Cars you DID NOT BUY.

[Lynn]

I know we have hashed through a few of these before, but would like to hear some stories of cars you went to look at, didn't buy and now regret for whatever reason. I know there are hundreds. Can't be a car you just heard about, or saw for sale in a magazine. Must be one you actually went to see, and hopefully drove, if it was drivable.

I just saw this on ebay: burned out 190SL (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-/221920323806?forcerrptr=true&hash=item33ab7b68de:g :PCkAAOSwo0JWKOI-&item=221920323806)

I am shocked that a burned out example is over $10k and reserve is still not met. Can't be much usable there.

ANYWAY.... reminded me of the 1960 190SL I went to look at in about 1973. It was a very nice driver. Came with a clapped out, but running parts car. Could have bought the pair for $1,200, but passed. I thought (and still do) it was just too underpowered.

[nova7579]

It was about 1984 and Dad and I kept hearing a story about a 1965 Z-16 Chevelle. One day out of the blue Dad wanted to go and see if it was true. It was and the owner said he would probably take $5000 for it. Dad did not push the issue and still kicks himself for not buying it. It is still owned by the same guy.

Brian

[camaromb]

Hemi Cuda in 1983 for $ 6000, no money in college and didn't sell my '69Z to try and buy it. The 66 GT350 that I looked at about 10-12 years ago, stored since '69 with the plates from '69 still on it, carryover car, white/blue stripe, all there, needing light resto for $ 30k. I was told they were only $ 40k restored at the time, oops.

The tired '69 Yenko Camaro, ugly blue/primer with no motor or trans needing everything for $ 28k in '97. They were about $ 60k restored at the time, didn't make sense and I let a friend at the time buy it. I found the dealer paperwork for it later that year, shipper copy, dealer invoice etc. It was the first serial numbered '69 Yenko Camaro and sold for big money after restored, oops again. I was also offered the last Yenko Camaro built, an original owner car, but that was way out of my price range.

The one that started the Yenko searching for me was a black painted '69 Camaro parked on the streets of Chicago near the lakefront in '86 or so. I drove by this car with a for sale sign that said "Yenko 350 for sale", well it has to be a fake, they had 427s of course. Nothing but a Yenko tailpan emblem would indicate anything Yenko at all. I left and never called the seller, who wanted something like $ 6,500 at the time. Months later I found out that the car had been bought, it was a Jack Douglas sold Yenko, Rally green 4 speed. At least that started my searching and let to my discovery of many Yenko cars and friendships over the years.

[bracketracer-78]

Back in 1991 I could have bought a 1966 chevelle for $25. It need a engine, windshield, and the trunk floor was shot. The body was otherwise in great shape. I didn't have a place to put it at the time so I passed n it. I did pick up a 1970 chevelle the following year for $50. That one took a lot of work to bring back to the road.

[luzl78]

In 1979 I bought my 67 camaro l78 convertible for $250. The was original and complete. Original born with drivetrain. Pulled the original motor and put in a l78 from a 70 nova that was turned into a drag car. Me,as a stupid 17 year old kid sold the car for $800. The original 67 l78 motor has been on an engine stand for 35 years. After I sold it car was stripped and all parts were sold at englishtown. I found the car 5-6 years ago but owner will not sell. I have since found the original 4:11 rear to my car. Gentleman told me he bought it at englishtown in 1981.

[iluv69s]

The Motion converted Camaro in North Jersey with 10k of Motion receipts probably early nintys for 5k if I recall correctly.. I offered 3500 and he said someone offered him that much for just the motor......

the number 25 ZL-1 that a buddy in my town owned all my teen years... sold it for 69K...it was a nice running complete car with ZL-1 motor and all... I had just bought my #34 ZL-1 and my wife said 'NO WAY"... (now my ex-wife)..haha

green 69 L-78 Camaro.. M-22, 4.10..cowl hood..no console ..center fuel guage..deluxe interior..numbers matching with all paperwork at Carlisle for $3800.. I went back the next day with the cash but it was sold..


the SS427 68 Impala number matching engine...4 speed in junkyard in Phila..for $1200...complete solid car....went back a month later to buy but it was gone..

the list goes on... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif

[SUSQ]

In 1974 I was 16 and looking around at cars on local lots. Checked out a 1969 Shelby GT500 convertible at Twin Pine Auto Sales in Ephrata, PA. They always had serious muscle on the lot back then. 428, 4 speed, Gulfstream Aqua, gold side stripes, white convertible top, white interior, 5 spoke wheels. The asking price of $5,500 was all the money in the world at the time. <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline">It was absolutely stunning in person</span></span>. I can close my eyes and still see that car. I hope it's still around today and being well cared for.

[x44d80]

1977 I test drove a black 1969 L78 Camaro with the black special interior and a 1975 Pontiac T/A. My girlfriend at the time convinced me to get the T/A. I should have dumped the girl and bought the car I really wanted.

[Damien]

Well I've got one I wished I had bought and one I wished I hadn't of sold! The one I should have bought, and the only one was a '70 Z28 from Kevin DeWitte in Phoenix. An original car in amazing shape that the values have started to climb in recent times. The car I wished I had never sold was my Cortez Silver '69 SS Chevelle. I'm now trying to get my way back into something similar by liquidating my other cars due to the fact our dollar is now around .70c and the market in the US has risen. I even tried to buy it back with no luck. The guy I sold it to knows what he has and it's going nowhere. Live and learn.

[Keith Seymore]

This one.

George Delorean's '63 SD Coupe.

Dimitri Toth and Mike McCarty drug it out of an apple orchard.

Could have had it for $3600 but it was in boxes, so we said 'no'.

