What was the biggest 'find' you let get away?

1968 57 chev convert. $300.00 6/auto no one wanted it because it was a 6cyl. Same year 54 vette had 283 instead of the 6cyl $800.00

 

I had a 6'3" ex-wife. Does that count even though I don't miss her a bit?

 

A 1935 ford coupe for $1600. It was a roller, body was in pefect shape, the only bad part was below the deck lid. I was only 16 at the time and did not know anything about hot rods at this point in time. ALSO Three weeks ago a complete 1929 model a coupe that was in perfect condition. It had already been blasted and primered. It had everything except a motor and it came with a lot of parts. I called the lady on Thursday night and told her that I would take the car (for $2500). I told her that I was leaving at 10:30 after my biochem test and I would be there at 5:00. I get to my parents house (a three hour drive) and begin hooking up the trailer then she calls. She said a man just came by and offered me $2850 so I sold him the car. I was pissed I said a few things that I shouldn't have but I am still pissed she didn't even call to see if I would have paid more.

 

Probably the dumbest move ever made in my 54 years was in '75, my cousin was facing some serious tax issues and offered his '66 Corvette 4-speed Roadster to me for $1500. I was in the Army at the time and had just bought a '66 GTO, but that was no excuse!

 

1960 Corvette, $1800. I told them I'd go $1500. They said no, so I walked. 1972 Dumb*** move..

 

let alot get away as well but had no money BUT last weekend missed a 57 Pontiac Rochester fuel injection unit at a swap meet for $500 amd it looked excellent !!

 

a 1964 galaxie. when i was looking for my first car i ran into a 64 galaxie thathad the police package engine and trans. the car was a mistake and was ordered in a 2 door and not a four door but had all the police goodies. the guy only wanted 1500. i was 500 dollars short and the car sold. the car was in such good shape and he just wanted tyo get rid of it and let some one else have fun. argh i get mad every time i think of it

 

My uncle parked his 57 Chevy ragtop because the front end needed a rebuild. Pulled the motor and put it in a 55 Chevy hardtop. At the time I was a senior in High School and drove a 57 Chevy hardtop and had no desire for the ragtop. I could have gotten it for free.

 

The biggest flathead speed part collection I have ever seen.
slipped right thru my fingers after trying to buy it for most my life.

 

in 1988 I found a '66 shelby gt350 (running, complete, rusty) for $2,800. Did not have the money at the time.

 

was driving down vanowen st in san fernando valley in 70's as a model a was being pushed from back of marvin garden nursery. midget nose all 40'-50's rod stuff. could tell had y block replacement at one time. probably flathead. asked how much & was told $25 dollars. was leaving to get money as someone drove up bought it right in front of me. over it now. only took 40 years. 10 years later found 36 indian chief in oakwood cemetary, chatsworth ca.2000 miles on, sitting since 30's. bought for 800 w/ original ***le and owners leather jacket. bought from widow of cemetary owner. turned out to be his birthday. was cop bike from ed and earl farrands indian dealership in glendale. bought from augustine enderle, kent enderle fuel injections' mother. augustines' late husband was son of xavier enderle inventor of concrete burial vault. indian dealer became kurtis craft indy cars later. (end of colo blvd). kept indian till '04. have pics

 

i may win for biggest 58 buick limited 2 door found for 90.00 i was second owner sold for 4500.00.. it paid for 4 other projects ... seemed right ... but i will never have the chance at another that cheap

 

within the past year I sold a nice solid Henry J to a "buddy" for $1500. He promised me first right of refusal if he ever sold it. Lying SOB sold it this weekend on evil bay for $6400! Also, very solid 39 Chevy Deluxe business coupe, no rust, ran when parked, full of mouse ****, all original, stored inside twenty years. Let it go this spring for $5500. What am I, nuts?

 

In about 1982 I was looking for a down and out Plymount Superbird that I was given a lead on. The 440 was being pulled to go into a Ramcharger 4x4. I couldn't find the Superbird in the area given to me, so I began asking door to door if anyone knows of a car with a long pointed nose and a tall wing over the deck lid. I finally was told that there was a car like that in a garage up the street. I went and found a one owner black 1969 Hemi Daytona, 15000 miles. The owner was reluctant to set a selling price, so I offered all I could afford at the time.... "I'll think about it" he said. Soon after I told a well known local Mopar collector about the car, who had the right money, and he did end up with the car.

Teaches me to keep my mouth closed and to wait.

Steve

 

A few years ago, a 1925 Model T Coupe in pretty rough shape, but pretty much all there, with a ***le, for $1000. It was my parent's next door neighbor's first car, and he lost his storage for it. He stowed it in my parent's driveway until his wife made him sell it. At the time, I had an O/T project, so p***ed on it. I even had room in the garage for it...

