Best deal you missed out on

[RzeroB]

Best deal I missed out on? Hmmm? That would probably be the great deals I had, and then stupidly let go off. In

1983 when I moved to Sacramento CA I found a '70 HemiCuda for $11,500. I quickly sold my '71 'Cuda (383 4spd), wiped out my bank account and combined that money with a loan for the balance to buy the HemiCuda. It was a Lemon Twist yellow automatic. Wasn't really a fan of that color, but the opportunity to own King Kong presented itself and I reached for it. It was an awesome experience! The "grin factor" of that car more than made up for fact that it was yellow - but it didn't leave me much money after all the bills were paid. In the end it was the loan payments that led me to letting it go. In 1986 I had met my future (and current) wife and I had to get out from under that car payment. So I sold it  . If I only could have hung onto it for just a couple more years I would made a tiddy little profit on it. A few years after I sold it the prices for Hemi E-bodies went vertical and took off like the space-shuttle!

After I sold the Hemi I had the opportunity to buy either a '70 Cuda AAR in Lemon Twist or a '70 Challenger 318 convertible in Bright Blue - both of them were around $3,000 each. I passed on the AAR and bought the convertible. Like I said, not really a fan of Lemon Twist and the future wife preferred the drop-top. So not only did I sell the HemiCuda but I also missed out on an opportunity to pick up an AAR for cheap - double dumb  .

We enjoyed the drop-top Challenger until 1989. Then one day my wife took it out to run some errands. While sitting still in the drive up teller line at the bank it got crunched  . Some knuckle head came out of the bank, walked right in front of the Challenger, got in his pickup truck and then promptly backed right into the passenger side quarter panel completely caving it in  . Don't ask me how he "didn't see" the car cause I don't have a clue. Anyway, it looked to me like it was beyond trying to straighten out and would need a whole new quarter panel. Insurance offered me some ridiculously low settlement amount that didn't come anywhere close to what it would cost to repair the car. I became very discouraged and distressed about the whole thing that I wound up selling the car to some body shop for next to nothing - thus completing the trifecta of dumb moves  .   

[back n black]

I entered the market when prices peaked a few years back.  Cars seem cheaper today so I don't think I've missed in hot deals yet.

[Bearcuda]

My best deal that never was, was 1992, Atlanta, Ga. I was driving to a hobby shop and saw a gorgeous 1971 B5 blue Cuda in a dealer lot. I yanked the steering wheel as hard left as I could without flipping the 91 Hyundai Accel I was driving to get a closer look.  What I found was a great shape 340 car, asking price...$5,000. I seemed to have lost my mind at this point because to me, I knew I didn't have anywhere near five thousand dollars. For some unknown reason, financing never crossed my mind. Never....crossed...my mind. I guess because I had never financed a car before and today have yet to do so. I have paid cash for every 40 or so cars that I have owned.

Soooo, aside from my biggest regret which was acquiring a 71 Grand Coupe 383 for $300 and then letting it go a few years later for a paltry $1,800, this definitely comes in at a close second; or possibly an even tie.

[shadango]

My "best deal" was not a Mopar (I know.....perish the thought...LOL)

It was a 68 Camaro.   I was 22 back in 1989 or so and I needed a replacement for my 81 Horizon 4 door. (Still love that little thing...lol)

I was intent on getting something COOL and a local Camaro , cheap, caught my eye....  Paint was OK, motor was running, interior needed some work....needed floors but came with new metal for that.....for $4000 (I think?).  It ran and drove and I will never forget my first ride in a vintage Camaro! My Grandad was going to loan me the money.  Luckily before I laid down any cash I had my girlfriend's Dad look at it, because it turns out it had major frame (unit body) issues.  He was a frame man and knew his stuff...so I kept looking.

Then a week or two later I found a 68 Camaro for $5,000.....with a warmed up 350, had just been redone by the owner.....gorgeous deeeeeeeeep ruby red (almost black) metallic paint with a white ghost rally stripe down the deck lid and hood.   Underside was redone and you could eat off it.  Cragars, fat tires in back, interior perfect save for a small split in the drivers seat.    My girlfriend rode in the back while I drove it with the owner and I remember looking back and she was all smiles. The car had a ratchet shifter, so I was clumsy with that a little, but it was a great ride. Rumbly, felt like it had tons of power. Dual exhaust...just awesome.   The guy's wife wanted him to put in a pool so the newly redone car had to go.

This was the one!

