I owned one of those (a 59) but a buddy used to say: 36 'screaming teutonic' hp. I learned to drive a few years earlier (54 Chevy) - that beetle was a riot & you mentioning it sure does bring back a lot of post high school memories. Thanks for the 'buzz' Glen.

Cheers
JB

My dad taught me to drive a manual on his '83 BMW 320i when I was 12 or 13. I later learned to drive on its replacement, another E21 in a different color with the sport package, and my mom's Volvo 740 Turbo wagon. The second E21 was my car in high school, and the first car I took to the track.

My mom's 1961 Vauxhall Victor (Deluxe!) with a three speed column shift.

Many years later, I asked my dad what prompted them to buy that particular model:

"Consumer Reports". :(

But we were so lucky, in those days, to be able to use it. She even let us take it skiing.

Learn to drive - club cars and ezgo's at the country club I spent my summers at...

dad taught me how to drive a manual transmission when I was 11 or 12 in his 83 911SC

Just like this one but with four doors.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1463429237.jpg

'65 356 C coupe #222522 - still have it :)

Like this! But not this!
 

Allis Chalmers D17

Very similar here...I learnt in a 1956 ex-NZ Army Landrover Short Wheel Base Series One.

4 on the floor with transfer case. Crank handle start if the (Lucas) starter motor packed up. Spare tyre on the bonnet and another one bolted to the back. No seat belts. No door locks. No roll cage.

I went to fairly posh private school and I used to drive up in this thing while other kids were into their brand new Civic Si's and Mazda DOHC Turbos - hell there were even a couple of new 944's and an Evo 1 AMG 190E Merc. But mine was the coolest by far....

Money can't buy "cool" haha

Once when we lived in Japan and I was 13 or 14, dad took me out in the family car. It was some sort of small wagon with a manual trans, right hand drive. The drive was short, and that was it until I was 15.

This is pretty much the exact car (minus luggage rack) that I learned to drive in, 52hp and 4 on the floor.
http://img.timeinc.net/time/2007/50_...y_chevette.jpg
The second car that I drove while I was learning was one of these, '82 Pontiac Grand Prix. I know that I drove it, but I don't really remember driving it much.
https://static.cargurus.com/images/s...0-640x480.jpeg

This was the car that I was given by my parents a bit after I got my license and drove the Chevette a little. 1965 Chevy Impala, 2dr, 350 (from a junkyard that the PO installed), 4speed Muncie and pretty low gears, probably 4.11:1. It was a ton of fun for a new driver without being so powerful that it got me into too much trouble.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1463432973.jpg

The family wagon, a 9 passenger 65 Impala around town. The 68 Chevy stick shift "Open Road" motorhome on weekends (heading to the ski area), and took the test in moms 71 VW. Aced it.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1463433986.jpg

'74 Vega

such a POS that I "upgraded" to a wrecked '72 TR6 which required at least an hour of work each night so I could drive it to school the next day.

1950 something ford 8N farm tractor. Then a 1946 Willys Jeep. The jeep is still here on the farm parked in the weeds.

1958 El Camino, three on the tree with a 15ft clutch throw.

It was our ranch manure truck. I was 12 years old.

1976 Ford F-100. 3 on the tree.

5 speed 1983 Toyota Tercel, just like this...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1463437038.jpg

My father would not let me take my test unless it was in a manual car.

67 Chevy PU Three Speed Column. Worked for a tree service during the summer at 14 years old, cutting Elms in Providence. I had to drive between the Bucket Truck and the Chipper Truck. A 14 year old driving a PU Truck with a bunch of Chain saws! First car 72 Duster w/ 318

'54 Plymouth Savoy. The 'mushiest' 3-on-a-tree you can imagine. The '61 Ford I drove to school seemed Hurst-like by comparison.
And a B John Deere if we're talking about driving when five years old.

I will never forget learning to drive a stick in my friends lime green superbee. 1969 or 1970.
Hemi engine, hurst shifter. Huge rear wing. I could barely push the clutch down. Damn that car was fast 0-40mph. Most torque I have ever tried to control.
Learned to drive, and passed my drivers test, in a huge 1964 buick station wagon.
gary