According To You: The One That Got Away
Hagerty loves stories about cars almost as much as they love the actual cars and trucks themselves. From a member story of a vehicle passed down from generation to generation, to the famous Ford-powered race car that beat Ferrari, there are fantastic stories in every corner of our hobby.
Recently, though, we wondered about the tales that could have been, particularly in the form of cars that got away. We asked members of the Hagerty Community for their thoughts on the matter. And yet again, you folks did not disappoint.
Hertz, don’t it?
@JJC: Early 1967, local Ford dealer had five Hertz GT350’s for sale $3500.00 each. I was in the process of buying a new Camaro L30/M21 at the time for a few hundred bucks less. I couldn’t see the logic in paying more money for a “used” car. Bad investment decision, but I did love the Camaro, wish I still had it. Ah well…
@Squier: In the late 60’s one of my salesmen was driving a Hertz Shelby 350H, black with gold stripes, stick (one of about 90 sticks—before they switched to automatics) as his daily driver. He grew tired of the stick and decided to sell it. I had driven it several times so he offered it to me for $2,500. I had a young family and no place to park it so I reluctantly decided to pass. I kick myself regularly and have a picture of that car as my screen saver on my phone.
No Slacking at Swap Meets?
@Mike: A 1972 Karmann Ghia Convertible at the opening of the Iola Old Car weekend in WI about six years ago. Just entered the swap area and this very nice car was up for $6500. I had the cash on me. I walked past after inspecting it and went to the loo telling the owner I would return. When I came back he just took a fat stack from the lucky buyer. Car was worth at least double…
Take Action at the Impound Auction
@David: Had a tip on a ’69 Camaro Z/28 at a city impound auction back around 1985. It was a mess; heads and intake were missing too. It was winter; cold and muddy but I brought a stack of bills. When the auction came to the car the auctioneer passed on to the next vehicle. I interrupted to ask about the Z and the auctioneer said it was already sold. Guess I never really had a chance!
Passed On Perfection?
@Wade: While renting a house and already having too many non-essential vehicles almost 11 years ago, I picked up my still-going commuter car (2005 Civic EX) for $5300. Approximately one week after that purchase, I found in my town a solid blue 1976 Chevy K5 Blazer, on the front lawn of the original owner.
Asking price was $6500 OBO and it checked every box of desirability for me: original condition (zero visible modifications), single ownership, “never seen snow, always garaged” (this was in Maine), 4×4, 350, 4-speed, white removable top, etc. Everything I could lay eyes on was legitimately near-perfect (…or perfect), down to the USA-1 plate on the front bumper. For many reasons, this truck was not an option for me at the time. Yes, I took pictures and yes, I review them occasionally and of course, I hate myself a little more every time. Still the most ridiculously clean K5 Blazer I’ve seen, for sale or otherwise.
I called the land line number scrawled on the cardboard in the window a little over a year later while in a better position but ignoring the impossibility of this thing not having sold in 2013. It was gone, naturally, and I’ve never seen it around.
Appreciate Before It Appreciated
@MtnCamantalope: During my first year of community college, strolling across the parking lot at the end of the day I saw a beautiful red NSX parked crooked all by itself in the back of the lot. I’d never seen one in person before and man, that thing was awesome. I went home and started searching for one of my own. Decent shape they were running $10-12k, $15k for a really nice one. I could have made it work, but it would have been my daily driver. I decided it would be irresponsible and I’d probably crash it anyway (definitely true). I said to myself “wait a few years so you can more comfortably afford one.” Yeah…
Intercepted By Your Bank Account
@TG: A Jensen Interceptor III. My local fairgrounds holds an annual swap meet, and I saw it there—running but not perfect—for 10K. I had never seen one or heard of them before, but I loved it… the ultimate sleeper car. Unfortunately I did not have 10K in discretionary capital at the time and had to pass. I have seen very few since, and none in running condition anywhere close to that price.
