What car do you wish you had back.
#82
1957 Chrysler 300-C convert and 1956 Olds Super 88 convert (Rose Mist and White) both super solid rust free non-runners I owned in the mid 80s, bought to restore but never did... woulda coulda shoulda.
#83
When Hertz decided to quit renting Shelby Mustangs in '66, a dealer in Denver ended up with at least 20 of the black 'n gold cars. Since they were all exactly the same, I bought one with the lowest mileage...$2400. Wish I had it back, fast car!
#86
I used t own a 77cutlass s when I was 17 till about 19 sold it because of fuel economy (bought a house about 100kms away from my work ) always regretted it and always wanted a 69 (also my birth year) finally bought one now that Im 40 this one is a keeper for sure
#87
The fun begins
Thanks Dan ! We just got back from a much needed holiday in Pompano Beach , Fla.[ had reconstructive shoulder surgery last week] I will send in some before pics when we start. It is an English 1949 Ford Prefect[ but with left hand steering for export] It actually looks more like a car from the late 30's , but I love that "fat-fender" monicker , as they really do define the car...along with the wooden floor ,original Bakelite dash and steering wheel hub, canvass roof insert ,turn signals emerging from the B-pillar and windshield that opens up with a butterfly nut on the dash! Body pretty solid ,but will need repaint. Shoudn't be too hard to work on the engine as it's only 10{ten} HP. ! Derek
#88
Will NEVER Grow Up!
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Landrum, SC in "The Blue Ridge Foothills"
Posts: 593
I've had over 50 cars in my lifetime, and I'd have to say my 1938 LaSalle convertible with a rumble-seat would qualify!
I had the car from the 11th grade (1948) until I got married (1952), and I traded it in on a 1949 Ford 2-door sedan so I could be a respectable family man!
38LaSalle_3Email.jpg
In Front of My Apartment Building in Miami Beach - 1949
My next favorite was my 1965 Ninety-Eight.
1965LS.jpg
What a Ride!
--Don
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I had the car from the 11th grade (1948) until I got married (1952), and I traded it in on a 1949 Ford 2-door sedan so I could be a respectable family man!
38LaSalle_3Email.jpg
In Front of My Apartment Building in Miami Beach - 1949
My next favorite was my 1965 Ninety-Eight.
1965LS.jpg
What a Ride!
--Don
.
#90
My two biggest "shouldn't have sold that one" regrets:
1971 LT-1 Corvette with M21 and factory 4:11 gears. All #s matching and original with tank sticker. Bought it in 2003 for $18K and sold it in 2005 for $18K. Had some electrical gremlins that kept the car parked and drove me crazy. Turned out to be minor, per the next owner.
71lt1rtfront.jpg
1972 442 ragtop - 1-of-66 V Code (455/M20) with broadcast card. Rallye pack, A/C, sport mirrors. Bought it for $20,800 in October 2001, sold to Troy Thornton for ~$25K in December 2004, about a year after I bought my SX ragtop. (Hey, who needs two rare big block ragtops, right? ) He painted it Viking Blue and detailed it nicely and it sold for $100K at Mecum in 2008. It was down to $65K at B-J Las Vegas in 2009.
442cvlftrr.jpg
Shortly after bought the car, I recalled a local Auto Trader ad I had cut out when "shopping" just after college in 1991. I found the ad and there it was - the same car!
Terry
1971 LT-1 Corvette with M21 and factory 4:11 gears. All #s matching and original with tank sticker. Bought it in 2003 for $18K and sold it in 2005 for $18K. Had some electrical gremlins that kept the car parked and drove me crazy. Turned out to be minor, per the next owner.
71lt1rtfront.jpg
1972 442 ragtop - 1-of-66 V Code (455/M20) with broadcast card. Rallye pack, A/C, sport mirrors. Bought it for $20,800 in October 2001, sold to Troy Thornton for ~$25K in December 2004, about a year after I bought my SX ragtop. (Hey, who needs two rare big block ragtops, right? ) He painted it Viking Blue and detailed it nicely and it sold for $100K at Mecum in 2008. It was down to $65K at B-J Las Vegas in 2009.
