Anybody got a good Vette that got away story?

[wannavette]

I was thinking about this because I think 1 got away from me!I posted on here about a month ago about a 91 ZR1 that was on a lot by my house.Stopped 1 day and browsed at it -needless to say I was drooling.Well the lot had it for $19,000(willing to deal)50k,perfect condition.I kept thinking about going back to take a more serious look.I finally talked my wife in to going to take a look with me and 5 days after I was initially there the car was gone:cry

I still keep thinking I should have really tried to get that car!

 

[Vettefan87]

Yeah I just drove a 71 454 4 sp. coupe, that was a SWEET car. The motor had been gone through and professional rebuilt as to the previous owners claims, I don't doubt it he had reciepts of it, and it ran strong. I'm thinking I might have sold the 87, if I would have drove it a few more times.

 

[tyrel]

When I was a teenager my dad said that a friend of his had a 79 corvette for sale, and he couldn't stop talking about it. It was an impractical car for our family, but my dad kept hinting that he might buy it. I was really excited because the corvette was an unattainable dream car, and still is for a lot of people. I kept imagining that beautiful car in our driveway. Anyway, the dude sold it to someone else and I was crushed. Years later I would finally own my first Corvette.

 

[WhalePirot]

I can think of many, latest being the tri-black C6 Z-51 coupe. I owned it for 24 hours, when the dealer asked for it back; having screwed up, selling it twice. As previously reported, I readily agreed to take it back.

The previous was a '90 ZR-1, all black. The car (circa: 1996) was priced at $25k, had 50k on it, was absolutely showroom-plus, but I was afraid of the rather high miles on a motor that had no history and that Chevy dealers could not fix. I still think of that car, but like the tightness of my no-rubber-Heim-jointed suspension better, and now this '84 is faster.

There was the blown BB '66, in San Diego when I was there for Navy Seal training....all black with cutout rear fenders and WIDE tires, 4.11 rear; just what a 19 year old needs, but my uncle was wiser than to lend me the money.

The blue '01 Z-06, I almost bought 4 years ago, at a very good price, from a Vette dealer, known to have only very nice cars. I had been suffering from Vette withdrawal, amidst my engine (+) project and opted to finish it instead.

I kinda miss the '63 327/340 4-spd. red split-window I restored while on active duty. I sold it for $3500 to repay a loan to my dad for my first house. My wife and I had won 1st place trophies in a Myrtle Beach sandkhana in that car, as members of Corvette Charleston. I had done real well on the 83-series tires against some well prepeared Vettes, in an autocross in a Kmart lot, with that old coupe..

My father promised to rent a Vette for me if I got an appointment to the Air Force Academy, from the time I got word, until the time I left. Vettes were not rentable, then, and we looked at a fair-condiion medium blue '64, SB coupe, but he wouldn't buy it. It took me three more years to get my first Vette.

'Xcuse me....I think I need to go for a drive...........

 

[SSTibet]

Nope, I do not have such a story. The only story I got is the one for my current Corvette. I found it all by luck and bought it right away. Me and my wife we make decisions right away with very little hesitation. If we want to get some thing we can afford, we just go and get it

 

[65-to-00]

It was about 1984 and we were looking for our first house. This particular place had a "bank house" (on a hill), basement garage. The place had been rented by college students for quite awhile. The kids just kept filling the basement with old junk, TV's, mattresses, news papers, you name it! Under a pile of mattresses was a 62 Vette without the doors and hood. The real estate agent called the guy in Florida (cocaine problem child who inherited the place) and was told that anything on the property was sold with it and "as is". I located the doors and hood under more junk. In an adjacent small barn was an original Mini Cooper S. The property had major (very major) structural issues but I tried to buy the cars alone but "Mr. Burnout" just couldn't deal with "minor issues".


