Have a regret of letting one get away? post it here. I have many. The first was a 1969 W30 4 spd 4:33 geared, with a bench seat. Crimson Red w/black stripes and interior, about 1977-78...$900. Took a drive up that way a couple of years ago just in case it was put behind the barn....no such luck.

 

Great subject. How about a 440 6 PK Superbird I could have bought for $900.oo in 1976. It had been reposessed and was a little rough around the edges but still........

 

Last year a 1970 GTX for 4,000

 

Passed on a '69 Cougar Eliminator about 8 years ago for 12K.
Recently sold for over 20K. That was a hell of a lost investment.

 

Speaking of Superbirds, about 35 years ago me and a buddy were going through the used car lot of the local Dodge dealer in my '70 SX, we wanted to check out a '70 442 pacecar( not the real deal) and the salesman asked as we were driving slowly on our way out, if I would be interested in a Superbird sitting on the lot, (yeah we saw it) Petty blue, my response: what would I want with that?

 

Summer 1979, Preston Chrysler Plymouth, Dallas, Texas- 1970 AAR Cuda 340 4 barrel carb, pistol grip, 6 pack in the trunk, red, black top and interior, US Indy slots with N50-15s on the back. $2200 on the used car lot. I drove it and then left a deposit. The car was owned by a mechanic working at the dealership. He took it out for one last "test" drive while I was getting my Dad, as I was only 17 and needed him to sign for the car. The guy lunched second gear in that farewell cruise and even though he promised to get it fixed within the week, my Dad vetoed the whole thing. Once it did get back on the used car lot I started angling with my Dad to go test drive it again but that night someone stole the (at the time) unreproduced fiberglass hood off the car and I lost interest when it had a stock steel hood installed. I bought a 74 H/O for $1800 instead.

 

This car.
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...972-442-a.html
It belonged to a high school friend of mine. I wanted it because of the 4 speed and the color. I talked to him about selling it through most of the 80s. We'd see each other at holiday parties when we returned from college at Xmas and maybe spring break and summer. I'd always tell him to call me first if he ever wanted to sell. He said "I'm keeping it". His parents lived on a busy street and the poor car sat in the circular drive out front all that time. 10 years at least. It always reminded me, by its presence, whenever I returned home, to ask about buying it. I helped the owner fit some green 68 GTO bucket seats into the back seat for storage and put other parts in the trunk, thinking someday I'll get this car. I still remember when I found that it had left the front of his parents house. Maybe some day I'll still get it, who knows?

 

In 1985 I had test drove a 1962 Corvette a guy was selling for $18k. It had a 350/350 hp - 4spd, beautiful car but the paint was showing it's age. He also had the original 327 carb to pan in a crate. I offered him $15k and he said he would take $16k. My wife and I went to lunch to discuss it, as even @ 16K it was a great deal. When we came back an hour later it had already been sold.

 

1968 Mustang Shelby KR-350. Only 318 made. 1988, It was a little rough with all the badges stolen off the outside, missing OEM rims, air cleaner, hood was bent and some rust in typicall mustang places. Guy was asking $6,000.00 I thought were I am I going to find parts? Nobody was making repo stuff like now. I seen some at BJ go for over $200,000.00.
Still makes me cry.

Mike

 

Mid eighties, 74 Corvette convertible advertised in The Dallas Morning News classifieds. Silver, silver interior, hard and soft tops. 4 speed $2900. I drove over to Ft. Worth and looked at the car. All there, gouges in the top of the front passenger's fender, shelf broke and dropped full paint cans on it, coffee can welded over a hole in the driver's side pipe. Wiring hanging all out from under the dash and a start button hose clamped on the column. The wiring scared me away.

 

Ha! You too ??!!

When I was about 14 yo ( '77-ish) and on a family vacation, we stopped at a tiny rundown gas station somewhere in the boonies of Tennessee. While my mom gassed the wagon, I poked around. In the weeds behind the building with a few 50's/60's cars & trucks was was a pale yellow 4-speed Suberbird. Had a couple of flats and was dusty, but not wrecked or rusty. Interior looked nice thru the windows. A guy came around the corner and asked if I liked it. I said 'Sure.'. He lifted the hood and everything looked intact (to me!). He said all it needed was a battery, starter, clutch, and prolly tires (& 'ran good when we parked it' !)...and he'd let it go for $1500.

He might as well have told me $15Mil...

 

Had a chance to buy one of the 2 H/O converts made in the 70's. I thought it was pricey back then but now would have been a steal.

 

Back in the fall of 1996 I found a green on white 1970 Buick GS Stage 1 automatic for sale. $10K was the price & it was a very nice car. I was going thru a divorce at the time & could not move on the car.

