OMG - Pantera, Willys, Thing - great toys, fantastic drifting with the Pantera, "dune bugging" with the Thing and Willys - and - wait for it - ALL STICK SHIFTS.
I learned how and when to shift on a Dodge Rampage when I was 3 and my dad broke his right arm playing softball. My mother has cerebral palsy, so she can't drive a stick... so I shifted with my dad driving. I listened for the RPMs to drop when he pushed the clutch in.
Had a Dodge Rampage with stick shift and used it, like it was, a truck. Many times overloaded it but it handled it, used it to get firewood in the winter and with the front wheel drive I could get back to the woods in deep snow breaking a trail with it, get turned around, load it up and it would make it's way back out along the same trail. Miss the mileage 33 to 36 mpg, wish I still had it, but the 5th gear synchromesh went out and I sold it as a parts vehicle to another Rampage owner. And, of course, with all the vehicles I've ever owned there was deer damage, just can't be avoided around here.
While growing up, one of my daughters was dying to get a "Thing". She wanted it as her first car when she turned 18. We quickly found out that unless you have a LOT MORE money than we had, that was not going to happen. They are worth a mint now, even though you couldn't give them away 40+ years ago.
My mother had a '72 Gremlin which she convinced her co-workers she got in a kit and my dad, brother and I had to put it together. Don't remember how much fun it was to drive as that is a bit of history that I can't remember LOL
My mother had a '72 Gremlin which she convinced her co-workers she got in a kit
LMAO !!
My folks had a "strange " sense of humor as well. I was told I had 3 ridiculous sounding middle names till I had to try to write them in school and was so embarrassed only then did they fess up that I only have one middle name.
So embarrassing for me at the time in school. I insisted that crap was my name. My teacher called my mom to see. I was Not amused !!
lol I inherited some of that humor and it has gotten me in trouble more than once.
My 1st "race" car - never won, but damn sure had a blast. 1958 Austin Healey Bug-Eye Sprite.
Went up to the MG Midget, MGB, MGB-GT, TR-6, Healey 100-6, 924, 924 Turbo, 944, 912, 911 and 911S. Then the toys got too expensive, so I settled for a BMW 330Ci and now drive a Mazda3 Hatchback.
The Healey 100-6 was the start of the big Healey's. We'd "adjust" the spokes after each ride to ensure we didn't wind up with a floating, bouncing front end
The Austin-Healey 100-6 is a two-seat roadster that was announced in late September 1956 and produced from 1956 to 1959. ... A 117 bhp (87 kW) BN6 was tested by The Motor magazine in 1959 had a top speed of 103.9 mph (167.2 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 10.7 seconds.
The 3000's came out in 1960 with the MK 1.
The 3000 had noticeably stronger performance than the 100-6: 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) now took about 10 seconds while top speed was nearly 115 mph (184 km/h). (Competition and works rally cars were naturally even faster, thanks to a revised exhaust manifold, a hotter camshaft, and larger S.U. H8 carburetors.)
Mazda 3 Hatchback is similar to my 2012 Fiesta SE hatchback. Below is similar to my Fiesta. But because I custom ordered mine, I got a manual trans and a race red and black leather interior with heated front seats.
The company I work for does the electronics portion for many global automakers that trigger the airbags and seat tensioners.
Well... some of the tiny parts that aren't usually noticed are VERY expensive. Example: the little triangular glass in front of the side windows [front seat] is a VERY expensive piece of glass. All of the little sensors, bulbs, circuit boards, etc... it really adds up. And depending on how many airbags go off... airbags aren't allowed to come from a salvage vehicle.
An old boyfriend taught me how to drive stick in his Pinto. I really did like that car. My dad bought a Dodge Omni. My dad was 6'4" and the Omni was a small car, but he actually had lots of leg and head room. It was a fun car to drive, too
Another car I just thought of, thanks to TG and her comment in another article about a Dodge Daytona... this one seems to be long since forgotten... and it's not a Daytona.
