One of my earliest and fondest memories. In November 1956, when I was almost 4, my parents took my brothers and me to a dealer to get their new car, a red ‘57 Chevy Bel-Air 4 door V-8 sedan. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my young life.
Bought my first car in 64. It was a 52 Chevy. Cost me 50 bucks and that was a lot of money. It was a great ride but I couldn’t wait to move up as my age increased as well as my income bagging groceries.
My father had a 1964 Pontiac Bonneville convertible, maroon with black leather seats. I loved driving her. My mom had to sell it and it broke my heart. Was a beautiful car.
Chevy ruined their mainline cars when they tacked on all that junk to the understated ‘55 and ’56 body. If you want an outlandish yet attractive ’57 car, I’d suggest one of Chrysler’s “forward look” models.
57 Ford Fairlane, 61 Ford Galaxy 500(with the 390) three 66 Chevy Caprices, 65 Ford Mustang, 72 Chevy Impala and the list goes on for about 40 more, yes, I have had a lot of cars in my lifetime and looking for a new one right now.
My favorite was the 1955 DeSoto, which was parked next to a 1956 in the garage across our alley in St. Louis. Our car at the time was a [well-used] 1948 Packard.
Even though I love cars, I hold no affection for any cars that I had in the past. Not sure why I feel that way, except that I prefer the increased reliability and safety of modern vehicles.
Coming up to more recent times…
We own a 2005 Pontiac Vibe (basically a Toyota) with 164,000 miles, and it’s still going strong. We hope that it will last until at least 2030.
I drive a 2015 Camaro that I bought as part of turning 62. It will last longer than I will, and I know that I will need to trade it in when I can no longer get in and out of it without great effort.
Only 10 years? I bought a 1995 Toyota T-100 in 1997. 26 years and 369,800 miles later I still drive it. I did finally break down and get me a 2011 Tacoma 4×4 used last year, I expect it’ll last me the rest of my life if it’s as good as the first one.
In talking to my students about the challenges television posed to the movie industry in the 1950s I include drive-ins and note that they were a nice compromise. Young parents could get out of the house to see a movie, but dress more casually, and put the kids to sleep in the back so they didn’t need to find a babysitter. I mentioned that the big bench back seat was a lot more comfortable than the bucket-style seats that came later, and much more convenient. I doubt any of them caught the implications. (these are college students FWIW)
We bought a RAV4 hybrid, a computer on wheels. Love it but purchased extended warranty (basically insurance) because if something goes wrong it is an expensive repair.
Back in ’69 or ’70, I was looking for a cheap car, and hoped someone would be selling a ’57 Chevy. The closest was a ’55, which I would have bought, but it was in bad shape. I ended up with a ’55 Buick, which had some problems, but it served me well for more years than I was expecting.
But new cars come with all those new features, like in car cameras. For you Tesla owners, it has been confirmed that Tesla engineers share the “Best” videos of what they see on the feed.
When I was a young’un, my Dad had a ’62 Impala. Cherry red, with a black interior. First and only car he ever bought new…boy, did he love that thing. I just remember how hot the seats got in the summer!
Nowadays, the cheapest car you will ever have is the one you have right now. I have a ’97 Dodge 3500 farm truck, a ’13 Ford Escape, and an ’02 Jeep. No car payments.
I can’t remember where I learned about it, but the breakthrough in engine longevity was the use of a dummy head bolted (and torqued) to the block to deform the block the same way a cylinder head would. Before that the cylinders tapered near the head, doing bad things to the rings.
My favorite car was my mid 1990s Chevy Blazer S10. I would probably still have it if I had not opened my mouth in 2012 and said – I guess we should have one newer vehicle that we don’t have to worry about it dying on us. (Our other vehicle was a mid 1990s Astro Van, which is still our “other car” as we use it for craft shows/reenactment events.) Since then we have had 2 cars which were problems – a Honda Pilot – we did not get along with Honda/dealer and current Chevy Equinox, which if we did not have to always worry about it coming to the end of its life while we are out (especially to take 94yo mom who lives in next county to doctors – no way she could get into a van, she can barely make it into the car) we would not be looking for a replacement. (For car “guys” out there – yes, we put in the ventilated oil cap and the oil collection can to keep it going as long as we can while we figure out to replace it with.)
