CARS WE DROVE IN HIGH SCHOOL: THE 1970s

Cars We Drove In High School: The 1970s
The 1970s was an era of cultural transformation, marked by vibrant music, changing fashion trends, and a flourishing automobile industry that gave rise to some of the most iconic cars in history. For high school students during this period, the car they drove wasn't just a mode of transportation; it was a symbol of freedom, individuality, and style. Let's take a nostalgic journey back to the 1970s and explore the unforgettable cars that graced high school parking lots across the nation.
The 1970s was an era characterized by bell-bottoms, disco beats, and a sense of change in the air. For many high school students, one of the defining experiences of that time was the thrill of driving to school in their very own cars. Among the remarkable automobiles that graced the school parking lots, the Chevrolet Camaro stood out as an embodiment of power, style, and teenage freedom.
#chevrolet
#nova
#chevynova
#chevelle
#chevelless
#camaro
#torino
#classiccar
#mustangs
#javelin
#amc
#firebirds
#pontiac
Growing up in the 70s
High School Reunion
1970 High School
1970's Toys
Chevy Malibu
Chevy Nova
Chevy Laguna S-3
Plymouth Barracuda
Ford Torino
The ford Mustang
Mach 1
AMC Javelin
Chevy Chevelle SS
The Pontiac Trans am
Chevy Camaro

[@jeffgoddard4100]

I was in high school during the late 70's. Your list would be the cars we wanted in high school. In southern Illinois the parking lot was mostly full of Pintos, Gremlins, Vegas, and a lot of four door grandma-mobiles.

[@whoami7721]

I was thinking that to myself. More than likely 1970s high school drivers had Gremlins, Hornets, Pintos, Mavericks, or Vegas, if they had newer cars at all.

[@darrenfox5883]

Absolutely the same here for Northern Virginia in the late 70’s!

[@thegreatone11]

Pickemup trucks to as they were much cheaper then

[@TheREALOC1972]

I was a teen in the mid 80's and most of us had the mid-late 70'smuscle cars because they had become affordable for us then, I had a 76 Camaro, my best friend had a 79 Hatchback Nova, my Girlfriend had a 74 Malibu and so on, there was one girl who had a Pinto wagon but by then the J body cars were pretty much already in the boneyards, there was the odd 60's Mustang or Dart and the mid-70's grandma 4 door but by in large we had the 70's fullsize and muscle cars.

[@altonkenne579]

Yea but most grannymobiles had mean big blocks and won alot of races

[@baconbits4385]

I went to high school in Central NJ. I drove a 67 Mustang with the 289 V8. It was the car I knew I wanted at age 14 and by age 17 I had saved enough to buy it. It was my dream car then in 1981 and in 2023 I still own it. I restored it in the late 1980s and won first place trophies in car shows in 4 states at the age of 24. How many kept their first car? Not many I'll bet, but I did!

[@matthewpaanotorres7309]

Real dedication, sir! o7 You should've saved a little more for the "GT" variant as well!

[@reneeabram6297]

To bacon bits 4385 my first car 68 chevelle almost 16 in 1982 still have it in 2024

[@glenwarren4351]

I976 I bought 67 gt 500 your right wish I kept it

[@fredsimmons6188]

I also went to high school in the late 70's and graduated in 1980. My first car was a 1960 Ford Galaxie that I got for $125.00. No one at my school drove any of the cars shown in this video unless Daddy and Mommy were rich. There weren't many.

[@TheREALOC1972]

I went to school in the mid-late 80's and my high school parking lot was full of mid-late 70's Muscle cars. I had a 76 Camaro that I paid $500 for from the girl next door because she got married and moved to Texas to her bf who was in the Air Force in San Antonio, my best friend had a 79 Hatchback Nova, my girlfriend had a 74 Malibu, yeah we had the odd 60's mustangs and the early-mid 60's grandma 4 doors but most of them the smog era muscle cars because they were the used car of my teenage years.

[@jamesdennis2058]

Hey another Galaxie driver! I graduated in 1973. The car I drove in high school was a black 1963 4-door Ford Galaxie, no power steering, no power brakes, no A/c. The cars in the video were driven (and wrecked) by kids with richer parents. Most of the cars ended up totaled within months.

[@Anthonyjt12]

I agree, these were dream cars. I was fortunate enough to have a brand new 76 Camaro but I was one of few.

[@garybrinker4522]

I'd love a 60 Starliner Galaxie

[@flynnstone3580]

​@@jamesdennis2058I graduated in '73 too. My first car in highschool was a '58 Chevy Del Rey with a straight 6, paid $35 for it and it looked and ran fine.

[@5jr.racing982]

Graduated in '79....drove a 1966 Caprice Classic 396 big block...😊

[@davidfleming7455]

Most of the people I knew in high school drove a Vega, Pinto or. Gremlin. or a hand me down car of some type. I drove a well worn 68 Mustang and was thankful for it. Very few folks I knew had a muscle car.

[@TheREALOC1972]

Most of high school parking lot in the mid and late 80's was full of Muscle cars but they were the "Smog Era" Muscle Cars, I had a 76 Camaro, my girlfriend had a 74 Malibu, my best friend had a 79 Hatchback Nova, most of J body cars were already in the bone yard by my high school years because our older brothers and sister had already beat them to death, We had one kid that got like a 80 pr 81 Sunbird that was passed down from grandma and great aunt or something but by in large those small cars were long gone.

[@msticks3672]

I went to high school in the 1960's and my high school car was a 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS with a 250 hp , 327 CID. I tried to talk my parents into a 409 but I was lucky to get the 327!

