The Ones that got away, and you regret later you didn't buy............

The Ones that got away, and you regret later you didn't buy............

I have a few.

Back in 2000, when working at a Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealership, GM had come out with employee pricing for dealership employees. I spec'd out a 2000 Pontiac Firebird Formula with no t-tops and crank windows. Just the base model with air,cruise,tilt, base stereo, 16 inch aluminum wheels. Only option was the performance axle. Plan was to SLP package (intake, exhaust, programmer). Believe it or not, you could order a Formula that way at the time and with the discount and prior to the SLP adds was $19,XXX. I still kick myself for changing my mind. This was with the LS1 5.7. I was bracket racing alot at the time.

91 GMC Syclone. Dealer had one that believe or not wasn't moving and sale priced a few thousand below sticker. I could afford the truck but not the insurance for someone young with a driving history. I should have taken a second job and paid Progressive the money.

1969 Chevy Caprice 2DR 396 with hide-away headlights. Blue, rust free, bench seat, loaded, Cragar S/S wheels. I was in college and couldn't pony up the funds without getting a small loan. I had 69 Impala 327 at the time being daily driven that I was planning on winter driving and parking the 396 over the winter. Can't afford a big block 69 Caprice now unless you sleep in it too. The hide-aways on the 68 and 69 are wicked looking. My brother had a 68 with hide-aways.

I have posted this in the past but I regret buying that Schwinn Collegiate bicycle with my paper route money and not this Datsun - or at least convincing my father we should buy this Z - but he had 5 kids at the time and a 2-seat car was not a good idea.

Uncle's '71 4 door T-Bird. Full size, suicide doors and a 429 Lima big block. Also rust, oil leak, and single digit MPG. $500 in '02. I even had the cash, but no money for gas or insurance. I knew my mother would make both of us return it.

Occasionally I regret passing on possibly the cleanest Del Sol in the north east. But it is still on the lot 3 years later

Mid 80s posche 911. Wide body, turbo, whaletail. Super cool. Was 18k, about 15 years ago. I had the cash. I don't have the cash or the 911 now, but i sure as hell woulda made some bucks on that deal.

One of mine is a gun instead. I came across a beat to death Remington 51 in 32acp under 200 bucks. The rational side of me said work was slow and I didn't need a 1920 era large 32 ago.....even though i have never felt a gun that for my hand so well.

In 2005 I had a chance to buy an '88 M3 Henna Red, all original paint/panels/interior. Interior was mint already had the Supersprint exhaust, suspension and Autopower rollbar. Exterior had some blemishes. $5700! Argh!!!

This Dino 308gt4. Guy brought it to me a few years ago for its 30k service. I did the timing belts, brakes, hoses, adjusted the webers and wrapped the wheels in new Michelins. By the time I was done he comes in and says "you know the drill, nasty divorce and everything must go". Offered it to me for 20k and I passed.

I think it has traded hands at North of 40 recently. Imagine where it will be in another 10 years

66 mustang, 289 4speed car. Body was rough but it ran and drove. Guy wanted 3500. Decided too keep bracket racing my capri instead. Late 2006

Only one I regret is the Boss 429 that was a box car. The guy pulled it apart and it was in decent shape overall. It was 27K in the late 90's.

What about the ones I owned?

A fleet of Corvairs

a 57 Nomad (rust bucket, but NOMAD!)

53 Chev moonshiners truck (false bottom bed tank, 235ci with twice pipes, HD 3 speed, 3.73 gears, good brakes)

57 chev panel truck (no rust Camaro subframe, etc)

62 Chev panel truck (pristine Helms bakery truck)

13 Dodge Challengers (Yes 13 of them!)(a couple of them were special big block 4 speed cars)

Fiat 850 Spyder (completely redone after an engine fire)

A Swedish style Shovelhead

This was back in 04-05 maybe. I had a chance to buy a white 85 MR2 for $1500 and passed on it.

