Deals that should have been made!

[JSDSKI]

In keeping with the "what other cars have you owned thread"

For the masochists on board, how about the "deals that should have been made but weren't"
(for whatever reason - like not enough capital) along with yesterday's and today's est. value? Like so --

63 Lotus Elite S2 $1500 in 1968 $35-45K today !
62 Ferrari 250 Cab. (blown headgasket) $2750 in 1971 $125K+
60 (?) Lotus 11 (couldn't fit in it) $500 in 1970 - $ 20-30K now
71 Ferrari Daytona $15K in 1976 - $125K+ now
78 Ferrari 308GTV $18K in 1985 - $35-45 now

Oh, well. Just hope I don't miss another one these days

[cegerer]

Ferrari Dino 246GTS - Asking $24,000 in 1984. Now? $75k + (I bought my first 911 instead for less than 1/2 that).

[Trust Me]

But you gots to know........

I would love to have that record of cars.

[JSDSKI]

You're right Brian, it should have been GTS (the targa as opposed to the coupe) I was thinking about the Alfa GTV. As to the value... ok, make it $25K then.

[Joe911]

1956 300SL MB Gullwing - $3500. Silver with red leather. It was 1967 and I was 16. Worked at a gas station making $1.25 per hour. My boss passed because his banker would not finance it for him!
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB4 - $6500. Owned by a friend. I think I was 20 at the time and it was 4x my annual income. Bought my first 911 (1970 911E) for $4500 six years later.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Top this one, My brother in-law imported a 63 Ferrari 250 GTO that was a Belgium hill climb car, yellow and white. This was back in the late 60's or early 70's and sold it for around 10K. I'm not sure what it would be worth today, maybe 7 figures? I'd call and ask him the details but it I don't really like to bring it up.

[Milu]

These were all in 1976 - None of them are great losses as such but I regret them.

1969 Alfa Romeo Spider £1200 - Market price at the time but the car was like new, I walked away because the owner wouldn't budge on price. Value today £15K

Ferrari 330 GT mk 1 £1200 - While I dithered somebody else bought it. Value today £30K


1948 Bentley mk 6 converted into an open 2 seater sportscar £400 - I missed the train to go and pay for it, couldn't get back to the owner in time who then sold it to a friend of mine who didn't know I was interested too. He still has it and takes great pleasure in telling me about how great the car is and how all it ever needs is routine maintenance. Bastard! Value today £30K

[CarreraS2]

Of course, deals cut both ways.

1989/90:
Dino 246 - $150,000
Garden variety 308's - $75,000
Daytona convertibles - $1 million +

Today:
Dino 246 $75,000
Garden variety 308s - $22,000
Daytonas - $250,000 (or less??)

How's this for a ridiculous priced car?!? Check out the asking price on this Carrera Club Sport (I'm told the car sold, don't know the selling price, though)

http://www.sloancars.com/inventory.htm

WOW!

[Crachian]

Twas 1987 and I was a penniless student offered a dirty but complete 1970 Superbird with 440 six-pack and a small ding/crack in the nose for $3500.

[Trust Me]

A freak'n Superbird for $3500???? Student's dad must have lost his mind!

[HawgRyder]

In 1965 a flatbed car carrier came onto the base at Trenton Ontario (Canada) with 3 small sports cars on the deck.
One of them was immediatly picked up by the new owner.
the other two were sitting on the trailer for several days until it was determined that the officers who had arranged for them had been transferred.
Each of the cars were partially paid for (necessary through the auto club on base) but were now for sale to anyone rather than return them to the factory.
There was a red one and a green one...the black one was spoken for.
I looked for a couple of days but decided that I wanted a muscle car.
So...I passed up a 1965 Cobra 289...for about $6500 canadian (the canadian dollar was worth about $1.15 us at that time).
Things that might have been.
Bob

[pohsche]

1962 Corvette ,perfect condition, $2000 owner neede to buy tools to be a pro wrench, $35K now

1970 Dodge Challenger 340 6 pack $1500, same reason, $12K now

And the one that hurts most,
1940 Ford Woody for $400, rebuilt engine, tranny and drive train, $50K now

Alan Poh
'77 Carrera 3.0

[Jim Garfield]

Bob Hutson, I can understand your reluctance, if I remember correctly 289 Cobras were selling for about $6500.US new at the time.