I had a VW Thing mine was a 74 the one you pictured above is a 73. They are fun to drive and because there's no lines cables or exhaust under the belly of the car you could belly over the tops of sand dunes without worrying about ripping parts off (you can do the same with a Bug). The doors on the Thing come off like a Jeep. The car that was the most fun to drive was my 68 VW Bus popup camper, they are a cabover design which means the front seat is on the front wheel well and you're sitting ahead of the front wheel. It was very comfortable to drive on long trips because of the upright sitting position it was like sitting at a kitchen table and you just rested your arms on the big steering wheel. I also loved my 71 Volvo 142 it drove so nice dual carbs, four speed with electric overdrive in third and forth gear, four wheel disc brakes, limited slip diff so it was unstoppable in the snow, and it had a lumbar knob on the bucket seats for lower back support. I really liked my 1990 Ford Ranger xtra cab 4x4 with the 2.9, 6 cylinder and 5 speed standard trans, it wasn't great off road but it was smooth as glass at 90 mph on the highway and it would do it all day. I loved the 2.8, 2.9, 3.0 series engines keep them full of clean oil and you'll get 300,000 miles with no problems. I wish I could still buy a truck with that motor.
I really liked my 1990 Ford Ranger xtra cab 4x4 with the 2.9, 6 cylinder and 5 speed standard trans, it wasn't great off road but it was smooth as glass at 90 mph on the highway and it would do it all day. I loved the 2.8, 2.9, 3.0 series engines keep them full of clean oil and you'll get 300,000 miles with no problems.
I loved my 97 with a 3.0L and 5 speed manual. It was a standard cab, long bed, 2WD though. And in regard to the 2.8, depended on which 2.8 you had... I had a 2.8 in my 1984 Ranger that was a German built and was no longer produced [including all replacement parts] just a few years after final production. I couldn't find parts for that S.O.B. and it was NOT a long-lasting motor. The engine that Ford had that I miss is the 300cid straight 6 that came in F150 and Bronco.
I like that purple. I don't remember the Gremlins ever looking as good as that car, that one is actually cool. They were good dependable cars though. I just miss the days when you could tell the make and model of most cars from a quarter mile away, these days if you can't see the badge it's tough to even know the make of half the cars.
This is another beauty, when it ran which was not often, 1967 Jag XKE V12.
Back in the day after you left Barstow CA headed to LV the CHP didn't bother you if you stay below 85 MPH after you crossed the Nevada line there was no speed limit and I got stopped for doing 122 MPH. Once those 12 cylinders kicked in it was one hell of a ride.
NO POLITICS! NO PRESIDENTS PAST OR PRESENT!
This is for FUN!
Way back in the day I owned a '53 De Soto...my first car. I can't remember the color.
When I got out of the Air Force I found a blue and white 56 Chevy Bel Air which was later stolen and wrecked
Not sure about the engine...I think Chevy came out with a V-8 about this time
Next came 57 Ford with what was called a "Thunderbird Interceptor" engine. This pic is pretty representative
Today's cars are uglier than the worst looking ones back then...almost entirely devoid of style.
O so true !
Style in cars went out of style and aerodynamics took over.
I hate the look of the new jelly bean cars ! I seriously can't tell one brand from the other they all look the same too now.
Kia verse cadillac ... sad
Agreed and it pretty much started in the early 80s.
What's with the Citation ? I had almost forgotten they ever existed but as soon as I saw the picture I knew what it was.
That's actually not a Citation... it's the "sister" car, the Pontiac Phoenix.
OMG - Pantera, Willys, Thing - great toys, fantastic drifting with the Pantera, "dune bugging" with the Thing and Willys - and - wait for it - ALL STICK SHIFTS.
We had one of those 80s Plymouth Sundance Dusters with a manual and a turbo. It was a lot of fun, but it was definitely JUNK!
I learned how and when to shift on a Dodge Rampage when I was 3 and my dad broke his right arm playing softball. My mother has cerebral palsy, so she can't drive a stick... so I shifted with my dad driving. I listened for the RPMs to drop when he pushed the clutch in.
Had a Dodge Rampage with stick shift and used it, like it was, a truck. Many times overloaded it but it handled it, used it to get firewood in the winter and with the front wheel drive I could get back to the woods in deep snow breaking a trail with it, get turned around, load it up and it would make it's way back out along the same trail. Miss the mileage 33 to 36 mpg, wish I still had it, but the 5th gear synchromesh went out and I sold it as a parts vehicle to another Rampage owner. And, of course, with all the vehicles I've ever owned there was deer damage, just can't be avoided around here.
