My parents bought a acre lot off of a old friend of theirs, he had 156 acres and a old army jeep 3-spd he used around his farm! he said to me at the age of 13 ! have fun and boy did I Took my test in my dads' Corvair 3-spd.
I learned how to drive a new Case VAC EX tractor. Then Moved up to my moms 47 Studabaker Commander. During haying time we used every thing to get hay in the barn, One chore I had was driving dads 56 ford 1 ton in granny gear while adults loaed it with hay. When drivers training time came 5 other neighbour hood boys took turns driving the 9 miles to town. When it was my turn and raining I didn't drive as a couple would have to ride in the back flat rack. Drive to town a couple blocks from school and walk to drive a old 57 Pontyiac ST wagon with a auto trans or a 56 Ford 4 door with 3 on the tree. Al
Boy does that bring back memories!! My Dad had me doing that at 4 yrs. old. I can also tell you how mad he was when the truck is almost loaded, & I get to gawking around and run over a bale! Half of what he had loaded fell off the truck. I survived getting yelled at, & it was good experience. Was mowing the yard on the rider by myself at 5. I could drive just about anything by 8 yrs old.
Dad's was a short box, too. I remember bout 14 mpg , at best. And that short wheel base was not a good ride on the highway. Dad also had a '74 Valiant slant-six four door . The only options it had was a radio and four speed with a Hurst shifter. He also had three '67 Darts slant six all. Two were 3 on the tree, one of them had a radio. The third was automatic with radio
I drove a few during my learning period. Unofficially began driving at age 14 in the family 64 Olds Dynamic 88, usually after my father drank himself silly at my uncles place several miles out of town. Officially at age 16 in our brand new 70 Olds Delta 88, as well as the Driver's Ed 70 Plymouth boat (I forget which model). took my test in a 70 Chev Impala 2 door hardtop as the Driver's ed car was unavailable, and the Olds was in the dealer shop for warranty work. Once I got my license, the real fun and learning started! heh heh heh
My best friends 84 regal was the first car I ever drove on the street. Probably why eventually bought one. But I took my test in my moms 1986 dodge 600.what a power house that thing was.
A 1965 Pontiac Star Chief. I took my driver's test in our 1964 Corvair since it was easier to parallel park.