The one that got away.

[Evilbenny]

jrherald420 had a post in the "what did you get today?" thread that got me reminiscing about an old flame I once had.

It was a red 1994 Mustang GT. I added a killer stereo system, all kinds of bolt on go fast goodies and Cobra wheels. Looking back it was my favorite car that I have owned to date and I regret ever selling it. It was a blast to drive and always was an attention getter.

What are your "one's that got away" cars.

Edited May 20, 2013 by Evilbenny

[my name is nobody]

lets just say that when I watch those automobile auctions on the TV set,

I get a little teary eyed sometimes......and my jaw drops quite often.

The list of cars owned and sold in my life is almost astronomical.

still have a couple of goodies stashed in my garage. serious goodies, too.

The "One that got away" for me was a car I could not buy.

and because of a few factors - Age, I was 18 at the time......and finances...all I had was eight grand cash

and an old used car. The dealership that had the vehicle I wanted sooo badly didnt want my

1970 Dodge Super Bee.

But oh how I wanted that legend lime 1967 Shelby GT500 that sat on the showroom floor.

it was a gently used car, showing 14,000 miles on the clock.

The previous owner had traded it in on a new 1980 Datsun/ Nissan 280ZX.

Try as I might, I could not scrape together the rest of the cash, and the sales manager

basically told me my Dodge was worthless. When I left the lot for the last time that old

Super Bee made me proud, But I still dream about the GT500.

[bbowser]

My dad gave me first "dibs" on mom's '64 Grand Prix when I was 17. Red with black interior, buckets, auto on the console, 326 small V8, the trick aluminum 8 bolt wheels. I learned to drive and parallel park in that car. I couldn't afford it at the time.

Just as well, I probably would have trashed it

I wish I still had the '65 Dodge window van and '53 Ford PU that I had while in the service.

Edited May 20, 2013 by bbowser

[chevyfever2009]

1986 monte ss with a built 383

My 1969 chevy c10 3 on tree 327

And the truck i rolled end over end 4x 1983 chevy scottsdale perfect body built smallblock

Edited May 21, 2013 by chevyfever2009

[Ace-Garageguy]

Let's see...a Porsche 356 convertible D, a 356 B roadster, a '69 Camaro Indy pace-car replica, a '63 Jag E-type roadster, a Jensen Interceptor coupe, a Triumph Stag, a '63 Lincoln 4-door convertible, a Lotus Super 7 series 2/3 SCCA that was the Lotus factory London Auto Show car, and a '67 Porsche 911 are the first ones that come to mind. Oh yeah, an Intermeccanica Italia roadster (Ford 302 powered), and a '67 VW Westphalia pop-top camper.

I got MOST of these trashed or wrecked, made them nicer and found them new homes.

Edited May 20, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy

[58 Impala]

Two that got away from me, my 71 Impala (my first car) and my 69 Chevelle.

[sjordan2]

Let's see...a Porsche 356 convertible D, a 356 B roadster, a '69 Camaro Indy pace-car replica, a '63 Jag E-type roadster, a Jensen Interceptor coupe, a Triumph Stag, a '63 Lincoln 4-door convertible, a Lotus Super 7 series 2/3 SCCA that was the Lotus factory London Auto Show car, and a '67 Porsche 911 are the first ones that come to mind. Oh yeah, an Intermeccanica Italia roadster (Ford 302 powered), and a '67 VW Westphalia pop-top camper.

Man, are you a glutton for punishment. Good thing you're a professional at that kind of stuff. But what about the Italia? I had a strong yen for that one.

Edited May 20, 2013 by sjordan2

[Ace-Garageguy]

Man, are you a glutton for punishment. Good thing you're a professional at that kind of stuff. But what about the Italia? I had a strong yen for that one.

The Italia had, lets say, questionable provenance. It had been used pretty hard, had an average 1/2 inch of bondo all over it (much thicker over the rust holes), looked like it had been painted with a roller (white over yellow) and ultimately went back to the guy I got it from. Still, it was a beautiful, beautiful thing.

[sjordan2]

The Italia had, lets say, questionable provenance. It had been used pretty hard, had an average 1/2 inch of bondo all over it (much thicker over the rust holes), looked like it had been painted with a roller (white over yellow) and ultimately went back to the guy I got it from. Still, it was a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Intermeccanica had some of the best-looking Porsche replicas. How were they?

[MrObsessive]

A 1969 AMX with the 4 speed and 390. It had a 3:54 rear end so it had some real get up and go, and a rather spooky top speed. I saw 120 once and still had more to go! I had to sell it when I was going to be stationed in Fort Jackson SC in '92, and I've regretted it ever since.

Mine was an absolutely no options car------no power steering or brakes (drums on all fours!), no AC, it even had vacuum wipers! I thought those went by way of the dinosaur before '69! Believe it or not, I still know the VIN of the car, and even the plaque number on the dash which showed where it was in the production for '69.

Edited May 20, 2013 by MrObsessive

[Ace-Garageguy]

Intermeccanica had some of the best-looking Porsche replicas. How were they?