Don’t Judge Me
@MeJ: I guess mine was a ’69 GTO Judge. It was the 1990s and I owned an ’80 Corvette. I saw the Judge and inquired about a trade. The guy said the car had been there for a while and said it was doable. I thought, “Okay, I’ll be smart and think it through the weekend.” Sure enough, I decided it was a good deal, and a much more collectable car. I drove out ready to make the deal and—drum roll please—of course, it was sold.
@James: While traveling as an auditor in the late 90’s for a major bank that financed car dealerships, I would always drive by this body shop that had a 1971 Pontiac GTO convertible for sale in their lot for a few thousand dollars. I said, one day I’ll stop in and buy that vehicle. Then the department was sold and so went my job. I never saw that vehicle again. I also never knew that GM only made 17 of that model. Dohhhhh!
Don’t Check Facebook on Vacation?
@Bernard: This one wasn’t too long ago, on FB marketplace a few hundred miles from me, a pristine 2002 Miata with the LSD and the bigger of the available bodykits, unfortunately I only saw it due to being on vacation. By the time I could talk to my bank about getting the money it was in the wind.
The $5,100 AC Cobra
@Danny: It was 1987 I was coming home from a golf tournament through Pine Hurst N.C. I saw a sign for 1966 Cobra for sale for $5000. I stopped, looked, and it was an AC Cobra. The man would not take a deposit. I was an hour away from home had to get a trailer and come back to get it, and he said that would be ok.
When I pulled back into his driveway another person was loading it up on another trailer. He had offered him $100 more. I was mad and disappointed but what can you do? He showed me another car he had beside his garage he said he would take $500 for it. It had a rusty floor board and I had no desire for that rust bucket. Would love to have it now because it was a 1955 Porsche 356. Live and learn.
But They’d Rather Crush It
@BMD4800: Mid-1996, I was a poor college kid in Phoenix. Desert Valley Auto Parts was clearing out their less popular inventory and had them in line for the crusher. I spotted a ’63 Wildcat coupe with right quarter damage behind the door. I asked about it, the counter guy said it ran and drove, but no one wanted it so they were going to crush it. I asked the price, $2,200. All the cash I had to my name was $1,900. I offered $1,800. They said no. I offered $1,900 cash, they said no. I said I’ll go apply for a credit card and pay $2,200. Nope. Cash, or it was crushed. I watched them crush that car and swore I would tell everyone I could about that day: Desert Valley Auto Parts in Phoenix.
A “Minor” Problem With A Unimog
@Jeff: Around 20 years ago I had a handshake deal on a 1961 Unimog 404 Swiss Troop Carrier with only 14,000 KM. It was in excellent condition, including all the canvas. It even had the original tool kit with it (tools as in shovel, axe, etc). I was soon to purchase a 40 acre parcel of land where it would have been very handy. The seller had it priced at $7500. I told him I wanted it, but needed to arrange financing. We shook on it and a deposit was not needed (my mistake).
A few days later when I had the money and I contacted the seller, he told me that he had someone come by with cash and due to the urging of his wife, he sold it to that guy instead of waiting for me. I saw the same Unimog listed at a dealership a few weeks later for $17,500. So what did I do with the cash earmarked for the Unimog, I bought another vehicle of the same vintage but of the opposite variety, a 1961 Morris Minor.
“No Way”
@Brett: I know most will say “no way”, but when I was 12-13 and visiting my uncle outside Cleveland, my dad and uncle would go golfing. My cousin and I would go along and search for lost golf balls to sell later. On the ride to the golf course, I saw a car in a field on a trailer and I told my dad that it was Ferrari. My dad and uncle blew me off but on the drive back I made them stop.
I waded back through the weeds and there was a ratty looking faded red car on trailer with a roll cage an grooves cut in the hood that you could see the velocity stacks sticking up from the V-12. I was now convinced it was a Ferrari. My cousin and I knocked on the door to the house closest to it, and a lady came to the door with a couple small kids around her, we asked if the car was for sale. She said her husband generally never sells anything, and that was it.
