At either 15 or 16, in a 1964 Chevy PU, 3 sp on the Tree, Granny low and a very strong Z28 engine in it:D
Looked like this, but not nearly as nice.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359669680.jpg

I grew up on a farm here in Va. EVERYTHING was manual stick/clutch. Learned at a very early age to drive and operate just about anything with wheels or tracks. Also could stick weld pretty good by 10

My first car when I was 16 was a stick.

I knew the basics of clutches from riding dirt motorcycles, but had never really driven a stick shift car.

For whatever reason, my parents assumed I knew how to drive a stick, so they just sent me on my way. Just trial error the first day or so! At least there were no witnesses.

1982 @ 15 in dads 1977 vw bus. i still have it in my driveway.
i have never owned an AT in my life.

Learned to ride dirt bikes first at 11 or 12 or so so that helped. Drove a stick 14 yrs old, me and my buddy taking the keys to his sisters Celica after midnight.

Still driving a stick after 30 yrs!

First, dirtbikes at 7.

First automobile: Dad's buddies 2wd Nissan truck at 14...remembering the vivid instruction.

"Ok Sean! Bring the RPM to about 4000, and let the clutch fly...that oughtta getcha goin."

Flawless plan

In '94.... 1986 Mustang GT 5.0L. Looking back on it, this was probably a bad choice. Not a very balanced machine.

First lesson was on my cousin's Honda Trail 70 when I was 12 or so. Second lesson was by dad having me shift gears from the passenger seat of his VW bug. Third lesson came when I got my first dirt bike. By the time I actually got to drive a stick (1970 VW Beetle), it just sort of made sense.

I learned on my mom's old VW at age 15....nailed it in about 1/2 day!

I borrowed a friend of mine's dad's big Pontiac...I think it was a Firechief, to take my driver's test in....it had an automatic and power brakes. I wasn't used to the power brakes. I damn near launched the DMV guy through the windshield when I had to brake suddenly! I gave him heck for not wearing the seatbelt and I think he might have bruised his chin on the dashboard....he still gave me a pass on my test!

Alex

I was 16 and it was in my Dads Swedish Tank, 240d Volvo. Right after that it was in a friends 1981 911sc...that's where my sickness came from.

When I was 13 yrs. old in 1973 an old family friend hired me to work at his gas station. I would be there in the evenings. Lets just say I self taught myself thanks to the generosity of the customers cars that had to be moved around the lot.

15 in a 74 super beetle.

14 years old.
64 Ford Galaxy 500. 3 on the tree, no synchro first gear.
73 one ton Ford welding truck.
A bunch of old VWs after that.

This has been a fun thread for me to read.
I feel a commonality, an affinity for y'all.
To learn to drive & to acquire a driver's license was a defining moment for us...it was The Big Deal at the time.
.
Thanks for sharing. SmileWavy

I'm impressed.

I had been riding dirtbikes for many years so I already had an understanding of the clutch/gear change think worked. Then my buddy let me drive his Nova with a 3 speed on the tree and I was hooked. My son learned in my SC:)

I also rode dirt bikes starting at age 15. First stick in a car was a TR-3 that a neighbor let me putt around the neighborhood. Truly learned in a 1973 Capri V-6 when I was 17. We lived on a hill, so I had to learn fast... Only needed the e-brake for a week or so!

Learned to drive in a 73 Datsun 620 four speed. I was a GD terror in that little truck and it would haul more than a half ton should. Migrated to an 89 Dodge Custom 100 with three on the tree while still in HS.

After HS, I was on to Datsun 240 and 280Zs with five speeds. First "family car" was a 91 Maxima SE 5 speed which I just sold a year ago with 265k on the clock and still sportin the original clutch. I'm now commuting with a 2010 MCS 6 speed and of course I have my 70S.

The only autos in my life are a 67 Chrysler 300 that was my old man's (great date cruiser when I was 17/18), my wife's 89 Commanche pick up (with the 4.0) and our 2000 Cherokee.

I will have manuals till I go into the ground.

17 YO, my dad gave me a 78 VW rabbit and provided me with about 5 minutes of instruction when I lived in Long Island.

Worn shifter bushings and it sometimes popped out of 3rd gear.

After a few hours in a parking lot I got it down pat and took it for a drive onto the BQE, one of the scariest moments of my life, thoughts in my mind were: don't panic, don't over rev on a downshift and be careful of the taxicabs.

Looking back I have never needed to replace a clutch in my 28 year driving history.

Looking forward to teaching my daughter how to drive a stick shift, might need some meds first....

Seems like the most popular answers are:

- Tractor, then stick

- Motorcycle 1st, then stick

- VDub

Best friend taught me on his dad's 65 VW...polished off the lessons on my dads 67 Opel Rallye.

In my neighbors Datsun B210 he needed someone to go with him to pick up his other car from shop and drive it back. Threw me in the front seat went around the block a few times and off we went, from Alhambra to Rosemead in So. Cal.
Remember killing it several times, once in the middle of a huge intersection, stressful at the time but funny to look back on now.

"how did you learn to drive stick and when"

I was about 11, in my bedroom one night, alone, bored, ....