What vehicle took you to prom?
Odds are we’ve all looked to beg, borrow, rent, or buy a nicer car for an occasion, be it a senior year promenade, fall homecoming, winter social, or a Sadie Hawkins dance. Maybe we needed to foolishly impress that special someone. Perhaps we wanted something as nice as the tuxedo/dress we had purchased for the event. No matter, we forked over a lot of cash for our high-school dances—why should our vehicle be any different?
While a limo is never the wrong answer, I bet the Hagerty Community has stories from its delightful youth that include acquiring a special vehicle for a special high school dance. Here are a few shots from my senior prom in the month of May, more than a couple of decades ago.
Yup, that’s 18-year-old Sanjeev, back when I’d actually get upset by stupid jerks careless folks taking it upon themselves to correct the spelling/pronunciation of my name. But I matured, and my growth from adolescence to whatever I am today has been surprisingly plateau-like. Former high-school classmates tell me I haven’t changed a bit, and perhaps my prom machine proves the point: a 1991 Lincoln Mark VII Bill Blass with 1990s-rad purple pinstripe applied at the factory.
The stripe matched my date’s sparkly fuscia dress, but color coordination wasn’t why I picked it. (I loved the car I drove back then and fully expected to use it as my prom vehicle. No surprise, it turned into Hagerty’s Project Valentino.) My mom insisted that I not drive her hand-me-down car and that I upgrade my designer-series Lincoln game instead. No 130-horsepower Valentinos for my prom; I was getting a 225-horsepower Bill Blass to go with that tuxedo.
Of course, Mom didn’t throw out the horsepower figures, nor would my date care about the improved powerband from post-Malaise-era engineering. But I already crushed the spirits of a classmate when racing the Bill Blass—which belonged to Mom—against his throttle-body-injected 5.0 Camaro, so I knew a giddy little thrill merging onto the highway was in my future. Turns out the Lincoln Mark VII’s healthy, high-output mill wasn’t too far behind that of its Fox-body brother, the 1986–93 Mustang. And sleepers like this Bill Blass were extra special back then, as there was no internet to spill our automotive beans.
No matter, my prom was fun, and my date is a friend to this day. The Bill Blass didn’t last as long. With the tale concluded, the question must be asked again to members of the Hagerty Community: What vehicle took you to prom?
Bonus points if you provide a photo, as we’d love to share fancy high-school dance photos with everyone. (With the consent of anyone else pictured, if applicable.) So if you have a picture handy, send it to me at pistonslap@hagerty.com and I will use it in the article!
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In 1975 drove a 1967 Pontiac GTO, Fathom Blue with black interior. Hurst dual gate automatic. No power steering or brakes and no air conditioning. Bought car in December of 1974 for $700 at age 17. My first car. Remember everything about the car. Very nice condition.
Ah, the days when you could buy a “very nice condition” 7-year-old GTO for $700 – please, please, please TAKE ME BACK! 😄
In the early 80’s my son was going to a prom with no date. The company I worked for had an ole Mack Dump truck. He asked me if I’d drive him there in the ole beast. I said “”hell yes”. He worked on that truck till it looked like a rough show truck. We made a statment for sure, some 40 years later when he see ole classmates they say “hey, your the kid that came to the Prom in the Dump truck”.
Went to my 1980 prom in a Fathom Green ’69 Camaro, still have the car 43 years later…can’t say the same about the date.
1970 prom. 66 Plymouth Satellite with a 440 and 727 auto. Keystone Klassic wheels and redline tires.
What a fine car you had. I was fortunate to acquire an unmolested mostly original ‘66 Coronet 440 2dr hrdtop. Original 426 hemi w/dual 4bbl, heavy duty A727 three speed automatic and limited slip differential. Currently w/4.10 gears. Manual steering and brakes. Runs, drives and handles great. I’d like to swap the gears out for something more highway suitable. Preferably what came from the factory.
Junior prom in 73 was a bronze 1969 Buick Skylark, 350 2 barrel. Sounded like a jet engine when pushed. Mint green tux. Ugh.
Senior prom was a bright blue 1972 Skylark. She could also fly. Canary yellow tux with platform shoes. Cool.
1960 Dodge Dart Phoenix. Monstrous 4 door with a 318. Great beer wagon.
1974 or 1975 (can’t remember which) prom, drove the 1965 Ford Fairlane my father bought for me to drive when my aunt was going to trade it in. Visualize a shoebox, you have the styling for that car (1966 & 1967 models looked a LOT better). My brother got to drive our parents’ 1969 Galaxie 500, a nicer ride. Anyway, it wasn’t an impressive ride, I was a hopelessly shy and awkward nerd and she was quite a looker, so she moved on to more impressive guys.
1978 – my 1976 Toyota Celica GT Fastback 5 speed, I was a Jr she was a Sr
1979 – my 1971 GT Ranchero, 351 Cleveland 4v carb, Light green w/ wood paneling, skinny rims and tyres w/dog dish hubcaps. That car was such a sleeper
My 1969 junior prom i went in my 1965 Impala SS. My 1970 senior prom i went in my new 1970 Mustang Sportsroof.
2004 Mazda 3 for Jr. Prom, hopefully something better for senior prom lol
Went to prom in 1966 in my 1962 Impala SS Anniversary Gold ! Didn’t really how rare they were at the time !! Miss the car,girl not so much !
My granddad let me take his new black 1961 Cadillac convertible to our Prom in 1961. Quite a big deal for a young kid to be trusted with such a nice, new car. I had my own 57 Thunderbird that I could have used, but that Cadillac was a special treat to be able to use on that special night. As was the tradition, we stayed out all night into the next morning. (I have a photo of that Cadillac, but don’t know how to attach it )
Missed the article, prom 1968, drove my 65 /442 convertible to our downtown chicago prom at the hancock buildingi
1968 prom was in a 1957 MGA, a sheet draped over the passenger side to protect the (ill-advised) light yellow dress. The car was in the process of a backyard body restoration, my backyard and my future husband’s car. I married the car (and him, but that didn’t last) and it started a long line of roadster love including 3 TR3s, a GT6 and a Miata, the last two I still drive regularly and the other three are still in the family. They’ve lasted longer than most of the men.
I was in a Cadillac Limo