Best deal you missed out on

[AARCuda340+6]

71 Cuda , 440+6 V code , 4 spd , dana [obviously] , shaker , V3 Hemi orange , billboards , spoiler pkg , Black roof & interior , 15" ralleys , tinted glass , rim blow , Elastomeric bumpers , I am pretty sure it had the AM/FM Cassette it cariied the licence plate , RARE 1.
He called me up & offered it to me for $10K , he wanted to buy a brand new GnX , he sold the car to someone & bought the GnX figuring it would go up in value more than the Cuda !!

WOW!  That sounds exactly like the car that the guy who sold me his AAR in 1985.  He purchased a 1971 Cuda 440+6 Hemi Orange, front & rear rubber bumpers, billboards but had a black vinyl top with rear window louvers.  He sold it a few years later to purchase a 1987 Grand National.  It might have been a GNX.  His name was John Vanka.  At this time he lived near Delhi, ON.

And to stay on topic at this same time ( 1985 ) I had to make a choice between the AAR or a 1969 Daytona 440 with Copper or Bronze paint ( can't remember what the color was called ) with a white Daytona stripe.  It was for sale locally in the Auto Trader for $13,000.00   I wish I had bought both but who knew what the future held.  I've got the Auto Trader article somewhere as I kept many books from the era.

Thanks for listening

[TinCuda]

I know that this is not a Mopar story but it is my big "missed deal".

Back in the early 1990s, I had a chance to buy a fully operational (no guns) flying MIG-15 two seat trainer for $10 thousand dollars.  An outfit in Phoenix Arizona got a smoking good deal after the financial collapse of the Soviet Union.  I don't have any pictures but I found some on the internet that looked like it.  I was in flight school and didn't have two dimes to rub together or a place to store the plane.  My thoughts at the time where that it would cost a lot of money to store the plane, the gas for it would be crazy expensive, everything was written in Russian, etc...  The kicker is that I had access to a flight instructor that was acually qualified in a MIG-15 that could have checked me out in it if I wanted him to.  I just did not have the money then.  I could have sold one of the landing gear and made the money back today.  lol  Oh well.


.,

[Cuda416]

At around the 1988 time frame at the ripe old age of 18 I had the chance to get a 1970 Hemi Cuda rolling shell, $1500. Missed it by "that much"

[dodj]

1985, i think, a '71 Challenger R/T 440 4 speed. The owner wanted $800. I didn't have that much. I learned a year later that he sent it to the crusher..

[Chryco Psycho]

WOW!  That sounds exactly like the car that the guy who sold me his AAR in 1985.  He purchased a 1971 Cuda 440+6 Hemi Orange, front & rear rubber bumpers, billboards but had a black vinyl top with rear window louvers.  He sold it a few years later to purchase a 1987 Grand National.  It might have been a GNX.  His name was John Vanka.  At this time he lived near Delhi, ON.

That is the car , I knew John Vanka & yes it had rear window louvers , I think I was talking to him in 86 about the car & I had just lost my small business & was wiped financially ! I wanted that car badly !! I think he was trying to buy a brand new GNX but maybe he missed out & bought a GN by the time he sold the Cuda , I wonder where that Cuda is now ??

[MOPAR FANATIC]

  In '79 i new a guy selling a 70 plum crazy AAR 4SPD CAR.his house was 4 blocks away the time i heard of this deal,my buddy that lived three houses done from me beat me to it.he also had a 68 hemi orange RR 383 4SPD CAR.I HAD A 70 CHARGER 383 a/t car.we where both 17 at the time and were and still are into mopars.

the selling price for the AAR..... $500.00   

so close..................... 

[4 speed fish]

Middle 90's I past on a # machings U code 4 speed 70 cuda for 5k because back then I was clueless on how to restored them,now looking back after restoring one that car was in way  better shape than the one I started with, now that I have the skills and know how most of the car worth restoring are hard to find.

[ViperMan]

I'M GOING THROUGH THIS RIGHT NOW!!!!   

[bentpshrods]

   When I was twenty--a freind bought a yellow and black challenger T/A. That car started my search for a mopar.  Thru a friend of a friend kinda deal I heard of a mopar setting in a back yard for sell. Went and saw a alpine white-440/4spd--super bird. Only problem it was wrecked. It had hit something hard, the nose cone was smashed, drivers fender and door was buckled, winshield broke ect.  The guy wanted  $700.00 for it. This was in 1977, and I figured I would not be able to fix it so I passed.  Found my cuda in a field a couple of months later .   

[HP_Cuda]

Remember patience will reward you.

I built my last Cuda with a friend when I was 19, that was over 20 years ago!!!! I just picked this one up about a year ago.

Keep you eyes open and be at the ready and you will find the one.

I had a chance in the late 80's to buy a 1968 GT350 for 5k albeit not a mopar but that car now is probably over $60 grand now.

I'M GOING THROUGH THIS RIGHT NOW!!!!   

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Wow, what a thread. I guess we've all gone thru this at least once.

In 1979 I was looking at a 68 Charger. It was a 318 car(98,000 miles), but had a new paint job and looked good in the white with a black vinyl top combo. The interior needed some work. I think the guy wanted $3K or $3500 for it. My Dad ended up talking me out of it. I always wondered what would have happened if I bought that car and became the coolest kid in High School.   

[MOPAR FANATIC]

Wow, what a thread. I guess we've all gone thru this at least once.

In 1979 I was looking at a 68 Charger. It was a 318 car(98,000 miles), but had a new paint job and looked good in the white with a black vinyl top combo. The interior needed some work. I think the guy wanted $3K or $3500 for it. My Dad ended up talking me out of it. I always wondered what would have happened if I bought that car and became the coolest kid in High School.   

GLADyou didn't get it mike.you would be hanging around over D.C.COM and not here.what would we do with out ya MEK.HECK I WOULDN'T HAVE NO ONE TO PICK ON.   

[Gumby]

Have the newspaper ad in front of me right now. "CUDA 1971 426 Hemi, balanced, blue printed, dominators, tunnel ram, TRW. Cam dynamics, documented $8300 parts list. Quit racing. Car, trailer, everything $5000" I must have thought to myself, I don't want another old car that I have to keep working on, so I ended up buying a brand new 1987 GN.

[AARCuda340+6]

That is the car , I knew John Vanka & yes it had rear window louvers , I think I was talking to him in 86 about the car & I had just lost my small business & was wiped financially ! I wanted that car badly !! I think he was trying to buy a brand new GNX but maybe he missed out & bought a GN by the time he sold the Cuda , I wonder where that Cuda is now ??

Chryco!  What a small world we live in.  If I go to "Moparfest" this August and see John around I'll be sure and ask more info. about the 71 Cuda.  He was there 2 years ago but we never talked about the Grand National or the 71.  He was being tugged away by his wife & son.  I would love to get some photo's of the car so I'll have to try and get an email address so he can send out some pics.  It was a very loaded car and it looked awesome, but if I remember correctly it did not run too good.  The last time I saw the car it was spewing out lots of smoke so maybe he got frustrated with it and sold it.  I'm sure you would have it running perfect as you know this 6 pack setup stuff like the back of your hand.  If I find out anything I'll pass it along.

[Chryco Psycho]

That would be awesome !! say hi as well , he should remember me !