It was almost 1958

[Willy_P]

We had a white 4 door 58 Ford custom 300/blue interior - it had cool "gunsights" on the fenders - a chrome ring with a clear insert, and a gold ball in the middle.
223 6-cylinder-about 145hp, 3-speed column shift.
The speedometer showed over 100mph, and I know for certain it worked at least once

[tommy]

Remember when the Chevrolet's were shown on Sunday night on Bonanza for the first time? The iconic 64 on needle rock? I didn't care that much about the show but those ads were very special... appointment TV. Back then you could tell if it was a new car just by looking at it. If you can tell a new Chevrolet from a Honda you are a better man than me.

It was a big deal for us to be the first one to identify the year and make of all the cars from the back seat as we rode. I remember thinking that they made sooo many VW bugs until I had an oh yeah moment... the body never really changed for many years.

[metalman]

In 64 my Dad and I were at a small town Ford agency waiting while they serviced his new F-100. The salesman took us out to a shed in the back and let us "sneek a peek" at a new 4x4 they were to introduce in a few months, a little truck called a Bronco! I thought that was so cool.
Yeah, the new car intros was a big deal, every September you could count on Dad taking us and spending a whole Saturday going to all the dealers whether he was in the market for a new car or not, didn't matter!

[Saxman]

You guys are making me feel nostalgic. Good times.

[twochops]

In 1958 I was driving a 1957 Ford (1st photo) still own it,only 47000 miles. Other as it is today---------LOT of kustom work between photos.
TwoChops

[gas pumper]

We could listen to the cars going past the house and quess the make and year by the sound. Then look outside to see if you were right.

Easily amused

[58 Yeoman]

Originally Posted by twochops

In 1958 I was driving a 1957 Ford (1st photo) still own it,only 47000 miles. Other as it is today---------LOT of kustom work between photos.
TwoChops

Beautiful car. I had one while in high school in '67, but mine had the optional dual headlamps (I hated them) and rust package, but I still liked it.

When I was growing up in a small town, I liked all the cars, especially the unusual ones, like the old guy across town who had a Henry J, or the neighbors up the street who owned a Vauxhall. I started working at the local Ford dealer at age 15 mowing grass and washing cars.

I remember the owner hiding the new cars until the showing date, it was really cool. When new cars came on the car carrier, we all went out to watch the driver unload them. Later, I was the one who would prep the new cars; putting on the wheel covers, radio antenna's and prepping them for sale. In '69, I was prepping a new LTD 2 door, and I got the radio antenna from the trunk and proceeded to install it, only to find the car had been ordered by a lawyer WITHOUT a radio. No problem in those days.

[UNCLECHET]

This thread makes me remember sitting behind my Dad driving his 56 Olds, smoking a cig, and with the speedometer bouncing around at like 90. I was just leaning over the seat watching. Windows down and not a care in the world. Good times.

[BURN OUT BOB]

yep all good times & you could even work on your you car without having to be a diagnostic wizard & have a fortune tied up in equipment.
Discharged from the service in june of 56 & left ohio in jan of 57 for the hotrod scene in so cal. Never looked back.
Have a GREAT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND & don't forget to pay your respects to all the service women & men.

[twochops]

Soon after 58 came out , changed to the 58 headlights

[Pair-a-Dice Road]

Originally Posted by jcmarz

And it was you Baby boomers who screwed everything up. You got rid of your Detroit Iron and bought a Datsun or Toyota in the 70s

We "baby boomers screwed it up" , huh ?
Well..maybe if Detroit was building something decent & affordable in the 70's it would've been different.
I got out of college in 1976...a recession year...and my first car was a Ford Pinto..it was all we could afford.
My twin brother got one too.
They were cheap & reliable..but not a great ride.
Buddy of mine got a Vega.
Great "Detroit Iron".
After a few thousand miles as soon as I could put some nickels together I bought a Toyota Celica GT...the difference was like night & day.
My bro bought a Mazda RX-7.
So you can blame us "baby-boomers" all you want...as far as I'm concerned...the blame can be placed squarely on Detroit..they lost their way ...and their market share to German & Japanese mfg who could turn out sporty little cars that could attract the younger buying public still smarting from the oil embargos & trying to find a decent job in the post Vietnam economy.
By then Detroit had become a huge entitlement program that happened to make a few cars on the side.

