[James Matthew Najera]

Share your first car stories!​

Hey everyone! Guess what? I just got my very first car this weekend and I'm absolutely over the moon! It's got that new car smell with a shiny exterior, and I'm already dreaming about all the road trips I’ll be taking.

But enough about me—I want to hear all about YOUR first car adventures! What was your first ride like? Any funny or memorable stories that still make you smile? Did you have a special name for it, or maybe a quirky habit of talking to it?

Was it love at first drive, or did it take some time to grow on you? Maybe you had a clunker that had a ton of character, or perhaps you were lucky enough to get something sleek and new.

I’m looking for all the juicy details—the good, the bad, and the hilarious. From epic road trips to those minor (or major) mishaps that are just funny in hindsight.

So, drop your stories and pics in the comments below! Let’s take a trip down memory lane together and celebrate our trusty (or not-so-trusty) first rides!

Can't wait to read all your amazing stories!

 

[Seia Ibanez]

Hey! That's OUR car!

 

[GrannyJA!]

My first car was a '72 model (I think) Datsun 1200 sedan with a manual gearbox. I won $1000 on a scratchie, the only time I have ever won money. My Dad bought it for me at an Auction and got it in a safe condition for me to drive. It was a great little car. You could park it on a postage stamp, drive it up a mountain, float it down Henry Lawson Drive during a flood and if you were really lucky, you could check the fuel and fill up the oil...lol

 

[Frodo Bella1964]

My first car was a 1966 Vauxhall viva. Similar to Harry Potter flying car! We bought it at Gold Coast city abandoned car auctions for $50 in 1978? I use to zoom around back yard. I even painted red flames on the bonnet! Didn’t make it go faster though….good times!

 

[dibru]

My first car was a red Goggomobile Dart, that's right, the Dart! It had no doors, so you had to climb over the side and slide the seat forward so your feet would reach the pedals. I got my licence in this little car at Fivedock Police Station in 1964. It had a lawnmower engine and hated being driven at night with the headlights on, so I would duck around the Sydney streets with them off until one night I was pulled up by the police who were very nice and escorted me back to home, which was a funeral parlour ! My little car had too many issues for a 17 year old to deal with so I ended up giving it back to the place I bought it from as my father convinced me it was too dangerous to drive. I would love to have kept it because today they are worth a fortune. Goggos were made by Buckle motors in Sydney and not too many were ever built, it had a fibreglass body aand a pram hood when it rained but mostly it was open to the elements
!

 

[Swim Fan]

My Grandfather helped me buy my first car a brand new - orange, loved that color back then - 1977 Mitsubishi Galant, it did miles including a road trip from Sydney to Mackay and back, great little car

 

[Johno54]

I bought my first car, a 1956 VW for $180.00 back in 1972 to commute between work and home at weekends. The distance was 240km and the trip took just under 4 hours. Now the trip takes around 2.5 hours. Better roads and better cars.

 

[UNIT1000]

was carting bag wheat for a farmer and run out of bags so wear is some more he sead in the shed so iwent and start to pull down a lot of bags and uncoverd a 1936 ford sedan car went back out to the farmer and told himwhat i had found so he sead how mutch are you going to charge me itold him he said yhe car is yours

 

[Disie54]

Good Morning
My first car was a well used Mini in 1972. I was training as a Registered Nurse and needed transport to attend study blocks in a neighbouring city and get to parties! I lived in Mildura Victoria and the Mini was stolen. I was heartbroken not expecting to see it again but no it was found near the Nullarbor and transported back to me. I continued to drive my little car until I saved for an updated model

 

[Dippy53]

I bought my first car from my SIL for $50 in 1970 it was a Hillman Minx

 

[DEL boy]

My first car was an Austin Ruby. No indicators, brake lights, you had to give hand signals to indicate turning, slowing down and stopping. Also the windscreen wipers were manually operated!!! I had some fun for 10 pounds, especially poaching Pheasants off the Duke of Norfolk's estate before the gamekeeper could catch us with his Land Rover!! We obviously stood no chance in a chase!