[@MisterMikeTexas]

At least the 327 was an engine that would fire right up, and reliably get you around. I can't imagine the 409 would have been happy in stop-and-go traffic. You'd have to beat the hell out of it so it won't misbehave.

[@mikeweizer3149]

@MisterMikeTexas Was gonna say that would have been enough car for me!.As for myself I would have had a beautiful 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS hardtop as my first car. It had been our family car since new but my mom sold it the year before I turned 16, So I ended up with a 1963 Chevrolet Impala convertible that took me to the end of high school!!!.

[@bobbrinkerhoff3592]

@@MisterMikeTexas there were three versions of the 409 back in '64 . The 425 hp with the dual four barrels, that would snap rear axle shafts and U joints left and right , the tamer 400 hp version with only one carb , and the tamest 340 hp version with one carb and a hydraulic lifter cam .

[@PL-mu1cp]

I graduated in 1980 and I drove a 1971 Plymouth Duster with a 318 V8. My Brothers had A 1971 Mach 1 and a Camaro LT1, In those days even mom and dad drove V8's. What a great time for cars before the gas shortage, I remember mom saying OMG when gas hit $ 0..50 a gallon. I also remember the gas lines on the rationing days, you could only buy gas on even or odd days depending on your license plate number.

[@chasstiles7611]

My father had a ford pick up with commercial plates.he could get gas any day with that truck

[@briantaylor6562]

The 318 wars a very strong, dependable engine.

[@christopherkraft1327]

I graduated high school in 1976 & I drove my dads 69 Chrysler Town & Country station wagon with a 440 police interceptor V8!!! It's a good thing that gas was only 48 cents a gallon!!! The model car is the Chevelle SS!!! Thanks for sharing another fun video!!! 👍👍🙂

[@paulbourgeois4491]

M ove O ver P eople A re R acing !!!

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

48 cents wow, where did you live? Gas here in Atlanta was in the 60-70 cent range still reeling from the OPEC crap of '73

[@christopherkraft1327]

@@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman actually I live in Southern California,

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

@@christopherkraft1327 my condolences about living in Kaliforniastan! Amazing that prices were cheaper there in 1976 than they were in ATL & I remember being in gas lines for 2-3 hours to get $10 worth {the limit} at about 65 cents! Gas right now is $3.15, how bout there?

[@christopherkraft1327]

@@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman sadly, we are one of the highest priced in the country at around $5.00 a gallon 😬

[@beterryins]

Bought my first car at 15 in 1976. A 1973 Chev Caprice 2 dr. with a LS-4 454. Had almost every option available at the time

[@samuraibushido7077]

I really loved those caprice I could really stretch out in them like a real human lol lol lol.

[@xstreamSS]

I graduated from high school in 1976. My first car and high school car was a 1967 Mercury Cougar with a 289 small block and automatic transmission. I loved the look of the retractable headlights and the sequential turn signal rear lights.

[@joshthemediocre7824]

You should get another one, Cougars are the best, the 67 & 68 with a auto trans were burnout machines, i'm sure you know that already.,..lol

[@xstreamSS]

@@joshthemediocre7824 yeah, I totally agree. I have been watching a lot of KZbin videos about those models lately. However, if I went through the trouble of restoring one, it would have to be a convertible of which they did not make until 1969

[@swissman5643]

That was a badass car!

[@carlc5748]

Yes, I really liked the Cougars as well. Motor Trend Magazine did as well, since it was their 1967 Car of the Year.

[@brianhayes7618]

My first car I bought at 15 in 1973. It was a 61 Chevrolet Biscayne light blue 4 door 3 on the tree inline 6 but I loved it

[@skifusya2814]

Can't believe I'm reading this. This is the first car I drove, as well. Same color, with a white top. I can recall silly details of things like the interior door handles, steering wheel, checkered fabric bench seats, 1961-unique deck lid, confused-looking front grill and conical tail lights vividly.

[@RobertBrown-vf8yd]

I went to HS in the late 70’s and graduated in ‘79. My first car back in ‘79 was a 2 door ‘65 Ford Falcon Futura with a 289 engine. The Falcon was a light gold color and was a real head turner back then. I really enjoyed driving that little Falcon!

[@matthewronson5218]

Same here, '79 grad. You had the great 289, I started with a '64 Chevy Bel Air 230 straight six, then a 70 Duster 225, a 68 Dart with a 340, and graduated while driving a 70 Camaro

[@RobertBrown-vf8yd]

@@matthewronson5218 You had some great cars for sure! It seems like 1979 was a life time ago. I miss those care free days!

[@samuraibushido7077]

@@matthewronson5218 I had a 64 Dart 225

[@johnboyington3456]

I don’t know anyone back then who had a new car. We either drove a cheapo or our parents cars.

[@fireballrobbie1744]

Great car !!! I knew someone back then that had a 63 Falcon with a 6 cyl 3 on the tree.

[@cowtowncustoms2110]

I graduated in 1975 and I had a 1967 Chevelle 300 with the L-79 package. It was a heater and keys only car with no options but a 350/350hp Corvette motor, M-22 4-spd and 3:91 12 bolt posi. I didn't know what a special car it was at the time but it could beat all the others in the parking lot and then some!

[@carlc5748]

"75 grad here, as well. How long did you have your Chevelle for? The Principal at my high school, was Norman Mathers, real life father of Jerry Mathers, "Beaver" from Leave it to Beaver TV show. Our graduating class had almost 1000 students.