I gave the guy $50 as hand money. All I had to do was go to the bank with my Grandpap and get the money.

We planned to do so the next day. 

Then I got the phone call.....Grandpap decided he wasn't going to loan me the money for that car.  I was SO DISTRAUGHT!!!!!!! LOL  Seems that he had spoken my grandma who had spoken to my other grandparents who had gotten wind of the deal and they amongst themselves decided that a hot rod was not a good college car for a 22 year old.  Isnt that crazy!?!?!? LOL

I called the guy almost in tears and told him to keep the money and that I wouldnt be back cause I couldnt raise the money.

I am confident the car sold not long after that.

Turns out I am glad that I DIDNT get the car.....it would have been a horrible winter car and of course I would have ruined it in the salt and snow....and that car deserved better.

I still think about that gorgeous deep ruby beauty and wonder what happened to her and every time I see a dark red 68 Camaro I wonder if it is her.

It took almost 20 years for me to finally get back into a muscle car, when I got my fish.    The fish didnt run, although it had a motor sitting in it that I was told did run....no tranny, or driveshaft, no electrics under the hood, no battery tray even.....interior was more or less there but ratty and dirty, in need of a facelift....but it had a brand new coat of Sublime....I drove 4 hours to get it and didnt think twice of plunking down the $9,500 when I saw her. I was not letting THIS one get away!

With all the money on odds and ends I have sunk into her up til now, I may have overpaid for some folks' standards. And she is not perfect. 

But she is rumbly, has nice power, catches the eye, and is MINE.

I don't know what it is about driving her, but every time I do, it just feels RIGHT.

[73EStroker]

1970 Solar Yellow 440RT Challenger, White vinyl top, no SG, Auto, 6 way seat, Red interior, steel wheels and dog dish hubcaps and I know the 2nd owner who showed me a picture of it taken in 1973 and he said it did 150mph floating of course. Was bought from Hayward dodge CA by a Canadian native (they were the only ones in those days that could import a car under 25years old from US - think Auto Pact days). Had to be a 1 of 1 car. This all happened when I bought the 73 to restomod. should have picked up this RT.

[fantum]

Just saw this and had to add my story.

I had a '70 Gran Coupe that I modified.  When I bought it in 1975 for $600, the car had a poor paint job on it.  It was painted silver that looked tiger-striped.  Anyway, over the years I replaced the rear end a few times until I settled on a 3.55 sure grip in my 8.75.  I blew up the 318 and found a 340 that I machined and put in the car, added headers, a nice cam, etc.  Anyway, in '86 I was a young, impressionable Army Lieutenant and when I drove up to the Battalion HQ a Major walked out and told me I needed to drive a better vehicle, one that matched my stature as a military officer.  And besides, he said, you have a new child - you need to think about a better, more reliable car for my family.

So, I sold the Gran Coupe for $1500, and bought a Honda (all I could afford).   

I thought the car was gone.  Anyway, I get transferred to Germany, and in 1990 when I return home I get a call from an auto shop in El Paso (I live in Miami).  They say they have my car and that I owe them $450.  Turns out the guy I sold it to never had it titled in his name.  A little later he took it for repairs, didn't have the money to fix it, and left it.  Thus, I get the call.  I'm elated!     I can get my car back for $450 plus transportation.  My parents step in and tell me I shouldn't buy the car because I have a child on the way, it's a waste of money, etc.  So, I passed on the car.   

25 years later and I'm still kicking myself!

[djais1801]

There were 2
I would have to say it was the 70 'cuda 383 4spd a few months ago, before I found the 73. it was restored and for sale a while for $35k in the boston area.  It was black (originally B5 blue) NOM, but a real 'cuda and a big block car.  I offered $27 cash, and he came back at $28, I thought about it for 2 hrs and it was gone.

There was a 58 Alfa Romeo Gulietta Spider convertible at a shop where my daily driver was getting fixed. it was a running/driving car but needed a resto, cool little Italian car w/ cool chrome grill-I believe they wanted $6k. This was in prob 2004. these go for about $75k and up fully restored now.

[dfrazz]

There were 2
I would have to say it was the 70 'cuda 383 4spd a few months ago, before I found the 73. it was restored and for sale a while for $35k in the boston area.  It was black (originally B5 blue) NOM, but a real 'cuda and a big block car.  I offered $27 cash, and he came back at $28, I thought about it for 2 hrs and it was gone.

