My dad worked for a company that sold nonferrous metals to the auto industry (among others). We owned one car, but that was the norm at that time. I think my mom was in her late 20s before she learned to drive.
We lived in Highland Park, just a few blocks from both Chrysler World Headquarters and Ford's first assembly line (where Donnamb's grandfather worke, IIRC). Many of my friends' fathers worked for the auto companies and allied industries. My uncle was a bigwig in Fisher Body and later Olds. My dad took me to the big auto show most years as I was growing up. But he always bought "sensible" cars like a Studebaker Lark and a Rambler station wagon.