[@cowtowncustoms2110]

@@carlc5748 I had it about a year, I worked in a gas station during school and always was tuning and tweaking the rear end to put the power down and making it a good street racer. I lived in the then outer suburbs of Columbus, Ohio and our graduation was held at Ohio State University. On my way home from graduation practice I saw a 1971 Pontiac Gran Prix Hurst Edition with a 455 and I had to have it. So I traded in the Chevelle on a fast luxury car that I kept for a couple years and yes I still raced it too!

[@bobbrinkerhoff3592]

L-79 was a 327/350 hp .

[@prestonstephens7719]

When my aunts 3rd husband passed, (Yes there were more) I inherited his Nikon camera and a 1971 Lemans. The Pontiac version of the Chevrolet Malibu 1st on your list. It was a beautiful French cream vanilla color with milk chocolate leather interior. First thing I did was take the old lady fender skirts off. That car got 12 miles to the gallon. It cost $10 to fill it up a fortune back in the day. I stupidly traded it in for a 1980 Chevy Chevette to take to college because it got a whopping 20 miles to the gallon.!!!!

[@BobMckinsey]

3rd husband ? There's a story 🤔

[@stevenbernier4206]

Class of 76. It was the family's 68 Dodge Polara wagon with the Hi-Po 383 with a carter AVS, dual exhaust and the dual snorkel air cleaner. Only lived a block from school so did not drive it too often. The school had notorious speed bumps but that car would go over them at 30 mph and you'd hardly know it and the drum brakes would put you through the windshield. Good times gas was 29 cents but you were lucky if you made over a buck and a half a hour to feed the beast.

[@johnh3476]

I went to high school in the early '80s. First drove my Dad's 75 Chevy K10 which I was going to buy from him but ended up buying a 72 Mercury Capri. Drove that for a short time then bought a 73 Mercury because it had the V6. Sold the 72 to my best friend.

[@jaypeterson7637]

Those were very cool under rated cars! I had a '74 with the V6 engine.

[@frankd6662]

Graduated 1971 and drove an Acapulco Blue 1970 351C Mach 1. Driving one again 50 years later.😊

[@royschultz1377]

Class of '76. I drove a '65 Mustang, 289 with a 3 on the floor. Saw a lot more Pintos, Vegas, VW Beetles, and VW Microbus than any of those you mentioned. When we saw someone with a Laguna we figured they were driving their parent's car

[@heavenhelpus479]

Class of '74. My high school car was a 1970 GTX 440-6, 4-speed, Track Pack - 4.10 gear, Black w/white stripe and interior, Cragar S/S, BF Goodrich T/A's, Gabriel HiJackers air shocks in rear, Pioneer AM/FM 8-track w/Jensen 6 X 9's, and a Cobra C/B radio console mounted. That clutch was brutal. Good times.

[@sergtex72]

I started driving in the early 70's as a junior in high school. Drove my dads '66 Chevy pick up with a 283 small block V-8 and 3 speed on the column. It would always back fire when you shifted into 2nd gear. Everyone down the block heard me coming!

[@samuraibushido7077]

I drove my dad's 61 Chevy Apache when my car was on the blink.

[@frankanderson4176]

Ha! Great story. So funny. Kinda similar, one of my good friends drove a hand-me-down 1968 Plymouth Fury II. It was so worn out. Often, it misfired with the slightest acceleration and made a poofing sound while hesitating but then gaining speed. Heads would turn in the HS parking lot! My friend driving it was so embarrassed and so frustrated! We laugh til we cry about those days.

[@danecromwell987]

I graduated in 1973 My first car was 1967 GTO Wish I still had it!!!

[@61Ognib]

I drove a 70 Nova with a 307. I had two classmates that also had Novas. 70 with an in line 6 and the other was a 72 with a 305.

[@Hendo56]

I drove my mother's 1969 Camaro in the 70s. I still have it.

[@althunder4269]

No one I knew could afford these cars in HS back then.

[@novawagon1965]

I graduated 73. I rode a 68 CL 450 Honda when I turned 16 never could believe my Mom and Dad let me buy it. Sold that in 72 for $500 bucks and bought a 1970 Dodge Charger 500 383 magnum, pistol grip 4 speed from a Vietnam Veteran who bought it new. Strange thing I really wanted a Roadrunner but the insurance was high risk for my age but the Charger was considered a family car with the insurance company they said I was fine as long as it wasn't an R/T model.

[@michaelprice9884]

I drove a 70 Chevy Nova. My girlfriend loved the bench seat. She would slide in next to me and we hit the road.

[@frankanderson4176]

Bring back the bench seats!

[@michaelprice9884]

@@frankanderson4176 Amen brother

[@notyouraccount566]

Somebody is living in a fantasy world. I graduated in 71 and none of these cars where in our high school parking lot. There was one mustang it was a 65. I drove my dads 39 Oldsmobile once to school also a 67 impala ss

[@Grodd70]

I was going to say that in the late 80's we drove late 60's and early 70's Camaro's, Mustangs, or any older car. I had a 67 Camaro (should have kept) I only knew a few people that had a "newer" Pontiac TransAM, IROC Chevrolet Camaro and a one kid had a Buick Grand National that was technically his dads. Some kid from next town south had a 5.0 Mustang. But those were exceptions $$$$ I would think in the 70's kids would have been rolling early 60's or 50's cars because they were cheaper. The one's in the video are what kids parents bought or some single guy OUT of high school with a good job.

[@johnharris7353]

Or any job!

