Inspired by Adam Dixon’s recent post, I’ve decided to bookend my own COAL series by writing about some of the cars of my father. I’ve already covered some of his cars in my early COAL entries, but there are lots more to go over (enough for several articles, as it turns out). Let’s take a look back.
Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Dad, Mom, and the Karmann Ghia on their wedding day.
It was many years before I discovered that my Dad owned one of these, and I gotta say I was shocked when I found out. He was never much of a car guy, and I still have a hard time believing it, even though the photographic proof is right here: The picture above was taken on my mom and dad’s wedding day, August 15, 1965. It would be the first and last imported car he would ever own.
I have no idea what year Ghia this is: I am no expert on these, so I will leave it to the grizzled car spotters in the comment section to properly identify it. Since my parents married in 1965, so it can’t be any newer than that.
Dad never spoke much about this car, but I do remember on one occasion him extolling the virtues of the air-cooled engine, being able to drive through all kinds of hot weather when other cars were pulled over due to overheating (a common problem back in those pre-coolant recovery tank days).
Sadly my Dad is no longer around to ask about this car, but according to one of his brothers he bought this car because he wanted something “inexpensive and economical.” I might add “stylish” to this list as well since the first two requirements could have easily been met by any VW Beetle, which were in abundant supply in the ’60s. Dad, you may have fooled everyone else (and maybe yourself, too), but you didn’t fool me!
1969 Beechcraft 19A
Left to Right: Mom, Dad, me, and my brother.
Ok, this one is a little bit of a stretch, since it is not a car, and for that matter, it is not technically my father’s. Back in the early ’70s, my mom was a licensed pilot, and for a brief period of time, we owned a Beechcraft 19A, pictured above and below. I don’t have any photos, but I was able to take a couple of screen grabs from some VHS transfers of old 8mm home movies, so I apologize in advance for the poor quality.
I don’t actually remember much about this plane, other than throwing up in the back. To this day I am fascinated with flying, so maybe this is where it all started.
The tail number (N6144N) is clearly visible in the video, so just for grins I looked it up on the FAA’s website (this, by the way, is how I was able to determine the year, make, and model). Apparently, the plane still exists, is still airworthy (last certified in 2018), and is currently located in Louisiana. So to whoever owns N6144N now, here are some vintage pictures of it from around 1974.
1977 Ford Ranchero
Internet photo, since I couldn’t find a photo of actual vehicle.
I believe I talked about it in some of my previous COALs, but when I was growing up, my dad owned a small roofing company. As part of this business, he had a fleet of pickup and stake body trucks, which heavily influenced me early on, and formed a lot of my current attitudes towards pickup trucks.
Dad regularly drove a truck himself: Despite being the owner of the company, he frequently had to make job site visits for inspections or to deliver needed equipment and supplies. For those not familiar, roofing supplies are messy: Asphalt shingles, rolls of felt, and heavy cans of sticky, gooey, messy tar that gets on everything and never comes off. I ruined more clothes than I care to count coming into contact with that stuff as a kid. Anyways, there are two trucks that stand out in my memory from this time: A mid-70’s Dodge Adventurer, which I mostly remember for being tall, loud, bouncy, and for having a cool name.
The other truck that I distinctly remember is a 1977 Ford Ranchero. Even my nine-year-old self recognized what an upgrade this odd-looking half-Ford LTD II with a bed was over his other trucks. It was a regular car height, so 9-year old me could easily get in. Inside were actual cloth seats, full carpeting, and even air conditioning! As long as you didn’t look over your shoulder, you could almost imagine being in an actual car.
Unfortunately, my strongest memory of the Ranchero is not so positive. Dad and I were going somewhere on an overnight trip (I don’t remember where). There was no room in the cab, so our suitcases had to go back in the bed. It was dirty back there and I was afraid they would blow out, but Dad put them up close to the front and said that the cab would deflect the airflow around our bags. Then it started to rain, and Dad said that our bags would stay somewhat dry for the same reason.
I remember when we finally got to our hotel, it was pouring down rain. When I got to our room and opened my suitcase, my clothes were cold and damp (but luckily not soaked – So I guess my dad was right). I silently swore right then and there that I would never own such a stupid and impractical vehicle with no enclosed, heated storage space to keep your things warm, clean and dry.
I have honored that pledge all these years: I’ve never owned a pickup truck, and likely never will.
I enjoyed reading this piece, Tom, and am honored to have provided the inspiration!
Oddly enough, my father also once owned a Karmann Ghia, and like you, I also found it somewhat out of character for him. My father’s was somewhat older than yours, I’m thinking it was a ’61 or so. Dad went through a few periods of being a serial car-purchaser, and as far as I know this was his 4th car — the first three being two Oldsmobiles and a Mercury, so the Karmann Ghia was a rather sharp change.
