The car that got away, deals missed, ect.

Back in 85 I had a kid working who turned out to be a great friend and a straight shooter. He told me a couple years earlier in high school shop, some kid brought in his mom's 4 door Mercury Montego to fix the oil pan and it had a cammer. Turns out the pan was magnesium or something the shop teacher couldn't weld and the kid towed the car home and the last my friend knew it was still sitting in their back yard. Now apparently they didn't even realize what it was, and how that engine got in that car was an even greater mystery.

 

Boy I can see this thread going on & on! Early 1960's --1940 Ford Coupe $25--Had to give it back--parents! mid 1960's found 1955 MB Gullwing-$1000 HA!HA! like a million then. 1970--65-66 Ferrari 250GT w/50 gal gas tank to fuel that 12 cyl. $4500 I was in the Navy in SD Calif. 1970 one year old Sportster $800 (wife)--1973 same guy tried to sell me that stripped out alum. Cheeta with no interior for $3500 1978 back on the east coast-- real Tucker w/helicopter motor $3500 no place to work on that thing. If you play with these toys you can't buy them all but wouldn't it be nice to have the time,money,chances,& a place to work on them all at the same time instead of only 1 or 2 of the things needed!

 

Triumph TR-4a, fully race preped: $250.00 (missed it by 2 hours)
3500 GT Maserati: $2,500...
3.8 S Jag, with new interior, running, soCal car: $1,500

i am sure a few more may come to mind

 

Not sure if I remember the price right, but back around 1985 (I think) I saw the American Graffiti duece coupe for sale in the back of Hot Rod magazine. As I seem to recall it was listed for about DOUBLE what a "normal" (unfamous) duece was going for. I remember BEGGING my parents to loan me the money (I guess I was 16-17 at the time) they, of course, thought I was OUT OF MY MIND trying to buy some old movie car from the back of a magazine no less.

A year or two later I bought my '34 Plymouth for a LOT less, but I would have worked near ANY amount of time doing shitty jobs to have THAT car.

As close as I have ever come - and yet I wasn't even NEAR getting it!!!!!! BTW I recall it being listed for at least 3 months - maybe longer - it was KILLING me!!!!!!!!

 

What's sadder than missing out on a Tucker? Drowning puppies I guess, but there'd have to be a lot of them.

In '99, I was 18 and looking to buy a house. I had about 12K for a down payment. I had been working at a bodyshop for years and I was getting 25 hours a week in so I had some money.

One of the shop's customers had a restored 63 Impala SS 409, red on red, dual quad 425hp four speed car. Very nice, and I could have had it for $18.500. I didn't have the money and I didn't want to waste my money on an old car when I could put $ down on a house.

I ended up buying a house and I did good on it, but I really thought that 409 would be a waste of $. If only I knew.

Let's see if Cliffy will tell us about the '69 Mustang Boss 429 that he could have had around the same time for 20K, same car recently sold on eBay for 200K+

 

"I still love dealing but I now know when to cave in to pride"
That's good advice for the young ones out there. On the other hand the other guys pride can work in your favor. I still have a nice 40 Deluxe Tudor and a 50 F-1 that I own and are no longer for sale, all because somebody would not pay me what they were worth when I thought I needed the money and wanted sell them. Timing is everything.

 

Crushed it? That's his story and he's sticking to it!

 

You guys sound like a bunch of old fisherman setting around the tackle shop spreading your yarn........

Let me tell you 'bout
the one that got away.
He was at least 6' tall
with a covering on his head.
I believe it's the same one
my Dad and Grandpa talked about.
He sure fit the description
he must be around 50 years old by now.
Man, he went crazy
when I pulled him into the water.
Kicking and stroking -
it was a human off land.
I'm here to say he fought long and hard
before he finally broke loose.
When I told the wife and kids
they laughed and said sure Dad.
But, that's ok I'll keep humaning
I have more smarts than he.
I'll catch that old human
and take him home - then they'll see.

 

Really? I bought a 1964 Maseratti 3500GTS Sebring in about 1982. Paid $2500 for it. It's hard to remember now, but I think I got it in Flint, Mich.

