I remember the frantic need to work, so I could save and be ready to buy my first car. I was so excited to be the owner and operator of my freedom. Playing music, exploring, and going everywhere. However, when the time came to purchase my car I might not have been a savvy shopper. Perhaps I was too excited! I bought my first car from a customer. I checked it out at night and had to pay the poor guy a fifty to get his title loan paid off so I could even buy it. Ignoring all the telltale signs that I was getting a bad deal, I actually think I got lucky. What a great crappy first car with tons of character. This was the best deal EVER! I spent $400 dollars for a 1976 Dodge Dart Custom; copper in color, slant six, and gaping holes in the floorboards from the rust. Having a great running beater was perfect for hanging with friends. The first day driving it to school I was ready to show off my road privileges to my buddies, and anyone that wanted a ride home after school. Three people follow me out to the parking lot and hilarity ensues, as I open my door, I hear a crashing sound, and see a horrified future passenger with a rear passenger door in their hand sitting against the ground. The look everyone gave me was priceless like wanting to laugh mixed with fear. It was comedically perfect timing. I walked around the car grabbed the door rolled the window down before I set it back in place and locked it. Can you believe that it stayed in place!? The rest of the time I owned it no one opened that door again. This was the car you drove when being cool didn’t matter. I was just glad to be free. It was the utility vehicle of my adolescence memory machine, and it served me well until my heart was set on something cooler (not really cooler – but I thought it was) a 1975 Plymouth Duster on the side of a barn. When Innocent fun started turning into the need to look badass as well.

By this time I had to use parts off of my Dart to make the Duster run.

First job, and first car picture at 16.