I was born into a Ford family, immediately became a "Ford car nut," and still am a Ford car nut. My earliest recollection is of my father bringing home a 1953 Ford Victoria, a black and white 2 door hardtop. The reason I remember it so well is that it was a 3-speed stick shift and my mother, a genius in so many things, simply couldn't master shifting it. As a result, my father soon gave in and traded it for a salmon (pink) and white Victoria with a automatic transmission. A compromise that brought peace to our home! I was too young then to appreciate that both were flathead V-8s, but that fact was certainly not lost on my father.
My father expected and anticipated my need to be involved with cars early on, and before I turned 16 in 1961 allowed me to accept from a cousin a 1950 Ford Crestliner! It was a 2-door, flathead V-8, 3-speed stick, chartreuse and black rustbucket. But it was mine to fix up! (I have no pictures of it or any other Crestliner and would appreciate an Email of a `50 Crestliner if anyone has one. Here's as close as I've found, thanks to Johnnie Lacy's "Bringing Back the Fifties" website.)
I and the gang tried to do interior and bodywork, replace the dead master cylinder, all with junkyard parts, do some priming and painting, but ultimately found too much wrong for our available cash. So we sold it and, in 1962, I bought a 1953 Ford Customline sedan from another cousin for $50. (I was brought up in a large family. My father had 8 brothers and sisters, my mother 7. Hence, ultimately, lots of cousins!) Another flathead V-8, but Fordomatic this time.
Then, a great street machine, a 1963 Fairlane Sport Coupe. Buckets, console, 4-speed and a souped up 260 V-8. Fast! Fun! I loved it! Unfortunately, totalled from behind one icy day! (Thanks to the Fairlane Club of America site for the picture. Mine was white with red stripe and interior.) Again Oh No, as I used the insurance money to buy a 1964 Plymouth Fury. A red convertible with black top and interior, and a 318 V-8 and pushbutton automatic. Quick, and pretty! I confess, I loved it, too!