Peddled it in Florida 5 years later for $8000, after a overpriced $3000 paint job. Not everything works out.

Steve

 

Yoiu know that real Hemi Cudas are selling in the MILLIONS now, right?

 

AFAIK a z11 would have been a 62 Model.

 

Came across a 48 Buick Super 8 the fuelpump went bad so the guy took out the gas tank and ran it off a 2 liter bottle he sat on the passenger floor to the cruise night 2 1/2 miles away.He wanted 850 and it was as clean as I've seen.The proverbial one that got away back when I was 16 a highschool buddies grandparents had a son who got killed over in Nam. And they finally decided to sell the car he left behind because they were retiring to Florida and thought it was time. My buddie knew I was into cars so he took me over there to see it......it was a damn Cuda a 68 Cuda! though not a hemi a Cuda all the same. He told me they wanted 3 grand for it. I spent 5 weeks trying to come up with the money to buy it before they sold it.

 

How about in 1972 I had the wife of 2 weeks convinced we needed a Corvette? I could have bought a real '65 396 roadster with 40000 miles on it for $2750. It was one of 2157 built with a 396. But I said Nay those big blocks Corvettes have engine trouble. Probably worth $100000 now.

 

your wrong on that one. Z-11 were 63. or I should say the only Z-11's I've seen were 63's and don't remember ever hearing of a 62.
I've always wanted a 65 chev 409 convertible. not many built.

 

here's my latest one, right now! today! I know of two 40 chev's both two door sedans both solid cars and two 36 ford sedan's. one of the chev's and both 36's are $500 each. the other 40 is a solid runner with the stock 216. I don't have a price yet but I was told very cheap need it moved.
I hate posting this story because I haven't made up my mind yet. I've got way to many cars now and less money than I need. but I sure hate to waste an opportunity. when I decide what I'm going to do I'll post what I passing on

 

about 5 years ago, I missed out on a 32 tudor sedan with matching trailer for $11000 Canadian.

The car was built 80's street rod style and ran a Buick V6.

The day I was going to leave on the 3500 km trek to pick it up, the guy sold it.

I had decided to leave the evening I first talked to the guy and didn't get a chance to make a down payment as I would have got there first.

Damn.

 

A 1933 Plymouth convertible. Olds engine and hydramatic. Nice running, painted, upholstered older full fendered hot rod. Hydraulic power windows and seat. It was a neat car. The right front wheel adapter for the chrome wire wheel broke and the tire/wheel crushed the fender and running board. The car went to Florida for 800 bucks. Too much money for the time. It was tough to find mopar fenders back then (it ain't too easy today) and the glass ones weren't available yet.

 

I found this thread and figured it was worth reviving. Six months ago I could've had this cadillac for a hell of a deal. It was in its final stages of a complete frame off resto with every part needed. I passed on it because an acquaintance tried to give me a $10,000 price tag and I passed on the deal. Fast forward to two months ago and I'm hanging out with my friend, the acquaintance's brother, and he needs to run across town to go meet a guy to get paid on a deal so I go along for the ride. I waited in the car and he hopped back in and we go to turn around down the guys driveway. There sits the cadillac and he tells me that he can't believe he had to sell the car for $1500 and he thought for sure I would have bought it for that price. My heart sunk and he proceeds to tell me how much he wished I'd bought it and how sad he was when his brother told him I didn't want the car. I then told him what had transpired and he blew a gasket and called the new owner (the guy we just met with) up and tried to reverse the deal but no dice.
Now I'm trying to acquire a 32 3 window and hope it doesn't become a missed opportunity.

 

This one:



Here's the thread with the story.

 

Wow Muttley. Still wishing on that Galsxie

(I've got a '65 Galaxie 500 ltd, 352 cruiso) but that green one is pretty sweet


Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

Damn, I'm not a Ford guy but there's just something about Galaxies. That one is pretty sweet.

