I purchased my first car when I was twenty years old. It was a Gray 1966 4 door Chevy Impala. It had a V8 327 cubic inch motor with a two barrel carburetor. The car also had air conditioning and AM radio. I was a young sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Santa Barbara County in California.

I bought the car in October 1971. I had married my wife in March 1971 and lived approximately ten miles from the base. The car was a necessity since the local town didn't have mass transit. The car was in excellent mechanical condition and got very good gas mileage. Of course the price of a gallon of gas back then was around forty five cents. What I really like about the car was it's smooth ride and large trunk with a real spare tire. My six feet frame had no problems fitting inside that trunk. During the weekends I was not on duty, my wife and I would go for long drives along California beautiful coastal highway and enjoy the scenery.

I got a promotion in 1972 and I traded my Impala in for a blue 4 door Chevy Caprice. That was a mistake I often regretted. The Caprice had a big 454 cubic inch V8 and it was a guzzler, although fast. The oil embargo of 1972-73 made me wish for that Impala. Today whenever I see an old school Chevy Impala I think about my first car. It always gives me the same feeling when I think about my first date in high school. I lost the only pictures I had of the car in 2004, but I still have the memories in my mind.

Last year around Father's Day, I was driving around in rural Alabama near Birmingham, when I saw a 1966 Chevy Impala sitting on blocks in a farmer's barn. I got out and inquired about it from the owner. He was in his late 70's and told me the history of the car. The original engine, a 327 V8 cubic inch was still intact. Of course the interior was down right ugly and the body and frame was okay. I told the farmer about my first car and he smiled and said "son for $200.00, you can have this car". So now I am the proud owner of my second Chevy Impala. I have completely restored it to almost show room new. But unlike my first car, I think I will keep this one and probably passed it on to my youngest grandson.

It's a shame the way the youngsters of today degrade all those classic cars from the 60's, 70s' and 80's. They just don't have the appreciation of the clasic cars from that era. The way they change the center of gravity, engines and all that other "hip" stuff makes the cars unsafe and somewhat noxious to look at. I have been asked by several youngsters to sell my second Impala, and I flat out refused to do so. You learn from your youthful mistakes.

Learn more about this author, Edward Malone.
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