442cvlftrr.jpg
Shortly after bought the car, I recalled a local Auto Trader ad I had cut out when "shopping" just after college in 1991. I found the ad and there it was - the same car!
Terry
#92
OK Craig: I miss my '74 AMC Gremlin X. It had the Levis interior, a 304 ci engine (5 litre), 4-barrel carb (I installed the 4-barrel), three on the floor, roof rack, air deflector, AM/FM Stereo, rear window defroster, drum brakes and manual steering. I also installed headers and Thrush side pipes, air shocks, ET Mags with B.F. Goodrich TA's, a Hurst shifter and a mild cam for a while, 8 track tape player, wood 3 spoke steering wheel and a sunroof.
Fun car. I drove it for 7 years and then let my brother drive it. He put it in the ditch. I parted it out after that.
1974GremlinXcrop.jpg
This Gremlin X looks like my old one. I was very angry when I took delivery of the car. I thought it was coming with a white strip like the 1973's.
Also, The factory was out of rally wheels, so they substituted them with plain steel wheels with center caps & trim rings.
Jaybird
Fun car. I drove it for 7 years and then let my brother drive it. He put it in the ditch. I parted it out after that.
1974GremlinXcrop.jpg
This Gremlin X looks like my old one. I was very angry when I took delivery of the car. I thought it was coming with a white strip like the 1973's.
Also, The factory was out of rally wheels, so they substituted them with plain steel wheels with center caps & trim rings.
Jaybird
Last edited by Jaybird; January 12th, 2011 at 10:06 PM.
#94
In the order they were sold:
1970 Corvette T-top, 350/350hp 4spd, 3.36 rear, ac, pw, leather. It was my daily driver that I sold because of a job change that required a lot of driving. I bought a new 1990 Mustang GT in its place.
1965 Pontiac GTO PHS documented 389/360 4spd, 3.90, Montero Red with black vinyl top and black interior. Finances forced a sale to my friend who still owns it today (17 years later)
Honorable mention goes to the 90 Mustang GT that replaced the Corvette. I drove it for 160k miles with nothing but routine maintenance. It was a fun car to drive, got decent mileage, and was trouble free. It was the first new car I ever owned. I replaced it with my second new car that I still own today - a 2001 Silverado.
1970 Corvette T-top, 350/350hp 4spd, 3.36 rear, ac, pw, leather. It was my daily driver that I sold because of a job change that required a lot of driving. I bought a new 1990 Mustang GT in its place.
1965 Pontiac GTO PHS documented 389/360 4spd, 3.90, Montero Red with black vinyl top and black interior. Finances forced a sale to my friend who still owns it today (17 years later)
Honorable mention goes to the 90 Mustang GT that replaced the Corvette. I drove it for 160k miles with nothing but routine maintenance. It was a fun car to drive, got decent mileage, and was trouble free. It was the first new car I ever owned. I replaced it with my second new car that I still own today - a 2001 Silverado.
Last edited by 442_1972; November 9th, 2010 at 07:35 PM. Reason: Spelling
#95
64 - Cutless Supreme - 330- 4bl First carb I ever rebuilt. I bought the car in 1978 for a whopping $125.00
75 - Nova - with a 350. Great running car.
70 - Cuda with a 340 - 4 speed
69 - Buick Skylark with a 455. Primer black and white jackman wheels.
Oh what fun days and cars we had.
75 - Nova - with a 350. Great running car.
70 - Cuda with a 340 - 4 speed
69 - Buick Skylark with a 455. Primer black and white jackman wheels.
Oh what fun days and cars we had.
