1972 AMC Gremlin. It was the car my father drove to his afternoon shift at Chrysler. My junior year I was allowed to drive it to school and use on the weekends. It had an AM radio, no air conditioning, no power steering or brakes, and the kind of interior that stuck to your skin in the summer.

I had to keep the car very clean as I shared it with my dad, and sometimes the 24 hour car wash came in handy. It was also the car I had my first accident in. A drunk driver hit me and two girlfriends when we went to Saunders in Dearborn for a birthday cake.

The car had a lot of personality and was given up for my high school graduation present. A new 1980 Ford Mustang, from my grandfather, who lived the American Ford Motor Company dream.

Cheryl