We’re testing out the new wireless printer/copier/scanner my brother got us for Christmas, and by way of testing the wireless scanning capabilities we scanned this photograph of Brian’s first car. It’s a beaut, huh? He sold it when he went to college because he was afraid he wouldn’t have the time to dedicate to its upkeep. That’s a shame. My first car, on the other hand, was a 1981 BMW 320i; it cost $2500 and puttered out on me after just over a year. It had a manual sunroof and would die if you weren’t gassing it; lots of fun when you go to a high school with 2,000 students, all of whom are trying to get home at 3 p.m. out of two exits. I did love that car, though; there’s something so magical and freeing about your first car. I remember I spent every day between my 15th and 16th birthdays thinking, “When I can drive I’m so outta here.”
And you know what? When I finally got my license in October of 1996, I was so outta there. I didn’t take off on some grand road trip, but every trip to the store, every stop off at the library, every friend who needed a ride home was a little bit more freedom and control, another mile closer to finding out who I was, whatever that meant. God, I loved it. Now I just have road rage and self-righteousness, although I do have a car I love and have been driving for a decade. Still, nothing compares to your first car, does it? What was your first car?
Comment by Scott
My first car was a 1968 Opel Station Wagon which cost me $220 in 1978. It was a two-door hatchback. As soon as I got my license my mother forgot how to drive and I became her chauffeur. Not that I minded too much, because I was like you. Driving everywhere I could. My favorite story from my Opel: One night returning to Clinton High School after an away football game, my best friend found he had locked himself out of his pickup, and he had his mom and little sister with him. My sister and I usually drove two other friends home, as well. So we had seven people in a car built for four. The hatchback was filled with band instruments, band uniforms, hat boxes, quilts and pillows. I had to drive all over the county to deliver friends who lived in the country. It was a blast!
29 December 2009, 7:56 am