My first car was a Rampage. Unfortunately, the snow is obscuring the cool, and not at all tacky orange stripes.
While growing up, one of my daughters was dying to get a "Thing". She wanted it as her first car when she turned 18. We quickly found out that unless you have a LOT MORE money than we had, that was not going to happen. They are worth a mint now, even though you couldn't give them away 40+ years ago.
I sold my 74 for 700 bucks 30 years ago. Yellow like the one above.
More flashbacks than good memories. I road tested cars in the 60s and 70's that were just flat out dangerous junk.
We learned slowly that over powered almost always meant not enough braking power.
Good times, lol.
This is true. Hence, 4 wheel disc brakes... eventually.
My mother had a '72 Gremlin which she convinced her co-workers she got in a kit and my dad, brother and I had to put it together. Don't remember how much fun it was to drive as that is a bit of history that I can't remember LOL
LMAO !!
My folks had a "strange " sense of humor as well. I was told I had 3 ridiculous sounding middle names till I had to try to write them in school and was so embarrassed only then did they fess up that I only have one middle name.
So embarrassing for me at the time in school. I insisted that crap was my name. My teacher called my mom to see. I was Not amused !!
lol I inherited some of that humor and it has gotten me in trouble more than once.
fun to drive cars"
Here is an old picture of the most fun car to drive I ever owned.
I've missed that car from the day I sold it !
Sad
Is that a "Z"?
Nope, imitation Z
Built 350 (all kinds of goodies) 4 gear 4-11 rear end. VERY QUICK !
And loads of FUN !!!
My 1st "race" car - never won, but damn sure had a blast. 1958 Austin Healey Bug-Eye Sprite.
Went up to the MG Midget, MGB, MGB-GT, TR-6, Healey 100-6, 924, 924 Turbo, 944, 912, 911 and 911S. Then the toys got too expensive, so I settled for a BMW 330Ci and now drive a Mazda3 Hatchback.
Let's do some drifting, eh?
not in A big Healy, too hard on the damned spokes when I switched to Radials
Yeah I'll bet.
lol
The sad thing about most of those cars is that, after you drive them, into the garage they go for "minor" tune-ups.
My husband has always like the MGs, but a Midget... he's too tall to be comfortable.
Personally, I like the Mini Coopers old and new.
The Healey 100-6 was the start of the big Healey's. We'd "adjust" the spokes after each ride to ensure we didn't wind up with a floating, bouncing front end
The Austin-Healey 100-6 is a two-seat roadster that was announced in late September 1956 and produced from 1956 to 1959. ... A 117 bhp (87 kW) BN6 was tested by The Motor magazine in 1959 had a top speed of 103.9 mph (167.2 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 10.7 seconds.
The 3000's came out in 1960 with the MK 1.
The 3000 had noticeably stronger performance than the 100-6: 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) now took about 10 seconds while top speed was nearly 115 mph (184 km/h). (Competition and works rally cars were naturally even faster, thanks to a revised exhaust manifold, a hotter camshaft, and larger S.U. H8 carburetors.)
Mine was 8 from the last serial number imported in 1967. Colored the opposite of the top picture.
Black interior, green seat belts in the glove box. Spinners and amber lenses.
It was built as an off white but was Johnstown flood car and by the mid 70's needed the outriggers rebuilt
so I could open and shut the doors. So we repainted it.
You had a III???? Wow - awesome car.
More like, it had be like a boat, lol.
A hole in the water you pour money into, lol
Mazda 3 Hatchback is similar to my 2012 Fiesta SE hatchback.
Below is similar to my Fiesta. But because I custom ordered mine, I got a manual trans and a race red and black leather interior with heated front seats. 
Had a '12 and '14 Ford Focus Titanium - loaded to the gills. Luv'd'm both. Unfortunately,
our daughter was introduced to idiot drivers who run red lights.
Damn. That sucks. Hopefully she was okay.
Ya gotta love them air bags and seat belts.
Believe it or not, the car was listed as totaled - $21K to repair. I don't see it, but only because Dad and I used to restore cars.
Air bags and fussing with the unibody,
to the insurer, they make more salvaging the parts than fixing the car
The company I work for does the electronics portion for many global automakers that trigger the airbags and seat tensioners.
