And the moral of this story is...

[brownnova]

A little while ago I posted this into my spotted thread:

 

 

This has sat near the back gates at my work for the last few years - and as I wave the little shits cherubs off at the end of each school day, I determine that I will one day go and knock on the door to ask if the old chap fancies selling.  According to HML the numbers of surviving 105Ls is 1 on SORN - this one I guess.

 

At the end of term I noticed that the front window had been smashed... I'd better put a note under the wiper at least soon thinks I... 

 

...but it was the end of term, and I was tired, so I decided to go in the first week back after the school holidays.

 

Today (because of how committed I am) I went into work for a few hours to do some catching up.  And, being inspired by some superb threads on various rare and exotic* beasts decided today I was going to knock the door and see if he wanted to sell.

 

Imagine my HORROR when I went to the back entrance only to discover that where the Skoda used to sit there was now a skip!  The Skoda nowhere to be seen! I rang the local scrappies none of whom seem to have taken it in, so i do have some hope that maybe some other nutter bought it to restore... here's hoping anyway!

 

Damn my complacency!  

 

The moral of this tale is not to wait around to put the note under the wiper, or knock the door - because it may be too late.  

 

 

So has anyone else got a 'one that got away' tale?

[dollywobbler]

Oh yes. I can play this game. When we moved to Wales, I spotted this Ambassador languishing on a driveway nearby.

 

Even went and had a proper look at it, taking these photos.

 

Had been just parked up since 2008, but the chap had LOADS of parts, including calipers and doors. I didn't have funds at the time, and was a bit worried about cost, even though he'd let me have the car and all the parts for £250. I eventually talked myself into it, gave him a ring, and he had scrapped the lot. He didn't even seem that bothered about getting rid when I spoke to him! I wasn't very pleased.

[Tamworthbay]

I was offered a Sierra a couple of years back for free, good condition but had been off the road for a couple of years. I had nowhere to store it and it would have cost money to get it to me so I declined. I also thought it would be an age before they were worth anything. What a dick I feel now (in the metaphorical sense).

[Pete-M]

Late 80s I found a slightly down at heel Mk1 Jensen Interceptor on a dodgy housing estate in Everton. It was parked up a drive way and occasionally moved a few feet. It was obvious it wasn't being used, but it had all the signs of still being saveable.

 

My daily driver at the time was a Granada Ghia Coupé so I figured the Jensen couldn't be that much worse to run and knocked on the door at the house where the Jensen was. A bloke in his late 50s answered and I asked if the Jensen was for sale. He told me it was actually MOTd and ran but it needed the brake master cylinder replacing. For £900 it could be mine, but it would have to be a quick sale as he was moving to Prestatyn and there were other people who'd knocked about the Jensen.

 

I spent the next week tapping various relatives for loans to get the £900 together and went back to Everton. The Jensen had gone. One of the neighbours told me that the owner had moved to Wales and that the Jensen had been taken by one of the local scrap men who'd apparently used a HIAB to shift it. There were bits of Sundym glass around the driveway so that was that.

 

Still. I did eventually end up looking after an Interceptor III for someone so I kinda count 'the one that got away' as a lucky escape.

 

The one that still hurts me in a Capri RS2600 which I tried to buy for a couple of years. Blue with white stripes it was. Gorgeous. Lad who owned it was apparently in the Army, stationed away in Germany, and wasn't sure if he wanted to sell. I tried to buy it every few months for a couple of years as it was rusting away on the lad's mother's driveway. One day it wasn't there anymore. I didn't knock to ask where it had gone. I still wish I'd bought it.

[danthecapriman]

There used to be an old guy near my house that had a lovely X reg Cortina 2.0 Crusader in crystal green, it was in really good nik and looked gorgeous (to me anyway). I'd long admired it, but one day it got a for sale sign in the window for £200. I dithered and lost out on it.

