My first vehicle was a '55 Willy's station wagon (looked quite like a Cherokee). But that had no plates and I had no driver's license as I was not of age. No bother though, as a farm boy I could legally drive anywhere, as long as it was for farm business. And of course, I could drive on the farm for recreation; plenty of space for that. Plenty of fuel too; there was a gas pump in the garage. Not as much time though, what with all the cows.

My first vehicle with plates was a '72 Water Buffalo. My parents bought it for me so I could take my mother shopping when my father was out of town. Years later, I wrecked it and then traded it even up for a Fiat, my first actual car (although I had owned several pickups). No, I didn't fix the bike first.