[@ge-ys1uz]

There were thousands of high schools and in wealthier areas, I am sure these cars were found in the lot. I grew up in a rural area and most vehicles were old pickup trucks, but we had gun racks and had our guns in our trucks to go hunting after school.

[@nojunkwork5735]

I graduated in 72 and in my high school, there were about 20 of us that had high-performance GM, Mopar, and Fords. Everyone except for a couple of us had part-time jobs after school and on the weekends so we could buy the cars that we wanted. I drove a 66 L79 Nova 4 sp with 4.56 gears for street racing, and I also had a 67 Buick Riviera for my regular driver.

[@anthonynelson9136]

There were quite a few of us guys in my school that had nice hot rods. I had a 67 GTO 389 4sp, and my best friend had a 69 Dart GT 340 4sp. When you are living at home with no expenses and have a job you can get a nice pile of cash in a relatively short time.

[@chrismoody1342]

I graduated in 73 and the way I remember it was kids drove pretty plain mid 60’s sedan that mom typically drove. On the other hand there were those kids that you knew for sure were working a lot of hours. They drove the cars that turned heads. The Camaros, Mustangs, 240Z’s and a few big MOPARS, Impalas and Malibus. All in all I bet there weren’t more than 20-25 truly desired cars. Myself I drove a 66’ Corvair Monza.

[@stevencooper2464]

In my High School days, my older brother drove a 1970 Firebird; my sister drove a 1968 Mustang; and I drove a 13-year old 1960 Chevy Bel-Air (yes, it had fins). Good times gone, but not forgotten.

[@ACF6180T]

The model car You built was the 1970 Chevelle. Hardly any of these cars were on the the high school lot were I went to school. There was 1 1970 Chevelle SS 396 , 1 Cuda" 340, & 1 Mach 1 Mustang; There was quite a few plain Jane Nova's some Mustangs from the 60's, & Falcons as well, & even some Corvairs; As well as VW bugs., But the number 1 car on the lot was family hand me downs;, & most of those were full size Chevrolet's 4 doors like Impala , Biscayne, & Bel-Airs from the 60's. I never had a car in high school. My main mode of transportation was a bicycle; Schwinn of course 12 speed. Thanks for the video.

[@tomgeddes7878]

I got my first car in June of 1973 going into my final year of high school. It was a gold 1968 Mustang Fastback, previously owned by a lady school teacher. I enjoyed every minute of driving and maintaining it. Wish I still had it today.

[@kenscholfield5936]

Drove my ‘73 Buick Regal. This car was like a tank yet never got stuck in the snow. 😎

[@marvinl.herren811]

Ha! The snow. I forgot about the snow. I moved to Florida after high school. Then moved back north just recently. The snow will be new to me this winter.

[@marvinl.herren811]

I was kinda fortunate in high school. My brother was a craneman for USSteel in Mckeesport Pa. He was able to afford nice cars and motorcycles. He owned and I drove a 1978 Lincoln town car. He also had a 1966 4 door convertible Lincoln Continental that I used occasionally. He also had a 750 Norton and an 850 Norton motorcycle. I had an orange 1968 MGB and a green MGBGT. Those were the good old days.

[@samuraibushido7077]

I could have lived that Lincoln lol lollo

[@swissman5643]

"kinda" fortunate !?

[@jonskid8929]

Ground up built a 1970 one two three 240Z while driving a 2door cutlass. Papa Tommy had a car lot

[@stevenasralla8545]

My first car was a blue 1968 MGB GT. I loved it, though the dual carbs were hard to synch

[@gw4690]

The model appears to be the Chevelle at minute 3:41. I drove a Schwinn in high school and worked several jobs after graduation so that I could buy my own car, pay insurance and fuel. I learned auto mechanics on my own to save money. I'm near 60 now and still do all of my own maintenance on 5 vehicles even though I could afford to have someone else do it I wouldn't trust them.

[@rickintexas1584]

I graduated high school in 1981. We bought cars we could afford. I was fortunate to buy a used 73 Buick Skylark for $600. It was the Buick version of the Malibu. I put a Holley 780 cfm carburetor on it, a Melling cam, headers, and NOS. Boy, that car was fast!

[@TheREALOC1972]

The mid-late 70's Muscle cars were our cars in the mid-late 80's also, I had a 76 Camaro that I bought for $500 from the girl next door who had gotten married and was moving to Texas with her husband who was in the Air Force in San Antonio Texas, It was her high school car too because she was 3 years older than me.

[@m1t2a1]

In 78-80, this 16 year old had 'Vette... A Chevette. Manual. Replaced the choke with a manual one, it started no matter how cold. Put a stereo in, 11 watts! Drove it like a really gutless rally car. Hella driving lights under the bumper that dragged the idle down. 108" Radio Shack steel CB antenna chained to the rear bumper. Great in snow with snow tires because it didn't have enough power to spin a tire. Delivered pizzas with it from time to time for cash. I've driven famous people in it, but they weren't yet lol. 100% better than walking or a bus pass. Most of the money to start on my first auto addiction came from washing dishes at a seniors home Sat. and Sunday mornings from 13. Minimum wage, free lunch. A teen that could never sleep in on weekends, we started cutting vegetables at 0530. That's dedication. The next cars were considerably more involved, because the car could get me to part time jobs that paid better. During high?school I could borrow my parents cars too, which was great. Dad would buy them a year or two old. Dad's was a Ford Elite. 400ci, loaded. I drove the Elite enough that when my Dad went to pick my sister up from somewhere, the girls with her shouted for me. Mom's was an LTD Country Squire because suburbs. also 400, loaded. Included optional scrapes from bicycle handlebars. The wagon was great for eight teens on a back road with a case of beer. Movies, including drive-ins. Going to concerts with a carload, and coming back with not quite as many, or more. With all of that, I still rode a Raleigh 10 speed plenty, right up until my next car...