I checked in with him a couple months later & said I now had the $10K & would buy it. He sold the car 2 days earlier to a guy from Vancouver who flew into Calgary & drove it home.

2 days late from owning a car that is worth $40K today. Ugh.

 

Missed out on 2 68 H/O's for peanuts. A Superbird I passed on at $3k and a Pantera @ $3500. There are more. No one knew parts were going to be reproduced back then.

 

When I was 16 in 83. I tried to convince my parents on a 57 chevy 2 door $2500. Then a 72 cad. fleetwood hearse $900. No dice.

Lary

 

This is a great thread! Buddy of mine had a 1968 Bullet Mustang GT. 302 4 speed. He had this car since we were in High school and we graduated in 1974. The brakes went out sometime in the late 70's and he parked it. I pestered him to sell for the next 5 years. Sometime around 1982 he called me and said he would sell it for 1500.oo. I told him to let me think about it. I called him back that weekend and said I was coming for the car and he sold it to someone else the day before. If you snooze you loose

 

15 years I could have bought a 1970 Ford Boss Mustang 429, 4 speed for $25,000 at the time I thought that was too high, until I seen one sell on eBay for $60,000 that couldn't hold a candle to the one I looked at. I called back 2 weeks later.... GONE !!!!!

 

In 1975 I had just graduated from college two years earlier and was a supervisor at a manufacturing company. One of the women that worked in my department owned fifty acres of land on North Beltline Road in Dallas county TX. I could have bought the place for $850 an acre but didn't have any money. Now that property is in the middle of Los Colinas and brings about $850 per square foot.

 

About 20 years ago, had a chance to pick up a 1970-71 442. White, with green stripes, pale green interior. 2 engines, 2 hoods. The seats were power, the windows were power. All he wanted was $300 bucks and me to tow it out. The wife said NO!!!! We couldn't afford it right now. Still makes me sick to think about it. Hope this is therapy!!!!

 

should of would of could of

back in the early 80s there was 70 Cuda for sale, I pulled in just to look at it as my sister had a 318 barracuda. I thought WOW white convertible top, white interior, blue body, beautiful car - probably too expensive for me but maybe I would get lucky and it would be a couple of grand - turned out to be a hemi car asking 25k! as others said might as well been 10k or 1mil, wasn't going home with me but boy if I knew then what we know now.

Also had a chance at a Pantera 20 years ago for 15k, passed that up for my W30 which was cheaper, in the end I'm happier with the W30 but one day would like a Pantera...... or a Bricklin.

 

Not 100% sure of the year but it was in the early 1990's I had a chance to buy an all original 65 Chevelle SS for $2500, 283, powerglide, bucket seats, everything worked and it drove like new, perfect body with no rust and the interior was perfect too since it just sat in a garage.

 

I have some for you, now bear in mind my family has been in the car business for a loooooong time:
When I was a kid, like 16, I found a '57 Nomad with a real nice body, but no engine or trans. I passed on it for $75.00 because one of the curved rear side glass was cracked.
Here is another good one; I never really had a chance at this car because the girl, that's right GIRL (and great looking by the way) I knew traded in a very rusty '70 HemiCuda for $400.00. I found out about it the day after she showed me her new car---a '78 Yellow Firebird Esprit.
OK another: When my brother came home from his service in the Marines, my dad who was a General manager at an Olds dealership bought a '64 f85 that was a light hit on the front right side. It needed a complete grill assembly, hood, and right front fender. Well, here is where it gets good, my dad worked a deal at the dealership with a wealthy judge who had bought a '64 442 Convertible for his son. The son WASTED the clutch within a few weeks of ownership and traded it in a '64 Cutlass Conv. with an automatic. So, my dad buys the 442 Conv., and I helped him dismantle it to fix the f85. Looking back, I guess we should have put a clutch in it.
One more and then I gotta go: when I was 15 a friend of a friend GAVE me a '57 Chevy 2dr Hardtop, I sold it to a friend (we are still good friends) for $50.00---he paid me with 47 one-dollar-bills and six rolls of pennies!

 

I don't have any "wouldashouldacoulda" stories; whenever I've REALLY wanted something, I've moved fast and ponied up the dough.

Now when it comes to "whytheheckdidIbuythispileofcrap?" stories; THOSE I have too many to mention.

 

57 BelAir, Black with black & white interior original fuel injected stick shift car...$1000 in 75-76ish still kicking my self...hard!
72, W29 K code (442) Gold, Black gut with 23K original everything miles, W25, L34...I didnt think so at the time though not realizing they could have come with 350s and single exhaust....dauh....$3500 in mid 90s I passed on this rust free car. Shoulda....

