Missed a Classic Saturday
 

Went to a farm sale Saturday about 10 miles from my house. Older guy died and my wife knew the family so she wanted to go. They had a couple of cars on the auction. One was a 67 Firebird (serious project status) an 84 Fiero, a 74 Camaro and a 68 Mustang. The Stang had 54K miles, numbers matching, 289 auto. Off white interior was nice, cream paint was decent for a 20 footer but it needed a restoration. It had factory air and ran well. It had been hit 20 years ago or so and repaired. Second owner. He bought it with 30K.

I really didn't want one, but my wife said we should try to buy it. Surprised me as she isn't a car person and she is always telling me that we have to sell one of the seven cars that we have now. Well, I told her that I would go to $7500. I hadn't researched them at all as I wasn't even planning on bidding.

The Firebird sold first for $3K. Not bad, but it needed lots of help. Guy bought it while talking to the buyer on the phone.

When the Mustang came up, I had it forever at $7000. Finally another bid so I got it back at $7200. Sat there forever with the acutioneer saying it's worth $10K, classic, blah, blah, blah. I am thinking "say it is sold!". Well, phone guy was back and threw in a bid of $7300. I figured I was beat so dropped out. It sold for $7300. I talked to him later and he said the phone buyer said to take one hack at it and if I came back, let me have it. :vash:I could have got it for $7400 which was under my budget but I was already second guessing figuring he would pay more and let it go.

Upon doing some investigation that night, I saw that I was really going to be in good shape on the car at $7,400. Oh, well...serves me right for not running it to my predetermined level but I started second guessing maybe my "guesstimate" was high as there was not much interest.

Too bad, sometimes you let one get away. But, console yourself; as one who spent my teens rebuilding old cars with my dad, I have one thing to say:

Cars that old suck. Parts are impossible to find, or expensive. They rattle, have all sorts of creaks, groans and strange noises. They always need new seals and other fiddly bits or the wind noise will deafen you. They leak every fluid, all the time.

Stick with stuff after the 1980's. Not as cool, but more reliable, and better all around. Unless you're willing to put the time, effort and money into a total restoration, they will never be as nice as modern cars.

yup clean OE Mustangs fetch good money. I had a 1967 GT 390 Fastback with a 4 speed, 9" and factory locker. I bought it from a guy in San Jose for $1000. Restored it, drove it around for 3 years and sold it for $6000. The guy I sold it too kept it for about 4 years and sold it $12k! I would hate to see what it is worth now.