have about 4 years on me then!

[Mach 1 Club]

Cool Story Steven! Missed this when first posted. We need more pictures here, I know you guys got some old Polaroids you can scan!