K

[olredalert]

----There are literally 100s of cars I should have bought as Corvettes and muscle cars were my business for so long, but theres one that sticks in my mind from a long time ago. In 1969 I was working at a used car lot in Ft. Liquerdale called &quot;Car City, the walking mans friend&quot;. We used to buy all of &quot;King Oldsmobiles&quot; trade-ins under $500 and we financed our own cars right at the lot. We went to King to pick up a couple of cars one day and there was a baby blue/white gut and top 64 GTO convertible with every available option sitting there for $400. My boss picked it up and I drove it back to our lot. The car was in exceptionally nice original condition with the exception of a poorly done enamel paint job. The boss said that I could have the car for the 4 bills. Still don't know why I didn't buy it.....Bill S

[TMagda]

Mercedes gull wing in decent driver shape for $17k. The owner of the car wash I was working in got it as a college grad present and was selling it. 1975. I knew it was special, but I was making $2.10 per hour and was only 16. It literally sold 1/2 hour after he put the sign on it.

[SS427]

1964 Thunderbolt for $1000 in 1976. Thought it was too much for me at 16 and first time driver.
1961 Impala SS convertible in 1977, 348 3x2 4-speed, white with red guts for $500. Walked away because generator was missing rear mount and had a coat hanger to stabilize it. I did not want a jury-rigged car. Otherwise a mint car.
1969 White COPO 427/425 Chevelle in Richfield, MN around 1979. Didn't buy it because I did not believe Chevrolet built a 427 Chevelle in 1969 and thought it was fake. I don't remember the asking price. Well known car today.
1970 Orange 440 6-pack Super Bee in 1979 for $900. Did not think my buddies would approve of me buying a Mopar.
3 1970-71 Hemi Cuda convertibles used at my 1978 High School Homecoming parade for the dignitaries. All three owned by the same owner in Blaine, MN and had for sale signs on the side quarter windows during the parade. I approached the owner after the parade and asked how much and he said something like $1500 each. I laughed and walked away.....
1965 Maroon Impala SS 409/340 convertible around 1981. $3500. Thought it was too much money.
1970 Shadow Grey, white interior, black vinyl top M22 LS6 Chevelle in 1981, Owned by Scott Ellingson (owned International Metal Strippers). Asking $5000. Thought it was too much.
1965 Z16 complete 396 engine in a junk yard in MN around 1982. Front clip of car was still in yard but body had been crushed. Had two friends with to verify. $700, Too much.
1949 Mercedes convertible around 1988, $1500. What the hell would I want with a Mercedes....
1969 Kingswood Estate Wagon, 427/425 in Bloomington, MN around 1990. $3500, too much.
1968 GT500 I found while on my 10 year wedding anniversary weekend in 1991 and we were out driving around in Dodge Center, MN. Drove past a farm and saw it sitting in a farmers 900' driveway drainage ditch. I copied the VIN down as no one was home and had a State cop buddy run the VIN. The car had not been registered in several years and the owner had a arrest list like I had never seen. Finally got a hold of him. Wanted $13,000. I told him he was nuts and a Mustang friend of mine bought it. Known car today.

Numerous other cars and too many to list besides the fact that it hurts too much.




<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/stupid.gif

[Rixls6]

65 Shelby Mustang in 1979, for $6500. Very clean low mile original with the tri-Y headers, and original spare, and a Paxton supercharger.
We were looking to buy our first house, so didn't buy the Shelby. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif

Not a car, but an engine. About 1977 for $1,200
66 Hemi out of a Belvedere. All original, and we started it chained to the rafters of an old rickety garage in Chicago. The whole garage shook every time I goosed the throttle. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif
The hoist we brought with couldn't lift the engine and kept sinking down before we could get it high enough to go in the pickup.
Called a wrecker, but his sling wouldn't go high enough either.
Should have tried to get another hoist the next day.

[hubleyman]

My story of one that got away is very similar to one of the other stories already posted... so I can totally understand how they felt.

Back in 1974 when I was only 16 years old, I had an opportunity to purchase a gold 1968 Shelby GT500 convertible A/T - for $4,000 (this was in the SF Bay area). It was all stock and in excellent condition.

$4k might not seem like a lot of money now, but this was the same time frame I sold my 1964 tripower GTO 4 speed car (in excellent condition) for $350 and also bought my first Corvette (a black 1962 with two tops) for only $200, and early Impalas in great condition were readily available for $100-300.

I scraped up roughly $2k but had a tough time gathering the rest of the money. The woman owner (who I believe was the original owner) gave me a month to get the funds together, but it just wasn't in the cards so we cancelled the deal.

I remember driving the car down the freeway at 55 mph in San Rafael and then she tells me to punch it, which I promptly obliged. It lit up the rear tires like I was taking off from a stop sign. Man that was fun!

Charlie

[Xplantdad]

1) 1970 T/A 340-6. Apparently a well known car today. Was till owned by the original owner in Yorba Linda, Ca. Low miles, all original, rare bronze paint color.

I test drove it, the guy had a small family and couldn't keep the car any more and it was killing him to sell it. He wanted $3500...I figured it was too much! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif

2) 1969 Trans Am, located on a Buick dealer used car lot on Harbor Blvd. Saw it when I was driving to the beach to go surfing. By the time I got home and got my brother to go and take a look at it, they had already sold it. Sold for $2600 and they thought they did well...

3) 1969 Indy Pace Camaro. Located in the &quot;bad&quot; part of Fullerton, Ca, right down the street from the Fullerton DMV. Wasn't for sale...for a long time. One day, I talked to the owner and told him if he ever wanted to sell...to let me know. I gave him my number. He never called. Found out later it sold for $3200.

