Did you have a car in high school?

by Jim Stamp on January 15, 2022.

Idid not have a car when I was in High School. When I was in
school, it was not common for kids to have their own cars. If we
were responsible people, our parents would let us use their car –
especially if it made it more convenient for their schedule.

If we needed to go somewhere, our parents took us and picked us
up. Or, we shared rides with friends. One of my best friends was
Jonathan Gamble. Jonathan was a year older and he drove to 4H
and County 4H band. For 4H Tractor Club I would get picked up
by Clarence Alexander, father of Bill. Clarence had a Chrysler
and the odometer changed color as the speed changed. I thought
that was awesome! Bill was also older than I but if we were going
the same direction his Dad picked me up on the way.

When my own kids were in High School they asked for a car. I
asked why. Their answers were “My friends have cars” or “If I
had a car I could get a job”. Neither of those responses worked
on me. I told them if they need to go somewhere their mother
or I would get them there. As for the job, my answer was that
their only job was to get the best grades they were capable of in school. And they did!

I thought that I didn’t have a car in high school so they didn’t
need one. Plus, the traffic was so much different than when I
was in school. Where did the bumper to bumper traffic come
from?? I worked in Canton for a couple years and thought the
traffic was nuts then. Today, whether you are going south to
Canton or coming north to Akron, you could literally run out
of gas, put the car in neutral and someone would push you to
your destination. I don’t find driving to be enjoyable on the major highways.
When I was 18 I had a job on the CB&Q Railroad out of Aurora,
Illinois and had to go car hunting. I bought my first car in
Aurora, a 1958 Plymouth Belvedere 2 door hardtop. Wow!
Loved that car! I put about 100,000 miles on that car and sold
it in 1964 for more than I had paid for it. Great car. Should have kept it

the fin of my Plymouth – while visiting cousins in Champaign, Ill

1963 Corvair Monza convertible

1976 Dodge Charger