 

[Harimau01]

My first car was a 1966 Hillman Gazelle (formally Songer Gazelle). My father in law had one and he loved it. I saw one for sale on Parramatta Road, so I bought it. It was a great car. The only problem was it had to have super grade petrol. I once ran out of petrol and the NRMA put a gallon of standard in it. I thought it was going to blow up. Another learning experience for a pretty naive kid.

 

[Michael Binns]

My first car was a 1966 Vauxhall viva. Similar to Harry Potter flying car! We bought it at Gold Coast city abandoned car auctions for $50 in 1978? I use to zoom around back yard. I even painted red flames on the bonnet! Didn’t make it go faster though….good times!

Just a quick correction, the flying car in the Harry Potter movie was not a Vauxhall Viva, it was a 1966 Ford Anglia. I know because I had a new one coloured blue.

 

[Frodo Bella1964]

My first car was a red Goggomobile Dart, that's right, the Dart! It had no doors, so you had to climb over the side and slide the seat forward so your feet would reach the pedals. I got my licence in this little car at Fivedock Police Station in 1964. It had a lawnmower engine and hated being driven at night with the headlights on, so I would duck around the Sydney streets with them off until one night I was pulled up by the police who were very nice and escorted me back to home, which was a funeral parlour ! My little car had too many issues for a 17 year old to deal with so I ended up giving it back to the place I bought it from as my father convinced me it was too dangerous to drive. I would love to have kept it because today they are worth a fortune. Goggos were made by Buckle motors in Sydney and not too many were ever built, it had a fibreglass body aand a pram hood when it rained but mostly it was open to the elements
!

Hi dibru!
I use to ride to school in the early 70’s. Along Ferry road in Southport. there was a GOGOMOBILE SHOWROOM on my way. I use to stop and look at them ! Few different colours too. It was there for few years I think. Though I can’t remember seeing many running around….

 

[Frodo Bella1964]

Just a quick correction, the flying car in the Harry Potter movie was not a Vauxhall Viva, it was a 1966 Ford Anglia. I know because I had a new one coloured blue.

I did say similar in my story… I know it’s not the same

 

[dibru]

Hi dibru!
I use to ride to school in the early 70’s. Along Ferry road in Southport. there was a GOGOMOBILE SHOWROOM on my way. I use to stop and look at them ! Few different colours too. It was there for few years I think. Though I can’t remember seeing many running around….

They were few and far between. Mine had no brakes and I remember flying through the red lights crossing Parramatta Road, down Burwood Road, screaming that I had no brakes! As though anyone would have heard me!

 

[EllieN]

My first car was a 1963 EJ holdebn

 

[EllieN]

Try again fumble fingers. 1 st car was a 1963 EJ Holden. Brought it from my sister in 1967. Only had a learners license at the time, so my mate (with a license), flew to Mackay to get it and drive back to Brisbane. Brought new, it was worth about 1,030 Quid. I paid 1,000 bucks. Great car. Didn’t have a radio. My little transistor hanging on the quarter widow was my in car entertainment. It needed to hang half in/half out of the car to get reception.

 

[Jo Piper3]

My first car was bought from my Uncle John for $1,800. It was a blue Leyland mini and I was 18 years old. Before that I drove my father's yellow Morris mini which had the ignition button the floor. I still love minis but they are really expensive. Saw a beautiful, new pink mini today when I was shopping

 

[Kevin. A.]

I bought my first car in 1978. I left high school in 1976, and I got my first job in 1977, and I saved $40.00 every week. I gave my parents $40.00 board money, I kept $10.00 a week for my train and bus fare. Whatever was left was mine. My take home pay in 1977 without any overtime was $98.00. I saved for twelve-month until I saved $1000.00, and then went looking for my first car. I found a Second hand 1967 holden special advertised in the paper and that was mine. I had no money after that because it all went on rego, tires, fuel etc etc. I had the car for quite a few years and well after I got married in 1979. I did my own maintenance, and tune-ups. Our friends and I would all pile into the car and travel from Sydney to Wollongong playing "Bat out of hell" music album. Driving down the highway at full volume from my newly installed cassette player. Flared jeans, long hair and could not sing in tune to save our lives, but we had fun. Those were the days.