[@todds9839]

Bala Bala bala! Most of us in high school couldn't afford the cars shown. Most typical cars were the last 3 in the video. Nova, Malibu, Impala. We worked and saved to get gas and hop up parts. I suggest a video of beaters from these years. 4 door beaters😊. Best car in the video is the Impala!

[@cameronkuhns2458]

I didn’t own a car when I was in high school and being within walking distance, I drove either my mom’s 1971 Torino or my dad’s 1969 Bronco. I didn’t acquire my 1st car until after high school that I drove while I was going to vo-tech school. It was a 1964 Falcon Futura. This was from 1973 to 1977.

[@sleepervega71hill28]

That 1970' Torino. IS still. The most beautiful car I've ever seen. Chevy,. Blaaa' Dodge's "Challenger/charger.caught my eye. But... Still... 70' Torino has my heartbeat.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

My car in high school, early 1980s, was our family 1978 Ford Fairmont Futura with the Thriftpower 200 CID Six. Decent car. It got me where I had to go.

[@paulbourgeois4491]

Bought my 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner in 1979 for $625.00. Felt like King of the world pulling into Dominican High School in Whitefish bay Wisconsin. My buddies all drove MoPar. Dusters, SuperBees, Fury Squad cars, Challengers, Charger R\T's, cudas, etc... I can't believe you only had 1 Chrysler product in this top 10. Milwaukee Wisconsin was MoPar nuts in the 70s and 80s, still thru today. There shouldn't have been so many GM's in this countdown. MoPars were very popular in the 70s, and still are.

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

I grew up with a grandpa that sold MOPARS down here at the home of the Dukes of Hazzard in Georgia from 1946-1979 so its in my blood ✌💖☮

[@themagus5906]

Fury Squad cars?! Yikes! When I graduated college in 1980 I bought a '72 Road Runner for $700. Had the pistol-grip, air grabber, the works. Ah, the good old Pro Street days! I made some great memories with that car.

[@paulbourgeois4491]

@@themagus5906 yup. Bought a 77 Gran Fury ex Wisconsin State Patrol Lieutenant's squad in 1984 at the auction for $825 bucks. 440 interceptor, heavy duty cooling, charging, suspension, dual exhaust, sway bar in the rear, cop tranny, cop steel slotted wheels, disc brakes, it was a beast. Had freeway gears, kind of a dog off the line, but that engine would start to breathe around 50 mph, then it ran like a scalded dog! God I Loved my MoPars, and that time of my life. Not all good, but overall, great days they were!

[@paulbourgeois4491]

@@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman I wonder if he sold\serviced the legendary 413, 426 max wedge cars of the early 60s... Man, I bet he had some MoPar stories! Bet he sold some HEMI engine cars too! What a great country to produce Detroit Steel like that!

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

@@paulbourgeois4491 Oh yea, he had them all! I only remember the late 60s/early 70s as I was a little kid back then! Grandpa K was really a quiet southern baptist man that didnt say much but always treated his customers fairly unlike some of the "leisure suit wearing" salesmen! I did inherit his land yacht 1972 Chrysler New Yorker 440 when he passed

[@dave1956]

My first car was so bad that I hated to be seen in it. In August, 1973 as I was about to begin my senior year I got a job through my school’s distributive education program. Since I had no money and the job required a vehicle my father loaned $100.00 to me and we bought the world’s rustiest 1961 Mercury Comet. It was a one owner car, but big deal. It had no floor in front and was the world’s slowest car. It had a 144 cubic inch, 90 horsepower six with a three speed manual on the column. My father bought heating sheet metal and we made a floor. The previous owner used a piece of plywood which didn’t fit very well. The good part was it started every day in the coldest weather and delivered me faithfully to work every day. I still shudder whenever I see one.

[@michaelcraig4710]

consider yourself lucky my dad did'nt believe in teen boy's in car's i was 21 & in the navy when i bought my 1st.car.

[@allenkeiser1718]

I graduated in 1982 and I still own that car today

[@swissman5643]

I couldn't afford a car in high school. Drove junker hand-me-downs. I got my first car after HS graduation. A 1972 Nova Rally Sport. 350 engine wih a Hurst long-throw four-on-the -floor. I put Cragar deep dish mags on it with big fat tires on the back and Gabiel Hijacker air shocks. Man, I was something in that automobile.

[@JKerr-iy2jr]

Many of these lucky ones should make sure they say “Thanks, Dad!”

[@user-jg1sd5ne3s]

Was in highschool from 74 to 78, started with a 66 beetle, ended with 73 challenger, 4 speed. Those were the days. Wrecked the challenger twice at college and sold it. Whish I still had it.

[@bgibson6082]

I graduated in 77. I apparently came from the other end of the "car" pool. Instead of a late model muscle car, I drove a 1960 Renault. That is; on the days that it ran.

[@rsmith7637]

I was class of 1980 and drove a 1971 plymouth road runner, I still have it.

[@fireballrobbie1744]

I knew someone with a 70 Buick Riviera fully loaded Black interior Black vinyl beautiful green on the body car was like new. Love it!!!

