Student Cars

Sweet rides

Students share what makes their vehicle special to them

Alex Duer duerale000@hsestudents.org

While many students who can drive see cars as just a tool to get from point A to point B, others take pride in their wheels. Maybe it is the engine under the hood, the features the car contains or the story behind it. For these students, their car is more than just a machine.

Senior Tony Crane’s 1994 Ford F-250:

e Ford F-series of trucks has been the best-selling line of pickup trucks in America since 1977. For senior Tony Crane, it is the engine that sets it apart: a 7.5-liter gas-powered V8 that can get even the toughest of jobs done. “I like how reliable it is,” Crane said. “It has one of the biggest engines Ford has ever made and one of the most reliable.” e Ford F-series is well known for being a leader in towing and payload capacity, mainly because of their big engines. While larger engines may pull more weight, their downside is their poor fuel economy. For Crane, better fuel mileage is something he wished he had. When asked, he put it frankly: “It’s bad on gas.” With gas prices at an all time high, there is likely some pain at the pump. Cars are not cheap, and therefore are o en personal to their owner. erefore, people o en forge bonds and memories with them. “[When] the auction came up to purchase it, we decided that it would be the vehicle I drove for the rest of high school,” Crane said. “It holds a good amount of sentimental value.”

Senior Xavier Woodard’s Jeep Wrangler:

Although originally just a title for a 4 by 4 military vehicle, Jeep has turned into one of the most popular American car brands, thanks to the Wrangler: an o -road SUV with plenty of customization. As a jeep driver himself, senior Xavier Woodard loves one particular aspect: the ability to take the top o . “Having the top o is nice, especially going home when it is hotter out,” Woodard said. “I have a rag-top, so it is so and easy to take o and on.” So when the weather doesn’t pan out, he does not have to worry. When shopping to buy a Jeep, make sure to check the model and features each vehicle has. e Wrangler comes in many di erent styles and trims, making it easy to pick the wrong one. Because the Jeep Wrangler pays homage to military vehicles, it contains some unique features. “It has manual windows so you have to roll them up and down yourself,” Woodard said. “ e doors come o pretty easily.”

Senior Landon Norton’s 1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442:

Although the Oldsmobile branch of vehicles dissolved in 2004, the brand lives on in spirit, thanks to their memorable line of muscle cars. Of their lineup, the most mainstream was the 442, a highend model of the Oldsmobile Cutlass, which is senior Landon Norton’s vehicle of choice. But what does the number 442 mean? As a driver of a 1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 himself, Norton explained: “442 stands for four barrel carburetor, 4 speed transmission, and dual exhaust.” e ‘70s were a di erent time in comparison to today, as American manufacturers continued the trend of roomy interiors with sometimes quirky gadgets. As such, Norton’s cutlass contains some distinct interior features, including the seats and lights. “ e backseat is a bench that can t three people,” Norton said. “ e front seats are bucket seats that turn up to 90 degrees towards the door, and the overhead light inside, along with the lights along the dash shine the color blue.” However, sometimes old cars lack the features new cars have. For Norton, his only wish would be a working air conditioner, noting that sometimes he has to crank the windows down to cool o . Despite the inconvenience, the car holds a special place in his mind. “My vehicle is special to me because it was gi ed to me by my grandpa, and it is a really cool car to have as my rst ride,” Norton said.

Did you know?

The abbreviation for V8 notes the position of the cylinders in the engine and how many cylinders are present. For example, Crane’s F-250 contains eight cylinders aligned in a “V” pattern. Graphic used with permission from Wikimedia commons.

Jeeps are so iconic in American culture that they do not put any emblem or logo on the front. Photo from Pixabay.

Although many muscle cars with numbers refer to engine displacement, the 442 has meanings behind each number. Graphic by Alex Duer.