The one that got away...

This was listed for sale last night 25 miles away on my local classifieds.

1965 Austin Mini Coachman 850 Woody Wagon. Original one owner car, complete except for the passenger seat. Floorboards rusted though. Comes with 1964 Austin Mini Moke which is missing a cylinder head. Both have been parked for 20+ years. Sell as a pair for $900

I called first thing this morning and spoke to the elderly man who had already sold the cars :( Even a basket case Moke should be worth thousands! I am in anguish that I couldn't be the one to rescue these cars.

What deal did you barely miss out on?

I had a chance at a Europa for $500 back in the mid 90's. He sold it while I was lining up a place to put it back together.

I was 2nd in line (by like 25 minutes) calling for a MG replica. Seriously the guy gave it away. He was asking $1,500 and it was easily worth 10k. He told me over the phone a story - which I'm fuzzy on by now - about how he got the victor kit and installed the engine, etc etc, and told me he would call me if the first guy didn't buy.

I told him I would give him more than asking price, which he thanked me for, but told me he wanted to respect the response order, which I appreciate.

https://classicmotorsports.com/forum/classic-cars/the-mg-t-replica-on-an-mgb-frame/96144/page1/

In college I thankfully did not purchase an Isuzu Stylus because the seller didn't want to take an out of state check.

A 914 2.0 with 914/6 flares, Fuchs, and running, no visible rust either. $2000.

not a car, but many yrs ago there was an ad in the local IWANA for a Dobro Bros Dobro for $25 … never made the call … still kicking myself after 40 yrs

A 1973 Porsche 911T that was really rough but ran and drove for $3000 in 1989.

Late 1970's I saw one of these with a $25,000 asking price. Oh well...

When I was in hs looking for a cool far my dad and I found a 69 camaro SS clone in the local paper shop for something like 8000. New paint, redone motor, all new interior that was sitting in it in boxes but needed to be put together. It was red with black hockey stripes, it would have been the most badass car at my high school. But we were trying to figure out the money and go halves on it and my grandmother got sick so we didn't get back to them for a couple of days and they sold it to someone else. Ah, What might have been.

my brother missed a deal on a mint fox body mustang about 15 years ago. It wasn't super cheap or anything, but it was a nicely optioned 5.0 in flawless shape. Missed the deal by a few hours, only because of driving distance.

My dad didn't buy a very well optioned, show quality 1969 Mustang Mach 1 with a 429. That was right before mustang prices started to skyrocket. His reason was he already had a classic mustang, a very well optioned, show quality 1965 GT, and didn't feel the need to have a second. His mustang grew in value, too, but not near what a '69 mach 1 would have.

I haven't missed anything. Really the only great used car deal I've come across was my recently acquired 323 GTX and I did NOT let that one pass. "Rust free", "unmodified", "low mileage", "working transmission", and "323 GTX" usually don't go together. Like, at all. When it's also the cheapest car i've ever paid actual money for, that makes it a no-pass kind of deal. It helps that I've literally dreamed about owning a 323 GTX since i was 12, ever since i learned they existed. The choice was basically buy it or be an idiot.

My uncle's 4 door, 71 t bird, $500 in '03

neon4891 wrote: My uncle's 4 door, 71 t bird, $500 in '03

I was offered one of these when I was 13 or 14 from an old guy out in the country. I remember it being in really nice condition, but needed either a starter or alternator. The car was either free or $100. For some reason my dad never followed through on it, despite my pestering, and several years later(after he had moved south) I went out there and found it shot up/beat to crap/destroyed. Major bummer.

I'm just glad this is about cars and not Amy content.

This summer I was ready to buy a '93 Jag XJS that came in the used local car dealer. I had a buyer lined up for my Mustang, but somebody paid full asking and it went to Montreal. Probably could have got it for $6000, it only had 67000 original km's, one owner. Here's a pic;

Jag

I missed a '97 Miata for $1k with 100k California rust free miles on it last week. Guy was holding strong to the "first guy to call gets to look at it first". I was second in line. I told him there is no second in line. The first guy is 100% guaranteed to buy the car. I was right.

When the recession hit, I missed out on a year old Exige S for $25,000. I was a year out of college, barely employed, and drowning in debt. Even I couldn't convince myself that it was a practical decision. Of course, looking back I could've driven it for 7 years and still made a killing when I sold it...

Every one of those $10-12k aircooled 911s before ~2010.

In the late 90's Delorean's were 1000-1500 all over the place around me in Tampa. Looked at a few, but never pulled the trigger. I have a feeling that picture that keeps popping up of the guy with a lot full of them, bought them all up. Now I would kill to find one in that price range.

When I was in college (mid 60's), found a XK140 for $900; test drove it and took it to the garage I worked at that summer for an inspection. Told the dealer I'd take it; went back the next day and it was gone! First oil change would have bankrupted me. Bought a Healey 100/6 instead for $800; really miss that car !

1966 Porsche 911, no rust, needed a clutch...for $300. (yes $300).

This was back in the 70s and that tells you how broke I was!

(looking back I should have begged/borrowed the money -of course)

A 1976 or 77 911 with some upkeep needed but a driver for $8k. I had the loan and the insurance lined up before I went to look at the car. I should have did it the other way...

There was a real Lotus Seven that looked like a barn find or a dirty basketcase about 100 miles from me and it went for $2500 on ebay.

Still regret not buying a '69 Charger General Lee replica 25 years ago for $2200. Granted, I probably would have killed myself or it would have rotted away.

My -ex's '97 M3 that she would have sold for $14K in 2004. Not a great price now, but the car was absolutely cherry and 100% stock, unmolested and not abused. The car was her 3 season baby until she bought her '03 MCS and '73 1800ES.

moparman76_69 wrote: I'm just glad this is about cars and not Amy content.

Funny, it's the Amys that popped into my head when I saw the thread title.

1988...Barbados vacation....Swedish.... Ah memories

Aston Martin DB5 in the early 80's for less than 10k. I was broke anyway...

In 2001 I saw a 1992 Mazda RX-7 for sale for $14,400, I was 19 years old. It was green with a tan interior and with my E-1 pay financing would have been "easy money". TO DAY passing on the purchase was the smartest and most disappointing thing I've ever done and the craving has never entirely gone away.

I believe the correct color is "Montego Blue Mica"