He didn’t own it for long, and I don’t remember many stores about it. One that sticks in my mind, though, was that it didn’t have a heater. I’m thinking he bought the Karmann Ghia in an attempt to save money by driving a cheap-to-operate car, but quickly decided that saving money wasn’t fun. He traded it in on a Corvette — going from a car with about 36 hp to one with about 300.
Cool Coals.
I have always had a soft spot for Karmann Ghias.
I originally mentioned in my COAL Intro that I planned to do a family-owned PLOAL of a 1969 Beech V35A, tail number N1532A that was owned by my late brother-in-law and my late sister. My sister soloed in that V35A as part of her “need-to-land-it-if-my-husband-croaks training.
I did not know that plane owners can change the “N” number, and my research was like yours, that exact same V-Tail Bonanza is still going strong with its third tail number and a striking repaint in OK.
I have some old photographs that need to be scanned, and a few interesting tales to tell, of travels in that aircraft during the early 1970s.
The paint scheme of your N6144N in the photographs is very similar to the factory original paint on N1532A.
Here is a shot of the new paint scheme on that exact aircraft from the internet.
You do know they make pickup trucks with storage behind the seat…
Interesting stuff. My father is among the others who briefly owned a “foreign car” in the few years either side of 1960. My parents briefly owned a red Ghia, probably a 1958 or 59. Along with a Ford Anglia. The last to “foreign cars” either of them drove, except for a single 1990-91 Honda Accord that he had for a short while.
Dad was a pilot too, and shared ownership with 2 or 3 other guys on N-8614Y, a red, white and black Piper Twin Comanche. I just checked, and it appears to be still registered as well.
The Ranchero looks like one owned by a friend’s dad during my high school years. You hit 100% on common references in our lives with this piece.
My grandpa didn’t have a Ranchero, but he had the GM equivalent- a ’72 El Camino that looked like a Chevelle from the doors forward. I never understood that purchase. Grandpa was a “man’s man”- a hunter and a fisherman who spent a great deal of time outdoors. The El Camino just seemed, well, wrong somehow, especially when he drove it out to the boonies to enagage in his manly pasttimes. I remember he even towed a travel trailer with it.
Cool COAL. I love looking up old aircraft to see if they’re still around, nice that your dad’s still is.
My father never quite bought the Karmann Ghia, although I know he was seriously looking at one around 1965. Then mom got pregnant with my sister, and after that it was Ramblers.
My father was no big fan of cars. As long as it got him from A to B and back to A, he was fine with it. Sexiest car he ever had was an early 70s’ Fiat 850 soft top. Bought it the moment the kids left home as it was only a two seater. Ugliest car he’s ever owned was possibly this Austin Mayflower. I don’t remember it at all, but do remember it’s history. Caught fire and burnt to a crisp.
Isn’t that a Triumph Mayflower?
I got married in Vermont and drove north with my new bride in my very old Karmann Ghia for our honeymoon.
Quebec City in January is… memorable.
I didn’t realize that my wife’s uncle had put a note that said “Kiss me – I just got married!” under the gas tank flap that was on the passenger-side front fender, inches in front of my blushing bride’s window.
My wife’s uncle didn’t realize that I’d be the first person to pump gas into the car who could read a word of English – this was much later when we returned to Vermont.
I followed his instructions.
Though not grizzled but admittedly a grizzler, I’d say the Karmann is somewhere after ’59, as the lights are the higher ones than the ’55-’59 “lowlights”, where the headlights are obviously lower down on the fender. (The latter are the ones sought after by the beard-sculpted triple-organic latte set, whose frequently ethically dubious Silicon Valley employment means they’re also the only ones able to afford ’em now, but I am now both grizzling and digressing).
If you don’t mind my asking, can you give a brief bit of info on your mum being a pilot in the early ’70’s? It’s pretty unusual, surely pretty damn cool for a kid, and I suspect it’s likely pretty interesting in its own right.
Hi Justy- this is Tom’s Mom. I became a pilot for no other reason than that we lived in a very small town at the time. There wasn’t much to do, but there was an airport, so I decided to see if I could learn to fly. I had my doubts, but I was able to accomplish this. It was traditional to cut off the shirt tail of a new pilot when they made their first solo flight, and mine is probably still hanging there. Thanks for asking.
Regarding the Ranchero, it was bright red in color which made it even more hideous. I got a speeding ticket while hauling some roofing supplies. I was obeying the speed limit for cars, but (according to the police officer) Rancheros were classified as a truck, which had a lower speed limit.
Good for you!! I did the same thing and for much the same reason – I was looking for a challenge at a time in my life before too many responsibilities settled in. Plus my father had flown so I had a little experience going up with him when I was a kid. I still carry the license in my wallet, though it has not been active in maybe 30 years.
Justy, the K-G headlights were raised in 1959. I’m guessing this one is from the early ’60s.