Monday Memories: 1949 Ford

My memories today were triggered by this car I spotted Saturday at a nearby vintage market/car show.

This is a 1949 Ford. And it is very similar (same year) to the car my mom owned during much of my growing up years.

Some of you know that my dad died when I was an infant.  In addition to my mom and me, the family also included my two teenage sisters.  So times were very tight for my mom.

As a child, I remember feeling that our car was something from the dark ages. Of course, I was too young to know that it was the best my mom could afford. Looking back now, I know I shouldn’t have felt that way, but I was too young to understand money matters.

Sadly, the Halloween night that I was seven years old, Mom’s car was vandalized, apparently, because we kept the lights off and didn’t give out candy. (Mom had taken a bad fall in August of that year, resulting in a severely broken ankle. She was in a cast until November.)

So although I have sad memories of that car, I also have a fond one. I remember that, once I got a little older, she would let me sit close beside her and change gears (manual transmission on ‘the column’) when we were on a quiet country road. I was so excited, and couldn’t wait until I was old enough to drive.

Mom had babied that car and patched up or replaced nearly every part of it, and she finally had to let it go…maybe 1967? I thought we were really in the modern age when we traded it in on a somewhat newer car.  I can’t say for sure, but I’m thinking it was a Plymouth Valiant….early 60’s?

And if I spot one of those at a car show, I’ll definitely snap a pic to share.

~These Days Of Mine~