In 1969 I passed on a 65 289 Cobra and a 63 Ferrari, both for about $3,500 each.

A 1988 911 a few years back. Bought the E39 M5 instead. Whoops. I don't regret the M5, but I've now missed my chance to own a 911.

Many years ago saw a very shiny twin radial engine Beech (airplane) with the boom tail. No way I could afford it then but still. $25000 OBO.

I had a cherry 87 Cutlass Salon with the 442 appearance package (basically the gold rocker panel decals and 442 wheels). It had the rally gauges, euro headlights, and floor console. Only had something like 36k on it. I sold it and I miss it badly.

I had this 87 e30 cabrio that had never had even a single shopping cart dent in it. 5 speed. HK sport springs, MM wheels, and flawless paint. I bought it from a BMW repair shop in Glendale CA, drove it for three years, then sold it back to the same guy for the same price.

I let this 73 Impala S/W go and miss it. 454, 12-bolt, rally wheels with trim rings, and completely upgraded to use as a camper. I bored the 454 out to 468 with some mildly reworked 049 heads and a nice cam. It made about 400 hp and torque that would kill a moose. 9mpg in Los Angeles with $4.50/gal gas.

62 Caddy Deville. Bought it for $1500, drove it to Vegas, lost it in a bet. Best road trip ever.

There was a Ferrari 330 GTC on Ebay once; just the rusty body, no engine or running gear. I think it sold for $6000. I should have snagged it and dropped it on something cheap like a lowered S10 frame and stuffed a straight 6 in it and then drove it every day.

A buddy was leaving Laguna Seca after a race back in the 1970s. He says to this day he keeps thinking "what if" regarding that authentic Ford GT40 on a trailer for sale - $3000 OBO.

My girlfriend (wife) was driving a 1979 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta through the Chicago winters and wanted to get a new car before we got married so she settled on a 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS since her Dad was a GM employee and would order it new from the factory. Last minute she decided that RWD sucked in snow and was looking at the Pontiac Grand Am's and I talked her into the "SE" since it was more BMW like than the base model - she bought this white one. The Grand Am was the worst car we have ever owned and was a hulk of rust and problems from day one and I hated cleaning those wheels. I ended up with it as my DD when we bought a 1994 Chevrolet S10 Blazer 4X4 and I hated that Pontiac every day I drove it.

So I regret the girlfriend not buying the Monte Carlo SS.

When I was 16 (in 1983) I had the chance to buy a completely original, untouched 1971 Datsun 510 coupe with 4spd. Car was light yellow and $1000. I unfortunately was still in love with my rusty Fiat 124 Sport Coupe and my parents wouldn't let me own two cars, even though the Datsun was a reliable running/driving car while the Fiat was a project. Lesson not learned and I still regret it to this day.

The nicest '87 Mercury Grand Marquis I had ever seen. Guy wanted $700 because it needed a fuel pump. I said I was going to call the guy next pay day. Next pay day came, ad was gone.

In reply to Datsun310Guy:

I like GMs and have owned a bunch, Including an 86 SS, but in what universe was that BMW like aside from maybe the grill if you squint hard enough?

When I was buying my first car in 92 we were hitting used car lots and saw a very clean beige 2002. While we finished wandering around the lot someone else went in the office and bought it. That same day we also passed on an 86 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2.

Roger Clemens 1988 951. 68k miles $6200.

85 FB five letter Targa. A bit rusty, but $500. Sadly, I didn't have the space, and it ended up as a parts car . Luckily, I might be making space for another "hero car" of mine.

Are we counting ones we've sold and should've held onto? Cause I have missed my Datsun 240,260,280z's. My four door 510. My two ae86 that I picked up for 500$ each! All three of my s13's I picked up for less than 1500$.

SFM6S1299

An 04 SVT, competition orange with the EAP wheels. I was about $500 apart with the dealer on the price. Should have coughed it up, you never see orange ones.