corvettes that i missed out on, post your stories

back in 1974 i was looking for a car, found a dealer selling a 65 corvette convertible with 2 tops. He was asking $1500 and i told him it was too much and walked away from it. i'm still kicking myself on that one.

6 months ago while looking for a c3 convertible i found a 80 ttop for sale on the side of the road. on the winshield was a sign saying $5000. was in fair shape not great but a good driver. i drove it but walked away as i was looking for a convertible. 2 days later i drove past it on my way to work at 530 am and on the windshield was a larger sign with $2500 on it. guess the owner was tired of having it on his lawn. i went back on my lunch break and it was gone.

OUCH...!!! Hope you had some padding to protect yourself with after missing out on that one.


Jim O.
"The Toy"

Went to look at a guys ex wifes 71 coupe,350 auto,270hp.clean original chrome bumper car,white,tan interior.She was asking 15,000 when I looked at on wednesday wasnt to impressed,didnt really care that much for a bumper car so I took Thursday off and set out to purchase a Vette. Found an original 81,dark metallic blue,new camel leather interior,new paint,car fax clean,98,000 mile car. Engine is bone stock as is the rest of the car and in really great shape. Paid 15,000 a bit high but the brand new interior and paint are worth at least 4-5 grand,so I bought it.Returned to work on monday,asked the guy I work with if the ex had sold the car? He said no but if I wanted it she would take 10,000. I could kick myself you know where,like bumper cars or not what an idiot I was

Back in 1998, my brother was working as legal advisor for a local Chrysler dealer. I told him if they ever traded in a vette to let me know about it because I knew they always wholesaled them out to get rid of them. Well, one day he told me about a vette they traded in on a viper. He said to me, We traded in this low mileage vettte on a viper today, I didn't call you because the car was ugly. He went on to say that is was blue with a ugly white stripe in the middle and a little red stripe on the one fender. The car only had 900 miles on it! He said a local vette dealer bought it from them for 26k! I was ready to kill him. A 96 grand sport I could have had for 26k. I still to this day bring that up to him. He no longer works there so I don't have the in at the dealer anymore.

Found this old thread and thought I'd tell my story. Back in 84 I so much wanted a new C4(we didn't call them that then) but they were so expensive at $25,000. I started looking used for a 78-82 because I felt that was more in my price range. At the time, a friend was having his 76 painted by a local Vette restorer who told me he had a Vette available for $18,000. I said too much and continued my search. About three weeks later I found a beautiful 79,loaded with only 6,000 miles for $13,500. I still have that car today, and it has appreciated in value! Oh, the $18,000 Vette? Fully restored, matching number 67 L89 coupe. I wonder if it appreciated at all? DUH Mike

---1986---I was in the Army stationed in Georgia and home on leave in Arizona. Had a chance to buy a 1960 Vette that was complete...needed paint and had a later model engine/tranny in it. Due to my age, employment status and being stationed in Georgia, I could not find an insurance company in Arizona that would insure me and had to walk away from the deal. I shudder to think what the car would be worth today.

I was home on leave from the military Dec 1985, and a friend of mine had a White '69 Stingray 350/350hp 4 spd. This car was clean! He offered me the car for $7000. Well needless to say, being 18 and not a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out of. I didn't get it.
Then in 1999 I was looking in the local Auto Trader and spotted a 1973 Stingray Blue L82 4 spd. $8000. I recognized this car from my neighborhood. I had been watching this particular car off and on since I was 16. I knew someday this car would be for sale (16 yrs later). I called the number and it was already sold.

A friend of mine, whom I fully trust to tell nothing but the truth told me a story that happened to him. He read in the paper where there was a Chevrolet for sale, and come make an offer. He followed up on it, and there he found a 63 split window that this old lady had in her garage. He asked her what she wanted for it, she said $500. He bought it, restored it, and sold it for $20,000. He went back to the old lady's house and gave her $10,000. She could not understand why he gave her the money, but accepted it anyway. My friend still made a profit, and has a clear conscience.

That story restores some faith in the human race...!!!