55 Chevy

[Too Many Projects]

Originally Posted by 1967 4K

The first car I drove was a 56 Belair two door post. I’d set in Dads lap and drive n shift three on the tree. He’d gas, clutch n brake. Days gone by but not forgotten.

My dad got a '55 210 2 dr, 6/3 speed when I was about 10. It was very rusted and worn out by 1966 and he bought a new Malibu that fall. The '55 sat in the yard all winter and into the next summer. Both parents worked day jobs and what is a 15 yr old boy to do with that sitting there ??? At first, I just drove it up and down the driveway, which was about 60'. Got really good at the clutch/throttle coordination, but wanted to expand into shifting the 3 speed. Eventually got brave enough to drive to the end of the dead end street and shift thru all the gears. Only risk of that was my uncles house I had to go by. Couple weeks go by and nothing from them, so it's time to dig ruts with the tire and fill them in again.

Shortly after that started, my dad requested I accompany him to the hardware store on a Saturday. I thought that was odd, as he didn't need me to go there with him, but it was a request, not an option. On the way home, he pulled over on the straight road to our road and got out, came around to the right door and told me to scoot over.... OH-OH !! He said my uncle told him I was very good at driving a manual transmission car from all my practicing with the '55 and that I should drive the last couple miles home... Nervous as hell, but did fine getting to the house, shut it off and handed him the key. He never said a word, but the '55 went to the junkyard the next week..