Radioshack Premium Member 12 months ago
Yea Arlo, you da man!
Da'Dad 12 months ago
The iconic ‘57! Adults could actually sit in the backseat.
Tyge Premium Member 12 months ago
What was on the bottom becomes the top. The wheel turns.
Jesy Bertz Premium Member 12 months ago
One of my earliest and fondest memories. In November 1956, when I was almost 4, my parents took my brothers and me to a dealer to get their new car, a red ‘57 Chevy Bel-Air 4 door V-8 sedan. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my young life.
SpacedInvader Premium Member 12 months ago
Bought my first car in 64. It was a 52 Chevy. Cost me 50 bucks and that was a lot of money. It was a great ride but I couldn’t wait to move up as my age increased as well as my income bagging groceries.
Devils Knight 12 months ago
no give me the 65 ford falcon
Rhetorical_Question 12 months ago
Missed opportunity?
fuzzbucket Premium Member 12 months ago
I’d rather have a ’36 Duesenburg with the 101" wheelbase.
eced52 12 months ago
Wow, that car costs a lot.
nosirrom 12 months ago
Ah, 50’s cars. Where auto designers liked to play guess where the gas fill is!
saylorgirl 12 months ago
My father had a 1964 Pontiac Bonneville convertible, maroon with black leather seats. I loved driving her. My mom had to sell it and it broke my heart. Was a beautiful car.
crookedwolf Premium Member 12 months ago
’66 Chevy Impala. I called it The Big Blue Frog, because I was in love with it!
Ignatz Premium Member 12 months ago
My first car was a Jack Benny Maxwell.
P-B 12 months ago
Chevy ruined their mainline cars when they tacked on all that junk to the understated ‘55 and ’56 body. If you want an outlandish yet attractive ’57 car, I’d suggest one of Chrysler’s “forward look” models.
Kaputnik 12 months ago
“That’s not cherry”? Meaning?
mourdac Premium Member 12 months ago
‘65 Chevy BelAir, the ’Tank’. Cost $400 in ’71.
djtenltd 12 months ago
Those tablets on a lot of cars today CAN be a distraction. That’s why I heard that car manufacturers may soon do away with them.
DawnQuinn1 12 months ago
And do more than sit there. The “horizontal tango” maybe??
Forest Dweller 54 12 months ago
57 Ford Fairlane, 61 Ford Galaxy 500(with the 390) three 66 Chevy Caprices, 65 Ford Mustang, 72 Chevy Impala and the list goes on for about 40 more, yes, I have had a lot of cars in my lifetime and looking for a new one right now.
shorzy 12 months ago
American narcissism…with 6% of the global population has put 25% of the CO2 into the atmosphere since 1750…
candomarty Premium Member 12 months ago
My favorite was the 1955 DeSoto, which was parked next to a 1956 in the garage across our alley in St. Louis. Our car at the time was a [well-used] 1948 Packard.
[Traveler] Premium Member 12 months ago
My all time favorite car is a ‘70 Chevelle SS
WhatTha? 12 months ago
I prefer the ‘55 Chevy. For those into that kinda thing, they’re known as the “tri five”( 55, 56, 57).
jarvisloop 12 months ago
Even though I love cars, I hold no affection for any cars that I had in the past. Not sure why I feel that way, except that I prefer the increased reliability and safety of modern vehicles.
Coming up to more recent times…
We own a 2005 Pontiac Vibe (basically a Toyota) with 164,000 miles, and it’s still going strong. We hope that it will last until at least 2030.
I drive a 2015 Camaro that I bought as part of turning 62. It will last longer than I will, and I know that I will need to trade it in when I can no longer get in and out of it without great effort.
Meledosia 12 months ago
Only 10 years? I bought a 1995 Toyota T-100 in 1997. 26 years and 369,800 miles later I still drive it. I did finally break down and get me a 2011 Tacoma 4×4 used last year, I expect it’ll last me the rest of my life if it’s as good as the first one.
assrdood 12 months ago
I’m with Arlo on this one!!! I actually owned a ’57 back in the day.
