[Dan in Pasadena]

I haven't driven a column three speed since my dad "sold" his purchased-new black '55 Chevy Belair two door hard top with a 235 straight six and three speed overdrive trans in 1974 for $450. Yeah, I know. It was immaculate too! He bought that engine because he knew, "those new V8's aren't going to amount to anything" lol.

He'd given it to me to drive during high school and I didn't want it because I wanted a '66 Chevy van (Holy Mother of God, what the HELL was I thinking? - don't answer that). I'm very confident I could get into a three-on-the-tree car and drive it flawlessly today, some 45 years since I last did it.

Today I'd LOVE to have one. If my '55 truck had not been converted to an SBC before I bought it I'd have left it. Possibly put a later 292 straight six but I'd have kept the three speed and column shift. Nothing is as cool today.