I've only driven one Intermeccanica Speedster replica, and it was really a better car than a real speedster. The 'glass body was tight and stiff, with seams that Porsche would be almost proud of. It had an 1800cc dual-port Bug motor with 2 downdraft 2bbl Solexs, and was faster than a real one, probably faster than a 4-cam. The rear suspension was the semi-trailing arm from the '71 (I think) and later Bug (built on the Bug pan) and it handled better than the real swing-axle Porsche too.

Edited May 20, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy

[Ace-Garageguy]

A 1969 AMX with the 4 speed and 390... Believe it or not, I still know the VIN of the car, and even the plaque number on the dash which showed where it was in the production for '69.

That's one I lusted after from the first time I saw one in '69. Still do.

Edited May 20, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy

[Ognib]

^{Let's see... in the mid 70's, a $300 35 Ford 5 window that was nice enough that I drove it home, after buying it & from the late 60's through the mid 80's, enough 55/57 Chevys to fill a fair sized barn.}

[W-Machine]

Oh, the list I could make of all the muscle cars that were just cheap transportation in the early to mid-'80s. Wish I could give the 18-year-old me about ten grand just to see what I could get.

[MrObsessive]

That's one I lusted after from the first time I saw one in '69. Still do.

Yeah Bill, I originally bought it for $2500 in 1987, and the car had ZERO rust. The only drawback-----it was painted a very bright yellow (not the original color) which stood out mightily! I guess one advantage of that was the car wasn't likely to be stolen as everyone knew that was my car. Unfortunately, AMX's (especially the '68-'70 models) have really grown in value over the years, with pristine examples going for $40K+.

[cobraman]

I had a bunch of cars over the years but the one I think back about the most was a 1978 King Cobra. I bought it brand new off the delivery truck. Was told it was the first one delivered in California. It was a pretty cool car ( IMO ) and you just didn't see yourself coming and going. Mostly it was just stuck on stuff to a regular Mustang ll and at the time the 302 was nothing to brag about performance wise but it was a pretty unique car ( again, in my opinion )

[MrObsessive]

Oh, the list I could make of all the muscle cars that were just cheap transportation in the early to mid-'80s. Wish I could give the 18-year-old me about ten grand just to see what I could get.

Funny you mention that! I was having a conversation with someone not long ago about the kinds of cars that were in the school parking lot circa 1977-78 when I was in high school. Back then '60's vintage Barracudas, Chevelles, 442's, Chargers, Torinos, etc----- were just another car and very common. Now they command BIG bucks especially the rarer big block versions.

What do you see now?? Honda, Toyota, Geo, Nissan, Hyundai, etc------not that those are bad cars, they just don't get me excited compared to the stuff I used to see 35 years ago.

Makes you wish there was such a thing as a time machine!

[signguy2108]

I can think of about 20 i wish I had kept, but the main one was a 1970 chevelle SS454 (360hp LS5), graduation present, cortez silver, black stripes, black top. Sold it in 1975 for 1500.00! New owner had it 2 months and tried to take down a light pole. End of story! Always wanted another one, but B-J & health put an end to that. Gotta go, can't hold back the tears....

[JamesW]

Mine happens to be my very first car. 1978 Ford Thunderbird with a 400 Cleveland. Bought in the Fall of 1996. She was rough around the edges, but she had POWER. Winter came and I soon found out Lucille didn't have heat, and to top it off the entire window track/motor was missing on the driver side, so the window was propped up on the inner door brace. I was leaving school one day and hit a bump a little too hard and the window fell and shattered. I only had her for right around 5 months before some guy stopped and asked if I wanted to sell her. When he said he could trade me for a car that had heat and all the windows I jumped on it. Only to have the trans in that car go within the first 30 miles I drove it. If I knew what I had at the time I NEVER would've gotten rid of her. It's been nearly 20 years and I STILL miss her.

[sjordan2]

My very first car, a 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Super Spider Veloce, prepared by Hoffman Motors; special cams and shortened chassis. A mechanical nightmare and money pit, but my favorite car to drive, despite my Porsche 944. Ownership interrupted by the Army. Four years of agony, ecstasy and bankruptcy.

Edited May 21, 2013 by sjordan2

[mikemodeler]

Had the chance to pick up a numbers matching 70 El Camino SS396 with a freshly rebuilt drivetrain in 1982 for $1,500. Gas was going up and instead I bought a brand new S-10 with a 4 cylinder Isuzu engine! Had fun with the S-10 but the 'Camino would have been much more fun!

[bandit1]

68' GTO!...Not mine...But my dads!

Working on locating it the last several years!

[Deathgoblin]

1972 Buick Skylark Custom Hardtop with a 350-2. I miss that car.

[george 53]

Mine was a 69 Charger R/T. Triple black with the Emblems on the rear quarters an stripe delete. It was a 440 4spd,and it was the NICEST car I've ever owned. I've had a few other real nice cars, a 69 440 automatic Super B, a 79 Trans Am, a 83 Z/28 amd a 69 Camaro. Now I have a 95 Impala SS. But that Charger, I STILL have dreams about it, and we NEVER talk about WHY I sold it. Glad she turned out to be worth it, but I STILL miss that car.

[disabled modeler]

Mine was my old 75 Trans Am that was built to the hilt. 400ci-0.30 over sized pistons,huge cam,balanced,ram air heads and exhaust manifolds from a earlier TA...miss that car....been looking for one in plastic ever since.