Sand Mountain Reporter

I was watching television with Dad last weekend when an “infomercial” starring Robert Wagner aired during a commercial break.

I don’t remember what Wagner was peddling – maybe it was insurance or something to senior adults – but I do remember the car he was standing beside, which was a classic convertible.

“It’s a ’49 Ford convertible,” Daddy said without hesitation, when I asked him about the make and model.

“I had a ’49 Ford coupe,” Dad volunteered.

Of course, I know a lot of things about Daddy’s life, but I don’t know much about the vehicles he owned before I became old enough to remember them.

You can describe Daddy as a Ford man, because the majority of cars and trucks he’s driven have been Fords.

But last weekend, I learned his first car was a 1946 Chevrolet. He couldn’t recall the model, but that’s OK.

Dad’s driven many vehicles many miles since he bought his first ride.

He purchased either the Chevrolet or the Ford coupe from the Wells Brothers’ lot in Boaz, which Dad said used to be on Alabama 205.

The first family car I remember was a Ford Galaxie.

It was a four-door white sedan with a red interior, and I think it was a 1966 model.

The next car I remember was a 1972 or ’73 Ford LTD sedan. It had a dark blue vinyl top but a light blue-colored body.

One of my favorite memories of the LTD was going on vacation in the summer of 1975 or ’76.

We dropped Grandmother and Granddaddy Allen off at her sister Mattie Belle’s home near Fayetteville, Tenn., and then my family drove to Nashville and visited Opryland.

My Granddaddy Allen loved to make you laugh, and I remember he kept me in stitches on that trip.

Granddaddy Allen drove Fords, and all five of his sons own, or have owned, Ford products.

Staying true to family custom, my first car was a 1981 Ford Mustang.

It was a white hatchback with a red interior, and my parents bought it for me early in my senior year of high school.

I still remember the thrill of driving it to school for the first time.

My current ride – a 2007 Nissan Altima – is the eighth vehicle I’ve driven since I obtained my license during Ronald Reagan’s first term in the White House.

I’ve driven five Fords and enjoyed all of them, but the Altima is my favorite.

Of course, I’ll trade it or sell it again some day – maybe for another Altima.

My co-worker, Donald Driver, likes to tease me about getting new car fever every three or four years.

But when it comes to fevers, that’s not a bad one to have.

Shannon J. Allen is sports editor of The Sand Mountain Reporter. His e-mail address is sports(at)sandmountainreporter.com.

Share | Save | Mail | Print | Letter

Follow the Reporter on Twitter:

SMR News and
SMR Sports

Serving Albertville and the Sand Mountain region

Publisher: Ben Shurett

1603 Progress Drive
Albertville, Alabama 35950

Tel: 256-840-3000 | Email

A Southern Newspapers publication.