My first car was a 1964 four door Ford Falcon ( like the one in the photo, but mine was dark green). In 1971 at 16 I pretty much inherited the former family car. Not exactly a babe magnet nor with a straight 4 cylinder was it a drag race champ. But to me it was beautiful. With a "three-on-the-tree" it was a little of a challenge to learn to drive, but once mastered I could take anything in its class for the first 200 ft, even some six-bangers.

It was the first car I ever remember our family having that had seat belts (lap only). One of my favorite memories was packing my buddies in my car to go to basketball practice. I went to private school and our gym was off site. The guys would chip in some change for gas and we would buy ice cold quart size pops that sat outside in the winter cold at the corner gas station. I think we paid more for pop than for a half tank of gas. It was so easy to work on with all that pre EPA room under the hood. But my best memory was that "first kiss" from the girl that is now my wife of 37 years.

It happened on our 3rd date. We went to the doughnut shop and as we got back in the car she started to put a piece of gum in her mouth. I asked if I could have one and she told me it was her last one. She paused with it hovering halfway between her lips and I suggested "sharing" she closed her lips on her half and it looked like an invitation to me. I leaned over and put my lips around my half of the stick of gum and we shared not only the gum but also our first kiss. Wow! What a car!

A. W.