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Author Topic: Tell us about "the one that got away"  (Read 3280 times)

Offline Scarecrow

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Tell us about "the one that got away"
« on: March 20, 2010, 11:30:18 am »
Not sure if anyone ever posted something like this, so here goes.

I'm sure we all have a story about "the one that got away" -- that is, some great car that we owned or that we nearly owned at some point in our lives, but that for some reason we no longer have and that we always wished we'd kept.  I'd invite you guys to add in your stories, and post a photo or two if you have 'em.

In my case it was my father's 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite, which he'd promised to give me when I turned 16 but never did.  Instead he gave it to his brother, who abandoned it, and the car ended up in the junkyard.

Now this wasn't the most powerful car out there (it only had a 318 and 3-speed automatic), but I always liked how it looked and thought it had great potential to be modified into something special.  You see plenty of 1968 and 1969 B-bodied Roadrunners and similar Mopars at car shows, but rarely come across the 1970 models.

I don't have any good photos of my dad's car, but came across this image from the original sales brochure.  Ours was almost identical to this one -- same colour, same vinyl roof, same wheel covers...

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Offline tpl

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2010, 01:18:36 pm »
Back in the late '60s, maybe fall '68,in the UK a colleague of mine bought a 1932 MG J2 similar to the pic below.
It all worked and was great fun  in  what would now be the Miata way... fast enough to be fun on UK country roads ( like 65 mph flat out) without getting into trouble...and you got salutes from other MG drivers.

I lost touch with the guy for a year...job changes and suddenly in late '70 got a call from him. He was just about to emigrate to Canada and wanted to know if I wanted the J2. Free. He had not been driving it and it had seized up. I am sure it could have been fixed quite easily IF one had a place to keep it which I didn't at the time.  I don't know what happened to the car but it would not surprise me if it was not still running somewhere.

The one that got away for sure


ps. It was more like the green one rather than the perfectly restored red one.
« Last Edit: March 20, 2010, 01:20:16 pm by tpl »
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Offline vdk

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #2 on: March 20, 2010, 02:20:03 pm »
RR care to pitch in? ;D :popcorn:
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Offline initial_D

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2010, 02:34:37 pm »
Quote from: vdk on March 20, 2010, 02:20:03 pm
RR care to pitch in? ;D :popcorn:

He still has the Echo.  ;D :D
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Offline initial_D

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #4 on: March 20, 2010, 02:37:54 pm »
Black E30 M3, with the EVO-II 225 HP Engine. $18,500, back in 2002. Biggest reason for the non-purchase, was working at NorTel NoWorks at that time.
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Offline Leviathan

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2010, 02:45:54 pm »
Ford stock at less than $2.00
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Offline Sir Osis of Liver

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2010, 02:46:52 pm »
1971 Plymouth HemiCuda (red with a white vinyl top) and a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz (white). Both when I was in high school, both offered at $5k. I had more than enough to buy them, but I used the money for university. What was I thinking? ;D
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Offline initial_D

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #7 on: March 20, 2010, 02:51:35 pm »
Quote from: Leviathan on March 20, 2010, 02:45:54 pm
Ford stock at less than $2.00

You can make up for it by getting GM Stocks at below $1.00?
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Offline Leviathan

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2010, 02:56:31 pm »
Quote from: initial_D on March 20, 2010, 02:51:35 pm
Quote from: Leviathan on March 20, 2010, 02:45:54 pm
Ford stock at less than $2.00

You can make up for it by getting GM Stocks at below $1.00?
Motors Liquidation Co (OTC:MTLQQ)
0.5625  Data as of Mar 19

Should I bet the farm?  :P :rofl:
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Offline Weexy

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2010, 03:05:54 pm »
Quote from: Sir Osis of Liver on March 20, 2010, 02:46:52 pm
1971 Plymouth HemiCuda (red with a white vinyl top) and a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz (white). Both when I was in high school, both offered at $5k. I had more than enough to buy them, but I used the money for university. What was I thinking? ;D

Jeezz... can you imagine trying to park that Caddy at the Home Depot lot ,,, or anywhere for that matter?? 
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Offline initial_D

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2010, 03:11:18 pm »
Quote from: Leviathan on March 20, 2010, 02:56:31 pm
Quote from: initial_D on March 20, 2010, 02:51:35 pm
Quote from: Leviathan on March 20, 2010, 02:45:54 pm
Ford stock at less than $2.00

You can make up for it by getting GM Stocks at below $1.00?
Motors Liquidation Co (OTC:MTLQQ)
0.5625  Data as of Mar 19

Should I bet the farm?  :P :rofl:


City Slickers should bet every dollar under the mattress on that.  ;D :)
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Offline The Mighty Duck

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2010, 06:23:12 pm »
Closest for me would be a very nicely modded Nissan 240SX with the JDM turbo engine. Wicked fast car and in great shape. But I was moving halfway across the country for school a month later, and it just didn't make sense.