About 10 years ago I saw an article about Innes Ireland being reunited with the Ferrari 250 GTO he raced back in the day with pictures of a faded red car, in a field, on a trailer, in a field of weeds, in a rural area outside Cleveland. Needless to say, the memories all rushed back, as there was the car. The one that got away. Go Google the article for Innes Ireland 250 GTO, it is a great read and some of the ones that come up have old pictures of the car.
@Gary: In 1984, I was offered a very nice Ferrari 250 convertible (I don’t recall which version) for $25,000. I had just started working full time and had just bought a house and it didn’t seem to be a prudent decision to buy a Ferrari. The seller was even willing to take monthly payments over three or four years with no interest added. By 1989, that car was worth more than $500,000 (to my recollection). Clearly I didn’t make the right decision. Nowadays it would probably cost nearly $25,000 to rent one of these for a day!
@Harry: Early ’70s, needed a car to drive 35 miles to work and back. Wound up in a Renault agency in West Chester PA, looking at R5 Le Cars. The manager had a car on consignment for $10K—a Ferrari Fantuzzi Special, V-12 red, beautiful, but it had no top—built as a spyder. I couldn’t see parking it in the street at work every day, rain or shine, so wound up with new Le Car. It was a bunch of fun to drive, but it certainly wasn’t a Ferrari.
Come Back, ‘Cuda!
@Ed: It hurts just to think about this car even today, though I lost it back in the mid 80s. It was a crushing blow that just gets deeper each year I see prices for just a rolling chassis of this car continue to climb.
I bought mine from the original owner for about $600. It was dark blue in and out, a 318 2 bbl auto, bucket seats with console, and only 1 dent under the driver’s side rear frame channel. It drove fine for about 3 yrs, then wouldn’t start and I couldn’t get inspection to renew plates. Then my apartment complex made me move it, I so moved it to my dad’s house. Then a neighbor called local city on it for not being currently licensed. There was no place found to store it, it was almost impounded, so I had to let it go to a junk yard for $50!
Now the kicker: it was a base example of my dream car…. a ’71 Barracuda with a perfect grille & straight sheet metal. Still got the production code sheet from the back seat. I need a stiff drink and tissue paper now.
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The NSX story is basically the same as mine except with AirCooled Porsches – always wanted a SC. That ship has likely sailed. I did end up with a 968 though before they started their ascent. Not a bad runner up.
My “kick myself in the pants” car was a 1965 Corvette convertible, FI, knock-off wheels and side pipes (the last year of Rochester FI and the first year of disc brakes). It was 1974 and I was starting a family so I couldn’t see fitting a baby seat in there. It was dark blue but needed a repaint and he wanted $2000. I bought a Volkswagen Type 3 fastback instead.
It was summer 1967, I always checked the LA Times for exotic cars for sale. That morning, a Sunday, the paper was loaded with all kinds of cars. I saw an ad for a 1961 Ferrari Cabriolet $3200. it had accident damage.
I called the number which turned out to be a body shop. I was surprised when I had a return call a couple of hours later. Yes it runs, I could come check the car out but he had several more calls after mine but he wouldn’t do anything until I saw the car. The sounds of the 12 cyl engine gave me goose bumps it needed a windshield, a steering wheel (no seat belt) radiator repair a pitman arm and not that much body work on the left front. The body shop owner said $1600. would cover it. I decided to buy it, but it was a few days until I would be able to get my hands on the money, he agreed to wait a few days. With everything straightened out at the bank I called the shop back and arranged for him to come to the bank and get the cash. That evening I called him back to find out when the car could be picked up. The shop owner was screaming at me. it seems after calling the bank, verifying the funds and making the trip across the city, the bank said they couldn’t give him the cash because he couldn’t prove who he was. The bank knew what was going on, everyone had a number to reach me at, but no one informed me of the issue. The car had gone to the next person who had called I guess. I called the ad number again and the message said it had been sold. So close, oh well.
