Cars you wish you had bought

Mike Noc · 5th June 2019, 12:49

Just read Rover2003's thread on cars you regret selling, and thinking about all the motors I have owned over the years I honestly can't say I regret getting rid of any of them.

There was one I would have kept longer had I been able to afford the running costs; an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme that did 8 to the gallon on a run and 4 round town.

There were three cars I looked at and wish I had bought mind; a Jaguar XK140 which was going cheap back in the day, as was a Citroen SM (the one with the Maserati V6 engine) and lastly an Amphicar (had a Triumph Herald engine and could swim!), which needed a fair bit of work.

Anybody else regret not splashing the cash on something they once looked at?

roverbarmy · 5th June 2019, 13:17

I went to an auction which had an Aston Martin DB6 in it back in the late 1970's. I'd been to the viewing the day before and managed to check the car out. It had been in a lock up for some years and had mould on the seats (window left open) and fine scratches on the paint, where it had been dragged out from under bushes which had grown up the side of it. On the morning of the sale, I arrived at the auction about ten minutes after it started (due to heavy snow) and waited to bid. After about an hour of other lots going through, I asked one of the auction staff as to when the Aston was going to be sold. He informed me that it had been sold first lot............. for £1750.00. He said that it didn't have a lot number so was sold first. They usually sold last. It had been bought by .................................. the auctioneer's son! I heard that the car was valeted, had the oil and filters done and was used by the lad for a couple of months, before being sold at a specialist auction down in the south of England (for a five figure sum!). Gutted!

Mike Noc · 5th June 2019, 13:31

I would have been too! Think they are now comfortably into six figures.

Dallas · 5th June 2019, 14:26

There are so many motors that I wish I bought, but just for starters...

MK1 Toyota Celica Coupe.

Datsun Bluebird 610.
Datsun 280Z.
MK3 Ford Capri Brooklands.
Mitsubishi GTO.
MK4 Toyota Supra.
Rover 200 Coupe (Tomcat).

trikey · 5th June 2019, 14:36

Like another member posted on the other thread, I was offered an etype in the mid 80s, no engine and a tubbed rear end, it had been used on the drag strip, got offered it for £500 - £600

Mickyboy · 5th June 2019, 17:35

If I kept all the cars I’ve had I’d need not only my yard but a multi-storey car park too

my MG Rovers however won’t be going anywhere soon likewise with my Impreza Sti I’ve had that for nearly 10 years and probably drive it once a year
Mick

Mike Noc · 5th June 2019, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by trikey

Like another member posted on the other thread, I was offered an etype in the mid 80s, no engine and a tubbed rear end, it had been used on the drag strip, got offered it for £500 - £600

Ah you have hit the spot Andy - when I was a kid I lusted after E types and Norton Commandos.

Managed to get a Norton, and I can't see that ever being sold, but sadly I was never in the position of being able to afford an E Type.

What a car - looks fast even when it is standing still.

smudge.g · 5th June 2019, 17:46

My dream car would be a 77 Trans Am, my dad and brother both had similar in the 80s but not me! I almost bought a straight 6 version whilst based in Italy 10 years ago from a departing US sailor but it broke down on the way to deliver it to me (would have cost me $400 for the car!). I guess it was an omen

SCP440 · 5th June 2019, 17:52

I had a friend in the forces who had a RHD big block manual Coke Bottle shaped T top Corvette that was mint in every detail. I had always said to him if you ever think of selling it give me first refusal.

At the time coke bottle shaped Corvettes were fetching high teens and I have never seen a RHD one before.

Anyway he rung me one night and he was in a mess and needed to sell the car and have the money in his account by 10am the following day, I could have had the car for half its value but sadly I was a couple of grand short of what he wanted and no way of getting it that quickly.

He told me a few weeks later he had sold it to a car dealer for the amount of money I had for cash.

ZedTeeT · 5th June 2019, 20:03

As an 18 year old in 1988 I had a two year old Astra GTE MK2 which was great fun, but one day passing a local garage my eye was drawn to a rather lovely looking Talbot Sunbeam Lotus. It was a special edition I believe in pale blue with a dark blue band. I decided to take it for a test drive and was blown away. It was a crude and noisy animal of a car and made my Astra feel rather tame in comparison...........and I loved it!!!

But, I just couldn't come to terms with changing the Astra for a much older car. Plus, my dad would have killed me!

Wish I had though...........

5th June 2019, 12:49	#1
Mike Noc This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Manual Connoisseur SE, Rover 75 CDT Automatic Connoisseur SE & a Freelander Td4. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,547 Thanks: 3,470 Thanked 3,119 Times in 2,247 Posts	Cars you wish you had bought Just read Rover2003's thread on cars you regret selling, and thinking about all the motors I have owned over the years I honestly can't say I regret getting rid of any of them. There was one I would have kept longer had I been able to afford the running costs; an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme that did 8 to the gallon on a run and 4 round town. There were three cars I looked at and wish I had bought mind; a Jaguar XK140 which was going cheap back in the day, as was a Citroen SM (the one with the Maserati V6 engine) and lastly an Amphicar (had a Triumph Herald engine and could swim!), which needed a fair bit of work. Anybody else regret not splashing the cash on something they once looked at?

