If you are a parent, you are immediately going to point out everything wrong with this sentiment, but do yourself a favor and remember your first car. I remember mine: a 1975 Chevrolet Camaro that put the “tetanus” into Type LT. Pulling the carpets out of that thing opened up a whole new world: the sight of the driveline spinning as the car moved. That’s how much metal had been eaten away. Luckily, two things were going for me: I was 12 and nobody in their right mind was going to let me actually drive it anywhere. Somehow, the $150 Chevrolet Caprice that liked to puke raw fuel out of the carburetor got the nod for the first car I owned that I got to actually drive instead. But both cars worked for me for a couple of reasons: they were “older”, they had a classic appeal that didn’t match anything that I believed I could afford, and they were affordable.
Classic, affordable, and let’s throw in one other criteria: useful. No kid I went to high school with drove a Corvette or a Viper. Every car had an intended purpose…even one kid with the tatty but bitchin’ 1974 ‘Cuda was carting friends around everyday. So, let’s say, a mid-size sedan. One with useable power, but isn’t overblown. One that can be fixed on the cheap, has available mechanical parts, yet still appeals to what would be a cool car. What would your choice be, if it was you as a kid choosing?
This 1968 Chevelle crew-cab stood out while Craigslist surfing and seemed to hit all of the right buttons. Classic looks? Check. While there would be plenty of bitching and moaning about it not being a two-door, having a four-door Chevelle isn’t that bad of a deal. Four doors means more…um…friends along for the ride, Dad. Yeah, that’s what it means. Useful power? Check again. A 327 small-block has plenty of grunt, but we doubt that the mill has been royally hopped up, and we bet a late-model Honda Accord will still walk it in a stoplight drag. It’ll sound cool, it’ll move the car around, and it’ll be pretty cheap to fix if something goes wrong.
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I’m not. But would this Chevelle not fit the mold for a good first car for an up-and-coming driver? We often hear about how traction controls, computers and modern driving systems are ruining the experience. Here’s a fully analog Chevy that looks decent enough to pass for a starter car, that could be really bitchin’ with some work, at a price that even a Burger King salary could make work in short time. What say you, BangShifters?
Craiglist Link: 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle
“We often hear about how traction controls, computers and modern driving systems are ruining the experience.”
I’d change that to “Let kids drive without paying any attention”, which is why I’d want my kids to learn to drive in something that you can’t zone out while driving. Sticking to that logic, the one complaint I’ve got here is that the Chevelle has an automatic. I’d want the kids to learn a stick shift first.
Whilst I agree, it’s not just the kids that aren’t paying attention–and remarkably few kids have anyone to demonstrate what driving well looks like for them.
If I had children, there is zero chance that I’d let them start driving in this thing. Those brakes are worthless on a good day and really dangerous on a bad day. There’s an awful lot that I really like about older cars, but the four-wheel drums from early A bodies ain’t on the list.
I learned to drive with 4 wheel drum brakes. Like Matt has said, learn to drive while paying attention. This way they have no time to talk or text on the phone.
Problem is today.. even if you keep your eyes on the road. todays vehicles stop so much faster.. that you’ll get pucker moments from others making stupid moves.. and you praying your brakes stop you in time..
My first car was a 30 year old Dodge Dart, which also had four wheel drums. They worked reasonably well. However, I haven’t driven a Chevelle with drums; maybe Chevy undersized the brakes or they’re more of a nuisance on a heavy car.
I had an uncle who took an even more extreme version of the “You need a vehicle that makes you pay attention.” When my cousin got into his third car wreck, my uncle said, “All right, no more cars for you – from now on, you’re sticking to motorcycles!” That may be more risk than most parents, myself included, are willing to take. But my cousin DID stop crashing!
great 1st classic car, not 1st car. I want my kids in something safer with air bags, antilock, traction control, AWD & big in size.
Do you wrap them in bubble wrap also before they leave the house..
you will if you ever lose one.
Kids today are pretty f’n stupid, so no this is not a good first car. Not even a good first project unless the kid is sick in the head and loves 4 doors. Plus $4500 is stupid for that pile. First car should be some soulless 90s generic ride that is cheap, and no one will feel bad when it gets abused as most kids cars are. Then with the burger flipping money find a nice old project to work on.
my first was also a ’75 Camaro Type LT bought off a friend of my mothers very low mile cream puff , drove to gr 9 and thru high school only thing i didnt like was the powder blue paint and vinyl roof but it was black interior with a moon roof .I let a friend drive so I could sit in the back seat with a girl he ran into a tree killing the car motor thru the dash kinda killing …