#96
I miss the '69 442 4 speed project the most. Jerk I sold it to promised not to part it, but did it anyway. I have a solid '69 4 speed roller tucked in the back of the garage waiting. It scratches the itch just by being there!
My wife missed the '66 442 the most, I'm building a '66 Cutlass rag for her.
The most valuable car I sold cheap was an all original '68 442 Holiday for $1600. 89k on it and ran good.
My wife missed the '66 442 the most, I'm building a '66 Cutlass rag for her.
The most valuable car I sold cheap was an all original '68 442 Holiday for $1600. 89k on it and ran good.
#97
I had a 1965 442 that I bought back in 1972. I used the money from my HS graduation open house and every cent I had saved from a job as a "bagger/carry out" at the local grocery store to get a used 442 hardtop. It was "burgandy mist" with a black interior, 4-speed, spinner hubcaps, and one my favorite options, a rear electric radio antenna. Less than a year later I quit college and joined the Army. When I came home from basic training I was greated to the fact that my father had SOLD my car...I can honestly say that from that day on, things were never the same between the two of us.
#98
I sometimes wish I had a '75 Ninety Eight LS sedan back. I found this car stored indoors, up on a lift since 1979. It had 20K on it and it ran and drove like new! I finally got the car when the owner passed away and the son sold off all of his stuff. I got it for $700 and started stockpiling a bunch of parts for it, including a beautiful Regency interior. Unfortunately, with my other cars, it took a back seat and I ended up selling it when I bought my first place....it was the right move at the time as I sold it for $2,300 and got back to my priority cars. Now that I'm married, I'm realizing it would be nice to have a sedan for family trips, etc. In the meantime, the red Regency Coupe does the job VERY well. Oh well, after I'm done with my current cars, maybe I'll pick up another one....and a convertible 88 Royale while I'm at it! It would be so nice to have a full fleet of full sized Oldsmobiles !
#100
I am sure we all have 1, 2 or 3, right? Mine was a 1960 Olds Super 88 Holiday SceniCoupe. She sported an ebony coat, with red/white interior, a 394 4 bbl under the hood, dual exhaust and a 3-speed manual tranny, on the column, from the factory. It had neither power steering, nor power brakes. By the time you hit second gear, all competition was in the rear view mirror!
My brother ordered the car new. I bought it used 3 years later, while only a junior in high school. I have never seen another similarly equipped, though I am certain mine was not the only 1960 Olds stick.
My brother ordered the car new. I bought it used 3 years later, while only a junior in high school. I have never seen another similarly equipped, though I am certain mine was not the only 1960 Olds stick.
#101
#102
There is an X11 that shows up at a car show near Kalamazoo, Mi., actually nice looking, but it is the only one that I have seen in the last twenty years. I have no idea where they all went.
#103
I bought an 87 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, put a transmission in it and drove it for a couple of months until I found my 1972 Cutlass "s". Sold it after I bought the Olds. Wish I never did. The oldsmobile sat for a while and it needed a lot. I've done what I can, but the car still need more little things. I've gotten to the point I don't care anymore and it sits in the garage, even though its completely road worthy. The 87 Ford needed nothing, ran great, and went really really well. Looking back I should have passed on the Olds and kept the Ford. :/ Oldsmobile parts are just way to expensive.
Last edited by jpc647; November 14th, 2010 at 02:10 PM.
#104
If you have/get one, be careful in turns at speed....
#106
OK..on a happier note!
I never had a really 'nice' car until later in life, so I'll kinda have to go on nostalgia/what-could-have-been...
If I had to pick 3 of the 20+ cars/trucks (+ 8 bikes) I've owned.....
1. 1955 BelAir - 2 door post- Had the original 265 w/227K mi on it on like a .100 bore and a 3spd on the floor. It was poorly painted black (was orig two tone green), but still had the green interior & all chrome/stainless. I decided to restore it, but I was 16 and had minimal experience & tools, and no money or workspace. I ended up selling it in ~'80 for $500 to a guy who had a much nicer one who needed some of the sheetmetal. The stainless alone was prolly worth several times that. I had such dreams for that car and its prolly the reason I never let the Cutlass go...