[SlamIam]

Originally Posted by jcmarz

And it was you Baby boomers who screwed everything up. You got rid of your Detroit Iron and bought a Datsun or Toyota in the 70s

Ha ha, not me. After the 73 gas shortage I could finally afford the black-on-black 67 GTO I always wanted. My neighbors were buying diesel Rabbits and thought I was nuts. In retrospect I should have also bought some of the other big-block cars my neighbors were desperate to unload.

For years new model cars first appeared on trains at the local SP depot. It was a chance to see them even before they hit the showrooms. The men in my small town congregated to watch cars being unloaded and driven to local dealerships. I'm now president of a non-profit group restoring that depot, and after it's done we plan to reenact the delivery of the new model cars during our annual downtown car show.

[UNCLECHET]

Originally Posted by SlamIam

Ha ha, not me. After the 73 gas shortage I could finally afford the black-on-black 67 GTO I always wanted. My neighbors were buying diesel Rabbits and thought I was nuts. In retrospect I should have also bought some of the other big-block cars my neighbors were desperate to unload.

For years new model cars first appeared on trains at the local SP depot. It was a chance to see them even before they hit the showrooms. The men in my small town congregated to watch cars being unloaded and driven to local dealerships. I'm now president of a non-profit group restoring that depot, and after it's done we plan to reenact the delivery of the new model cars during our annual downtown car show.

Not me either. Big Block Camaro and a 65 Chevy p/u with a 250 six/3 speed for work.

Good on you SlamIam for restoring a depot. That's really cool.

[derbydad276]

fast forward to 1979 I was in high school working at a chevy dealer
and it was a big deal when they rolled out the 1980 chevy citation
to be the first car of the 80's
we had 10 of them hidden in the back lot and brought them all out front all at once

[slammed]

Keep it retro like the OP started.

[Rickybop]

3-4 years old in '60-'61 sitting on the porch steps warm Sunday mornings, watching all the cars pulling up to the big old church across the street. Lots of beautiful late '50s finmobiles lining the streets.

[Da Flash]

The fall of '56, Lockport New York, me and my buddy Buzz Whitmore were riding our bikes down the Transit street hill by the old Ford dealership. Sitting in the window was a white '56 Ford hard top. I loved it !! We turned around and went inside to look. The salesman let me sit in the car, and then said would you guys like to see the new '57 Fords. Would we? Ha The building was on the ridge of the hill and had a day light basement garage looking out on the back street. There were two '57 Fords, one station wagon and one hardtop. Fast forward to Long Island in 1964, went with a friend to pick up his new Ford Fairlaine, same deal, hey guys want to see the new Mustang? Silly question. Six months later I had to have one, it was a real kids dream, bucket seats and and floor box already in it...... Fun days...
Da Flash

[a50merc]

Nice memories
I remember me & my Buddy taking all are stuff to go down
to FL. to live in late 58, rented the Biggist U-Haul trailer
to put the 2 Motorcycles 2 Complete Tool Boxes
and I towed it with my 50 Merc ( the one in my avatar )
I had the overdrive at the time
his 50 Chevy could not pull it
we got stopped in GA. for using my Spotlight
which at the Time was against the Law to use them
got off with a Warning & he wanted to know why I had
no Door Handles on my Car ( outside )
I told him it was a Custom from NY

yep them were the Days!

[2002p51]

I remember the dealerships in my town used to rent those big searchlights. You knew the new cars were on display when you saw those searchlights in the night sky. We'd all pile in the car and go down to see what they looked like. I remember being disappointed in the '56 Ford because it wasn't that much different from the '55. My mom ended up buying one though and I learned to like it! Still have a soft spot for '56 Fords.

[Sweepspear]

I remember Dad shopping for cars in the early 60's along University Ave in St. Paul. Dealers row back then.
I remember sometimes getting promotional models given to me, which were just toys to me back then and were treated as such.
In my minds eye I remember how University Ave looked at night with all the neon signs and other lighting from thse dealerships.