Favorite Autos from your childhood

[Alinestra Covelia]

My mom had a Toyota Tercel when I was a kid. It only had two doors, so it was perfect for child safety. The two kids (me and my brother) would be in the back, and she'd feel safe knowing that we wouldn't trip the door release and open the door while the car was in motion.

23 years later, when I started my Master's Degree (my first degree in the U.S.) I had to buy a car. Much to my delight, a little Toyota Tercel was on the market. I bought it and drove it for four years.

When my parents came to see me graduate, I drove them around in the car. My mom reflected on the fact that her daughter had grown up and was now in the driver's seat, with the elderly mom sitting safely in the back seat.

[ricketyclik]

Exactly what is it??

It was known in Australia as a Nissan Gazelle, but I'm sure it had other names elsewhere.

[Grandpa Troll]

It was known in Australia as a Nissan Gazelle, but I'm sure it had other names elsewhere.

Ok, because the image wasnt showing up RC......................

[Dinner]

I was reminiscing about some of my favorite auto we had as a family or were around during my formulative years....

Here are some, what were your favorites from your early days?

1964 Ford Econoline

I'm sure Pedo Bear approves.


BTW I guy in my high school drove one of those.

[Dinner]

I can remember my dad owning one of these as his toy car. Can you guess what it is? It had 4 wheel independent suspension and a rear mounted turbo charged air cooled flat four engine with a four speed manual transmission. Can you guess what it is? BTW to this day my dad hates Ralph Nader.



In the 80's he decided to buy one of these:

[Grandpa Troll]

I can remember my dad owning one of these as his toy car. Can you guess what it is? It had 4 wheel independent suspension and a rear mounted turbo charged air cooled flat four engine with a four speed manual transmission. Can you guess what it is? BTW to this day my dad hates Ralph Nader.



In the 80's he decided to buy one of these:

Chevy Corvair, one of Ralph Nader's favorites

[Dinner]

They were actually great cars (once they got rid of the live swing axel in 1964) and Ralph Nader was an idiot. Yes, a car with a rear mounted engine handles differently then a car with a front mounted engine but as long as the driver knows this then the handling is great. Porches and older VWs all had rear mounted engines and, yes, just like the Corvair there is a tendency to over steer out of sharp corners just a front engine car has a tendency to under steer. Companies like Porche use this to their advantage though and that's why cars like the 911 handle so well even before the fancy suspension tricks. Further more Chevrolet made every new buyer take a certified driver's safety course showing them on a track how the handling of a rear engine mounted car differs from a front engine mounted car plus they put the instructions in the owner's manual. Nader was way out of line.

[Dinner]

I don't remember these as I was to young but from family photos I know he owned both of the following in the 70's. They were both relatively cheap but fast cars.

[Dinner]

I can remember my grandparents owning a Peugeot 505.

[Grandpa Troll]

They were actually great cars (once they got rid of the live swing axel in 1964) and Ralph Nader was an idiot. Yes, a car with a rear mounted engine handles differently then a car with a front mounted engine but as long as the driver knows this then the handling is great. Porches and older VWs all had rear mounted engines and, yes, just like the Corvair there is a tendency to over steer out of sharp corners just a front engine car has a tendency to under steer. Companies like Porche use this to their advantage though and that's why cars like the 911 handle so well even before the fancy suspension tricks. Further more Chevrolet made every new buyer take a certified driver's safety course showing them on a track how the handling of a rear engine mounted car differs from a front engine mounted car plus they put the instructions in the owner's manual. Nader was way out of line.

Kind of funny talking about Naders Raiders, almost 45 years later

Everytime I look at toothpicks, I can remember his campaign against short stocking boxes of toothpicks

[Grandpa Troll]

I don't remember these as I was to young but from family photos I know he owned both of the following in the 70's. They were both relatively cheap but fast cars.

Bottom one looks like Chevrolet Cosworth Vega Sport,,still working my old tired noggin on other

[Grandpa Troll]

The other car..hmmm..I keep going to the Audi..but will not stamp a GT guarantee

[Dinner]

BMW 2002 and a Mazda RX-3. The RX-3 does kind of look like a Vega though. In fact Mazda was probably doing a copy cat design though the lines look cleaner then the Chevy's. I showed a side photo of a 2002 because the grill would have made it to obvious. Until the early 80's BMWs, at least in America, were relatively low priced performance cars instead of the high end luxury cars they are now.

[Grandpa Troll]

BMW 2002 and a Mazda RX-3. The RX-3 does kind of look like a Vega though. In fact Mazda was probably doing a copy cat design though the lines look cleaner then the Chevy's. I showed a side photo of a 2002 because the grill would have made it to obvious. Until the early 80's BMWs, at least in America, were relatively low priced performance cars instead of the high end luxury cars they are now.

Awesome

I had been through 40 pages on google of porche's..on that chance...

Im a bit rusty..this thread I started has sure brought back some very fond memories

[SlowwHand]

My first car. A 1962 Chevy Nova.




What I drove in high school. A 1967 Pontiac Tempest.