There are just some topics that immediately bring back fond memories. Your first car is likely one of them.
Whether it was one your parents gave you, one you bought off your neighbor for super cheap or the one you financed right out of college, the first vehicle you ever owned is a special thing.
For me, it was a 1989 Toyota Corolla. It was maroon, I got it in college from a friend for the cost to fix it up and make it street legal (just shy of $400), and it had lots of miles. The heat didn’t really work, which made for an interesting winter. The engine ended up going on it within the first year or so., which then had me replacing it with a slightly newer 2006 Nissan Sentra that I still drive today, which coincidentally is about the same color.
As for Jon, his was a 1996 Black GMC Jimmy. He had it for about a year and we’ll just say it had many quirks, including the driver’s side door not staying latched all the time and the dome light randomly staying on. He might still be driving it if he didn’t roll it three times into the median of a highway. Don’t worry, though, he’s fine.
And now Concord Chats wants to know all about your first car experience at an interactive history event next Tuesday (Oct. 24) from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kimball-Jenkins Estate. Was your first car one that you owned or your parents? What ended up happening to it – did you sell it, junk it or crash it? Did you take it on a road trip or was it more of an A to B ride that you always hoped would make it back to A?
Join the group at Concord Chats and share your story and a picture if you have one – if actually wanted to show what it looked like.
The whole idea came after Althea Barton’s son, who is closing in on driving age, was given an old truck. Barton’s first car was a Renault Le Car. There weren’t a lot of them made, which is probably why we had never heard of it or had any idea what it looked like.
“I watched his excitement and he just loved it,” said Barton, who is the director of outreach and development at Kimball-Jenkins.
Soon they both started asking others about their first cars and it gave Barton the idea for the next Concord Chats.
“People talked about that feeling of having the key in their hand,” Barton said.
One person’s engine fell out while driving by Concord High trying to show it off to friends. Another drove their father’s car into a tree.
So if you like cars and want to hear a few stories or share your own, there will be plenty of nostalgia flying around Kimball-Jenkins next Tuesday.
“I think it will be a fun conversation with people sharing their stories,” Barton said.
There’s no cost to take part and you don’t have to sign up ahead of time, but you can let them know you’re coming by visiting facebook.com/pg/kimballjenkins/events.
