http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/15/living/teenagers-1960s-cars-irpt/index.html?hpt=hp_c3 Neat article - I'm sure many of us can relate to the story and the pictures.
I learned to drive in a 1955 Chevy 4-door six in school driver training and my grand dad's blue 1954 Chevy just like the one in the photo became my practice vehicle. My life was changed forever! Even before that I lived and dreamed cars while studying my school work from behind those little pages hot rod type magazines. Those early books would eventually help me customize my very first car, a 1949 Dodge coupe. It also gave me the freedom to drive to the big city and to date girls! Like most other kids in the late 50's we'd take our dates to the drive in diner then the drive in movies. At those movies we learned many things that helped through out our lives. I also dated my future wife there. Yes I was God and I ruled my own little world.
I too was into cars from a very young age and have never not had at least one vintage/hot rod/muscle car. I met my wife who was from a family who were focused on hot rods, and we've always been partners in finding, building and playing with them. Ah yes, the drive in movies and restaurants - so many memories I must say that my car passion has defined me over the years in many ways, as I live out the balance of my life they are still a big part of our life. I feel sorry for the young folks today who will never truly experience the learning experiences, the freedom, and the passion that playing with cars has provided us. We learned by doing, we ferreted out the answers using our heads, hands and friends, not by quickly looking on line for the answer without having to understand the dynamics involved.
My dad's '78 Fairmont and the school's three '75 Granadas are what I learned on. It's the reason I know how to drive a 3-on-the-tree: one of the Granadas had it. Boy was that fun.
A three on the tree and parallel parking. HUH? Now neither is even a requirement in getting a license. As long as you can get most of your car between the lines at the Mall you are good to go. Back when our son got his license here in Florida he lost only one point. He failed to turn and look over his shoulder when backing out of the space at the driver license place. According to them you don't look in the mirrors, you turn and look. The truck he took his test in has a mirror on each side and one in the middle of the windshield. That's what I've always used.
Thanks for the interesting read. I can't relate, though. When I was in high school, most of us lived within easy walking distance of school, so cars were rare. Also a large proportion of the families only had one car so having your own was virtually unheard of. As it was, when we needed a car one of the parents always came through. We car pooled long before the term was invented. Our 72 Dart did Yeoman duty for all my high school years. I may have it yet but without power steering there was no way I could drive it with my shoulders the way they were. They are worse now, so even the Volvo is a bit stiff. I need my over boosted, Ford steering or I am essentially grounded.
It's different for every generation. I lost three points just for the examiner having his head up his @$$ by giving me a conflicting instruction, and then one more point for not setting the parking brake after parallel parking on a hill. But I still passed. As for 'shoulder checks,' when you took Driver's Ed, a shoulder check wasn't required for backing up. Nowadays, most states assign 100% fault to the backing driver only, since you are supposed to turn your head and look both ways as you back up. I remember that from Driver's Ed because the Granadas were side-by-side at the district office complex, and it didn't do you any good if you backed out in front of one of the head cheeses (or backed into one!).