Two month later in 1984 wife and I bought a house down the road from "Mr. Burnout". Stopped by my cousins and told him the story (above), he offered me his just "restored" 60', fresh canary yellow .... 500+ horse motor. I freaked and went into shock. He asked $5000 for the car and we had something like $5623.72 in the bank. Wife said to buy the car, but I was in "new father mode" .... she was pregnant and we just bought a fixer upper ... and 500+ horses ... way too much! Two days later, the light bulb went off! Just put a sign in the local speed shop for an engine swap. Called cousin ... car gone.


Not a Vette, but what the heck ... this is my worst "non-deal". When I was seventeen in 1967, I was introduced to "sports cars". Real sports cars, not like my sisters 59' T-Bird "sports car", (dad was lame and drove a stock Corvair). My friends had cool (but shaky) bug eyed sprites and a TR-3. I had a Pontiac 4 cylinder Tempest 4 door auto. Rusty (TR-3), a true car nut pulled me out of the house to look at a "deal" .... great car at a great price.

Angelo's Motors in Trenton NJ ... Triumph dealer, had a car on the lot for $650. I had never heard of an AC and what kind of an idiot would put a Hurst shifter in a british sports car and then stuff a Ford 260 under the hood?

:duh

 

[river vette]

It was october in minnesota I thought what better time to buy a vette I had been watching the local paper,auto trader,car soup excetra. It was a warm saturday and I had finaly talked the wife into looking so I made a list. I wanted a polo green LT-1 there were two near by The first was a 95 coupe with 50,000 miles the guy wanted a little to much money so we went to #2 on list it was at a local volkswagen dealer so we stoped by thinking no dealer wanted to store a vette over winter We drove on the lot and it was nowhere to be seen as I was asking a sales man the car drove up 96 green coup low 20s for milage w/6 speed I asked about it and he said we just sold it to our detailer.As we drove away we followed the proud new owner down the freeway. I went home and the next week a 94 green vette was listed in the want ads of the local paper I went to see the guy he was a 60 somthing insurance man the car was spotless with 25000 miles on it I drove it and fell in love he wanted 17000 for it I offered him 16000 and he said ok I was now the proud owner of my first corvette! That night I was surfin the net and I found the C A C and one of the first post that i read was from a guy who was posting pictures of his new vette and it was the one that got away but I had mine and I was as happy as can be

 

[motorman_mp3]

Well it did not get away Cause I bought it. It was Oct. of 2002 A guy I knew was working at a Harley shop. One day I went buy his house and there was this 86 vette sitting under a tree with all of the clear coat peeled off of it, and motorcycle parts piled in the back. The carpet inside was stained with grease and what ever else. I asked, whats wrong with the vette? He said not a thing it runs great, I just don't have time for it. I told him I had time for it how much?
He said it's not for sale. We got in it and took it for a spin, the inside smelled, well lets just say bad. He had 79,000 miles on it on did not smoke a lick.
I told him I would give him $5000 for it right now,He said no-way.
Lets jump to Oct. 2004 I get a call, it's you know who, and he said you still want the vette. Well, Isaid of course I do.He said my wife is filing for a divorce and she said "I will make sure I get the vette." He said the vette is in my name and if you want it bring me $2500( Yes that is twenty-five hundred dollars). I thought he was joking and ask if had crashed it. He said if you want come get it.
Needless to say I was there in twenty min. with cash in hand. Ten min. later we was putting her in my name, five min. after that I was bringing her home.
I guess I should feel bad for him, but I just could'nt, cause I was happy that I just got my first vette and it was the same year I wanted.

I feel like I stole it. But I love it. Lots of work to go, but when I see how much some people have payed for their vettes the same year,I really feel lucky. It is coming slow but to me it is worth it.

 

[tdr1919]

Yeah, It was about 1978, and my buddy was going into the service, he drove up to my house and asked me if I wanted his 1966, white convertible 327 vette for $1500.00! I ran inside to get my check book and my wife (x-wife) said NO WAY, this is for our living room furniture - We threw that cheap, crappy furniture out about 4 years later.... I never forgave her for that.
Tom