 

Another one . About 1975 uncle moves to a big farm out in Richmond. I am 15. I really into cars like my dad. We used to go out and play in the barns. Wow whats this under this old tarp. 1968 GTO. Hey uncle who's car is that. The guy who use to own this place. He blew up the rear end a couple years after he bought it new.He needs to get it out of here. Can I buy it, I am getting my driver license next year. Hey dad can we buy it and fix the rear. No way way son to much trouble find something better. DOOH!!

 

Here are a few to ponder:

1. 1965 Shelby Cobra, 289, weber carbs, all original. It was 1971, and the guy wanted $6,000 for it. Worth at least $500,000 today.

2. 1970 Hemi Cuda, red, black top and interior, automatic, Shaker hood. It was 1977, and the car was totally apart, but complete. The guy sold it for $4,500.

3. 1968 Shelby GT500 fastback, 428, dual quads, 100% original. My in laws next door neighbor. In 1978, he wanted $4,800.

4. 1970 Plymouth Superbird, Petty blue, 440+6, automatic, brand new. In 1971, it was $3,700.

I could list dozens more, but all they are now are good memories when cars and gas were cheap.

 

One more and I do not even know the asking price at the time. There was a guy in my hometown who came back from Vietnam and bought a brand new 440+ 6 Cuda 4 speed w/shaker hood. Sharp Car. Guy couldn't drive it worth a crap. He claimed he was left handed and that was why he couldn't shift. Small town dealer never could get those carbs tuned in right either. I can still hear it backfire as he got on it. Anyway I go in the service and come out about 7 years later and am rummaging threw the local junkyard and come across that Cuda. Body looks good but the 6 pack and shaker are gone. Wheels are off and it's sitting on the ground. Story I got was he ran it a ditch and bent the K Frame. I didn't even ask the price. car was crushed

 

I had a 68 Hurst Olds offered to me back in the mid 90s for 4500 and it was all there and in good shape. Instead I bought 3 Hemi engines, one of which was Sox and Martins SS racing engine. I should have bought the HURST!!!

 

I don't know.......3 hemi engines...........tough choice

 

It was from regret that in 1972 I bought a green 70 GTO for 1850.00 and on the lot was a 69 Green HEMI road runner with 4 spd pistol grip so I have beat myself up over that and when the Hemi's vs the Hurst I chose the Hemi's. I have since sold two of them and made 3000 over what I paid but I still own the Sox&Martin Hemi. I hope to sell it soon and then I will see if I made the right choice. But that Hurst would be nice right now!!

 

In 1985 I could have bought an all original 1972 442 W30 Convertible from the original owner for $4,000. The owner, Frank Principe (still remember his name) golfed in a weekly mens league at the golf course I worked at. He would drive it every week - the green gold color, white top, white bucket seats, white stripes, dualgate, power everything, SS1s, 79,000 miles, and very good overall condition. Still remember the fasten seat belts piece on the top of the dash. He gave me first shot at it for $4,000. Being a college kid saving my summer money just couldn't swing it. The car was sold and changed hands a few times, and I believe was subsequently painted viking blue with white stripes. Yeah, $4,000.

 

Car in my sig was sold for 4500 in 1980-81. Could have been mine, but had everything tied up in a 65 442.

 

Very interesting I open the forum today and this is the first thread I see as I am currently on the fence about a possible purchase.

I went and looked at a '66 442 4spd/tripower car last night. Now the car is not an original tripower but has all the right parts and has been done very well.

It is in very nice driver/cruise in car shape. Not a show/trailer queen. Engine runs great, has A/C. PS, PB, 12 bolt posi, sidewinder tach, SS1's, redline tires and bucket seats.

The car was painted some 15 years ago and has been kept inside but is starting to show it's age in a few places. Again, not show quality but something you wouldn't be ashamed to take and any local show/cruise.

Overall doesn't 'need' anything except maybe a new dash pad (cracked) and to be driven..

Guy wants around $18k and I am having a hard time pulling the trigger. But I keep asking myself, when will another car like this come along..

HELP ME MAKE UP MY MIND! HAHA...


On another note, about 8 years ago a buddy called me and told me there was a 1963? Pontiac in the paper for $2750. I go look at it, well, it's a 389 tri power, 4 spd, factory hurst equipped Catalina. Car is in fantastic shape minus a little rust in a rear quarter. He also had an extra set of 8 lug rims as well as NUMEROUS other NOS parts in boxes to go with the car. He was moving to a garden home and had no room for the stuff.

I had to go out of town and told the guy I would call him Thursday when I got back in town (it was Sunday and I didn't have the money on me). I get back and call him, well he sold it. I saw it a month later at a local bbq joint and the fellow that bought it said he paid $1750 for it.
And yes, it was a STEAL.. Been kicking myself ever since for not leaving a deposit of some sort.

 

Alan Bender told me he paid $8,000 for his H/O convert back then and people thought he was nuts. It's the one that was shown at the MCACN show last year.

