My best friend was 3 years older than me. He got married young (16) and in '59, when I was 15, we made a deal for his '48 Merc, coupe, tuck & roll seats, 3/16 bored, stock engine. The price was my folks, new looking couch & chair (with their permission)
BUT, I wasn't to drive it, until I got my license. Well, you know...... I got caught and my dad had it hauled off for junk
He let me keep the engine and '39 trans but, that was all.
I didn't get another car until '62, when I got out of HS, went to work, the next day and bought a '57 Austin Healey, for $1300 a few months later. Wanted a '57 T-bird but, they were $2000.