The worst part is that the very same car appeared a few months later at my local banger racing track! It lasted very well, as it should given how good the car was. I was crushed that I didn't just buy it, such a shame it went out like that.

[DVee8]

There is a Citroen XM 3.0ltr on a M reg(dark green) sitting on a drive a few streets away from me.

 

It hasn't moved for a while,I keep meaning to knock or put a note on.

[Timewaster]

People knock on my door.

 

I wish they would Piss Off.

[taxi paul]

There has been a large motorhome parked up a drive, with a x reg ? Picasso near me for around ten years now. They both don't move and are covered in green moss. I happened to say to my missus yesterday in passing them that one day I shall knock and see if he wants to sell the motorhome. She never hit me or anything so I guess in woman logic that's a yes. Its on huyton lane L36 . For all you google street view experts, I'm not.

[nigel bickle]

My door is knocked most weeks.

 

If the would be buyer knows his subject, I'm happy to talk, and I might well sell at a sensible price to a genuine enthusiast.

 

Sadly, the vast majority are clueless, with no real interest other than ' bottom line'. They think I should sell it to them for around 10-25% of their perception of its ' trade' value, so they can give it a wash and punt on, on eBay.

 

We don't tend to stay friends..

[eddyramrod]

I've got dozens of such stories, mostly down to lack of funds.  One even appeared in my column in Classic Car Buyer a few weeks ago!  That one was a 1978 Mercury Cougar; often they're American but this one was at least still in America.  There was, memorably, a 1981 Dodge pickup that appeared on ebay a couple of years later, rollered in NATO green and wearing a Nissan diesel engine where a lovely 360 V8 had previously crouched.  More recently, there's one I seem to remember threatening you all with (I should probably tell this story in full soon), which was a Lexus LS400.  So near, etc...  I could afford that one too, at the time.  Cowardice is what killed the idea.

[Bren]

My door is knocked most weeks.

If the would be buyer knows his subject, I'm happy to talk, and I might well sell at a sensible price to a genuine enthusiast.

Sadly, the vast majority are clueless, with no real interest other than ' bottom line'. They think I should sell it to them for around 10-25% of their perception of its ' trade' value, so they can give it a wash and punt on, on eBay.

We don't tend to stay friends..

They hope you have no idea of the item's worth and are happy to see it gone - they make it sound like they are doing you a favour by taking it. They can do everybody a favour and fook off.

[Coprolalia]

VW Golf Mk1 1.3 Formel-E that a friend who's a scrap man (Legasoil96 on here's dad) took in in about 2006. Solid body with just a small amount of rust, ran and drove fine. £300 I think he wanted. The Formel-E was an 80s economy thing with a very basic stop-start system and a really long fifth gear.

Walked away as no V5 and the owner was doing time for ram-raiding Safeway.

 

Also an AMC Hornet fitted with a 3.8l straight six I pulled out of bidding on in 2007. Went for £500. I spent the money on a holiday. Still regret that. Never seen one since.

[danthecapriman]

I've got dozens of such stories, mostly down to lack of funds.  One even appeared in my column in Classic Car Buyer a few weeks ago!  That one was a 1978 Mercury Cougar; often they're American but this one was at least still in America.  There was, memorably, a 1981 Dodge pickup that appeared on ebay a couple of years later, rollered in NATO green and wearing a Nissan diesel engine where a lovely 360 V8 had previously crouched.  More recently, there's one I seem to remember threatening you all with (I should probably tell this story in full soon), which was a Lexus LS400.  So near, etc...  I could afford that one too, at the time.  Cowardice is what killed the idea.

Being a coward is exactly what ruined getting a fantastic example of one of my all time dream cars.

 

Back in 2003/4 sort of time, I was supposed to be emigrating to Cyprus. It all went to shit though before I even got over there. So what I needed was a pick me up!

A little browsing turned up an absolutely stunning Jaguar mk10, in a dark metallic grey, and red leather. It was absolutely gorgeous. I looked at it and couldn't fault it and I was well up for buying it but for some inexplicable reason chickened out and didn't go back with the cash. I don't have the slightest clue why I chickened out but I did and I'm still kicking myself now for not buying it.