[@buysellbuysell4699]

My first car in High School was a 1970 Olds Cutlass with a 350 Rocket V8. After a few weeks, I took it back to the dealership I bought it from and complained to the salesman that the engine was pinging around 90 miles per hour. Of course his response was what the hell are you doing 90 miles per hour for? I found out later that I had to use premium gas because the Olds 350 engine that year was a higher compression. I buried the needle in it a few times. Sadly, it ended up in a telephone pole and that was the end of that.

[@dave1956]

I remember my older brother having friends who totaled cars seemingly on a weekly basis. Amazingly they survived

[@arthurcrunden6107]

Brother did the same thing with his 71

[@madmike2624]

1973 Buick regal was my ride! Sure, wished I still had it too.

[@davelegg1490]

I drove a few cars in the early 80's... I graduated in 83. My cars were always barely running or on the verge of dying. I started out driving a 74 Monte Carlo with the swivel bucket seats and the loooong hood. after the transmission died, I drove a 72 Monte Carlo. I liked the 72 Monte Carlo better than the 74, but I had a little too much fun doing burnouts and fried the transmission in it too. After that I drove a 74 Pontiac Ventura with a straight 6 engine. It was awful compared to the Monte Carlo, but it was very rugged and was impossible to kill... until the brakes went out on it. That was the end of the Ventura. After that I bought my buddy's 71 Camaro. I hung onto it for almost 25 years until it was more rust than anything.

[@BobMckinsey]

Graduated in 78 , got a 72 AMC Javelin in 76. Pretty sweet for an 11th grader. Wish I had a car that was only 4 years old now.

[@nealturner7463]

Same with Me.I graduated in 72, had a 66 Mustang. 289 3 speed on the floor. I think it had less than 50,000 miles. Paid $1000. for it. A newer and with less miles than I drive now. Those were good days whether We knew it or not.

[@paulavallone9296]

Drove a 1970 Chevy Impala, 350 V8 with the Turbo hydromatic auto transmission. It had a beautiful Gold metal flake factory paint job!

[@michaelhigginbotham2518]

Most of the cars we drove were from the mid-50s to the late 60s. I had a 65 chevy C10.

[@arthurcrunden6107]

I want one now with a 4 speed but one that isn’t a rust box is really expensive

[@davidallen5776]

I was looking forward to having a station wagon at the time, but never got it. The important thing is that I have a family sedan today!

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Hey everyone...THANKS FOR WATCHING and SUPPORTING our channel. We know most of us were not lucky enough to own any of theses cars while in high school but we thought we'd produce this video to spark some nostalgia. We have an eBay store called Payless Posters that is full of your favorite Classic Cars. Please visit and support our channel! - Thanks!! www.ebay.com/str/paylessposters

[@donaldhenderson3495]

Which car was the model?

[@Mac10Daddy]

Chevelle SS was the model

[@user-te9lk5dl2t]

I drove my 1969 Plymouth Satellite to high school, graduated in 1977.

[@j.kevvideoproductions.6463]

I graduated in '77. Most of the kids I grew up with (if they even had a car!) were driving something from the 60's, or one of their parents cars. Most of the cars you listed would have been owned by people in their 20's or 30's when they were new, or by rich kids. We had one rich kid and he had a '77 Trans Am when we graduated. I had a buddy with a '65 Barracuda, another who had a '65 Falcon, and one with a '69 VW Bug. You are showing the cars we wished we'd had for the most part.

[@todds9839]

Right our high school dream cars

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

yup... What did you drive? I had a 1973 Mercury Capri in 1981

[@todds9839]

@@ThisOldCarChannel 1973 Plymouth fury III 4 door sedan. Puke green 360 2bbl

[@garybrinker4522]

You're right, not too many parents can afford new cars for their kids..In my class of 1968 ;, a Gal had a new Shelby 500 Mustang, and a Dude had a 67 Comet gt..

[@davehue9517]

Going through high school in the mid 80's , the first car I drove was a '67 Mustang coupe that I worked on and worked on and worked on....then in the last year of school drove a '70 Mustang.... How I wish I still had both those cars...

[@edschaar2868]

I was driving in the later '70s graduated in '80. First car was a '70 Barracuda w/383. Bought the car before I turned 16 and had my license ... paid for with money from delivering news papers. LOL, how times have changed!!

[@kl0wnkiller912]

My Car in High school (I graduated in 1979) was a 66 Chevelle SS. It was the fastest car in town. I still regret selling it. I did always want a black 71 Barracuda though... ever since I saw the movie Phantasm...

[@robertyoung4059]

I graduated in June, 1978 . I finally got my first car in April that year. It was a 1970 Dodge Super Bee I had been trying to buy for 17 months. It was owned by my best friends older brother, and was equipped with some choice options (purple/white paint, big six-pack engibe, 4-speed, hood w/scoops & pins, 8-track stereo, etc.). It had been driven pretty hard but was still plenty quick. Seems like the popular dudes at school had Camaros, Trans Ams, or custom vans, not big, ugly, noisey muscle cars, but I didnt care. I spent my time with that car, not those 2-faced fools at school.

[@phillipanderson2607]

I can't imagine what that car would be worth now. Cool looking car. Mopar magic as we use to say. I had a fastback 67 with a automatic and 289 cu. Fun years.

[@stevehei8035]

Graduated in 83, we all drove 65-75 cars. Nova’s, Mustangs, Camaros, square body Chevy trucks, gremlins, mavericks, cougars etc

[@billyharris-ul6qv]

Graduated in 1973. Had a 1963 Ford Fairlane Sports Coupe with factory 4 Speed! Loved that car! Later bought another one which I have had for 30 years!