4) 1969 RS/SS 396/375 Camaro. Located on a used car lot at the corner of Brookhurst and Lincoln in Anaheim. Car had spent time in Tijuana and other parts of Mexico (had stickers showing this on the lower portion of the windshield). Tried to get my dad to loan me some of the money...he said no way. Was for sale for $3100....

Last one for me...another 1969 RS/SS 396 Camaro-still owned by the original owner (had AER?) series blue plates. Original everything including paint.The guy lived off of Sunkist and Mira Loma. I would stop by occasionally to talk with the guy as it was parked outside in front of his house always! I kept telling him that I wanted the car. Same story-not for sale but he'd call me when it became available. One day I drove by and it was gone....I rang the bell and he TRADED it in on a van!

My brother had a chance to buy a black/black 1971 426 Hemi 4 speed Road Runner-that was originally owned by a State Farm Insurance adjuster. The guy was apparently HUGE and strong...The car was located at shop in Garden Grove run by Ray Alley...I talked about this here: Clicky here! (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&amp;Number=452706)

Oh well...coulda-woulda-shoulda!

[L78M22Rag]

Bruce,
at least you made an effort to buy most of those. Can't really help it if things didn't go your way. I like this thread... makes me feel much better about opportunities I've missed.

Last year I sold an all original (original paint &amp; drivetrain) 1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 to a friend because he wanted the car. A month ago he told me that he was considering selling the car and he advertised it for the same price that I originally sold it to him for. He asked me if I was interested, but I didn't need another car (not at that price). Yesterday I spoke with him and found out that he accepted less than half the asking price for the car. I wouldn't have had the nerve to offer him that little. Had I known how badly he wanted space in his garage, that car would be back in my garage as a future driver for my son... or me, until that day comes.

[RichSchmidt]

I went to look at that Motion 72 Camaro as well. I was looking at it for a friend. I still have a copy of the Motion invoice that he had for the car. I think the car was done as a conversion in 1976 for a guy named Emilio Marciano of Paterson New Jersey. The cost of the work was $10,600. It was a nice solid car.

[olredalert]

----I feel the need to tell y'all about another one. My cousin, Dave (3 years older than me) decided he was buying an original 427 Cobra. He looked for awhile and found one in Indiana that was a raced car owned by a guy named Gene Cormany out of &quot;Competition Press&quot; (for-runner to Autoweek), and he bought it for $4500 with tons of spares. He was too cheap to rebuild the engine correctly so while it ran awesome, it only ran sporadically. That was in 68/69, and then he chipped a tooth in the Salsbury rear and gave up. He called me and offered it to me with all the same spares (3 sets of wheels and tires for starters) for the same price he paid for it. I begged every relative I had for that $4500 and they were all too smart to give it to me. I don't blame them either. Id have probably killed myself.
----Later, I found out the serial# was 3003, the third 427 ever built and an R car from new. Whats the car worth today, you ask? Probably around $8,000,000 give or take. Yup! That one hurt......Bill S

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

You win that one Bill, no regrets!

Ryan

[VintageMusclecar]

2005: I'd just sold my Pro Street `67 Chevelle and was on the hunt for a restoration project. I highlighted the details of the full story elsewhere on here, but in a nutshell by sheer happenstance I happened to find the current owner of my first `67 SS396 Chevelle. It was on a car lot here in Ohio.

I called the owner and after a brief discussion he emailed me several pics of the car. He was up-front and told me the quarters had been poorly installed and would need to be re-done, and the pics showed a mediocre paint job at best anyways.

Unfortunately for me the seller was apparently suffering from a severe case of eBay-itis when I inquired about the price.

As much as it broke my heart, I had to let my first love slip through my fingers again. I just couldn't justify getting gouged like that to get my old car back, mainly since it still needed so much work to make it right.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33624-p1010054.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33625-p1010055.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33626-p1010056.jpg

Love that quarter panel emblem placement. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33627-p1010057.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33628-p1010058.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33629-p1010059.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33630-p1010060.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33631-p1010061.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33632-p1010062.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33633-p1010063.jpg

The car was an automatic originally and when I owned it. My friend who I sold the car to converted it to a 4 speed.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33634-p1010065.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33635-p1010066.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33636-p1010067.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33637-p1010068.jpg

When I owned it (~1984-1985)

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1124-33638-chevelle_at_kilkare.jpg

Wherever she is today, I hope she has a good home. Even though I couldn't get her back, I did wind up buying my current Chevelle shortly after finding this one...and most know what an epic journey that turned into.

[Tracker1]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SS427</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1964 Thunderbolt for $1000 in 1976. Thought it was too much for me at 16 and first time driver.
1961 Impala SS convertible in 1977, 348 3x2 4-speed, white with red guts for $500. Walked away because generator was missing rear mount and had a coat hanger to stabilize it. I did not want a jury-rigged car. Otherwise a mint car.
1969 White COPO 427/425 Chevelle in Richfield, MN around 1979. Didn't buy it because I did not believe Chevrolet built a 427 Chevelle in 1969 and thought it was fake. I don't remember the asking price. Well known car today.
1970 Orange 440 6-pack Super Bee in 1979 for $900. Did not think my buddies would approve of me buying a Mopar.
3 1970-71 Hemi Cuda convertibles used at my 1978 High School Homecoming parade for the dignitaries. All three owned by the same owner in Blaine, MN and had for sale signs on the side quarter windows during the parade. I approached the owner after the parade and asked how much and he said something like $1500 each. I laughed and walked away.....
1965 Maroon Impala SS 409/340 convertible around 1981. $3500. Thought it was too much money.
1970 Shadow Grey, white interior, black vinyl top M22 LS6 Chevelle in 1981, Owned by Scott Ellingson (owned International Metal Strippers). Asking $5000. Thought it was too much.
1965 Z16 complete 396 engine in a junk yard in MN around 1982. Front clip of car was still in yard but body had been crushed. Had two friends with to verify. $700, Too much.
1949 Mercedes convertible around 1988, $1500. What the hell would I want with a Mercedes....
1969 Kingswood Estate Wagon, 427/425 in Bloomington, MN around 1990. $3500, too much.
1968 GT500 I found while on my 10 year wedding anniversary weekend in 1991 and we were out driving around in Dodge Center, MN. Drove past a farm and saw it sitting in a farmers 900' driveway drainage ditch. I copied the VIN down as no one was home and had a State cop buddy run the VIN. The car had not been registered in several years and the owner had a arrest list like I had never seen. Finally got a hold of him. Wanted $13,000. I told him he was nuts and a Mustang friend of mine bought it. Known car today.

