larrytrk

Sorry guys, a 1954 Ford convertible in 1957. I wanted a Healey, couldn't afford one.
First new car, 60 Corvair Monza, hence, the start of my love for rear engined cars.
A slew of other Marques to follow.

beden1

I couldn't afford snow tires back then if they even made them in that size? We really learned how to drive in those days without any computer handling assists whatsoever.

stefang

Well, first car was a Mazda GLC, but the one that set me on the road to buying German performance machinery was a '89 VW GTi 16v. The MGB that followed started my love affair with ragtops.

Funny, just this morning I drove past the place I used to live back then and I remembered pushing the MG up the hill with the VW.

Jasper1

Here's something a bit different. 1969 Fiat 850 Spyder with an 817 cc engine pulling something like 49 horsepower. Maybe it was a harbinger of Porsches to come since it was rear engined and a blast to drive (except for the humiliation of driving a car that was as slow as a VW Beetle).

Mbiondo

1986 Golf GTI. May not have been as exotic as the Triumphs or the Austins or the MGs, but, boy, it was solid. And fast. 105hp, balanced, and a hoot to drive. Never let me down, either. Moved from there to an Alfa GTV6. Oh boy, that sound was thrilling. The V6 was smooth as silk. And free revving. The hatchback rear was ugly, but the front was pretty as hell. Miss that one the most.

stefang

That's funny. That was my next car as well after the GTi was stolen. Loved it, but I spent more on maintenance than the purchase price. Great sound, great style. Miss it too, still eye them when I see them at a car meet.

Mbiondo

I had a local guy that would work on it, but he was more expensive than the dealer. Wait, there was no dealer. Oh, yeah, the Chrysler dealer who pretended to know and care about Alfas. That, in restrospect, was the problem with Alfas. You were on your own.

kmac33

A couple of Fiats "cursed" me with the sports car obsession.
1971 Fiat 850 - When my dad brought it home, my 3 year old brain thought it was the coolest car ever. He then "upgraded" to a 74 Fiat Spider. I immediately fell in love with the Spider and the obsession really began - I even had an "imaginary friend" that drove a flying Fiat.
Begged to get the Fiat for my 16th birthday, but my dad was smart enough to refuse (the car wouldn't exist if he had relented). I was given a 1976 Datsun B210 instead. Within a year a managed to replace it with a 1980 Mazda RX7 - totaled that within a year, but that was the start of a string of "affordable" sports cars: another RX7, Volkswagen Sciroco, 2 Datsun 240 Z's, a 280 Z, a highly modified 90 300ZX TT (405 rhp), and an Infiniti G35 Coupe to name a few.
4.5 years ago, the Fiat Spider was finally passed down to me...unfortunately in less than ideal condition.
After close to 2 years of work, way more $ than was prudent and lots of busted knuckles I finished a complete nuts and bolts resto-mod of the car that started it all for me:

October 2012:




Once the "right one" comes along and the finances "fit" a 997 will share the garage with my Italian "mistresses" - also have a Ducati and Moto Guzzi.

bdiamond001

I went a different route, from Detroit muscle car a 1965 GTO with a 4 on the floor yellow convertible to German engineered 1972 white 914. I I loved that car but missed the big block engine. Now I have it all.

Mumbles

Beautiful car kmac, a lot of very nice work.

beden1

KMAC your red Fiat looks fantastic. It's nice that your father kept it to pass it to you.

TerpsRED

My first "Sports Car" was a 1990 mazda miata. That was a great little car. Tons of fun and it gave me a roof and radio. As I was coming off of 8 years of year round Motorcycle transportation only, I was happy to have something for snowy days.

Since then, I've gone through BMW M roadster, Corvette C5, and now my '06 C2.

fc2s

I started with a '70 Pontiac Lemans Sport (GTO's little brother) and a few years later also had the pleasure of owning a '78 Fiat Spider 1800, which makes me appreciate your story and resto kmac. The Spider looks awesome and I'm sure it turns heads and you get a lot of questions.

PCC

1986 Guards Red 944 Turbo.

Purchased new. Sticker was $34,800. I maintain this car was one of the all-time best "bang for the buck". Only 217 hp but when that turbo kicked in it was all smiles. GREAT handling. I was told Porsche discontinued it because it was canabilizing 911 sales (not sure if that's true). Absolutely loved that car!

Yet anothercrisis

My first brand new car was a Triumph TR6. I bought if off the lot my Junior year of college with money I had earned over the previous summer. I can't believe it now, but I narrowed my search before choosing the TR6 to a Fiat (128...I think) and a Porsche 914-6. Drove all of them and enjoyed the Triumph for many years. The Porsche back then was not recognized by folks who influenced me as a "real" Porsche. Shows how little we know sometimes.