[@joeknowz4898]

My red 73 Nova,. 2 door with a black vinyl top, inline six with a one barrel carb ..best part was the Pioneer SuperTuner with 6X9's 3-ways in the back deck..gas was 87 cents a gallon...hot dog and a fry for linch was under a dollar and 25 cents for a can of Pepsi.. Man... never knew it could be so good....now I got to get back so I don't loose my spot on the street... yeah.. we went out for lunch...no lock downs back then....

[@kennydemartini2169]

I got my license in 1981. My high school car was a 1969 Camaro I bought for $600. The engine blew up on the way home after I purchased it, so my dad built a new one for it. That car is long gone now... I recall a few vans in the parking lot. I'm surprised they weren't on your list.

[@BobMckinsey]

He said Camaro in general for number 10, not a particular year

[@kennydemartini2169]

@@BobMckinsey yeah, and like all the other comments on this video, I posted what model year my first car was. Okay?

[@randyluca6339]

I graduated in 72 and drove a 66 Olds Cutlass. I remember at our homecoming that year, one of my classmates had a 59 Corvette and organized to have each of the 5 girls up for Homecoming Queen ride in a Corvette that was either owned by someone he knew or was loaned to us from a local car dealer. Pretty classy at the time

[@JonMacLeod-ts6ef]

I graduated in ‘88. My 72 Camaro was my first car I bought for $500. Sadly I sold it after high school. Now I’m restoring a ‘70 Camaro SS. Costing a little more now than it did back then.

[@jimstewart2457]

Hope to see pictures when your done.

[@genekelley7579]

🛑🛑 I graduated in 1980. I drove to school in a 1972 Scout II. Man…it was always fun to take it off road, and try to get stuck in the mud; with a pretty girl by your side. Unfortunately, the Scout never got stuck!😂👍💯

[@stever4181]

I graduated in 71 in Bloomington Minnesota. For every one of these cars that students had you would see 10 of the smaller Falcon, Plymouths, Dodge, and Chevys. These muscle cars were few and far between. My first car was after HS. It was a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda with a 225 slant 6. Nothing special but extremely reliable especially in -27 deg winter temps. I bought it for $525 with 40K on the clock, I sold it in 79 with 110k miles. It would do over 100mph and got 29mpg. It was the best car I ever owned until I bought a 1990 Dodge Dakota pickup with a 2.5L 4-cylinder.

[@larryfromwisconsin9970]

Graduated 1972. Drove Dad's 1968 Saab 96. It had a European Ford V4 engine and four speed on the column.

[@jimowens381]

I graduated in '73. Seems like everybody was driving a '72 Nova as I recall.

[@douglasseab7912]

I had a 1970 Maverick souped up

[@briantaylor6562]

Loved them Nova, the 69, 70's models best.

[@tomtbi]

🎉

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Great vid, really enjoyed!!! 👍👍

[@peaches8829]

I went to high school in the early to mid 80’s and everyone had one of these types of cars, however they were never in as good a shape as the ones shown in this video. I had a ‘71 Camaro z28 I bought for $900 and after it died I bought a ‘75 LeMans GT that I drove past high school and into my first few years in the air force

[@TheREALOC1972]

I went to school in mid-late 80's and we had the mid 70's Muscle cars, I had a 76 Camaro, my Girlfriend had a 74 Malibu, my best friend had a 79 hatchback Nova and so on, they were the "used car" of my era, I went in the Army right after High School and kept my Camaro until my oldest was born in 92.

[@tommccallan8802]

Grad. In 79..drove an 700$ 65 Dodge Dart. slant 6 with a mild cam , small 4barl. carb. with Clifford heards ..ran great

[@timezone8876]

I graduated in 1970 from high school and drove a 1969 Mustang blue with white vinyl top. It had a factory hood scoop with a 351 under the hood.

[@timsacco6g694]

Growing up in the 70's- early eighties my high school in the suburbs of New York was all about Chevy's, my car was a 67 Chevelle Malibu 2 door hardtop, Marina Blue over bright blue, it was stock, but from California and to find a 14 year old car in NY that wasn't rotted out to the door handles was not easy, but my winter beater was a 70 Barracuda that I wish like hell that I had kept!, I started to fix it up at my Oma's house but had no money would love to have another but they are priced out of the stratosphere!☹️☹️☹️

[@duggiedude]

I had and still have my 70 GTO. Still love it.

[@jaypeterson7637]

I graduated in 1973 and drove a 1964 Mercury Monterey (I paid $125) that had more rust than sheet metal. The interior was like new and the back window was slanted back toward the passengers and was powered! It was great for eliminating the many different kinds of smoke out the back without being wind blown, especially in the freezing Minnesota winters! The year after high school '74, I bought a 1962 Ma Bell Ford Econoline van. I completely customized it inside and out and installed a quadriphonic 8 track music system. Also had air shocks with chrome wheels and 'baby moons'! My dad's secretary refered to it as an "adult playpen".🤣🤣

[@stevedeleon8775]

I went to High School from 1974 to 1977..I bought my first car in my junior year 1976 it was a 1970 1/2 Chevelle "Heavy Chevy" 396 V8..It was basically a SS without the Logos & the high insurance cost..

[@N3219T]

'68 Olds F-85 with the top V8 and a Rochester 4bbl carb. Very quiet car until you opened the back of the carb; then it roared and was untouchable.

[@jcm78]

Graduated in 96. Freshman and sophomore year I drove a 1977 International Scout. Junior and senior year I had a 1969 Chevelle SS396. One appears at 0:40!