Numerous other cars and too many to list besides the fact that it hurts too much.




<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/stupid.gif </div></div>

Are there any pictures floating around of your 1978 High School Homecoming Parade? Was the town paper present perhaps?

[ds1]

I am a little young. 1991 graduated high school and one of my dad's Co workers had a 69 Pace Car all NOS sheetmetal,7k to much for a young guy. 2 69 Z28 s one rough in 1997 for 3500 and the other for 5k. Just did not think they would go so crazy

[markinnaples]

This is a great and (sometimes) painful thread to read.

I have some old Auto Traders with some really great prices on some old muscle cars that I'll have to dig up and post.

[SS427]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tracker1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Are there any pictures floating around of your 1978 High School Homecoming Parade? Was the town paper present perhaps? </div></div>

I would imagine there was as it was our homecoming. It was in the Yearbook but unfortunately no photos of the cars. There were several thousand people present and the owner of the cars was VERY well known in the Blaine, MN area as he had several Hemi cars and parts when I visited his garage somewhere in the mid 70's. Spring Lake Park (where the homecoming took place) had their own newspaper at the time and if I recall was called the Spring Lake Park Sun. Unfortunately it is no longer in business.

[Fast67VelleN2O]

I have a few.

Fall Carlisle 2003. Superbird project car on a trailer in North Field for $17,500. I thought he was crazy.
Spring Carlisle 2013. Rally Green SS 350 1969 Nova in the infield for $5500. Ran and drove. I must have forgot my brain at home.
I parted out a 1968 Z28 old street race car in 2004 because it was &quot;too rusty&quot;. Why did I do that again?
1996 a 1970 Chevelle SS 396 sitting in a chicken coop. Citrus Green white stripes. Price was right very nice car but car had 4 flats with wheel locks and no lock key. I couldn't get it home on the car dolly.
1970 Challenger R/T in 2000 guy wanted $2500 and I didn't know the Mopar market at all.
Tradin Times 199-2003 there was always a large contingent of SS 66-67 Novas and 1970 Chevelles priced around 5K that I never called about.

[day2killa]

When I was about 13, 1983, I saw my first altered wheelbased car it was up on a trailer , I climbeb up and remember reading to my dad alluminium on the fender. All I remember is it sat there all weekend and no one wanted it, but I thought it was so cool

[Day2_69Z]

1986
'69 Z/28
Citrus Green
Light Green int
9,000 miles
Original owner
POP Window Sticker
Shipper sheet.
Bill of Sale etc.
Flat Hood
No Spoilers
Firestone 200's
No Console or gauges
Center 8 track player with Blue light Radio.
$10,000 I thought he was goofy and yet , I hated the Colors and lack of equipment.
I walked to the other garage ......
His Dad had a Cortez Silver Z/28 with gauges ,tach &amp; spoiler.... same paper work as they bought them the same day at Kenny Ross
$7,000.
Drove it home.

[novadude]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Day2_69Z</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1986
'69 Z/28
Citrus Green
Light Green int
9,000 miles
Original owner
POP Window Sticker
Shipper sheet.
Bill of Sale etc.
Flat Hood
No Spoilers
Firestone 200's
No Console or gauges
Center 8 track player with Blue light Radio.
$10,000 I thought he was goofy and yet , I hated the Colors and lack of equipment.
I walked to the other garage ......
His Dad had a Cortez Silver Z/28 with gauges ,tach &amp; spoiler.... same paper work as they bought them the same day at Kenny Ross
$7,000.
Drove it home. </div></div>

Tom... your family used to have all kind of Chevy muscle cars on the car lot back in the 1980s I wish I could have bought. It just wasn't in the cards for a broke high school kid. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

Along those lines, how about cars you bought and parted / junked? In 1980, my Dad was building a '40 Chevy coupe street rod. He bought a fairly solid '66 Malibu convertible for the running 283. Ermine white, red interior, black roof. Bought the car for $60, drove it home, yanked the engine, and sent it to the junkyard!

The worst &quot;wish I woulda bought it&quot; was a '70 SS396 convertible. Astro blue, blue buckets, 4-spd. Original engine gone and replaced with a hopped up 327. $2500. This was around 1985 in the west end of Pittsburgh. My Dad has a '63 Impala 327 4-spd for sale at the time, and there was no room or money for another car until the impala sold. The Chevelle got sold to a kid who wrapped it around a pole coming home from the bar 3 weeks after he bought it.

