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Wow! I didn't realize VWs were in the US at that point. Or did you buy it in Germany?
I learned to drive in my dad's '56 VW. Back in the days of no gas gauge but the "reserve tank" switch down by the pedals. His was too new to have the flipper directional signals and the mounted bud vase . . . did you have those features?
My mom drove a big ol' American station wagon. But in the winter when it was snowing and we had to get to church on Sunday, the whole family would pile into the VW and off we'd go. Two adults and five kids age 15-2. What a car!
Bought it in Germany (I am German). It was about 5 years old. I sold it 3 years later. Don't remember any details, it was a very long time ago. Never stopped running. Good old Beetle.
65 Corvair convertible. Love it back then, no problems.
You beat me to the punch. My first car was a 1963 Corvair. No convertible though. I was working class. lol
Would I buy it again? Mixed feelings. Everyone one in my family had a corvair at one point or another. I got mine from my grandfather. Problem is this one ran great for about 30 minutes, then it would overheat. Wouldn't start, until it cooled off, then you were good for another 30 minute. I went to college about 45 minutes away. lol Never did figure out what the problem was. Eventually sold it, and bought a 63 VW Bug.
This thread makes me feel old. Can't believe how "new" some of the first cars are. I grew up during not the era where $5 worth of gas would give you half a tank. 🤣🤣🤣
As a young SPC 4 in 1972 I bought a red 1972 Opel 1900 (Manta) on my way to Ft. Sill, OK. I wanted to buy a Chevy but the insurance for an eighteen year old was going to be more that the car payment. Kept the Opel until I finished college and went back into the Army when I needed a truck for all the moves. Then I bought a 1977 Toyota SR5 pickup and drove it all over the country and sold it to a brother when the Army sent me to W. Germany.
... My 1st car was a '56 Chevy Bel Air 2-door sedan; I bought it (for $500) from the little old lady who lived across the street from us. As a Bel Air, it was pretty "basic", except for the seat trim and the "chrome" trim on the outside.
We were living in Upstate NY at the time, and 2 years of winter-time salt and slush pretty much rotted the fenders and quarter panels to the point where they were flappin' in th' breeze as I drove it.
Ended-up selling that car to our bass-player's brother, who gave it to their youngest brother. I turned-around and bought a '66 Mustang 2+2 Fastback, and then got married. Wish I still had the Mustang!
1963 Oldsmobile 98. It was a tank. Huge powerful engine. I got it for free from a friend of my Grandmother that owned a liquor store in Washington, DC.
'67 Mercury Montego station wagon. 302 V8. Had 92000miles when I got it. My father had used it for a work car (in construction) until he bought a truck, and had blown out the shock mounts, and both heads, the exhaust was rotted out. He was going to junk it, but at 17 I told him I (with my friends) could fix it and drive it to school and we could have a 3rd car with room if needed. He let me, and we did, and I drove it for a year and a half until I went away to college, then my sister used it until it was sold with almost 120k on it. My parents used it a bunch of times when they needed seats and the room, as the truck was a bench seat and my mother was driving a 72 Opel Cadet, which was pretty small.
The first car that I ever truly owned (drove parents cars before then) was a 1950 Ford. I don't know what it cost, my father bought it. He was a very, very good mechanic and totally rebuilt it (with a different engine) but kept all the original styling. He gave it to me as a Christmas present when I was a senior in high school.
That was some car, if you've ever seen the old Robert Mitchum movie Thunder Road then you know the car. I drove it all thru college and, like a fool, sold it when I joined the Army. I'd give anything to have it today.
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Wish I still had the Mustang! 
