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My first car, a 1957 Ford Custom 300
by: 
David K. McCartney, CPA
Photo Credit: bballchico

Although it was only 8 or 9 years old when I got it, it was pretty much worn out. It had been a salesman's car and had a lot of miles. Automatic, 6 cyl, no radio. The driver's side headlight was rusted out badly. Antifreeze came in cans then and I cut one up and patched up the headlight and fender with it; not pretty but effective.

The float in the carb used to work loose and I'd have to take the float bowl off and tighten the float, wherever I was, day or night. I ended up buying a set of Vice Grips for this purpose. That was in 1966 and I still have them.The condenser went bad once and the car would stop wherever it was. After it cooled down, sometimes overnight, it'd restart and I could drive it home. After a couple of weeks my dad told me what the trouble was and I fixed it.

The old Ford wasn't pretty but it got me to a lot of ball games and other places a high school kid needs to go. I kept it for a couple of years and then, while I was in college, my dad traded it in on a car for my mom. I think he got $25 , which was probably fair back then. I had paid a hundred and had gained invaluable freedom. Not bad for $75 net.

David

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