Selling your favorite car...then regretting it...

[PuglieseVT]

Particularly one with sentimental value. I was watching the Barrett-Jackson coverage this weekend on SPEED. A certain black 1971 340 'Cuda brought some memories back of my car that I foolishly sold.

http://www.examiner.com/x-16995-Grand-Rapids-American-Muscle-Car-Examiner~y2010m1d4-Lessons-Learned-Never-Sell-a-Prized-Mopar-Musclecar


Anybody else ever have this happen?

[CodeBlueEMT]

...not with a car.

 Dayum. Loved reading your article. I love old muscle cars that have been updated.

 I've had plenty of regrets...

 Shayne

[Tyyrus]

VT Been there Dude , as a previous Owner of two Muscle Cars of 70's Vintage I still regret selling my Camaro and Trans-Am . Those were the Days . I had a chance to purchase a real sleeper 1970 1/2 Ford Falcon (actually Torino) 4-Dr 429 Cobra Jet Engine , actually bought it with a Buddy and flipped it paid $1,500.00 in 1976 sold for $3,500.00 6 mths later. Also eyeballed a 1970 Cuda 2-Dr Coupe with I believe 383 Magnum ...asking price $900.00 1980 Girl Friend (Wife to be)  now X-Wife talked me out of it ! Should have seen the writing on the Wall lol ! So yep Life was Grand back in the 70's and Early 80's because that is when I became single again and bought my second Harley and met my current Wife of 25 + Yrs . 

[HUDSON HORNET]

Particularly one with sentimental value. I was watching the Barrett-Jackson coverage this weekend on SPEED. A certain black 1971 340 'Cuda brought some memories back of my car that I foolishly sold.

http://www.examiner.com/x-16995-Grand-Rapids-American-Muscle-Car-Examiner~y2010m1d4-Lessons-Learned-Never-Sell-a-Prized-Mopar-Musclecar


Anybody else ever have this happen?

I think I can say I've been there, done that.

Back in the late 1960's, Ford developed an engine intended for high performance racing applications, specifically NASCAR. To be allowed to run that engine in NASCAR competition, NASCAR rules require that at least 1000 units be sold to the public. So Ford chose to shoe-horn a 429 cubic inch hemi they called a "BOSS 429" into the engine compartment of 1,500 1970 Mustangs and offered them to the public. To accommodate that massive big block under the hood with a functional air scoop, the battery was relocated to the truck. Among the standard features were an oil cooler and a fuel cooler and a manual choke. The choke knob was located next to the knob that opened and closed the functional hood scoop.

The suspension was also re-worked. Rear shocks were staggered. Front suspension and some body parts were "Detroit Items", meaning they were only available by special order from the factory, and not commonly stocked at dealer parts departments.
The dealership I purchased my BOSS 429 from was involved in drag racing and campaigned a BOSS 429 and a BOSS 302 to promote sales through their high performance department consisting of both BOSS Mustangs, 302 & 429. Because, for whatever reason, the dealership was in a hurry to close their high performance department, the price of those Mustangs were greatly reduced. I drove mine away for under $4,000, which was less than what the dealer paid for it. It might have been because I talked my parents into purchasing their car from the same salesman, --- I don't know. I remember that salesman remarking about how he sold Ford's least powerful car and their most powerful car to the same family on the same day.

Then, in late 1973, I foolishly traded my BOSS 429 for an F-250 4x4.
Years later, while talking shop with a neighbor, the subject of BOSS 429's came up when he mentioned that he owned one back in the day. Small world, no?
He asked if I was aware of what BOSS 429's were selling for at that time, which was somewhere around the mid 1980's. When I admitted I didn't know the answer, he showed me the listings in a catalog specializing in used high performance muscle cars. There were three BOSS 429's listed with the least expensive being "sacrificed" for $70,000, --- nearly $10,000 less than the other two listed.
I originally paid $3,600 for my "Grabber Green" BOSS 429. Grabber Blue was the only color option for the "BOSS" series. I wouldn't have picked either color if I had other choices.

If I could reclaim any of the cars I've owned, that BOSS 429 Mustang would be at the top of my list. Just under that would be the 1966 Ford Fairlane GT (not GTA(utomatic)) with a 335 hp 390 cubic inch engine, --- metallic silver with a black interior.

Now, after dredging up those memories, thanks to you, ---- please  excuse me while I go beat my head against the wall    'till the memory fades away, ......... again. Meanwhile, you go on ahead, --- write more of your excellent articles. This could take me awhile. Don't worry 'bout me, --- I'll catch up with you later, --- down the road.
And if I don't remember this conversation, ---- don't remind me. OK? 

[Blu]

Cars I regret selling...nahh! Riiiight!!

Jeez where does one ieven start...

72 Nova SS, 365hp-327,4spd Muncie M22 "Rockcrusher", Hurst shifter,10 bolt posi, Hooker headers, Mr Gasket traction bars  My FAVORITE car so far and I sure wish i had it back now! Paid $1000 after helpng my buddy (the owner) install the 327. Met.Light Green with Black vintl top and black interior.

65 Impala SS, 283, AT, nice car and  a keeper for sure :)Black with white interior. Paid $175  with a blown heqad gasket. My first mechanical foray into the wonderful world of the small block Chevy 

70 Chevelle, Dk. Green w/white interior, 350 ,Holley, Edelbrock and Hookers and cammed so danged hot the whole car shook at idle, TH400, 12boltposi. Car came from AJFoyt Chevrolet and while not an SS it was super faaaast!!! Dropped a valve and sold it and regretted it immediately. Paid $1000 for her

72 GMC 1500 4X4. 350 (hot) and TH400 with shift kit. Super nice, just repainted, and fast truick I bought as a a bank repo after the Owner spent a fortune rebuilding and hopping the engine and trans up and repainting the truck and then couldnt pay it back. Met. Orange with western wheels and buckskin interior. Paid $1500

79 Z28 , RED, fiberglass L88 hood, 350, TH400, Holley and Edelbrock with Mr. Gasket headers,10 bolt posi with subframe connectors, Centerline wheels. This car was baaad to the bone, and would reallly pull some G's taking off!!
Sold it cheap so the kids would have a Christmas one really really bad year
I made the right decision for sure, and dont regret it a bit, but i do really miss this car. It was really fun and faaaast. Pd $2000 for this beauty! Sold her on the real quick  on  Dec 20th  for ... ....$1000 the guy flashed at me..and I was desparate for the $$...

Theres more but I  just cant write right now...

BTW just for kicks I looked at  some 69-72 Nova SS's the other day on Ebay...all were over $10K and waaay up...I just want my Nova back too Vito