Ones that got away or boy was I stupid

[Inspector71]

I fnally got back into Mopars and started working on the ones I have. But there are others I would like to have and so I check out prices from time to time. I can't believe what people are asking for Valiants, Darts, and even 66 Coronets with the old poly 318 (the Coronet is one of my favorite). I used to work for a city in the Bay area o California and had it staked out block by block which old Mopar was where. I had a "in" with several tow companies who tipped me off when they had an impound no one claimed which is how I got my 66 Valiant convertible and 68 Barracuda. But I was also stupid in letting too many get away. A tow company took in a white over red 65 Plymouth Sport Fury, red interior, factory conole tach, 383, sway bars, and in great condition. He was going to sell it to me for $80 bucks but I let my girlfriend talk me out of it. She's gone and I wish I had that car. Next up was a 68 Charger. Red with a black interior. It was a 383 with 160K miles but ran great. It needed pain, interior repairs, and engine rebuild but had NO RUST. The owner ran an auto garage and offered it to me for $800 bucks. I was all set to buy it when I let the mechanics who worked on city vehicles, police cars, fire trucks, etc, talk me out of it. He told me I'd be putting a grand into the suspension on a car like that. So stupid me passed it up not stopping to think any old car will need suspension work. Next I bought a 69 Sport Satellite for the Magnum 500 wheels. It was B5 blue, 20door, auto, and I put a really pumped 383 in it that I had bought. Man was it fast. Had a huge light pole dent n the left rear quarter. I also had that 68 Barracuda. A "friend," who I didn't know as well as I thought started his own garage. He offered to build by slant six Barracuda into a 340 monster in return for the Satellite. So I gave him the car. Then he disappeared. Seems the FBI was looking for him. He had gotten heavy into cocaine and became a dealer. All I found of my car was the engine and tranny. Last, I decided to move out of California and to the midwest. I left my 2 door 65 Dart 273 with my youngest brother in Fresno. After I moved, he sold it and kept the money too. On top of that, a guy I knew working for Firestone offered me his 66 Satellite two door. Black top, yellow car, black interior...for $900 bucks. He forgot about the deal and when I came by with the cash he did an Oh I forgot and already sold it. Now rust buckets are going for big bucks and I wish I had not let these cars ever get way.

 

[Budnicks]

Yeah I wish I had most all of my old cars back too, or had kept at least a few of them, but at the time I wanted to move on, sold them for a reason usually... But hindsight is a funny thing... a time machine would be nice...LOL...

 

[WP29440SE]

ive spent the last 10 years trying to forget

 

[Inspector71]

Agreed. I wish I had salted a bunch away. I tried forgetting too but, then I joined this forum and I am lost forever. I stripped a mirror off a 66 Coronet 4 door doomed to be crushed at U-Wrench it. Next thing you know, I went home with the tail light assemblies, grille, headlamp bezels and buckets, and if not for the wasps, and these people who for some reason had no tools and kept pressuring me to borrow mine (they spoke limited English) I'd have gotten the bumpers too. I guess I figured if I took some of a Coronet, or other car, the rest has to follow. I'm still waiting.

 

[YY1]

1987- Sold a virtually rust free 72 buick skylark 2 door, 350 car for $250.
Kept my rusty 67 Coronet 318 for the trip to FL because it drove better, I fit in it better, and it was more reliable.

1988- Trans let go in the 67 2D 318 Coronet. Coasted into a gas station, and the manager assured me I could leave it there until the weekend. Came back Saturday morning, and it had been towed Friday night- bastard! Towing and storage fees were more than the car was worth, but I did sneak into the impound yard to "recover" all 4 rallye wheels!

1991- Sent my 73 318 Rallye Challenger to the U-pull for $125 (after at fault driver's ins paid me $600). Needed complete front end including LCAs, and both fenders and quarters. Salvaged 3.23 SG chunk and slap stick/console setup (still have it).

1993- Sold my 70 Super Bee for $1500. Needed both full quarters, and rear window corners (neither available at the time).

1995- Sold my 1973 Duster- plum crazy with built 360 for $900. Quarters and rockers were starting to go.

1997- Sold my 1971 351c shaker hood torino GT for $1000. Needed cowl and vent sheet metal.

 

[ChargerRTguy]

I sold my '73 Roadrunner back in '82 for $2000, it had a slap stick, 340.... for an "economy car". Was a diesel VW Rabbit..got 48 mpg on the highway, with a 5 speed. Still kick myself to this day..was my first Mopar.

 

[ws27]

Love the synopsis, and especially love the "light pole dent", said in the third person!!

 

[RustyRatRod]

I had a 73 340 Rallye Charger and a 71 440 R/T Charger when I was a junior in high school at the same time. Both numbers matching cars. Both in better than fair condition. I sold them both for what I "thought" was a lot of money. Nuff said.