 

In 1983 I saw an add in Hemmings for a 1966 GT350-H 4 speed car (85)made.At that time I didn't know the low production# for that car. It was in Booth Bay Maine,price $3000.00. I asked for pics of the car and the guy sent them to me. Being a truthful fellow he added that the pics looked better than than the car actually was,but that it ran Great.I asked my brother-in-law to take the trip from Buffalo to Booth Bay with me so he could drive my car back after I bought the Mustang.Long story short..The little Mustang indeed run Great!! but not being much of a body repair guy(it needed 2 rear quarters ). I passed on the deal even after he came down on price.Sorry I passed on that one.

 

Back in the late 70's a friend had a sideline body shop and he and his body man went in together and bought a 427 Cobra that some guy had run off in a ditch. This was the real deal; Shelby, tube frame, alum body with a H/M 2x4 big block. They had straightened the fender, replaced the rf control arms and wheel and the car was in primer. The body man had a drinking problem and owed my friend rent money on the shop.

Could have bought it for $5000! Chickened out; what an idiot.

 

In 1969 I was in college in Flagstaff,Ariz., the local dry cleaner had a 55 chevy sedan delivery they used for delivers. I asked if they would sell it and they said that they would take $50 bucks if the guy who worked there didn't want it! Well you can figure out the rest of the story. Shorty after that I found and bought my first Henry J! $100 bucks

 

just tellin about a few---32 Ford b-400, thought it was ugly with those sides that stayed up when top was down. ---57 Nomad, parked at parents house while getting a big D, Dad said gotta move it we are moving to a new house, Dad sold it for $300.00. 36 Desoto Aiflow, paid 100.00 sold for 1,500.00 tought I was pretty clever--49 Olds bubble top club coupe, was tired of it! some sick stuff there. captain of dumb/~sololobo~

 

Being in the buisness I could fill a book with these stories as well but 2 stand out.
1977. I came across a guy with 3 1934 Ford 5 window coupes. One was a nice bone stock, complete runner, one was a fenderless 50's hot rod with a tri power Olds and the 3rd a old roundy round car. $1500 for all, would not seperate them and all I had was $1000. By the time I begged, borrowed and stole the extra $500 he had sold them the day before.
Last year. I had been trying to buy 35 3 window from an elderly lady for 3 years. Her husband had bought the car in 1957, did a restoration in the late 60's but it had been parked in the garage since around 72. She was stuck on $30k, I was stuck at $20k I felt was worth. I found out she passed last year and her son sold it within a week for $12K.

 

Short and sweet, Year 1974, 55 Nomad,that grey and peach color, perfect car, no dents, nice Orig. paint and chrome , the bottom of the passenger side door panel had a little water damage from the window being left down, needed a new battery. The lady told me her husband just died and it was his car, she wanted $1000.00 and said "I'm firm" I was 14 years old an had about $125 to my name, I asked my father to loan me the money and he said "Remember what I told you 2 years ago, start saving now for a car" well I guess this was the car, #@#@ lesson learned
'

 

In 93, passed on a Anglia body, just the body, was an old drag car, for $50.

1995 got a lead on a 41 Willys coupe at a property that the town was pressuring the owner to clean up. Got directions but couldn't find it, the next weekend went looking again, found it was sold already. Ended up meeting the new owner a couple weeks later, and he tells me its a rust free original and he bought it for $350! Kick myself forever on that one.

1987, was looking for my first car, wanted a falcon, Dad finds me a 64 Falcon Sprint, solid original car, bench seat 4speed, late production so it's a 289 instead of 260. Made a deal before I ever saw it. We go to pick it up and the guy had a change of heart, it had belonged to his friend that passed away, and refused to sell it. Car still sits there to this day, rotting away. I could have driven it home that day, and now I don't think its restorable.

I have more, I'll post later

 

Good stories-bought my 57 Fuely in 76 for $1100 and drove it home--needed work but was all there--still have it. Used to pass this old gas station on Chestnut Ave in Fresno every day going to work--guy was always selling cars. Bought a very nice 57 210 with a 283 and 4 spd for $1400--sold it to a friend for the same price. Saw and anniversery gold 62 Impala there for sale but never stopped--think it was $1900-found out later it was a dual quad 4 spd 409 car-should have stopped and looked-all this about 76-77