2. 1969 1/2 Karmann Ghia
- Found it semi-abandoned behind a friend's neighbor's house. It was faded 'heater hose' pink, had 4 flats, broken fuel line & dead batt, but interior was mint. Bought for $35 (actually traded 5 cases of 'Bud for it) in ~ '83. It had a rejugged 1600 now @ something like 1830, a 2bbl carb spliced on & a 4 spd. I spent <$100 getting it road worthy. It was amazingly fun to drive (up to 66mph when the speed-wobs would start). I flipped it twice thru a highway median in front of a buddy (loooong story....had something to do with maybe racing him in his '72 440 Charger...) and came out miraculously unscathed. Sold it next day (in pic...note grass sticking out 'tween rear rim & tire) for $50. Would've been a very nice little 'poor man's Porsche' if still alive & restored...
3. 1970 Maverick
- Yes. A Maverick. My first car. First & only Ford. Bought it in '79 w/ my paper route money. A step up over my Schwinn Varsity. 250ci I6 w/AT. Eventually spliced a 2 bbl on it (no small feat...had to cut the intake w/ a hacksaw & a buddy brazed a plate on). I could run with guys w/2bbl small blocks. I put this car thru hell & high water for ~3+ years/80K mi. I occasionally see a nice one for sale on the 'web and wonder. Ahhh, the adventure stories (both mechanical and personal) I could tell....
Honorable Mention
- My '92 Toyota truck - V6-5spd-ExtCab-4x4. Unbelievably well built, durable, and crazy reliable. My daily driver for 12 years/200K mi - At the end it still had the original factory clutch & rear brakes, ran & drove flawlessly, and less squeaks/rattles than most new cars. Nothing new you can buy today would equal it.
- My 1985 Honda Nighthawk 'S'- Bought new in May '86 - Red/black - Sold in absolutely mint/showroom condition in June '95 for almost what I paid for it. Best bike stock exhaust sound ever and now good examples go for more than purchase price....if you can find them...
I never had a really 'nice' car until later in life, so I'll kinda have to go on nostalgia/what-could-have-been...
If I had to pick 3 of the 20+ cars/trucks (+ 8 bikes) I've owned.....
1. 1955 BelAir - 2 door post- Had the original 265 w/227K mi on it on like a .100 bore and a 3spd on the floor. It was poorly painted black (was orig two tone green), but still had the green interior & all chrome/stainless. I decided to restore it, but I was 16 and had minimal experience & tools, and no money or workspace. I ended up selling it in ~'80 for $500 to a guy who had a much nicer one who needed some of the sheetmetal. The stainless alone was prolly worth several times that. I had such dreams for that car and its prolly the reason I never let the Cutlass go...
2. 1969 1/2 Karmann Ghia
- Found it semi-abandoned behind a friend's neighbor's house. It was faded 'heater hose' pink, had 4 flats, broken fuel line & dead batt, but interior was mint. Bought for $35 (actually traded 5 cases of 'Bud for it) in ~ '83. It had a rejugged 1600 now @ something like 1830, a 2bbl carb spliced on & a 4 spd. I spent <$100 getting it road worthy. It was amazingly fun to drive (up to 66mph when the speed-wobs would start). I flipped it twice thru a highway median in front of a buddy (loooong story....had something to do with maybe racing him in his '72 440 Charger...) and came out miraculously unscathed. Sold it next day (in pic...note grass sticking out 'tween rear rim & tire) for $50. Would've been a very nice little 'poor man's Porsche' if still alive & restored...
