Trucks count.

Here's another question. I remember my mom and aunt telling me that many years ago, if you got your license on an automatic transmission vehicle, your license specified that's what you could drive. If you passed your test on a manual transmission, you could legally drive either. If you had the "automatic transmission" only license, you had to take the test again if you wanted to drive the manual transmission vehicles.

Anyone remember anything similar?

 

First time driving a car. My dad told me to back out the 1972 Pontiac Grandville, with the 454. Not sure how old I was, but I guess, 12 because I was driving a 100cc motorcycle. Well if you want to get a 100cc motorcycle to move, you got to give it the gas. Needless to say, I stepped on the gas too hard and squealed the tires as I backed up 30 yards. With a laugh from both my brother and dad.

The first time on the road. For school we went to an outdoor center to do all sorts of activities. The way back was only 3/8 mile from my house. And a friend only lived like 1 1/2 away and I told him I would drive him there. We got off the bus instead of riding into town and then all the way back. I was 15 and 2 months. You can get your temps in Wisconsin at 15 1/2 and license at 16 (full back then, restricted today). I took the beat up "project" truck my dad had, a 1957 Ford, with its bad brakes (well almost non-existent), rusted body, and 15 year out of date registration. One mile from my parents, a cop pulls out in front of us, I mean literally out in front of us that I had to brake hard, but ahh...umm...no real brakes, I shifted down to 2nd going 55 and slowed down enough to not cause suspicion. After about 10secs I was sooooooo nervous I almost peed my pants. Dropped off my friend and got back home.

Certainly there is no law about auto/manual in Wisconsin. Not in 1980 (when I was 16) nor today. They did have (not sure about now) a restriction about motorcycle CC size. If you took you test on a 500cc motorcycle or lower, you could only ride a 500cc or lower. If you took the test on a 501cc motorcycle or above you could ride anything.

 

Fist car was my mothers 57 chevy automatic. Once I mastered that my father took me into the truck yard and it became my job to jocky the trucks, 18 wheeler low boy trailers, around the lot. Change oil, fix lights, check tires and general do boy kinda stuff. I loved it. Learned how to back up an 18 wheeler, and park it, by the time I was fifteen.

One test drives all in Michigan, back then.

dvh

 

'61 Tempest LeMans, manual (4 speed as I recall) I was about 12. My Dad had parked it on the street, then asked me to pull it in the driveway for him. 6-8 stalls later, I got it there, and I learned a LOT about clutches. ;-)

Dave

 

We had the same law in New York State. If you tested on manual transmissions you were good to go. If you tested on automatics you had to retest to drive standards. I lived in the country, so it was important to have wheels. I received my license at 15 1/2 years old. I had to have an adult with me to drive, even if they were not licensed, until I reached 16.

 

We had the same law in New York State. If you tested on manual transmissions you were good to go. If you tested on automatics you had to retest to drive standards. I lived in the country, so it was important to have wheels. I received my license at 15 1/2 years old. I had to have an adult with me to drive, even if they were not licensed, until I reached 16.

 

When did you take your test? I took my test in New York City in 1966 and there was no law like that. Once you passed you could drive either manual or automatic regardless of what you passed on.

The only time I had to take an additional test was to get my motorcycle license. Even then, once you passed you could ride any motorcycle you wanted regardless of the weight of the motorcycle you used for the test.

 

I suppose I proved myself running outboards on Lake Erie with my friends at age 14. At about that time, my father let me drive our "57 Merc convertible from the garage, around the block, to the front of the house, and back. It really was a different time.

 

When did you take your test? I took my test in New York City in 1966 and there was no law like that. Once you passed you could drive either manual or automatic regardless of what you passed on.

The only time I had to take an additional test was to get my motorcycle license. Even then, once you passed you could ride any motorcycle you wanted regardless of the weight of the motorcycle you used for the test.

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I took my test in 1961 in Plattsburgh, New York. Near the Canadian border. Because of the rural enviroment they also allowed us to get our license at 15 1/2 instead of 16. I would believe that in NYC, you would have had to wait until 16 years of age.

 

Actually, I could take the test at 16, but I couldn't be licensed until 17, and that was only if you took a sanctioned Drivers Ed course. If you didn't take the course you had to wait until 18 to drive.