Since we are on the topic of first cars... 1976 Chevy Malibu Classic, one year older than I was.  Mine, however, was all silver and I ran it into the ground.  I beat that car all to hell, driving over rutted dirt roads and all kinds of shenanigans.  But I do recall it basically being a tank and it had a surprisingly spacious interior, especially the backseat... not that I took advantage of that, mind you, goody two-shoes that I was.