Flashback: Vintage Cars

While hosting Binghamton Now and even on my morning show First News Binghamton There has been a lot of talk about vintage cars, so lets flashback to some of my favorites.

I can barely remember any of the cars my parents owned in the 1960’s, but some of my memories include my fathers old Rambler that was a certified piece of junk, there was the incident when we turned the corner of a downtown Binghamton street, and the front right wheel and axle fell off.

My mother's first car was a 1961 Chevrolet Corvair, she called it “independence:” and it was for a while. The one cool thing about it (the Corvair)  the engine was in the back, and I remember asking her to pop the hood to show my cousins the engine, and the look on their faces when they saw nothing.

My first car was a 1965 Chrysler New Yorker, I bought it when I was stationed in San Diego, it was from Tijuana and most of the interior door panels and lining was missing, but it was a tank with a big block 413 wedge under the hood. I drove it back to New York from California. (gas was less than a buck a gallon).

I never owned a fast car until my cousin told me about a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner that was for sale, I went to look at the car and bought it a few days later for $2,000.

My first muscle car, this Road Runner had a 440 with three holly deucers on a high-rise manifold, oversize camshaft, hooker headers, a pistol grip four speed with 411’s in the rear, so it was quick off the start.

What a car, man I remember trucking up the tow path (which is now I-88 east) and punching it, that engine would roar and the force was like being shot out of a cannon.

I loved that car but I wasn’t making enough money to own two vehicles, and trying to pay for garage rental during the winter and still get myself around was too much, so I sold my 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner and bought a plain Plymouth Fury.

I also had a beat up 1969 Dodge Charger (Dukes of Hazzard ) it was faded green with primer and the door handles which were made out of pot metal were really loose, one day I stopped to pick up my fiend and I went to open the door from the inside to let him in and before I could click the latch, he was standing there with the door handle in his hand. I don’t remember whatever happen to that car.

I never owned another high-performance vehicle but I will never forget the times I had riding on that burgundy red 1970 Road Runner.