Dreman
Well-Known Member
The recent post about how fast you've ever driven a car brought many old cars back to memory, especially cars that I wish I'd bought and locked away somewhere! Here's my list:
1. 1970 Plymouth Superbird - rusted trunk, 4 different bald tires, a dead clutch, suspension was shot, all for $5,000 in 1980. I even found financing for it! I actually saw it later, and it was listed (after restoration) for $90,000! It was still quick, even with the bad clutch.
2. 1969, 70, 71 (I'm not sure) 427 Corvette convertible - I was 18, and they wouldn't even consider letting me fire it up unless I came up with some money up front!
3. 1969 Mustang Mach I - no engine, trans, or rear end, but most of the rest of it was there. For $500, no less! And I came across a complete 428CJ engine later for $200! At least I did buy that!
4. 1961 Chrysler Newport Station Wagon - I actually owned this one for awhile, but it never saw the street. My grandfather sold it to me to tinker with after he wrecked it. Again, found a parts car after I let it go! I liked the tailfins on that car better than any others I've seen.
5. 1970 Olds Cutlass 442 - A friend owned this one, and I tuned it up for him. He said he wanted to sell it, but he wanted $800 cash right now. I didn't have it, so it went to someone else.
Various friends had cars they didn't want to sell when I asked, but sold later before I found out about it. Like a 1970 Pontiac Grand Prix 455, or 1970 Dodge Challenger 383. Heck, I even wanted my uncle's 1973 Dodge Dart 340, but he never would give me a firm price, then he sold it to someone else for less than we'd been discussing! I guess I wasn't his favorite nephew!
It also really galls me that I could have gone into most any car dealership in the 1980's and bought a decent used musclecar for payments that I could have afforded. It may have been more than I wanted to pay, but I could have done it! Maybe I need to think like that now!
1. 1970 Plymouth Superbird - rusted trunk, 4 different bald tires, a dead clutch, suspension was shot, all for $5,000 in 1980. I even found financing for it! I actually saw it later, and it was listed (after restoration) for $90,000! It was still quick, even with the bad clutch.
2. 1969, 70, 71 (I'm not sure) 427 Corvette convertible - I was 18, and they wouldn't even consider letting me fire it up unless I came up with some money up front!
3. 1969 Mustang Mach I - no engine, trans, or rear end, but most of the rest of it was there. For $500, no less! And I came across a complete 428CJ engine later for $200! At least I did buy that!
4. 1961 Chrysler Newport Station Wagon - I actually owned this one for awhile, but it never saw the street. My grandfather sold it to me to tinker with after he wrecked it. Again, found a parts car after I let it go! I liked the tailfins on that car better than any others I've seen.
5. 1970 Olds Cutlass 442 - A friend owned this one, and I tuned it up for him. He said he wanted to sell it, but he wanted $800 cash right now. I didn't have it, so it went to someone else.
Various friends had cars they didn't want to sell when I asked, but sold later before I found out about it. Like a 1970 Pontiac Grand Prix 455, or 1970 Dodge Challenger 383. Heck, I even wanted my uncle's 1973 Dodge Dart 340, but he never would give me a firm price, then he sold it to someone else for less than we'd been discussing! I guess I wasn't his favorite nephew!
It also really galls me that I could have gone into most any car dealership in the 1980's and bought a decent used musclecar for payments that I could have afforded. It may have been more than I wanted to pay, but I could have done it! Maybe I need to think like that now!