 

In 1984 i found a 70 model Grand Prix factory air, power everything, black on black, leather interior and a factory 4 spd. 3200.00 i passed it up it was gorgeous...... damn!!!
In approx 1995 a friend of mine kept telling me about a 66 Corvette roadster big block factory air in good condition for 17,000. I already had my 65 Coupe thought i didnt need another Vette. What a dumb A$$, i could have doubled my money on it had i bought it. He came driving up in it on Sonic night. It still had original paint and interior. All he did was rebuild the carb and put new brakes on it. It was NICE!!! Been kickin myself over that one too. When i was 16 before i knew anything about cars i bought a 2 door hard top 56 Chevy. Had new paint and interior and a 327. I put a new starter on it and tuned it up. I was a 3 spd. on the floor. Then i found out it need a valve job and a syncronizer in the tranny. I had no idea what that required or how easy or cheap the repairs would have been then, as that was about 1969. I took it back and the guy gave me my 300 bucks back. 300!!!

 

I used to work for a carnival ride company on the tear down and set up crew on the weekends. This was right about the time i got my 72 cutlass. Right on the corner from the shop there was a nice 1970 rallye 350 . I was looking at it one day and the manager came out and called the owner and said i was looking at old yeller. I asked a few questions shared my story on my 72 and asked how much. The owner said For you 5k and the whole drive train had been rebuilt. I didn't make a lot of money at the time so 5k was a lot. I atleast had a cool story right ?. Well fast forward 6 years later. I end up working at machine shop 2 block down from that shop where that rallye sat. One day i stop in and ask about that rallye 350. The owner's son comes out and say's " We sold it a few months ago after my father passed way we sold it since he never wanted to get rid of it". I kick my self in the @$$ for that because it was a really solid car. That's the one that got away.

 

#2, about 1977, the guy who lived behind my parents house had a '68 Z/28 for sale, 28,000 miles on it, dark green/white stripes and the off road cam, very nice, he wanted $1300 for it. We didn't think that he wanted to sell it, but more of his wife's idea as he parked it with the for sale sign semi hidden behind a lilac bush!

 

In 1988 I worked with an older guy when I was younger, who had a 1977 Cutlass Supreme w/403, factory a/c, moon roof, all power with buckets and console floor shift. Black on Black factory sliver ralleys and painted on red pinstripe. 42k. He ordered it new. He wanted to by a new Mustang and told me I could have his Cutlass for $1000. He ended up trading it in (they gave him $900). I cussed him out the day he told me.

 

Love this thread....

2006, I'm doing work in a refinery. I have a laptop and I have a ton of car pics as my screensaver....great ice-breaker. There's a grumpy, disheveled operator in the room where I'm working, Joe. Says little more than "Hey"...that's cool. In this facility on and off for a month, Joe sees my screensaver. "That your car?" he asks about a random pic. "I wish!"...car conversation starts. Turns out, Joe is a former racer/performance shop owner. He had tons of old Tri 5 Chevys but kept mentioning his 'Vette. It was a '69 427 tri-power 4-speed car he got in 1970. He quickly swapped on a big 4bbl.

"What happened to that car Joe?"
"Ahh, I just got rid of it 2 weeks ago."
"If you don't mind me asking, how much did you sell it for?"
"Ahh, I couldn't be bothered with it any more. Sold it to a guy around here for $2500"!!!!! With the original tri power in the back of the car.

Had I just opened my mouth when I met him, I'd probably own that car right now....then forever!!

 

In 1975 I was in high school and my Dad decided to buy a car for my step brother and I. right across the street a guy had a 1969 Z28, DZ 302 with a 4 speed for $900. Then three houses down was a 1964 Corvette for $2000. That's the two we were nagging Dad to consider. He paid $1,100 for a 1966 Rambler 4 door. Yeah, we'd have likely killed ourselves if we'd gotten what we wanted. But thinking about those prices now not much of a compairson!


Then I've got a couple "might as well been a million dollars". In the mid 1980 I drooled over a Boss 429 Mustang at the Portland Swap meet. Low mile car for $6,000. In the 1990's there was a 1968 Hurst Olds for sale in Salem Oregon for $5,000. It had tunnel ram dual quads sticking through the hood, but he still had the correct intake/carb and an extra hood. Car was very clean and original numbers as the owner only drove it on the race track.

That reminds me of another sighting back in the 1990's at the Portland Oregon swap meet. A guy had a 1971(?) W30 that had something like 175 miles on it, 1/4 mile at a time! Original engine was long gone but the car was beautiful, no option stripped down model. The same guy had a Vista Cruiser with OAI hood that was a very nice driver. He sold them both, I wonder what ever happened to those cars.

John