First Memory?

What is your first memory of a car that got you hooked?  

Hmmm - not sure about hooked.  How about - always had an interest, especially in things mechanical.  I used to ride to the Whitney Tx post office in my grand dad's 40 something (46 I think) Chevy pickup.  My Dad took the 2 cycle lawn mower engine apart every year for cleaning and service and I would help.  So I regularly disassembled and re-assembled my go cart motor (one lug Tecumseh) when I was around 10.  Got my plugs from a barrel behind the Gulf station.  I tuned up our 1957 Fairlane (had a 292) when I was about 12.  Converted the go cart to run on torch bottle butane around that time too.  Ran like a scalded cat until it blew the head off.  I'm sure the neighbors were glad about that.  
1967 Falcon 4 door - 351C
1970 Mustang coupe - 351C
http://raceabilene.com/kelly/hotrod
Owner built, owner abused.

the first car that i remember ... the grey and white 57 chevy that was a company car dad drove.  i can still see dad driving up in that car and it has been almost 44 years...  

What gets me nostalgic about old friendships, this does revolve around a classic, is my friend Tyler's 55 Chevy.  Double Nickles, fire engine red and comfortable.  She's a cherry, too bad she's a big paperweight that doesn't go anywhere anymore.  

The First car that got me hooked was a 76 Olds Omega with a built up 355 in it. After that one died after running straight from L.A. to just outside Bakersfield, (about 130mpr average speed) I Bought a Datson 260Z and salvaged the motor from a friends wreckeed Skyline. Now THAT was a beast!  

That exact moment was when a friend convinced me to go to the Ford dealership and drive a new 5-speed Mustang GT. By the time I got my money together, I had to order an '87 model. I was 23 years old at the time, so I came to the party a bit late.  

I WAS HOOKED ON CAMAROS THE MOMENT I LAID EYES ON MY 1ST CAR A SILVER W/BLACK STRIPED 71 Z28 BACK IN 82.I HAVE NOW OWNED THAT CAR,A 70 RS,A 71 RS SS AND NOW A 73 THAT IM DOING A FRAME OFF RESTO MOD PROJECT.LONG LIVE THE QUAD CIRCLES!!!!!!!!  

All my life I've been around cars. My grandfather owned an auto body shop and my dad always owned muscle cars. But the car that sticks out the most was the 71 chevelle that he rolled into his shop all dented and more rattles then a spray can in a paint shaker. 3 weeks later it rolls out a fresh candy apple red with white stripes. White fresh interior and a 454 under the hood. The gentleman that bought it backed out of the driveway and with a roar from the duals and a when the smoke cleared was 2 perfect black racing stripes on the black top about a block long. Then I was hooked. I was 12 at the time and when I turned 14 my grandfather bought me a 69 that later my sister totaled before i got to drive solo.  

I can remember, without a doubt, the exact moment that I went from an aimless thirteen year old to a lifetime hot rodder. My dad was a dentist (and still is), and I had never been in a car that went to wide open throttle. I was just starting to notice cars. My older sister's new boyfriend came over and took us for a ride in his '64 GTO. (this was in 1965) It had a 4-speed and tri power and a 4.11 gear. He made a drag strip type run, all the way through 4th gear with us in the car. I was ruined for life! I couldn't believe a car could accelerate so fast. I remember the noise it made in the lower gears, almost a turbine sound. That was the Muncie input shaft bearing making noise from all the trash and metal going through it. Life has never been the same since that 14 seconds.
 That ride and that car was the reason I built the Pontiac engine for the Engine Masters Challenge. That was where it all started for me.  ... Jon Kaase  

Without a doubt it was my Dad's '55 Chevy. It was bought in 1964 and my Dad still owns it today. It has a 327 out of a late 60's Vette which my dad rebuilt with all the goodies of the day. I remember listening for him coming home. That car just sounded awesome. Pretty soon I could tell you which one of the neighbors was coming down the road just by the sound of the engine. That was the car that got me interested in Hot Rodding and engine building!  

In the early 60's the cool neighbor down the street allowed me to be his "tool boy" for him while he made an engine swap in his dad's garage; and it wasn't just a bolt-in.
He had a "61 Ford and he was installing a Mercury 383 MEL engine in it, which took the better part of a whole summer. I was hooked...!  

MY UNCLES MALIBU, HIS FATHER AND HIM SWAPED OUT THE ENGINE, AND I'VE BEEN HOOKED EVER SINCE. WHEN I TURNED 17, I BOUGHT IT FROM HIM AND SWAPEDTHE 350 OUT FOR A BIG BLOCK 396 BECAUSE THERE JUST WAS'NT ENOUGH POWER FOR ME. NOW, IM BUILDING AN LS9 TWIN TURBO FOR MY 71 CHEVELLE, AND IF I WAS EVER HOOKED BEFORE, IT'S NO WHERE NEAR AS MUCH, AS I AM NOW!
    STAY TUNED YOU WILL SEE IT SOON!

                       GA-RUN-TEED!!  

My first "car" memory was slamming my sisters fingers in the driverside door of my moms 59 0r 60 Impala convertible.The gap was so big it just pinned here fingers between knuckles so she didn't get hurt,and neither did I.
Next was burning the back of my legs on the metal fold down backs of my dads Corviar seats after a day at the beach.


The HOOK was set for me in August 1979 when sitting on the corner of Sycamore and Cockran in Simi Valley was a 1967 Mustang Coupe for $975 and a 1969 Camaro for $1200.
The guy with the Camaro would only come down to $1100,I got the Mustang for $835.
I don't remember anything about the Camaro except it was Orange and a stick.

The Mustang became my first car and I missed it as soon as I sold it,20 years later I got a 68 Coupe to replace it soon to be seen in the readers garage section.LOL