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Memorable Losses

K

KwikSS

Well-Known Member
Senior Member
As I sit here today pondering yester year I am reflecting on a particular combination I had to part with due to unforseen economic misfortune. That was back in 1968 when I received my "notice to report for induction". I had purchased a new 66 SS Chevelle in 1966 and being a California car it was somewhat of a turd. It was rated at 360hp but I seriously doubt it came close given the required air pump and other restrictive components. I was employed by GM back then and enjoyed a discount at the local Chevy dealer at which the parts manager was pretty hip on the upcoming performance offerings. I frequented theof parts department and thought I needed to change something to repair the weak 360hp 396. On the visit on a particular day in time the parts manager "Irv" told me of a soon to be offered HD 427 short block. We bartered and the guy even let me bring payments each week to get enough in the kitty to buy it. So for a whopping $322. I ordered my 427. The parts department sold me a pair of rectangle port heads which had busted valve guides for $15 each and I had them replaced at the local auto parts store. I capped off that engine with a brand new 1967 tri power set up offered in the parts catalog. So after a while I got it in place in my 4 spd 66 and went racing. That car was a rocket in it's time but in July 68' it became clear that I wasn't going to be able to make $107$ car payments on a mere $93 per month income so I had to make a call and list the car in the local newspaper. I have the listing here somewhere so if I run across it I'll edit this and insert it into this post. Parting with that combo has been a life long regret but it is what it is. I'd love to know the story of that car after I sold it but some things are never known. That is one of my most memorable losses.

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Wow, that's sad.
I lost my 66 SS396 Chevelle 4 spd (triple black coupe) in 1987 when I was moving and didn't want to pay to store it.
A very stupid move as I could have afforded it. Sold it for $4500 and 10 years later it would have cost me $30,000 to buy it back.
I did go and buy my current 68 Camaro vert to replace the Chevelle.
I also sold a decent 62 vette for 10k in 1987 at the same time. :eek: LOL hindsight is a killer
 
Nashville Cat said:
Wow, that's sad.
I lost my 66 SS396 Chevelle 4 spd (triple black coupe) in 1987 when I was moving and didn't want to pay to store it.
A very stupid move as I could have afforded it. Sold it for $4500 and 10 years later it would have cost me $30,000 to buy it back.
I did go and buy my current 68 Camaro vert to replace the Chevelle.
I also sold a decent 62 vette for 10k in 1987 at the same time. :eek: LOL hindsight is a killer
Click to expand...
Your stories are sad as well. I sold my SS for $2300. WITH the L-88. Moron me, i just couldn't afford it at the time on military pay.
 
Early 80's I sold my 71 Cuda 383 magnum pistol grip 4 spd Blue with black vinyl top & int. because I was beating on it and over revved then broke a rod, I worked for a towing co. at the time and the boss offered a 383 out of an older Chrys. but it was Green Not Red and I remember saying "But that's not a Magnum" so ended up selling the car in beautiful condition but a blown engine for $75 :oops: Sold my Black/Blk 69 Roadrunner 383 mag 4 spd with a busted rod and a bent fender for $25 in 78, I guess me and Mopar 383's don't get along LOL EDIT again, the one that really sticks out is the 70 Mach 1 that went to pay rent...$400
 
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Shovelrick said:
Early 80's I sold my 71 Cuda 383 magnum pistol grip 4 spd Blue with black vinyl top & int. because I was beating on it and over revved then broke a rod, I worked for a towing co. at the time and the boss offered a 383 out of an older Chrys. but it was Green Not Red and I remember saying "But that's not a Magnum" so ended up selling the car in beautiful condition but a blown engine for $75 :oops: Sold my Black/Blk 69 Roadrunner 383 mag 4 spd with a busted rod and a bent fender for $25 in 78, I guess me and Mopar 383's don't get along LOL EDIT again, the one that really sticks out is the 70 Mach 1 that went to pay rent...$400
Click to expand...
Ouch
 
Shovelrick said:
Early 80's I sold my 71 Cuda 383 magnum pistol grip 4 spd Blue with black vinyl top & int. because I was beating on it and over revved then broke a rod, I worked for a towing co. at the time and the boss offered a 383 out of an older Chrys. but it was Green Not Red and I remember saying "But that's not a Magnum" so ended up selling the car in beautiful condition but a blown engine for $75 :oops: Sold my Black/Blk 69 Roadrunner 383 mag 4 spd with a busted rod and a bent fender for $25 in 78, I guess me and Mopar 383's don't get along LOL EDIT again, the one that really sticks out is the 70 Mach 1 that went to pay rent...$400
Click to expand...
I wouldn't have the balls to admit that...😆
 
I've only ever sold one that I regretted having to let go, a '70 El Camino project a few years back. My wife was facing a kidney transplant, and I needed the money. All the others that I've sold, it was time and I've never missed them.

My regrets are the ones that I DIDN'T buy. In 1980, my '68 Camaro was stolen, and I ended up with $2,000 from the insurance. I looked at a Forrest Greeen with white stripe '70 LS-6 Chevelle for $2,200, I might have been able to scrape up the extra $200, but the tires were all slick bald and I could not have afforded new ones after paying for the car, so I passed. Next was a red over red '70 GTO for $2,000, but the seller was keeping the wheels and tires and I'd have had no money to replace them. Last one was owned by a local Mopar guru, a '70 Torino SCJ Drag Pack 4 speed car with fresh paint for $2,000. It had the 4.30 gears, which would have been tough for a daily driver, plus at the time, I was not too keen on Fords. In a corner garage, he had a '72 Nova with a fresh 454, tripower, 4 speed that he bought because it had brand new Cragars on it. He kept the Cragars, and rounded up a set of slot mags with passable tires, and I bough that for $2,000.

I had a years worth of fun out of that car, but it kept breaking trans and diffs, so I sold it to the service manager at my dealership when someone traded in a '74 Olds 442, black with gold stripe, swivel bucket car with a 455 that caught my eye. As Mark Worman would say, it was a panty dropper and I drove it til is rusted out from under me.
 
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