I’m not sure why my dad let me buy a car at age 14. $75 for a 1931 Model A Ford, it needed work.
- Cracked windows need to be replaced.
- The Brakes were bad.
- The engine burned oil.
I was two months from turning 15. In Illinois at that time the state allowed 15-year-olds to get a license if they were needed in the family business.
Dad filled out the paperwork to say that was the case. He also said that I could not drive until the car was road worthy. He had the repairs done by his friendly mechanic. I now believe that that mechanic had instructions to go slow on repairs.
I paid for the repairs and a paint job. About $350. This was 1958 after all. Additionally, I paid for insurance and licensing. I remember my plates cost $6.50 a year. I was working at a drug store and worked with a women who upholstered the seat at a reasonable cost. When I turned 15, I took the D.L. test and passed. However, it took several weeks for the license to arrive in the mail. To sharpen my skills, I drove the length of our driveway, maybe two hundred yards, then backed up and repeated the activity. In my opinion it was a great way to learn the clutch and backing skills
Eventually I bought another set of rims and tires and put a hitch on it so that I could trail my boat.
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