[markinnaples]

Early 80's:
1970 Chevelle dark green/green, 307 auto for $300
1969 Camaro SS minus the engine &amp; trans, body all completed with candy brandywine paint for $2500
1973 Camaro SS built 350, mint, blue/white stripes for $3200
1969 Pace Car, 350 auto, not for sale

[JRSully]

That's easy, the big 3 that will be with me till the day I die; All early to mid 80's, early 90's or so. All in the mid $3k range

1. 69 RS JL8 Z, triple green, loaded, wanted $3500 for it, missed it by a few hours and heard it's in the Midwest somewhere, still have some pics of it
2. Untouched 440 Sixpack Cuda 4spd, every option including leather interior, Hemi orange, white top/gut, Had argent shaker too. bought by guy who went to Nam, didn't come back. Helped his father push it out of the garage, blow the dust off it and pour some gas down the center carb, fired right up. Maybe had 15k mileage on it, Begged Dad for $3k, told me I was an idiot and enjoy the hammered Escort your driving, Called back 2 days later, gone
3. Last, but not least, 70 Stage 1 4spd Conv, 4 miles from my house. just got my license and the guy let me take it on a half hr cruise! Car could rip a house off its foundation. Back to Dad for another $3k, same answer. next guy who called on it bought it, was at NMCN a few years back and the owner truly enjoyed the story of how he got the car via my misfortune!

Did get lucky on a few though... It was a lot of fun chasing these cars back then, that's for sure!

[camaromb]

Some of the local Chicago Auto Trader and Old Car ads from back in the late '80s early '90s:

1971 Buick Stage 1 Convert, window sticker/docs/loaded $ 7,200 / 1968 Hemi Charger RT 25,000 miles mint $ 10,000
1970 Trans Am RAV motor $ 11,500 (This one went to Al Maynard back then)
1965 Shelby GT 350 $ 14,900 / 1968 Shelby GT 350 blue 4 speed $ 9000 / 1969 Z28 JL8 $ 11,500
1971 Challenger 440-6 original paint $ 5,500 / 1974 SD Trans Am auto 35k miles $ 8,200 / 1969 Trans Am auto $ 12,000
1971 Z28 Mulsane Blue 4 speed 19k miles 4 speed window sticker $ 9,500 / 1970 Z28 4 sp 35k miles $ 9,500 / 1970 Olds 442 W30 4 speed $ 8,500
1969 Z28 61 k miles $ 5,200

The wish list was really long, they always seemed to be too much money.

[nova7579]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: VintageMusclecar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">2005: I'd just sold my Pro Street `67 Chevelle and was on the hunt for a restoration project. I highlighted the details of the full story elsewhere on here, but in a nutshell by sheer happenstance I happened to find the current owner of my first `67 SS396 Chevelle. It was on a car lot here in Ohio. </div></div>



WOW...those pictures were taken at a little lot between Lima and Elida right on ST RT 309.

Brina

[markinnaples]

Looking at a Oct 15, 1992 Muscle and Classic Auto Trader for Ohio and W. New York:

1970 Chevelle SS454, rebuilt engine, 4 spd, red w/black stripes, $6750
1970 AAR Cuda with 61k miles, trophy winner, $11,500
1969 Z/28, 59k miles, Hugger Orange, all numbers match, Protecto Plate, etc. $14,900
1967 Jaguar XKE 2+2, excellent condition, $17,900
1968 Camaro, 4 spd, good condition, $3,000
1969 Chevelle SS396, solid, red w/black, $6200
1968 Z/28 - RS, 350(?), 4spd, VGC, $6900

And so, so many more.

[Jim Ferron]

How about in 1976 when I got out of High School, I saw a 70 Vette and a Superbird [B5 blue with wheelcovers, auto column] Parked in front of a guys shop for sale.

when asked, he said your choice.... $3000 each.

I bought the Vette :O(

[black69]

69 L88 for 68K in 2001-2 in monterey. Back then it was market value. But it was nabors restored (replacement engine).
bill mitchel cherokee camaro. Too much pressure in too little time. Lots of complexities in that decision. Just could not get my big boy pants on and risk a lot of money.
junkyard 65 Z16 (only because it was stupid cheap).

[GearheadSS]

1970 Buick GS Stage 1, Gulfstream Blue, white vinyl roof and white interior. 4 speed with like 35k original miles in 2001. Could have bought it for $10k as the original engine wasn't running right. I couldn't afford it at the time. No idea what ever happened to that car. It was a 2 owner car at the time.

1969 Judge, RA3, CR, Auto. 1 owner car. Original engine was blown but still with the car. Heard about the car's location, went to find it and it was gone. Turns out a family friend bought it a week before I heard about the car. Rumor was he got it for $2500 in 2004. 11 years later, he still has it and it's still not restored. I was sick that I missed that one.

[marxjunk]

around 88 Sox and Martin Belvedere...Hemi missing..still Red White and Blue and lettered up...went to look at a 67 GTO convert and got hung up on the Hemi...never could get it done..years later turned up at R&amp;R..bunch more money..never found out the history but Ron said it was real, but a back-up car or something..cant remember the details..Ron got sick and the cars all got sold...it was ruff...but still a Hemi car, with Sox and Martin on the side

71 Hemi Charger r/t..no motor, slate grey..$8500..thought too much missing motor..99ish

71 440 6PAK 4 speed charger r/t auto with orig motor included..red with white top loaded air grabber etc..$6000...thought too much...97-99 i guess

70 Super Bee sublime...rust free texas car..440-6 air grabber 4spd on and on..motor in trunk $6000 thought too much around 2000

70 Trans Am Javelin.real RWB with 2 parts cars..$2000..couldnt get it moved quick enough and was crushed because the guy was being evicted etc..all orig missing the 4 speed trans..very nice car..around 99