I feel for you. So close…
the family car I should have gotten and kept:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/driving/a-60s-summer-in-paris-leads-to-a-search-for-a-good-peugeot-404/
Ignore the title—should have been In Search of Lost Time—With Apologies to Proust
This just happened to me 4 days ago. Saw a 70 Camaro project, mostly complete aside from the front clip missing, engine and tranny there, minimal rust, pop up on Facebook for $2500. I messaged the guy within 10 minutes of him posting it. He said he was able to meet before noon. I couldn’t do that since I had to take my kids to the dentist. Planned on meeting after 4. By the time I got back from the dentist, the car was sold. Yet again something I missed out on thanks to having kids. This time it just happened to be my dream car.
Late 80’s-Charlotte swap meet. Really nice 1972 AMC Javelin, orange, 360, 4-speed. $2500. 3 hours from home, no way to haul…
In 1978 was working after finishing high school. Could have bought a ‘69 Boss 429 for $5000. Could have come up with the money easily but I passed not knowing anything about the mustang other than it had a big motor. At the time I had been driving a ‘71 240z which was totalled in an accident and then fortunately I managed to buy a ‘69 GTO ram air III convertible. Great car! Had it for 4 years until married with children happened and sold it. In ‘84 a local used car dealer had a red ‘69 Shelby GT500 convertible on their lot for $16,000. I drove by that car every day wishing….. Also in around 2000-2002 I spotted a 70 chevelle convertible with a for sale sign on it for $6500. Knew it was a great buy and I could have easily bought it, but for various reasons I didn’t pursue it. Lack of parking mostly.
Still feel good about the cars I had though which I got to enjoy thoroughly. Today as I approach retirement I have managed to collect a few replacement cars which mean something to me based on fond memories. I have another ‘69 GTO convertible, although not a ram air car. I picked up a ‘69 Camaro RS convertible in blue and white which matches a buddies car from our high school years. I found a ‘78 yellow 280z parked for sale at the exact spot where my 240z went into the ditch 40 years earlier. Too much coincidence so I bought it from the original owner. Two of the most fun driving cars that I also currently own are a blue ‘99 BMW Z3 roadster (same as the 007 Bond movie car) and a 79 SE bandit T/A WS6 t-top car. Growing up in the hills and mountains of BC made me appreciate cars that handle and the 280z, Z3, and T/A are just wonderful road cars. Incidentally, the T/A gets more attention at shows and road trips than any other cars I have owned. Love talking cars and hearing all the stories here. Thanks to Haggerty for these articles.
In 1964 my dad was working f a 57Gofor a bitumonous company that took him all over new england. He had met a man whose family owned a 50 acre farm and in the barns and surrounding proerty,were all manner of everything you could ever imagine. But inside the barn,were Buggati’s and Vincents…I can remember we went there on this one day to visit,and he the man was preparing a 57G to take to a race. The sound is something I will never forget…Far as “one’s the got away” dad once came home around the same time to tell me he’d been offered a 300SL,,,,for 5k…..He wanted it badly but as a truck driver with a family,he just could not swing it….
In 1964 my dad was working for a bitumonous company that took him all over new england. He had met a man whose family owned a 50 acre farm and in the barns and surrounding proerty,were all manner of everything you could ever imagine. But inside the barn,were Buggati’s and Vincents…I can remember we went there on this one day to visit,and he the man was preparing a 57G to take to a race. The sound is something I will never forget…Far as “one’s the got away” dad once came home around the same time to tell me he’d been offered a 300SL,,,,for 5k…..He wanted it badly but as a truck driver with a family,he just could not swing it….
The Ferrari story at least in part is true It was near Hopkins airport, The car was in the front yard of a farm house were the lawn had gone wild. At one time this and other cars were available for rent on a daily basis. A family tragedy sent the cars in the yard and the ones in the barn into disuse just sitting. A good friend of mine managed to broker a sale. It wasn’t easy but the outcome was perfect for all parties
I sold Mercedes as a 24 year old guy and fell in love with a 450 SL white on red leather, but could never afford it. Time passes (35 years) and my wife runs into an old friend who was selling his ’75 White/red sl with 40,000 original miles. She bought it and then called me…as old friends do…he gave her a great deal and it is still in my garage.
