The ones that got away...We all had them.  

 

     The photos here are of some of the early cars that I owned.  At the close of the 60's and early 70's most tri-fives could be bought for $50.00 to $100.00.  If you got one of the more desirables like a Convertible or Nomad you might pay $250.00 to $500.00.  I owned (2) 57 wagons (one was a parts car for a Powerglide transmission) the other my driver, a 2 door hardtop 58 Belair (a Prom memory car), and a 64 Impala (not an SS) all at the same time.  The 64 Impala had been wrapped around a telephone post in Minnesota due to ice.  In a 4 year motor mechanics class in a small town called Wells, Minnesota I built this car and drove it to Tucson AZ when the Air Force transplanted me.  The car was then traded in Tucson (1972) for a 69 El Camino SS with a 396 for a whopping $1700.00. (Never took a pic of the El Camino).  It was silver with a black vinyl top and canvas snap on cargo cover).  The 55 post in the pictures was my friends Rick Madden,  a west coast beach transplant to warm Minnesota. He helped me put a California interior (flowers) in the wagon and paint the side glass black.  Also note the rear end.  Welded coil springs to the rear axle did the trick with extended shackles. (And we laugh at the Honda mosquito sprayers of today).

     As you may notice, I could never afford a set of wheels.  Always ran with 2 Cragars. The black 57 2 door post was a later acquisition (1975) that I never had time to build.  All cars were sold when I officially moved to Arizona in 1977.  No car was sold for more than $50.00 (except the El Camino).  It apparently out ran both the Minnesota and Iowa state troopers by the subsequent owner.  Once caught they let him stay in their Hotel...Rent free.  Imagine that.

 

A lot of personal memories in these cars.  Most I cannot share with you, But I am sure you have your own memories.

 

Rick