71 Judge..$4000..correct...dead broke,, 1986

and on and on..

one i really regretted..65 365 h Corvette Coupe..side pipes, knock offs..white with red guts, made up..slicked over bondo buggy...sitting on a buy here pay here lot...$3000 i was 19 maybe 20 and making $8 and hour prepping cars for paint and was barely making it...mom lent me the money...but i got guilty conscious on it, because i already borrowed a ton to go to trade school..etc, and gave her back the check the next day...$3000 seemed like a million to me back then..i didnt know how i was going to pay her back

the next day i bought my first GTO, a 71 triple black 4 speed for $500..54xxx original mile cream puff..bad clutch..wouldnt move, on a car lot and they wanted to dump it...up on St Charles Rock Road in STL...i loved that car...and have pretty much been a GTO guy since..mom gave me the money...she knew i was suffering over the Vette..lol..

[olredalert]

----OK,,,Ill tell you about one more. I had taken a job offer from Jack Douglas and his partner Richard Buxbaum to go to work at Classic Motors in 1976. Had to move from Ft. Liquerdale to Chicago. Went to work my first day at the old Jack Douglas Chevrolet store just off 294 in Hinsdale (home of the Ferrari dealership today, I think). I went down the stairs into the shop and there was a guy detailing out a GT40 Ford. I was kind of surprised, but Richard told me he found it one town over and bought it. He then informed me that this particular GT40 ran at Lemans until the Coletti transaxle puked. Later Richard told me I could own it for $30,000. I had just bought a house for a couple of bucks more than that and had to finance about 90% of that, so it just wasn't in the cards. Should have hocked everything I had and slept in my car. Whats that car worth today???......Bill S

[Lynn]

I feel for you Bill. I think the biggest heartbreakers are the ones from about 69 to 78 or so. Most of the desirable cars started appreciating around then.

I have some old Road &amp; Track mags, and some of the for sale ads just make me want to cry. Multimillion dollar Ferraris (today anyway) for 5 to 7k. Did you realize that there was one of the 63 Ferrari GTO's GIVEN to a high school vo-tech in the eary 70's because the owner couldn't see any use for such a high strung car? The last one I heard of changing hands brought something like $48 million!!!! Early Corvettes were dirt cheap.

In addition to that 190SL deal I passed on, I also passed on a 56 Corvette, never hit, but poor repaint, missing the hard top. Ran and drove fine. 3 speed. Price was $700 in 1972. About that same time, passed on a 55 Nomad, then a 56. Both under $700.

But, and this one really hurts, in about 1976 or 77 (first gas crisis) I passed on a Hemi Superbird for $1,200, because it had been run a little hard, had a lot of scratches.

[bwag]

Well you might know the car I let slip through my fingers was the yellow 69 Camaro of Jeff's (SS427COPO). In 1974 we sold it for $2600.00 with a Booth-Arons 427 engine. Looking back then I had too many toys for a 24 year old, A Black 73 SJ Grand Prix,A 63 Split window Corvette with flared fenders and a tunnel ram. A silver 68 GTO pulling a metalflake silver Wreidt spoiler 455 Olds jet boat. A road race inspired 750 Honda, A H2 750 Kaw drag bike.We were racing a Pro stock Vega and building a Pro stock Monza for next year.The reason was everything was cheap and I wish I could have kept them all,but was always out of room. Working for a dealer , my shop stalls looked over the used car lot and I could see the porters taking plates off the trade ins before any one else. At least I had the chance to race the yellow Camaro before we got the next faster car.

[VintageMusclecar]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nova7579</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: VintageMusclecar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">2005: I'd just sold my Pro Street `67 Chevelle and was on the hunt for a restoration project. I highlighted the details of the full story elsewhere on here, but in a nutshell by sheer happenstance I happened to find the current owner of my first `67 SS396 Chevelle. It was on a car lot here in Ohio. </div></div>



WOW...those pictures were taken at a little lot between Lima and Elida right on ST RT 309.

Brina </div></div>

Sounds about right.

[ohhawk]

Two that I remember most from the same visit about 15 years ago or so. Fella in the KC area had recently listed a '70 LS6 Chevelle that I wanted to look at. I remember he lived on an acreage outside of town and took me for a test ride on the county highway by his home. I had never been in one of these and will always remember the unique sound and ride as he showed me its capability. I passed on that car but he said he had another vehicle in his pole barn he wanted to show me that he was thinking of selling. He took the cover off a '62 Chevy bubble top 409. Beautiful car....blk ext/red int if I remember correctly. I passed on this one as well but gave the lead to a CA member here that I believe ended up purchasing it. If I had more room and more $$ these would have both been great additions.

As it turned out shortly thereafter I became aware of a documented '70 LS5 Chevelle SS convertible in PA. I ended up purchasing this car for $33,000 so my pain was short-lived I guess you would say.

[RPOLS3]

LS6 Chevelle. My Dad saw an ad posted in the bathroom at Vettefest in 1987 or 1988. Shadow Grey, white buckets/console, cowl induction, born with drivetrain/TH400/4.10. Needed work on the quarters and to be put back together and painted, but came with loads of spares. $3k for everything. I had recently purchased the 72 I still own and was probably too much work for me at the time at 17 or 18 years old. Good friend bought it, fixed it right, and still has it.

[markinnaples]

Jake, bet that is beautiful in that color combo, any pics?

[olredalert]

----Jake,,,Are you talking about Bob Ss 70? And,,,what are the Dykstra's bringing to MCACN this year????.......Bill S

[RPOLS3]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: olredalert</div><div class="ubbcode-body">----Jake,,,Are you talking about Bob Ss 70? And,,,what are the Dykstra's bringing to MCACN this year????.......Bill S </div></div>

Yep that's the one.