RedsFan323 Premium Member 12 months ago
In talking to my students about the challenges television posed to the movie industry in the 1950s I include drive-ins and note that they were a nice compromise. Young parents could get out of the house to see a movie, but dress more casually, and put the kids to sleep in the back so they didn’t need to find a babysitter. I mentioned that the big bench back seat was a lot more comfortable than the bucket-style seats that came later, and much more convenient. I doubt any of them caught the implications. (these are college students FWIW)
Jeannine Brown 12 months ago
We bought a RAV4 hybrid, a computer on wheels. Love it but purchased extended warranty (basically insurance) because if something goes wrong it is an expensive repair.
ChessPirate 12 months ago
Back in ’69 or ’70, I was looking for a cheap car, and hoped someone would be selling a ’57 Chevy. The closest was a ’55, which I would have bought, but it was in bad shape. I ended up with a ’55 Buick, which had some problems, but it served me well for more years than I was expecting.
Bruce1253 12 months ago
But new cars come with all those new features, like in car cameras. For you Tesla owners, it has been confirmed that Tesla engineers share the “Best” videos of what they see on the feed.
ladykat 12 months ago
No ’57 Chevy.
petermerck 12 months ago
My girlfriend got a new car 4 months ago. She hasn’t changed the radio station, can’t figure out how.
raybarb44 12 months ago
Just because a car is new, doesn’t make it better. Many cars today are good for over 200,000 miles if you do all the regular maintenance….
MuddyUSA Premium Member 12 months ago
In the iconic ‘57 Chevy back seats a lot more than sitting was done!
curtlyon19 12 months ago
cherry? told thats from the 50’s
Tetonbil Premium Member 12 months ago
I would call that a big miss! Love 57 Chevys!
Plumb.Bob Premium Member 12 months ago
No air conditioning, lousy gas mileage, no cruise control, big and clunky; no thanks.
trainnut1956 12 months ago
Or for about $50,000 more, you could have bought a drivable replica of the Batmobile.
NobodyAwesome Premium Member 12 months ago
So which car have they actually bought now? Is it a Tesla?
jonesbeltone 12 months ago
New cars are a box of chocolates; never know what will reveal itself. I am still finding things in mine.
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault 12 months ago
Grandpa had one. Gears sure would lock up.
Da'Dad 12 months ago
Borrowed an idea from a friend of mine. He kept a soft towel in the car. Each morning he would wipe the chrome. Remember chrome?
Mary Ellen 12 months ago
I traded in my 13-year-old Civic for a 2020 Prius last spring, and it still feels like driving a spaceship, it’s so much newer and fancier! I love it!
ktrabbit 12 months ago
When I was a young’un, my Dad had a ’62 Impala. Cherry red, with a black interior. First and only car he ever bought new…boy, did he love that thing. I just remember how hot the seats got in the summer!
Bambihunter6 12 months ago
Nowadays, the cheapest car you will ever have is the one you have right now. I have a ’97 Dodge 3500 farm truck, a ’13 Ford Escape, and an ’02 Jeep. No car payments.
flagmichael 12 months ago
I can’t remember where I learned about it, but the breakthrough in engine longevity was the use of a dummy head bolted (and torqued) to the block to deform the block the same way a cylinder head would. Before that the cylinders tapered near the head, doing bad things to the rings.
mafastore 12 months ago
My favorite car was my mid 1990s Chevy Blazer S10. I would probably still have it if I had not opened my mouth in 2012 and said – I guess we should have one newer vehicle that we don’t have to worry about it dying on us. (Our other vehicle was a mid 1990s Astro Van, which is still our “other car” as we use it for craft shows/reenactment events.) Since then we have had 2 cars which were problems – a Honda Pilot – we did not get along with Honda/dealer and current Chevy Equinox, which if we did not have to always worry about it coming to the end of its life while we are out (especially to take 94yo mom who lives in next county to doctors – no way she could get into a van, she can barely make it into the car) we would not be looking for a replacement. (For car “guys” out there – yes, we put in the ventilated oil cap and the oil collection can to keep it going as long as we can while we figure out to replace it with.)