The One that Got Away

[NeedSpace]

We are car guys through and through. While I enjoy a good game of golf or ice hockey, at the end of the day, I'll watch Chasing Classic Cars rather than the US Open or some random baseball game. I would rather be tinkering with my cars than doing most other stuff. While partial to European cars, I love all cars old and new. While I have captured 2 of my greatest loves, a 1957 MB 190SL and an 1976 911, my heart has set on a few others. One of my greatest loves is the Tucker.

Perhaps it was the way Preston was screwed by the big 3 or perhaps the lines of that beautiful car, I have wanted one since I read the book about his life in the 1970s. By mistake, I came close to owning one. About 5 years ago I was playing with eBay and saw one come up for sale. Knowing I couldn't afford it, I decided to put my bid in just to say I once bid on one. My bid went up to $26,000. To my surprise, it sold for about $28,000. And yes, I think to myself almost every day how I could have won this.

eBay Tucker

I watch Barrett Jackson and keep tabs on Gooding...Then a few weeks ago, I see this on AutoTrader Tucker


I decided, what the heck, and gave the guy a call. As it turns out, I was too late again...by a few months. The car sold for $400,000. The next day, the new owner flipped it for $500,000. Then it finally sold at Gooding for $800,000.

Gooding

Tucker 10 Video

Tell me your one that got away stories so I don't feel like a dolt. BTW, I passed on a 300SL for $89,000 as well...about 6 years ago.

[strupgolf]

I called on, and looked at a 1969 Corvette back in 1973. By the time I got there it was sold. It did not have the original engine, but on the console, it stated "do not use anything but 105 octane gasoline in this engine". The rear end, tranny, suspension, all racing stuff. It was a
L-88 Corvette. Back in those days you could buy a L-88 engine from people, but to have the car would have been great. It sold for $3000.oo. Oh well, another day and time.

[Red88Carrera]

Not valuable by any stretch, but I had a chance to buy a Manta Montage for $1700 when I was 23 years old. It was in great condition, but I thought the money would be better spent on alcohol and blow.

Also, I bought a 1970 GTO convertible when I was 16. It had a seized 400ci in it. Paid $400. Tore the motor down, didn't want to spend the money on engine parts so I sold it for $100. What a loser!

[pwd72s]

Passed on a 550 Spyder for $3500. This was back in the early 70's. Body was perfect, but it was running Corvair power, although the seller offered to toss in the (basket case) original engine.

But really, I don't regret passing it up. I was never into cars to be a flipper...

[LeeH]

I had a 1941 Army Jeep in the early 1990s. Before long I decided to sell it. After no buyers from my Auto Trader ad, I was given $800 (the same as I had paid) at a dealer on a trade for a 1986 Mazda RX7. Couple of weeks later I got a phone call from a guy in England wanting to know if I still had the Jeep. Turns out it was one of the prototypes delivered to the Army when they were deciding who would get the contract to build the original Jeep.

The stamped grill hadn't been created yet, so the prototypes had grills made of flat metal slats. Funny as I thought the original had been damaged and the one on it was home made.

[KarlCarrera]

Heck, here's one.

At sixteen, I owned a 1965 Yellow Mustang GT. (1972) Coupe. K-code, Pony interior, auto, 271 hp, trombone pipes, fog lights, GT stripes...the works.

One that might even be desirable today.....:>)

Paid $1050.00. sold it to my brother for $600..........

I really couldn't take the beating involved to tell folks what I sold it for..........but following that mistake, I did own a 1973 Mercury Capri 2600 for a couple of years. (Excellent car)

Still wish I had the Mustang.......

Karl
88 Targa

[doug_porsche]

intermeccanica italia targa. One of three built. I had a Corvette, who needs an intermeccanica italia targa with Ford running gear

[Laneco]

My grandfather had a Gullwing Mercedes. he sold it in the very late 60's, early 70's as a somewhat run down but still very decent driver - $2,000....

Personally, I subscribe to the buy high sell low theory of automotive purchasing.

angela

[KarlCarrera]

Personally, I subscribe to the buy high sell low theory of automotive purchasing.

angela[/QUOTE]

I thought I was the only one who did that.....


