Tell us about your first car!

[cyclocross]

was a 1956 Ford Crown Victoria that I purchased in 1965. You may recall that it had the large chrome "roll bar" across the top. It was a V8 with 2-speed automatic. Cost was $300. I repainted it a metallic maroon (actually "Cordoba"). Interior was black and white tuck-and-roll. Wheels were chromed. It had a good sized back seat but nowhere as big as the backseat in the 1960 Pontiac Ventura coupe that replaced it.

The Pontiac was something else: 400 ci, 3-twos, flowed cast iron headers, T-10 gearbox with Hearst shifter, aluminum flywheel, 4-bolt mains, dual valve springs, Alfin drums, 4,000 lbs - all from the factory. It was geared to turn 3,500 RPM at 70 MPH (it was set up with street slicks). It ran a steady 11 MPG on Chevron Custom Supreme.