 

[wannadrag]

Not enough room on this page for all of them.I always sold to buy the next one.Couple non mopars that come to mind are a 67 SS396 chevelle and a 69 SS396 Nova

 

[Inspector71]

I can't mention names because this is too painful. A good friend of mine, back when he was young. Bought a car from a close friend. It was a 66 Plymouth Satellite or GTX, I don't remember, missing the drive train. He got his hands on a built 440 and dropped it in. He did some research. Based on the VIN and fender tag, the original motor was a 426 Hemi. His girl friend hated the car. Too loud and too fast. He.....yes........sold the car. The girlfriend is long gone and so is the car. He tried to get her back...the Satellite...but no luck. I heard this story and wanted to cry.

 

[Budnicks]

I can't mention names because this is too painful. A good friend of mine, back when he was young. Bought a car from a close friend. It was a 66 Plymouth Satellite or GTX, I don't remember, missing the drive train. He got his hands on a built 440 and dropped it in. He did some research. Based on the VIN and fender tag, the original motor was a 426 Hemi. His girl friend hated the car. Too loud and too fast. He.....yes........sold the car. The girlfriend is long gone and so is the car. He tried to get her back...the Satellite...but no luck. I heard this story and wanted to cry.

Yeah cheaper to keep her... The car that is...LOL... I've had so many 68-70 RR's & Chargers, I wish I hadn't got rid of, I really miss my old 23 T AA/Altered, my 65 442, my 65 GTO, my 68 Cuda', 66 W200 Power Wagon, my Pro-Street 49 Ford Business Coupe, even my 1994 25th Anniversary T/A-SLP Firehawk allot too....

 

[440+6]

I had a 70 Charger r/t 440 six pack 4 speed dana I bought for $1100 in 81 or 82, 100% original with minor rust in quarters.
I had to decide between the Charger and my GTX and I'm still pissed I let it go.

 

[super-bee_ski]

Ouch...
Dont let me remember...
"I'm depressed AGAIN"!

 

[GrabberOrange69]

It was 1984 - "1967 Belvedere GTX, 426 Hemi, 4sp, metalic green, black interior, 80,000miles, runs great, $6500 obo."

Seattle car. No rust. Drove great.

I thought it was too much $$$

What a MORON.....

 

[Moparsmitty]

Way back in 1971 I owned a 1967 Z28 Camaro for about a year. Chevy only made 602 Z28s in 67, but it wasn't that big of a deal back then. I sold it because I got tired of fixing the damn thing. The last straw was a broken rear axle housing. I should have mothballed it for for the last 40+ years. They routinely sell for 100k on up these days. Oh well, just a damn Chevy, right.

 

[Photon440]

I still have a newspaper want ad clipping from 1978, for a low mileage '69 Daytona. $6,000. was the asking price.

I had a drivable 1970 Sport Satellite for awhile, bought for parts for my road runner. I had it hauled away for scrap, now I wish I had it to build up. Oh well, I saved the buckets, front doors and power windows. It cost me $150. in 1987.

30 years ago, I saw an ad for "1972 GTO convertible" for $1,000. Of course, there was no GTO convertible for that year, but this car was a LeMans Sport with 455 H/O and the endura nose, so it looked just like a GTO. And so I bought it, and had to assemble the fenders and hood before driving the completely straight and rust free car home. Then I painted it and sold it for $5,200. and thought I made out real well. Now I find out that they made only 33 of them that year and they go for $125,000.

La Sigh.

 

[Crunchy_Frog]

There was that AAR for $2500, that T/A for $3000, and that bone stock, one owner '66 Plymouth Belvedere with 426 Hemi. It was considerably more at $6500, but my dad said he would have helped out with it. Oh... this was 1985.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Like Budnicks says, there was usually a reason to have sold in the first place. The cars I had and wish I still had are: Triple black 69 Charger 318 with 53K miles. Paid $600.00.
70 Challenger R/T 383. Traded a 71 VW bug for it.
68 GTX convertible 440, 4 spd orig triple black. Paid $2K but it was rough.
68 Mustang GT 302 4 spd. Was my daily driver for 9 yrs.
69 Charger R/T SE 440 A/T numbers matching. Paid $700.00. This car is now the 515 GTB Charger built by Pure Vision.

The cars I passed on (or the "boy was I stupid" part of the thread title):
67 Barracuda Formula S 383 all original but built up a bit and was a famous car locally (Dick's Barracuda). $1700.00
64 Plymouth drag car "The Black Rushin". http://www.carbuffs.com/fury64racecar.htm

 

[MNBiker]

As far as semi rare ones....around 89 I parted out a green/green 73 Road Runner, factory 318 4 speed. Saw some production numbers the other day and looks like less than 400 of that combo built. In 91 I sold my 74 Challenger Rallye, factory black/black 360 4 speed. It was red with a 440 in it when I aquired it and sold it. :angryfire:

 

[satman72]

Plain & simple. Back in the day these cars were junk.
Don't beat yourself up about getting rid of them. At the time it was what it was. We didn't know any better.