Many opportunities, but no actual regrets:
Sold a solid driver ‘69 Judge for $6k in the early ‘90’s. I had owned it almost 20 years and it was on its 3rd engine, second transmission, and had more than 100k clock. The $6k represented a 200% return against the purchase price, plus I had moved-on to other automotive interests, so no regrets.
Had the opportunity to buy a ‘67 E-Type for $4k in ‘82 or ‘83. As a commuting college student, it would have been my daily. Even as a 22 year-old kid, I knew about Lucas electrics and so passed. No regrets there either. Ended up with a wonderful X1/9 that led to my love affair with mid-engine cars.
1984. First job out of college working at the Fiat/Alfa dealership in Anaheim, CA. A beautiful metallic blue 246 Dino came onto the lot: $24,995. Might as well have been $249,995….can’t regret what you can’t afford.
But the biggest story of regrets isn’t my own. In the mid-2000’s I was calling on car dealers in small to mid-size markets where most everyone spoke NASCAR or NHRA. The nearest road course was 150 miles away, so not exactly a hot bed of sports car activity. So it shocked the hell out of me when I got to talking to the Dealer Principal at one of my stores and learned he used to road race and then manage a team that ran Ferraris back in the mid-60’s. He went on to tell me that at one time or another, he had owned three Testa Rossas (as opposed to Testarossas), including the one Phil Hill won Le Mans in. Even 20 years ago these were $10MM – $12MM cars and despite this Dealer’s success in the car biz, you could see him getting a little misty-eyed talking about them. Definitely some regrets there.
Short and Sweet
Spring 1971. ’70 Cuda. 426 4 spd. Red with black interior. 4500 miles
$4500. Between jobs, couldn’t swing it.
There were a few of these in the early 80s as I worked at a Ford dealer in British Columbia. Lots of nice cars traded in that I couldn’t afford at the time. One other later though makes me kind of chuckle instead of cry. It was the late 80s and I worked at a vintage and street rod parts shop. I had a buddy who worked in construction. My friend was working in Northern California at the time and called me to say he had stopped on his way to work to check out an old car sitting in a farm yard. This was in a very dry area so the car had zero rust and it was a Chev he said. He told me that the “old guy” who owned it was willing to trade it with papers for a good riding mower. Buddy had little knowledge of cars older than the 80s so he had to describe the details of what he was looking at. Belair he said, two doors, two paint colours, V8 engine small looking grille he suggested compared to other old cars. He said that he would take a photo, get it developed and fax it to me at work as soon as he could. Yes, it turned out to be a ’55 Belair two door hardtop with a 265 that still turned. To shorten this long tale, I talked it over with my boss and he was willing to front the cost of buying the mower for trade which my friend had found for about $300. Of course this was the era before email and text so by the time this all took place (my boss even had a trailer to retrieve it) my buddy called me back. No, the car had not sold. The farmer’s son had come back from college and when he found out what his dad had agreed to he stopped my friend at the end of the driveway and informed him (us) that the asking price had gone up. Way up. Too much in fact. I laugh at the memory now of the old guy who just wanted a riding mower and the son who thought a good restorable ’55 Chevy was worth $20k in 1987.
Next time I’ll tell of the absolutely perfect seafoam green on teal ’67 Ford pickup that I missed by 24 hours only to see it at the local impound two days later after it had been rolled. No I won’t. That one does make me cry.
I had a 1969 Mustang Fastback. 351-w fmx tans, factory 4-bbl. Great straight line car but would not hold the road well at high speeds. The car would leave 2 black marks about 12 inches long and launch! No one ever came close on a 0-60mph run. Topped out at 105 mph. I had my eye on a 1973 Dodge Charger. A Mustang collector asked me about every 3 months to buy it. I finally relented becuse I knew it was going to a good home. 3 weeks later he sold it!! My friends would tell me how he was racing it and were surprised at how fast it was. I was so upset I sold it. The next time I saw it was in a salvage yard rolled over.