Karl
88 Targa

[johnsjmc]

My fathers first car was a 1927 Rolls Royce Phantom 1 . I have seen a picture and it was a beautiful huge long open car not the closed limo style people often think of. He bought it during WW2 for $50.00 He sold it after the war for $400 and thought he made a killing.
I had a neighbour in the early 60's with a 1927,8? Chain drive Fraser Nash 2 seat sports car in his garage being used as a garden equipment shelf. Looking at info on the net it might have been a real TT I was their paper boy and couldn,t even think about buying a car. The car had been sitting for years but looked like it would run if washed and given a battery. They also had a late 20's Peugot sports car which I was told had been a competition car at Le Mans in it's youth. No idea what model The owner retired to an apartment and both were sold price unknown but probably cheap.
I had a real 1967 911 "S" in the driveway in 1973. It already had a rusted out front pan. It was sold for parts($2000) The engine ended up in a beater 1969 T .
In about 1980 I almost bought a real 1966 Shelby GT350 Hertz car but thought $4000 was way out of line for a steel bodied car when you could buy a mid 60s stingray for little more.

[johnsjmc]

Originally Posted by KarlCarrera

Heck, here's one.

At sixteen, I owned a 1965 Yellow Mustang GT. (1972) Coupe. K-code, Pony interior, auto, 271 hp, trombone pipes, fog lights, GT stripes...the works.

One that might even be desirable today.....:>)

Paid $1050.00. sold it to my brother for $600..........



Still wish I had the Mustang.......

Karl
88 Targa

I know a guy who had a 1969 Shelby 500 KR convertible. He bought it new and TRADED it for a 1973 Vega GT during the first gas crisis . He probably added cash BUT is too ashamed to tell anyone how much. He wishes he still had his Mustang too

[McLovin]

Could have bought a Dino 206 like this for around $10K at my local car lot, that was around 1982.



I stuck with my $6K 914, though!

[quicksix]

mini cooper 1275 s for 800.00, 1978
Austin Healey 67 mkIII,2100 in 1979

[KarlCarrera]

Originally Posted by johnsjmc

I know a guy who had a 1969 Shelby 500 KR convertible. He bought it new and TRADED it for a 1973 Vega GT during the first gas crisis . He probably added cash BUT is too ashamed to tell anyone how much. He wishes he still had his Mustang too

Twins.......

It was a 73' BRG Vega. (HTBPOSIHEO) ((Honestly the biggest piece of **** I have ever owned)) I used a qt. of oil a week. But....the girl selling it was 5 yrs. older, & was verrrry comforting......for several months. My brother just laughed!...But he sold his 68 Camero (Beautiful) for the Mustang.

A 16 y/o boy and (any) girls are a poor mix. Gee, even the Marine Dad said I was a dope....imagine that

Karl
88 Targa

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

1969 Porsche 911S for $7500. Just needed the driver's seat redone. I was 19. I thought that was too much money.

[johnsjmc]

Originally Posted by johnsjmc

I know a guy who had a 1969 Shelby 500 KR convertible. He bought it new and TRADED it for a 1973 Vega GT during the first gas crisis . He probably added cash BUT is too ashamed to tell anyone how much. He wishes he still had his Mustang too

I also have a good friend who bought a real 1970 numbers matching Hemi Cuda during that same fuel crisis. He still has it but hasn,t driven it in 25+ years. He now speaks of it as his retirement plan.

[johnsjmc]

Originally Posted by Jared at Pelican Parts

1969 Porsche 911S for $7500. Just needed the driver's seat redone. I was 19. I thought that was too much money.

It probably was. I used to help a friend buy and sell 911's &912's when in University.(1971-1975) We never paid more than $4000 and bought one for $600 . The $600 car was a 912 run over by a dumptruck. It had a six in it and we made a ton parting it out. I wish we had saved the 67 S as it ran and looked great. Pre galvanized cars were as bad as early Japanese cars in the rust belt.

[futuresoptions]

I've seriously lost count...

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Originally Posted by johnsjmc

It probably was. I used to help a friend buy and sell 911's &912's when in University.(1971-1975) We never paid more than $4000 and bought one for $600 . The $600 car was a 912 run over by a dumptruck. It had a six in it and we made a ton parting it out. I wish we had saved the 67 S as it ran and looked great. Pre galvanized cars were as bad as early Japanese cars in the rust belt.

This was in 1997.

[johnsjmc]

Originally Posted by Jared at Pelican Parts

This was in 1997.

That was good then