Well... some of the tiny parts that aren't usually noticed are VERY expensive. Example: the little triangular glass in front of the side windows [front seat] is a VERY expensive piece of glass. All of the little sensors, bulbs, circuit boards, etc... it really adds up. And depending on how many airbags go off... airbags aren't allowed to come from a salvage vehicle.
Never had any of those, but I did buy one just like this for my kids to use.
Cabriolets were definitely made "cool" by the movie, "Can't Buy Me Love."
You're right - there she be.
An old boyfriend taught me how to drive stick in his Pinto. I really did like that car. My dad bought a Dodge Omni. My dad was 6'4" and the Omni was a small car, but he actually had lots of leg and head room. It was a fun car to drive, too
lol
Another car I just thought of, thanks to TG and her comment in another article about a Dodge Daytona... this one seems to be long since forgotten... and it's not a Daytona.
The Bronco is making a comeback with a cool new feature...Goat Mode for serious off roaders.
I had much higher hopes for the new Bronco. I hate that it's a tiny SUV platform. It should be the F250 platform if you ask me.
I had a VW Thing mine was a 74 the one you pictured above is a 73. They are fun to drive and because there's no lines cables or exhaust under the belly of the car you could belly over the tops of sand dunes without worrying about ripping parts off (you can do the same with a Bug). The doors on the Thing come off like a Jeep. The car that was the most fun to drive was my 68 VW Bus popup camper, they are a cabover design which means the front seat is on the front wheel well and you're sitting ahead of the front wheel. It was very comfortable to drive on long trips because of the upright sitting position it was like sitting at a kitchen table and you just rested your arms on the big steering wheel. I also loved my 71 Volvo 142 it drove so nice dual carbs, four speed with electric overdrive in third and forth gear, four wheel disc brakes, limited slip diff so it was unstoppable in the snow, and it had a lumbar knob on the bucket seats for lower back support. I really liked my 1990 Ford Ranger xtra cab 4x4 with the 2.9, 6 cylinder and 5 speed standard trans, it wasn't great off road but it was smooth as glass at 90 mph on the highway and it would do it all day. I loved the 2.8, 2.9, 3.0 series engines keep them full of clean oil and you'll get 300,000 miles with no problems. I wish I could still buy a truck with that motor.
I always loved those.
I loved my 97 with a 3.0L and 5 speed manual. It was a standard cab, long bed, 2WD though. And in regard to the 2.8, depended on which 2.8 you had... I had a 2.8 in my 1984 Ranger that was a German built and was no longer produced [including all replacement parts] just a few years after final production. I couldn't find parts for that S.O.B. and it was NOT a long-lasting motor. The engine that Ford had that I miss is the 300cid straight 6 that came in F150 and Bronco.
My girlfriend (at the time) drove (her first car) a 1972 AMC Gremlin (purple):
This is not a photo of her car of course, just reminding people what those cars looked like. She absolutely loved her car.
I like that purple. I don't remember the Gremlins ever looking as good as that car, that one is actually cool. They were good dependable cars though. I just miss the days when you could tell the make and model of most cars from a quarter mile away, these days if you can't see the badge it's tough to even know the make of half the cars.
Not forgotten but one of the fastest cars I've ever owned and I've had some rocket ships.
1991 Dodge Stealth R/T twin-turbo AWD.
Another rocket I had was the 1971 Mustang Boss 302 in bright red.
My first car after I was discharged from the Army in 1966. It's a 1962 Ford Galaxie XL500 convertible.
Cruised Long Beach and Huntington Beach in that beauty.
My 2nd car, a 1949 Ford Flathead 8 convertible
There were probably 25 other cars and a couple of motorcycles that I've owned over the years.
This is a stock pic, I would have to dig out a pic of mine, but this was my first car.
Mine was black yet had a black matte stripe down the side.
After that I had a Duster that sat in the driveway for several years.
Mine was white though.
This is another beauty, when it ran which was not often, 1967 Jag XKE V12.
Back in the day after you left Barstow CA headed to LV the CHP didn't bother you if you stay below 85 MPH after you crossed the Nevada line there was no speed limit and I got stopped for doing 122 MPH. Once those 12 cylinders kicked in it was one hell of a ride.
For some reason that reminds me of a European Corvette. Haha