My first car back in 1970 was a '63 Impala SS. Chrome wheels, and tuck and roll on the rear window deck. Other than that, I think it was stock. 327, 4 speed, no power windows, seat, steering or brakes. That car would be worth a bundle today.
About $65-70k with low mileage and cherry. I had to see what Israel’s is worth.
I had a 1945 Chevy half-ton I bought at an unannounced auction for the only bid of $100 in 1970. It was a war special issue truck belonging to the Palo Alto Fire Dept, and was very faded red, so my dad and I sprayed it with banana yellow Emron and I drove it to high school.
OHV straight 6, 4-speed floor shifter w/granny low first gear, a tilt-out windshield and dual side opening hoods, and zero chrome. We chromed a few parts like the grille and door handles. It had no turn signals, one brake light, and the gas tank was behind the seat in the cab ☠
It was screaming rpm at a 60 mph top speed, and got ~10 mpg at best. I sold it for $300 in 72, and bought a used ‘64 MG Midget for $100 more.
Cars were very cheap back then. A brand new Vette was about $3500-4000 back then. And that was expensive 🤑
Everyone always said after I told them it was a ‘45: ‘No way. It’s a 41 or a 46. There is no 45.” At a Chevrolet dealership no less. So I had to school them. They check the VIN and say ‘well I‘ll be…’
Looked like this except all yellow with a wood push bumper in front:
I wish I had it now somehow, but I couldn’t collect anything in my disjointed life. That’s a commitment by a perfectly pathed financial stability type person, not me.
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