I almost bought that '70 Cuda too (assuming it was the same car as not many with the exact detail you described for sale just outside Boston). I backed out because someone posted on a Mopar site they saw the car is the resto job was bad and the trim was a mess.  Not sure as I never saw it but I came real close to buying it.

[djais1801]

I almost bought that '70 Cuda too (assuming it was the same car as not many with the exact detail you described for sale just outside Boston). I backed out because someone posted on a Mopar site they saw the car is the resto job was bad and the trim was a mess.  Not sure as I never saw it but I came real close to buying it.

yeah...the shaker hood wasn't set right.

[ec_co]

cool thread! only 2 stick out in my mind. 1st was when I was @ 20, saw a '79 TransAm at a small dealer lot, fully loaded with T-Tops, Black on Black, 4spd Hurst shifter, gold snowflake wheels .... the perfect smokey and the bandit car and at the time it was one of my dream car. fun as hell to test drive, the guy took me to a big parking lot and let me have some fun. only $2K at the time ... couldn't come up with the funds though    #2 was when I was living in Portland/OR in the early 90's, found a mid 60's Hemi b-body for @ $2500 ..... really regret not getting that one.

[734406pk]

The best deal that I passed up, well there have been a few. The one that I'm really kicking my self over to this day over is- Spring 1980 Denver Co. I saw a classified ad in the paper for someone selling a set of 4 Cragar SS wheels,1 year old uni-lug type. Gave him a call to check out the wheels, which looked great. After I paid him for the wheels, he asked me what I was going to install them on. I told him "a 70 Dodge Challenger". "A Mopar guy huh?" he says, " Well I have a Mopar I've been trying to sell, but no one wants it because it burns too much gas, it's right over here". So we walk out into the apartment building parking lot to see a tarp covered car in the corner space. He pulls the tarp off a 1969 1/2 Plymouth GTX convertible, 440 6 bbl, Hemi 4 speed with Dana 60 4.11 rear. All original and complete, but it needed a full restoration. I ask him what he wants for it and he replies "I was asking $650 but I'll take $500 since you bought the wheels". I thought about it and decided it wasn't worth the hassle trying to get it home and passed on it. At least 100k today...

[RzeroB]

The best deal that I passed up, a 1969 1/2 Plymouth GTX convertible, 440 6 bbl, Hemi 4 speed with Dana 60 4.11 rear. All original and complete, but it needed a full restoration. I ask him what he wants for it and he replies "I was asking $650 but I'll take $500 since you bought the wheels". I thought about it and decided it wasn't worth the hassle trying to get it home and passed on it.

Only $650?!

[734406pk]

Since I was buying the wheels, I could have had it for another 500. I needed a new top and the car had a funky custom paint job that was flaking off, flat tires etc.  It didn't look all that appealing. But it was a diamond in the rough. In those days muscle cars were cheap due the the gas crunch was just over. Th only consolation is I'm really an E body guy but damn...

[Brillo1974]

In 1979 I moved back to my home town and didn't have chit for money and worked in a body shop. I saw a high impact green 1970 Javlin 390 car with a blown up engine sitting in a guys yard and asked what he wanted for it, he said $150 bucks so I bought it. I found a 343 from a Matador and put it in there to make it my daily driver. While putting the engine in at a friends nephews house his nephew offered to sell me his cars he had. First one was a 1970 440 6 pak Challenger and yes it was plum crazy and the other was a Green 1969 Hemi Road Runner auto both were show room condition. I wanted that Challenger so bad, I would just sit and look at it while working on my car thinking how fun it would be to drive it and the chics I could pick up with that baby.  This is what will make you sick.... I could have bought both cars for at the most $7000 back then (his offer).    It may as well been $70,000 back then with the money I had. I heard the Road Runner got sold maybe 6 months later for some good money, I think the person that bought it knew more about it that I did at the time. I don't know where the Challenger went. I will never forget just how close I was to having two incredible cars and want to cry every time I think about it.    I always was a Mopar fan even before that.

[mud man]

Back in '77 when I was 16 I bought a '70 Gran Coupe for $1100. 318, automatic.  after a few years I decided to drop in a 440 and a hemi 4speed. Drove that awhile then sold it for $2500. I have regretted selling it ever since. It has taken me until now to come back around. I purchased a roller `74 about three months ago for $5,000 . Am planning to make a '70 clone as that has always been my favorite. Planning on a gen lll hemi unless I get lucky and come up with a wrecked Hellcat or something. Not likely.