Ok, how about this... I sold a '55 Carrera Speedster ( one of 14 made that year) in 1978 for...(insert rim shot)... $5000. Check the price on these now, and it was $2000. more than I paid for it!

246 Dinos were going for $7000.US in London in 1974 when I was in college there, and you could buy a Vincent Black Shadow that had been completly rebuilt by the factory for I think around $2800.US

I passed on a pristine GT 350 for $6000. in 1977, a supercharged MG PA (1939?) for $3000. about 1980, and what I think was a Ferrari 212 Barchetta that somebody had stuffed a 327 Chevy engine into alongside the Dixie Highway north of Waterford Hills for $1800. in 1968.

And just this weekend I saw a very very nice 911S, same owner for 25 years, not perfect but very nice, for $16,000. Oh for some instant cashflow and a big big garage.

[350HP930]

Concidering that it has depreciated very little despite my putting over 70K miles on it I wonder how much my 930 will be worth in another decade.

Personally I think the 930 has all the makings for being a good collector car. With fewer than 14,000 in existence that bodes well for values.

Then again I'm planning to keep mine forever so its not that important to me.

[M. Hendrix]

My friend has a 289 FIA Cobra he bought with 1100 miles on it in 72 for $5,000.00. It had 1380 on it last time I saw.

There is a man here who owns a new 1953 Corvette, with delivery miles.


M

[rcm]

My dads running , driving, needed a little paint 1954 XK120 for 1500.00. About 26 years ago. He needed the money to start a new bizz.

By the Bizz worked out he retired at 42.

[isaacyoon]

i wish i never sold any of the cars i had

1. 1985 red mustang gt. it had a sport suspension, shorty headers and 2 1/2 in exhausts, hurst shifters. i loved that shifter. i did all the work on the car. the car was extremely fast. sold it for the camaro

2. 1995 camaro z 28 6 speed targa. i sold it for the corvette. it was a great car but i didnt like it b/c there was absolutely no way to work on the car. engine compartment had a corvette engine in it and there was no space to even change the spark plugs.

3. 1973 corvette covertable w/26000 miles and numbers matching. i bought it for 13k. I put 40,000 miles on it in one year and the brakes went out on me while I was doing 70 down an exit ramp. it only had a lap belt and scared the heck out of me. i sold it for 18k. i told my wife i would get a safer car. i bought a ferrari 348.

4. 1991 ferrari 348 t. it had 8k miles in 9yrs owned by previous owner. i drove 30k in one yr. i loved the car but the clutch blew twice and so did the engine. i got of rid of it. i lost my shirt on it but i have to tell you it was an amazing experience. gotta love it.

5. now my project car is 76 911 which i bought from my cousin for 7k. it's been in the family forever. the only thing i cant stand is the 2.7liter. i need more horsepower and thats why i would love anybodys help. if you can give me advice on real horsepower improvement like a supercharger or turbo, i would appreciate it. i am also considering engine swap.

thanks

[350HP930]

Originally posted by isaacyoon
the only thing i cant stand is the 2.7liter. i need more horsepower and thats why i would love anybodys help. if you can give me advice on real horsepower improvement like a supercharger or turbo, i would appreciate it. i am also considering engine swap.

I suggest swapping in a nice 930 motor (or any other turbocharged 3L+ flat six for that matter).

It will certainly take care of your need for HP.

[brawlins]

So that you guys don't torment yourselves too much:
$6000 back in 1970 is probably like about $20000 now, due to inflation. Which means that if you bought it for $6000 back then and sold it for $20000 now, you basically made nothing. If there is a brilliant Economist reading this now, perhaps you can fine-tune this thought.

The net net: Maybe you guys didn't do as bad as you thought by passing up these opportunities.

- Bill

[350HP930]

It pays to buy at the bottom of the depreciation curve.