Since like my 16th birthday, my Mom would ask what I wanted for my birthday and every year I'd say a 427 Cobra.  In the mid-eighties when the prices for original Cobra were through the roof, I siad to my father "see if we bought that years ago ...".  My dad responded, if we would have bought that, you'd likely be dead now.  he was aslo probably right. 

I was probably 19 or 20, and went to the Atlantic City Car Show with my Dad as we had done every year since I was 12.  That show was where I fell in love with the early Mustangs and decided one would be my first car.  I bought my first car (a '67 coupe) at 14, started to tear it down and discovered it was so far gone rust wise, and it wasn't worth saving.  I made the decision to use it as a parts car and started looking for another '67 or '68.  My uncle happened upon my '67 fatback for sale up in PA.  I was 15 by then, and bought it and its the car I restored and still have.  By the time I was 17 the car was basically done (painted, every system rebuilt, etc.).  Anyway, by 19-20 I was looking for another project and what did I find at the AC sow that year but a '68 Shelby GT500 428 4 speed car.  The guy wanted $25,000 for it.  I asked if he would consider a trade, he said it MUST be a Ford.  I said how about a '67 fastback.  I had pictures of the car with me and after looking at it and haggling a bit we arrived at my car and $5,000.  Well, I didn't have the $5,000 at the time, so I brought Dad into the discussion.  Dad was a hard no.  I've thought about that car a lot over the years.  There were others, but that is definitely the one that came to mind as "the one that got away". 

Dont know if this fits here but i did trade this one off. My first car. Sure do wish i still had it. 
Pic is from about 1979 or 1980

I was 15.  A guy who worked at a local gas station was selling his gorgeous 32 roadster.  black, full fendered, with flames.  He wanted $600.  Not a lot, even for those days.  I could not get my folks to even think about it.  They said no before I even finished talking-begging.   The car sat there for several months before it and the guy were gone.  Obviously, I still remember it.

Last edited by lowercasesteve (6/22/2024 3:55 PM)

Nos681 wrote:

1978 Granada, 302, 4 barrel, factory Duraspark, automatic, Florida weathered and shredded fabric bench seat and exterior…$800.

That was about a months pay…gross.

The “old guy” was a mechanic and it was well tuned.

Being cautious about what dad had learned me about car insurance,
by the time I called him back…about an hour after leaving his house…it was sold.

I look past the shiny paint and chrome, thanks to dad and this Granada.

Sometimes I wonder what I would think of it now.

 
Welp, maybe buying that car might have kept you out of the Mustang world.

Gee - I have lots of "got aways": 1977(8?) my buddy bought a '66 Fairlane GT less engine for $800.00. The fresh 428 was available separately for $300.00 but my buddy didn't have any more cash and I was broke. Begged my dad for the money, but he said no way. I still remember how cool that 428 looked with the deep oil pan and a Shelby lettered sidewinder intake. Looking back - my dad was right not to give me the money.

Next was a rust free '70 boss 302. Another buddy bought it as a daily driver with a regular 302 in it. He located a Boss 302 engine locally, rebuilt it and put it in the car. He was in to Galaxies and didn't want the Boss. The paint was faded, and the tires were junky but the interior was nice and the body was straight. He told me the first person with $3000.00 takes it. It was about 1983 - and I was a broke kid - so on it went to somebody else. I did get to drive it a few times. It sounded great!

A while later, I had a job and a little money. I came across an Emberglow '66 Mustang convertible. It was a running driving straight 6 auto. The floors had been replaced, and the rest looked O.K. it needed a top and the paint was a little faded (would be a perfect "patina" car today). I had the money but I balked at $1900.00 and got stubborn. Told the guy I didn't want to pay over $1500.00 and I walked away. After sleeping on it, I decided to pay the asking price and I went back. I got there just in time to see the new owner loading it on a trailer and taking it away.

I have lots of others - but I'll stop there before I make myself feel too bad.

I had a 85 Mustang GT that I bought in 89 with 86k miles. Motor had been rebuilt at 83k when it overheated. 5 liter, 5 speed, T tops, and the grey cloth interior. That was a fun car to drive and I put 130k more miles on it. 

First upgrade was a Centerforce clutch, heavy duty disk and new steel billet flywheel. Next came some Walker muffler and removed the catalytic converter. Had it painted in 92. Got a new stereo and speakers at some point.  Installed a new clutch disc right before I sold it in 97 and it would still bark the tires in second gear. It just wouldn't hold three car seats. 

I went looking for it years later when I found the VIN on an old insurance card..... The guy I sold it to totaled it out about 18 months after buying!!!