Dad will have the 409 in the 409 Display - looking forward to seeing you.

[RPOLS3]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: markinnaples</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Jake, bet that is beautiful in that color combo, any pics?</div></div>

No pics Mark - sorry, yes it is beautiful.

[olredalert]

----Jake,,,Bobs car isn't Shadow Gray, although it looks like it. Bob discovered that it was a special order color. I have no idea why though. Ive made several attempts to get him to bring it to MCACN, but he resists. I think people would love to see it......Bill S

[RPOLS3]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: olredalert</div><div class="ubbcode-body">----Jake,,,Bobs car isn't Shadow Gray, although it looks like it. Bob discovered that it was a special order color. I have no idea why though. Ive made several attempts to get him to bring it to MCACN, but he resists. I think people would love to see it......Bill S </div></div>

Wow - I did not know that, all these years I thought it was Shadow Gray. I know he has a build sheet - is that called out on it? It's been about 5 years since I last saw it at his house.

I agree - it has been out of circulation for so long that most have not seen it and are not aware of it. I think the last time I saw it out was when we all went to Byron for a track day something like 10 years ago.

[markinnaples]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: olredalert</div><div class="ubbcode-body">----Jake,,,Bobs car isn't Shadow Gray, although it looks like it. Bob discovered that it was a special order color. I have no idea why though. Ive made several attempts to get him to bring it to MCACN, but he resists. I think people would love to see it......Bill S </div></div>

Awesome, what exact color is it?

[SS427]

Is it known as &quot;Taupe&quot;? It is marked on the build sheet as that color name but looks very similar to Shadow Grey. I have seen one other car with this paint name that looks like Shadow Grey.

[ohhawk]

Dark Taupe Metallic / code 17 in Canada

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1111-33738-115f3280.jpg

[markinnaples]

Wow, that's a beautiful color.

[Verne_Frantz]

In around '75-'76 the neighbor across the street had a friend drop off a Z16 that he wanted to sell because he couldn't afford the gas. Complete and original $1100. asking. Red, black vinyl roof. Of course at that time I could spare about $150. a month. No go. I have no idea where it went.

Verne <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

[RPOLS3]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SS427</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is it known as &quot;Taupe&quot;? It is marked on the build sheet as that color name but looks very similar to Shadow Grey. I have seen one other car with this paint name that looks like Shadow Grey.</div></div>

It might be Rick, maybe Bill and I will have to do some follow up and see what we can find out. It certainly does appear to be close to the picture Dick posted. I am hoping to see the Owner at MCACN.

[olredalert]

----I want to say that the trim tag is a --, but I'm not exactly clear on it. Ill call Bob today as its been too long since we last gabbed a bit anyway and tell him his car is being discussed. Maybe I can move him forward and get him to show up here. Years ago I sold him another odd LS6. It was a red, white painted top, white bench gut, auto with an AM radio and absolutely no other options. I know he sold that one but have no idea where it went!.....Bill S

[RPOLS3]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: olredalert</div><div class="ubbcode-body">----I want to say that the trim tag is a --, but I'm not exactly clear on it. Ill call Bob today as its been too long since we last gabbed a bit anyway and tell him his car is being discussed. Maybe I can move him forward and get him to show up here. Years ago I sold him another odd LS6. It was a red, white painted top, white bench gut, auto with an AM radio and absolutely no other options. I know he sold that one but have no idea where it went!.....Bill S </div></div>

I remember that red car very well. It was the first LS6 I ever drove - at one of the NCRS tune up nights after he got it dialed in. I think I remember that he sold it to John L. the Ziebart guy - not sure what happened to it after that.

[SS427]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ohhawk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dark Taupe Metallic / code 17 in Canada

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1111-33738-115f3280.jpg

</div></div>

Dick, that is in fact the car I was referring to but cannot find a copy of his buildsheet in my files though it is there somewhere. It is not a Canadian build car as it is an LS6 and if memory serves me it had the - - cowl tag and &quot;Taupe&quot; written on the buildsheet.

[olredalert]

----Jake,,,Just talked to Bob and the tag is a --. The color (I swear I'm not lying) is &quot;Baker Van Grey&quot;. He found the mix code back when he had it painted (in laquer) but says the code has disappeared out of any new paint books. Unfortunatly, Bob has had a lot on his plate for awhile and just couldn't get the car ready for the LS6 display this year......Bill S

[RPOLS3]

Thanks Bill - that clears it up. I never knew that - always thought it was Shadow Grey. Makes that car even more interesting for sure. I know he's had lots to deal with lately but hopefully he can bring it out sometime soon.

Now back to the original thread...........

[SS427]

Ahhhh, that car. I would have loved to have had that in the display. Unique color for sure.

[danachevroletfor1967]

When the car bug first bit me I became a MOPAR guy. My favorite car and dream car in my later teen years was a 1969 Roadrunner, preferably with the 426 hemi. When I was in college in Idaho in 1972 I found a 1970 Dodge Challenger TA for sale in a used car lot. It was bright yellow with an automatic. They let me take it out for a test drive. It definitely could get up and go. I can't remember the asking price, but I know they were going to take my 1965 Dodge Coronet (my dad's old car) in as a trade, and I think I could have had it for $2,000 on top of the trade in. I talked with the original owner and basically found out there was nothing wrong with the car; I think he was just tired of it. Anyway I couldn't afford it at that time being in college and everything. I have no doubt that if I had been able to purchase that Challenger TA I would still own it today and still be a MOPAR man. But I guess that wasn't meant to be. After graduating from college and getting my first permanent, full-time job in 1975 I wanted to buy a new car. Chrysler stopped making any car I would have been interested in in 1974. I've never been a Ford guy. I wanted a back seat; that ruled out the Corvette. It came down to a Firebird or Camaro, and I felt the Camaro had more of a racing heritage, plus was cheaper. So I bought my first Camaro, a 1975 Type LT. I have owned nothing but Camaros since, other than a Blazer (1978 model that I still own) for getting around in the winter time. Long story short: if it wasn't for me being unable to buy that Challenger back in 1972, I never would have become a Camaro buff. So, I guess it worked out like it was meant to.

