'59 Plymouth Forum

I was just thinking the other day - what one car in my life did I let get away?

Does anyone else have these same feelngs?

I will start, but please chime in with as little or as much information you care to share.

I was 16 years old working at a car wash driving cars in and out of the establishment all day long. I can honestly say I have driven most makes and models from the 60's up to 1973*. But there was one car that always caught my eye, and I bugged the owner to sell it to me.

In 1973 he finally offered me the car for $600. I sold my current 62 Fairlane to my Grandfather for $300 and got $300 from the bank. I showed up to pick up my prize and the owner was not home. It seems he owed $1500 on the car to a local dealership!

The car was a 1967 Ford Fairlane 500 GT, 390 4-SPEED WHITE WITH RED INTERIOR!

I suppose there was a reason I did not get that car - I was too young and that car was too fast! I ended up with a 65 Chevy Belair 283 double hump head three-speed manual piece of junk.The car was stolen and stripped within 3 months of ownership. The thieves did me a favor!

So tell us about the car that got away from you or one you never quite had as in my story.

* in one hour on a Saturday we did a stroke count of cars washed - 180 cars with just two drivers. Yes we were washing cars every 20 seconds with the line running full speed! Now you know how many cars I climbed in and out of every weekend and after school weekdays! No wonder I have cars on the brain - what's your excuse!

Curt

Curt, Strange, I also worked at a Car Wash. One that was just outside of Detroit (St. Clair Shores) for a summer (1971), my older brother got me the job. Was never the drive off guy, just final wipe down boy and just "hold the door open for a tip guy"....

When I was a junior in College in 1977 I needed to replace my rusting out 66 Dodge Coronet model 440 convert ,318 2bbl Poly. I looked at a used 1970 Superbird at a local Dodge Dealership. the dealership wanted $3600 for it and my father would not co-sign for the loan. It was 440- 4bbl Auto model, today worth over $100K. One year later I graduated and started working for Chrysler out in Denver Zone Office as a District Sales Mgr. I could have bought it then, but timing was bad by one year.

I still tease my Dad about that car!! And for throwing out my Comic Book Collection (several nbr. 1 marvel comics editions in that box)
I guess I need some thereapy on these old issues....

John Q

Neat!

I drove a '66 Fairlane GTA in the '80's that I picked up for a few hundred dollars, and even with the automatic trans, that car hauled butt!

One car that I regret slipping through my hands was a '57 Mercury Montclair convertible. A friend found the ad in the local Big Nickel paper in Reno in 1987, a fellow in the town of Fallon, Nevada had it advertised with a 2-door hardtop, same model, $3000 for the pair of cars. I had an automotive repair business that I started a few years prior, and decided it would be risky to make the purchase, as I didn't have much money built up in my account. I did go and see the cars, both were rust free, but needing full restoration.

The next day a customer of mine came in and said
"Guess what I bought" Yep. same cars.

It turned out he had put only $100 down on the cars, and the seller agreed to store them for three years! Dang! If I had known that, I would've gone ahead with the purchase myself!

---John

Dang, Dang, Dang, my heart is breaking. My first NEW car at age 21 was a 57 Green Belvedere Convertible. Now that I have four old cars and am old car poor one shows up on the 57 Heaven Mecum auction on Oct. 24 and I'm unable to bid on it. Waaaah, Waaaah, Waaah.
Dick.

Dick, that is why we have Credit cards for! of Course at 21%+ interest rate it might be restrictive on the monthly payments.

Or maybe cash in some of those double tax exempt bonds AAA insured municipals you have stuffed in your mattress! You know, the ones your bride does not know about!

I know, I am being a Smart *ss again!

John Q.

If I had those Bonds I would get that 57 Convt. and a 59. Then again you could front me.
Dick.

I know, now I'm being a Smart *ss.
Dick

My best best is to buy Powerball tickets, If I win, I can buy more fin Cars and start my own Museum! I don't even want to borrow against my 401K...errr.. I mean 201K

John Q.