5th June 2019, 13:17	#2
roverbarmy This is my second home Roverless + 1.7D Sportage Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: East Norfolk Posts: 7,050 Thanks: 729 Thanked 2,021 Times in 1,449 Posts	I went to an auction which had an Aston Martin DB6 in it back in the late 1970's. I'd been to the viewing the day before and managed to check the car out. It had been in a lock up for some years and had mould on the seats (window left open) and fine scratches on the paint, where it had been dragged out from under bushes which had grown up the side of it. On the morning of the sale, I arrived at the auction about ten minutes after it started (due to heavy snow) and waited to bid. After about an hour of other lots going through, I asked one of the auction staff as to when the Aston was going to be sold. He informed me that it had been sold first lot............. for £1750.00. He said that it didn't have a lot number so was sold first. They usually sold last. It had been bought by .................................. the auctioneer's son! I heard that the car was valeted, had the oil and filters done and was used by the lad for a couple of months, before being sold at a specialist auction down in the south of England (for a five figure sum!). Gutted! __________________ Oil in my veins!

5th June 2019, 14:36	#5
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,765 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	Like another member posted on the other thread, I was offered an etype in the mid 80s, no engine and a tubbed rear end, it had been used on the drag strip, got offered it for £500 - £600 __________________ Lest we forget..

5th June 2019, 17:35	#6
Mickyboy SERVICING AND DEALER DIAGNOSTICS MG ZT CDTI 135 + & MGZT CDTI AUTO 160 & ROVER 75 TOURER CDTI 160 TROPHY YELLOW Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Hernebay Posts: 4,331 Thanks: 818 Thanked 2,414 Times in 1,141 Posts	If I kept all the cars I’ve had I’d need not only my yard but a multi-storey car park too my MG Rovers however won’t be going anywhere soon likewise with my Impreza Sti I’ve had that for nearly 10 years and probably drive it once a year Mick __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] T4 Owner Jobs done : new UBP, Spy hole mod, Rear hub(wheel bearing),plenum cleaned and emptied, Inline thermostat fitted,Full service, In car Digital tv/DVD Bluetooth Satnav etc, Replaced UBP, Restored headlights,Fixed airbag connection.replaced HP pump,replaced rear light seals,changed intercooler O rings. Jobs to do: ,replace drivers lock,.[/SIZE]

5th June 2019, 17:46	#8
smudge.g Gets stuck in 75 Tourer CDTi Connie SE Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Keith, Banffshire Posts: 686 Thanks: 431 Thanked 132 Times in 105 Posts	My dream car would be a 77 Trans Am, my dad and brother both had similar in the 80s but not me! I almost bought a straight 6 version whilst based in Italy 10 years ago from a departing US sailor but it broke down on the way to deliver it to me (would have cost me $400 for the car!). I guess it was an omen __________________ My 75 Tourer CDTi was born Saturday, 21st June 2003 @ 09:50 My 75 was the 18,749th 75 Tourer to run off the production line, out of 27,407 It was the 195th 75 Tourer CDT Connoisseur SE (135) to be made out of 2,074 and the 1,789th 75 Tourer in Wedgewood Blue Metallic (code: JEL) to be made out of 1,871 Wedgewood Blue Metallic 75 Tourers

5th June 2019, 13:31	#3
Mike Noc This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Manual Connoisseur SE, Rover 75 CDT Automatic Connoisseur SE & a Freelander Td4. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,547 Thanks: 3,470 Thanked 3,119 Times in 2,247 Posts	I would have been too! Think they are now comfortably into six figures.

5th June 2019, 14:26	#4
Dallas This is my second home 1979 Capri 1.6L, 1982 Capri 1.6L, 2016 Dacia Stepway Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dorset Posts: 8,595 Thanks: 3,496 Thanked 3,397 Times in 2,218 Posts	There are so many motors that I wish I bought, but just for starters... MK1 Toyota Celica Coupe. Datsun Bluebird 610. Datsun 280Z. MK3 Ford Capri Brooklands. Mitsubishi GTO. MK4 Toyota Supra. Rover 200 Coupe (Tomcat).

5th June 2019, 17:52	#9
SCP440 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T 260 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Witney Posts: 2,504 Thanks: 6 Thanked 910 Times in 571 Posts	I had a friend in the forces who had a RHD big block manual Coke Bottle shaped T top Corvette that was mint in every detail. I had always said to him if you ever think of selling it give me first refusal. At the time coke bottle shaped Corvettes were fetching high teens and I have never seen a RHD one before. Anyway he rung me one night and he was in a mess and needed to sell the car and have the money in his account by 10am the following day, I could have had the car for half its value but sadly I was a couple of grand short of what he wanted and no way of getting it that quickly. He told me a few weeks later he had sold it to a car dealer for the amount of money I had for cash.

5th June 2019, 20:03	#10
ZedTeeT Gets stuck in MG ZT-T Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Horsham Posts: 874 Thanks: 197 Thanked 239 Times in 207 Posts	As an 18 year old in 1988 I had a two year old Astra GTE MK2 which was great fun, but one day passing a local garage my eye was drawn to a rather lovely looking Talbot Sunbeam Lotus. It was a special edition I believe in pale blue with a dark blue band. I decided to take it for a test drive and was blown away. It was a crude and noisy animal of a car and made my Astra feel rather tame in comparison...........and I loved it!!! But, I just couldn't come to terms with changing the Astra for a much older car. Plus, my dad would have killed me! Wish I had though........... __________________ My garage. 03/53 MG ZT-T+ CDTi auto in XPG. 232k and much to do! 21/21 MG ZS ev. Daily. 85/C Capri 2.8i Special. Mine 29+ years. 82/X Talbot Tagora SX V6. Restoration project. 11/11 Hyundai I Load CRDi. Van....... nuff said.