[Dave Rifkin]

I guess I'll add my two cents;
1980-ish Carlisle: There was an Ivy Green (no stripes) 1966 GT350 that I should have bought; asking price $8,000. Did not have original 289 and had some bubbles (very small but, I suspected rust) on top of the rear fenders by the window. I LOVE the Shelby Mustangs and, regardless of what it would be worth today, I kick myself in the arse for passing on that car.

May have been the same visit to Carlisle, I missed out on a 1969 Palladium Silver RAIV GTO Judge. The car was a POCI national champion and I think the owner was asking $10,000. I had $8k with me and made the offer; the owner looked me over and I think, had I been older, he might have sold it to me. In hindsight I guess I am glad I didn't get that car because I lived at home, no garage and my parents lived a block from the beach. I am sure the salt air would have ruined that car.

[olredalert]

----Heres another one. 1973 I'm living on Cape Cod. Among other stuff I watch the Boston Sunday paper like a hawk (no internet). One Sunday theres a 1964 289 Cobra listed for the gargantuan price of $4000 and I immediately make the call. Later that afternoon I take the trip up just north of Boston (had a great view of Boston airport). Hop out of the car in the guys driveway and see a 289 Cobra with a very mediocre enamel paint job. At first I thought &quot;this is a go program&quot;. Then, looking closer and being much younger and dumber than I at least think I am today, I notice the every wire on the car is red. Since I am seriously electricaly deficient I got scared and walked away with my tail between my legs. DUH,,,DOUBLE DUH!!!!.....Bill S

[Day2_69Z]

1987
Pgh Auto trader .....
69 Camaro in Indiana , Indiana County.
140 mph speedo ..no console 4 speed M21 12 Bolt 4:10 posi 5 leaf springs
302 DZ 302 Z/28 Emblems
Curved neck BB 4 Core, BB Heater Box.
ZL2 cold air hood and hdwre.
Original color LeMans Blue Black Stand.
$6000. .
Turns out to be YENKO...The Buyer later found out it was a Yenko by others looking at it.
He found the Original 427 not long after.....fluffed it up, drives it ....non restored , still owns it

[Dusk Blue Z]

1979 Car Craft Street Machine Nationals. Gold 1969 Yenko Camaro with Black trim and NC plates, $5,800.00. Looks like a nice car but what is a Yenko? I was into Nova's at the time, everyone in high school had a Camaro. Thought about it some more and bought my Z/28 2 months later. Worked out OK as I still have my Z.

[cdn454LS6]

A friend in 1999 had 2 copo camaro's with GM of canada doc's offered me one for sale $30,000 Engine on powder coated frame all ready to drop in, born with drive train, and a 4sd, body work all done just needed daytona yellow paint and assemble, I passed. Big mistake...

[TimG]

Back in 1983 a local fellow had two 289 Cobras for sale, he was trying to buy a GT40 and both had to go quickly. I had a nice low mile '69 Indy Pace car and a 454 '73 Corvette to sell if I was going to buy one of the 289 Cobras. Of course, I couldn't move fast enough and both sold within about one week. The local owner of one still has it 32 years later and I approach him on occasion to see if he would like to sell.

[DarrenX33]

Steve Sandlin's Green COPO Camaro.

[ORIGLS6]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ohhawk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2015/10/full-1111-33738-115f3280.jpg

</div></div>

Everyone knows I'm not much of a 'Bling' guy so the stripes don't do much for me. But that COLOR ! ! ! DAMN ! ! ! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif

[Big Block Bill]

June 1975, 1 year out of high school. I had just sold my 9000 mile Hemi Roadrunner 1969 Original paint RS Z-28 drag car that had a full on race prepped L-88 / M-22 in it. Forest Green black hat, custom interior. Lettered &quot;Bit-O-Gold&quot; on the 1/4's. It did not have frame connectors so the Quarters were cracked by the rear glass from lifting the wheels all the time, passed @ $2800.00 Didn't want to do &quot;body Work&quot; What an idiot. The red 1967 Maroon L-88 that sold for $2 Million. Passed at Bloomington Gold back in 1987? for $125,000. it was in boxes. Should a, would a, could a.

Bill

[Lynn]

Just remembered another one. Early in 1972, my brother had just wrecked my first 69Z. I ended up selling it to him, and somehow ended up with a 68 VW. CRAP! I go see a buddy to lust after his 67 Z. Original motor, trans, rear. I had helped him put a hurst shifter in it. Tells me he is selling it because 2nd gear synchro is out. $1,000 will buy it. Red, black interior, no RS, white stripes. Like the incredible dumb a$$ I was, I passed. Wasn't flashy enough. Really? I was driving a VW for pete's sake. Another good friend of mine bought it and was T boned so bad the dash was bent in an inverted V shape.

Another buddy ended up with the engine (put it in his 57 race car, but didn't use the factory oil pan). Fast forward to maybe 2004 or 5 (can't remember) and Jonesy on this site is looking for a 67 Z oil pan. I fix him up with my buddy and they make a deal.