3. 1970 Maverick
- Yes. A Maverick. My first car. First & only Ford. Bought it in '79 w/ my paper route money. A step up over my Schwinn Varsity. 250ci I6 w/AT. Eventually spliced a 2 bbl on it (no small feat...had to cut the intake w/ a hacksaw & a buddy brazed a plate on). I could run with guys w/2bbl small blocks. I put this car thru hell & high water for ~3+ years/80K mi. I occasionally see a nice one for sale on the 'web and wonder. Ahhh, the adventure stories (both mechanical and personal) I could tell....
Honorable Mention
- My '92 Toyota truck - V6-5spd-ExtCab-4x4. Unbelievably well built, durable, and crazy reliable. My daily driver for 12 years/200K mi - At the end it still had the original factory clutch & rear brakes, ran & drove flawlessly, and less squeaks/rattles than most new cars. Nothing new you can buy today would equal it.
- My 1985 Honda Nighthawk 'S'- Bought new in May '86 - Red/black - Sold in absolutely mint/showroom condition in June '95 for almost what I paid for it. Best bike stock exhaust sound ever and now good examples go for more than purchase price....if you can find them...
#108
None.
I own my 1st and 2nd cars I bought today still.
Technically the 1970 Olds 442 tribute I own is better then my 1st car which was a 1972 Cutlass S.
So I just call it my 1st car still. 2nd car is my 1978 Pro-touring Camaro I've poured tens of thousands into.
I own my 1st and 2nd cars I bought today still.
Technically the 1970 Olds 442 tribute I own is better then my 1st car which was a 1972 Cutlass S.
So I just call it my 1st car still. 2nd car is my 1978 Pro-touring Camaro I've poured tens of thousands into.
#109
Probably my 1976 Stingray. It was an L82 4 spd with the factory mags and Gymkhana suspension. Although I drove her cross-country, she needed lots of work to be as nice as the 442. She could out handle the 442 but the 442 could eat her for lunch in a straight line draw.
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#111
There's an article in the latest HMCR about a guy in Jersey with the same story. Sure it happened all ob=ver the country. Anyway, Dads 66 starfire and my 65 442 holiday. Both red outside, s.f. red int., 442, black, stick.
#113
Anything associated with the Corvette name has a premium price tag even if it's junk.
Those were slow anyways.......like you said. Plus the engine bay is like working in a clown car.
#114
Slow or not, anything can be made to perform, but the darned thing was nickle and diming me. Another reason I sold it. Build quality was also poor. But to be fair I was the fifth owner, although only the second registered owner. Had to get an "out of province" inspection because it hadn't been registered from 1979 to 2003 when I bought it.
#115
#116
Mine was a Grad Prix I built when I was sixteen owned it for nine years. The last engine I built for it was a 350 chevy stroker, 350 turbo trans., shift kit, 2200 stall, 373 gears. That car was fun to drive. Because my wife couldn't drive it, and it was pain to put cars seats in it. We decided to sell it. The man that bought it crashed it two months after he got it. He gave it to much gas and the car went sideways hit something caved in the the whole right hand side of the car. After that I didn't build anything for years I worked on cars for people. Built a few engines for people that I knew could handle them. I had some other cars that were fast but not by my hand. Till now that I started my new project my 70 cutlass I plain on keeping it the rest of my life.
#117
My first car was a 1972 Olds cutlass.It had buckett seats ,white interior,floor console.I put a wild cam in it , headers with glass backs .You could hear me from a mile away.I miss that 300.00 dollar car!
#118
Just listed the cars I've owned over the years and I'm up to 35 so far. Nothing extraordinary, but a fairly international bunch. Cars from England, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, Australia & America. Probably 6 or 7 I'd like to have back again......especially that bloody Porsche
#119
Well...lucky for me my wife is very understanding - I haven't gotten rid of many - however, I traded in an 87 Cutlass Supreme Brougham V8 for a 92 Supreme Convertible...wish every day I had that car back
#120
I miss my tc, lol.
Last edited by jpc647; January 14th, 2011 at 10:02 AM.