[@iateagt]

I had a 76 Chevy Nova Medalist 2 door with a small block V8 and dual exhaust with bucket seat and a center console wit a shifter. It was white with red interior. I miss that car.

[@7gear642]

I graduated in ‘76…. first drove a ‘65 Pontiac LeMans Convertible and later a ‘68 Chevrolet Impala 2-dr Fastback.

[@phillipanderson2607]

I graduated in 1981. I remember people driving Vega and pintos and grandprixs too. My first car was a 1967 fast back mustang. My brother had a 1967 gt Fairlane with a factory 4 speed 289cu engine. I remember riding in the winter time my brother would have the windows down and the eight track player would be playing ZZ Topps music as loud as he could play it . The car had mufflers called glass packs with duel exhaust. Very loud car. Fun to drive. Miss those early years. Miss mustang too.

[@MeetJoeBlack55]

1968 Torino GT ... 390 .. Holley 4bbl .. C6 auto .. It was a nice cruiser. Thanks for bringing back some memories !!

[@JeffWilkinson]

Graduated in '79, drove 2 cars in high school. The first was something completely different, a '72 Fiat 124 Sport that my Dad brought back from Germany, and the second was a '72 Plymouth Duster with a 340. My best friend drove a '71 Barracuda with the same engine. There were a lot of Mopars in the parking lot of my high school in Georgia.

[@BobMckinsey]

I think we had more camaros than any other style car in our high school

[@frankanderson4176]

I had a Fiat 128 Sport L in the late 70's in S. GA. Great car early on but then EVERYTHING started collapsing! Fiat exited the U.S. not long after. Learned my lesson on dud cars with that one. Same happened to a friend with a 131. Hope yours was better, it was a cool car.

[@EdSuggs]

I graduated in 1981 and no one was driving 70's cars, we were driving 60's cars. No one at my school could afford to drive the cars in your video!

[@928Porscheman]

My first car in High School was a 1970 Dodge Charger 500 with the 440 magnum with Cragar SS wheels. I sold it in my Senior year and bought a 1972 Chevy Malibu 350. I added Cragar SS wheels to it as well.

[@davidkeeton6716]

Why? What a downgrade.

[@928Porscheman]

@@davidkeeton6716 it was around 1979 and muscle cars were cheap. My gas tank started leaking and my parents thought it would be better to buy a newer car rather than just replace the gas tank. I agree it was definitely a downgrade. The Charger of 79 was a hideous car.

[@ksigurdsen034482]

I graduated high school in 1988. My ride was a '77 Mercury Cougar XR-7. Smooth ride, not very fast but reasonable on gas mileage.

[@user-oi1ug8jp5p]

Drove 1974 laguna s 3 just like no. 3 nice car

[@OLDS98]

It was the Chevrolet Chevelle. I know because I have the same car on my shelf in my home in black. I was not in high school in the 1970's, but I do recall the times as I was live back then as well. I was took busy watching Wonder Woman and Isis tv shows. Thank you for the list and the video footage.

[@WeGoWalk]

While I attended high school from 1972 to 1976, I drove my father’s 1967 Dodge Polara when I could get it. I had 3 other brothers who drove it as well. With a 318 Mopar V8 and a posi-traction rear axel, that baby burned rubber on every turn. I once had 12 high school girls in that car one snowy winter’s night and took them all tobogganing. What a great night, what a great car!

[@wrathofdon63]

My high school parking lot in the late 70's in Mesquite Tx. was loaded with hand me down Cutlasses, Bonnevilles, older Buicks, impalas, pintos, VW bugs, Vegas, gremlins, a few Novas, Camaros, Chevelles, and any thing else you get get a pair of Mickey Thompson N50's under the rear with air shocks.

[@towgod7985]

How could a high school student in the 70's afford one of those cars? BTW, I would love a restomod wagon!

[@chrisshort9097]

Cars were a lot cheaper. I bought my 70 Roadrunner in 75 or 76 for $1,200 and was only making $2.30 a hour

[@jamestriebwasser1867]

True.

[@jamestriebwasser1867]

Drove a 1972 Ford Maverick, 2 door, blue, white vinyl top, auto. However, it came from California, no rust, with the 302 2bbl. Y’all know where I went from there….yep, cammed, headers, dual exhaust, built C4. 😊

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

We new this going into the video. That's why we prefaced with an explanation at the TOP. Thank you for watching!!!!

[@Bobby-W.]

In high school i drove a 1973 Plymouth Fury 3. There were some 1974 GTO'S and Novas and Chevelle's n Camaros and other not so popular mainstream cars. On Friday night's it was race/party night at the digs. I miss those days. ❤

[@todds9839]

I had one or those. Puke green 4 door. Ugly as sin.😅

[@user-ip1ro6qx2b]

I graduated in 1976. I drove a short box 2WD Ford F-100 with a 240ci 6 in it w/ an auto trans. Really gutless and it sounded like a washing machine running. The auto trans would pop out of Park into reverse. God help whoever was behind you. It was metallic Sequoia Brown with a black interior. Hey, my Dad bought and I got to drive it! The first car I bought was a 67 Dodge Coronet 440 two door hardtop with a 318, 2bbl and auto trans. Great car. Wish I had it today.

[@kevincothron5089]

My senior year my parents bought a 79 Chevy Monte Carlo. Before then I drove a 73 Caprice Classic. The first car i had was a 66 Plymouth Belvedere. Lots of good memories from all of them.