 

oh man thanks for digging up a bad memory. Late 70's I had driven by this damn car for 5 years and never stopped to see if it was for sale. For sale sign finally got put on it and I still drove past it for 4 or 5 more months.Finally stopped to look at it and this old farmer came out and said he had just sold it 25 minutes ago. 1962 Impala SS with 409 2 4bbl carbs and a 4 speed with a bench seat. Beautiful interior and minor rust outside and he sold it for 200 bucks. If I'd had a gun I'd shot myself

 

it was 1981 a teacher saw I was driving my 55 chevy to school so we got to talking and he was and old gearhead from the 60s, said he had some old cars and next time I was out to stop by his house to see what he had.
a couple of weeks later I went to see him He had 78 corvette and thought it was the **** silver and black and had a early 70s chevy pickup what was pretty cool for the time then I noticed something in the back yard I said whats that back there, He was oh that old car its just a 64 corvette I had back in the 60s, so we go look at it 64 rag top 4 speed car all there I said will it run he said all it needs is a battery, so we go get the battery out of the pickup and the thing fires up. I'm like do you want to sale it he said yes but I'll have to have 2500. for it I tried for a month to come up with the money but just couldn't do it so thats my one that got away

 

It was may 1970 I just got a job in Nanaimo BC, went to a car lot and found a 65 GTO, 3 deuces 389, and a 65 Impala SS 327 both 4 speeds both $1500.00 I didn't like the ice green/blue color of the goat and figured those 3 carbs would be a pain. Bought the SS. Dumb

 

Mid 80's. could have bought a 65 Z-16 Chevelle, driver, needing restoration, for $1250. Yes twelve hundred and fifty dollars.

 

In 1988 I had a '68 mustang fastback (6 cyl) sold out from under me for $1200. I'd held out for new brakes and he got an offer for it as-is.

Same year coulda gotten a restored '65 V8 fastback for 8 grand, but no way could I have afforded it.

I coulda gotten a *beautiful* yellow '69 fastback Mach 1 for $3500. My buddy got it and hit a fire hydrant. whoops!

Sold my arrow straight '71 Cutl*** S for $850 in 1992

Coulda bought a beautiful '69 Mach 1 for $11k in 2001 but I thought it was too much money!!!

chopped '54 Ford with a 460 for $2500 around 1999. I only had $2200.

Oh a taken apart 68? shelby GT 500 KR for 8 grand in 1989. A co-worker at Autoshack(before the name changed to Autozone!) owned it but no way I could swing that dough.

I could go on and on.

Now I feel sick

 

back in high school...... Joanne DiMaria....first time i really tasted lipstick,besides one of my aunts

my 65 SS Impala

 

70 TA Challenger Blue, 4 speed, 6 pack, sitting in storage since 1979. Price $7000.00 in 2001. I missed it by one day. Mopar freeks, how's that for a cheap rare car.

 

1979 - 55 Chevy 2dr - $1500, body was average, but had just been mounted on a 100% redone frame. Fresh 327, 4sp, posi, new brakes, new suspension, new radiator, entire driveline was essentially new. Had the cash, but that was the whole stash, so wouldn't have been able to pay for plates/insurance/gas, so I p***ed.

1983 - 69 Camaro pace car - $1800, had been sideswiped but still drove. Had to wait a few days for a ride, got there to find the towtruck tracks in the fresh snow. Just missed it.

1999 - 69 Camaro SS 396/375 (L78) - dad's car...rare and complete, deserved a restoration, but I wanted a driver not a looker. Family discount=$???

2007 - 28 buick 2dr coupe partial body - found it in the woods on my property...sold on eBay for $100.

 

On one of our drunken tours out west of here, me and a buddy stumbled on a really decent 46-8 Chevy wagon. Wood looked good, it apparently ran - the old coots that owned it apparently started it and drove around their yard with it once or twice a year. Once we sobered up we never could find the place.
Another painful one was a 65 Chevy wagon, with a rebuilt 409 3 speed for $800. Then there was the 57 Coupe de Ville, the 60 Bel Air hardtop, the 40 Standard sedan.....oh ****. I'm just plain dumb.

 

1964, 29 Roadster with a 32 Z'd frame.......my dad sold it for $5.00 while I was in high school, didn't want the junk cluttering up the back yard.

1965, 49 fastback Olds with a Caddie engine, my grandmother this time, also sold it for $5.00, decided she did not want it in back of her garage after all.

1970, traded a 1948 Liincoln Continental and a 1967 Jaguar XKE for a wife and 68, 6 cyl Mustang............the Mustang was a pig and so was my wife, dumped them both, really miss the Lincoln and Jag.

Sorry, I can't go on..............can't see my monitor for the tears.

 

Two car's come to mind for me..Both non HAMB car's but 'finds' none the less.
First, an original 66 chevelle, SS 396 4 speed convertable..Original red, black gut, white top car.. It was extremely rough with a rotted frame but had the number's matching item's still in tact..
Came with a part's car as a donor............both for 300...

Second,
A 68 impala SS 427 4 speed hard top with A/C, red, black gut..much nicer than the rag top but still needed to be restored.. grand total of 1000, and again, original drivetrain in tact.

This was back in 88 so the prices were no where near what they are now..
both of these car's would bring big money now day's restored and having correct drivetrains....
Oh well, i p***ed on them both to get my 57 and don't regret it..

 

there were a couple finds that got away from me that were beyond my control, but....
about 4 1/2 years ago i got a deal on a 80's sportster for 1500 clams. i would've jumped on it any other time, but i was smack in the middle of closing of the house i now own. i did p*** that deal on to a close bud of mine though.

 

I'm still kicking myself for letting Dirty's sedan and Nanook slip between my fingers.

Doc.

 

At 6'3" I don't think she would be hard to miss...

 

With every shot so far.........