If I'd stayed in town for school, I would have bought that car in a heartbeat.

My old man came across an absolutely mint Shelby Cobra replica a few years back. The owner was meticulous and the car was stunning. But this was before my dad had decided he wanted a Shelby, so he let it go... by the time he decided to start seriously looking for one, this one was sold, and he hasn't found another like it since.
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Offline Scarecrow

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2010, 08:53:10 pm »
Quote from: Demosthenes X on March 20, 2010, 06:23:12 pm
My old man came across an absolutely mint Shelby Cobra replica a few years back. The owner was meticulous and the car was stunning. But this was before my dad had decided he wanted a Shelby, so he let it go... by the time he decided to start seriously looking for one, this one was sold, and he hasn't found another like it since.

Is your dad still looking for a Cobra replica?  I own a Superformance Cobra, which I love, and know of a couple others that are for sale.  PM me if he's interested and give me an idea of his (realistic) budget.
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Offline swishguy

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #13 on: March 21, 2010, 09:43:43 am »
My high school car. 1967 Chevelle SS with 275 hp 327. Sold it for $1000 in 1978!
arg!!!!
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Offline safristi

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #14 on: March 21, 2010, 11:38:29 am »
"the one that got away".................wouldn't that include ALL TOYOTAS................. :light:. >:D :hide: :surrend: :spam:.................


 i think ya all heard of My Lotus Elan(LETUS ALONE!) on again off again deal...........in the 70's......it got away but i won her back with my moves and bell bottom pants.....Puff   Pufff  PUFFF....... ;)..
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Offline initial_D

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #15 on: March 21, 2010, 11:42:34 am »
Quote from: swishguy on March 21, 2010, 09:43:43 am
My high school car. 1967 Chevelle SS with 275 hp 327. Sold it for $1000 in 1978!
arg!!!!

Woulda cost you over $250,000 in gas thru out the 80s.
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Offline blur911

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #16 on: March 21, 2010, 03:32:06 pm »
1972 Dodge Challenger, healthy 383 and flip front end.  $2500 and I was just getting out of high school.
My mother convinced me a slow V6 Mustang would be much more economical, probably why I'm still alive.


Similar to below, but white

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Offline jamie1

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #17 on: March 21, 2010, 07:07:07 pm »
My 69 Cougar convertable. Had this car in high school. Sold it in 82 or 83. The car was mint. Getting parts for it was becoming hard to come by. Powertrain parts were not a problem. All the other bits were hard to find. If it was a Mustang,I was always told it would have been a different story. Saw it about 8 years ago,[I knew it was mine,because it still had the radio I put in it]Brought tears to my eyes.
« Last Edit: March 21, 2010, 11:32:06 pm by jamie1 »
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Offline The Mighty Duck

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #18 on: March 21, 2010, 07:14:43 pm »
Quote from: Scarecrow on March 20, 2010, 08:53:10 pm
Is your dad still looking for a Cobra replica?  I own a Superformance Cobra, which I love, and know of a couple others that are for sale.  PM me if he's interested and give me an idea of his (realistic) budget.

He isn't actively looking anymore. If the right one were to become available and fall into his lap, he might buy one, but I don't think he's interested in looking for one right now.

Maybe in a couple years... he recently bought a new toy, so the novelty on that one has yet to wear off. :D
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Offline safristi

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Re: Tell us about "the one that got away"
« Reply #19 on: March 21, 2010, 08:17:43 pm »
Quote from: blur911 on March 21, 2010, 03:32:06 pm
1972 Dodge Challenger, healthy 383 and flip front end.  $2500 and I was just getting out of high school.
My mother convinced me a slow V6 Mustang would be much more economical, probably why I'm still alive.


Similar to below, but white


....


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and scare tha bee! Jessuz outta U............... ;)
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