I didn't make the same mistake when buying the Mercury however. Instead I deliberately bought that quickly before my brain could ruin it by thinking about things!

[omegod]

There has been a large motorhome parked up a drive, with a x reg ? Picasso near me for around ten years now. They both don't move and are covered in green moss. I happened to say to my missus yesterday in passing them that one day I shall knock and see if he wants to sell the motorhome. She never hit me or anything so I guess in woman logic that's a yes. Its on huyton lane L36 . For all you google street view experts, I'm not.

 

I know that one Paul, I have the urge to jetwash it every time I pass. Do you remember the Mk1 RS turbo round the corner on someones drive that eventually rusted to the point it broke in half then dissapeared 

[DeeJay]

There has been a large motorhome parked up a drive, with a x reg ? Picasso near me for around ten years now. They both don't move and are covered in green moss. I happened to say to my missus yesterday in passing them that one day I shall knock and see if he wants to sell the motorhome. She never hit me or anything so I guess in woman logic that's a yes. Its on huyton lane L36 . For all you google street view experts, I'm not.

I pass that on my way to the Dogs Trust (Whiston Lane).

Every time I mention it to the Fun Sponge* she tuts then sulks for ages, so result.

 

*Courtesy Sierraman.

[New POD]

I have the reverse story of this.

 

I followed a mk2 cavalier 1.8 lxi on my way to work, into a works car park about a mile from my office. I gave the woman my number and said if she ever wanted to sell it, I'd be interested. It needed new arches. The next day her husband rings me and tells me I can have it for £700. I decline.

 

About 3 weeks later I follow a SRI 1.8 into another works car park about a mile away and give the bloke my number.

 

And a month later I am given a 1.8 CDi auto (after some email discussions with the owner). One starter motor later and it's road worthy.

 

6 months after that the owner of the SRi phones me to say I can have it for £40. It has MOT, 2 months tax and a massive dent in the door. He's been paid £700 plus his whiplash by insurance, and has bought a "better" car.  I paid someone to repair the door for £150, and sold the CDi auto for £265. (wish I'd kept it)

 

2 years later, two likely lads at work wanted to know if I wanted to buy this 1.8LXi - they said they wanted £500. I looked at it closely. It was shagged and clearly had a dodgy MOT. V5 wasn't in their name, but it was the same one. I declined. They were the dodgyiest 2 lads in Runcorn and that's dodgy.

 

About 3 months later someone else told me they'd paid £20 for it, got it a dodgy MOT and thought They could pass it on to me with my mental illness which involved mk2 cavaliers. Apparently they sold it for £40 scrap when nobody was interested. It was very shagged. I would have found them someone to take it from the owners club at twice that. but once a crook always a twat.

[taxi paul]

I know that one Paul, I have the urge to jetwash it every time I pass. Do you remember the Mk1 RS turbo round the corner on someones drive that eventually rusted to the point it broke in half then dissapeared

I think so. If its the house on Hurst park drive he had an Anglia and a couple of other rusty wrecks on his drive. My dad lived un Beaconsfield in Prescot and he used to tell me that his neighbour had an old ford Capri in their allocated garage. It was her husbands and when he passed away she left it there. Probably has true as the bogey man , but you never know.

[fatharris]

Yep - in true autoshite fashion, I hurriedly sold my Puma to buy an immaculate Rover 618 in unblemished Nightfire Red, with the Rover paint pen and everything.

Sold a couple of hours before I got the money. Gutted. At this point, I had a choice between an E28 525e (IIRC) and a Rover 75 diesel. Both had long MOTs, and the BMW even had an 80's body kit that actually suited it.

 

Bought the Rover, and always wondered about the BMW.

[Pete-M]

Bloody hell. Since when did this place have loads of us Scousers knocking about?

[Cavcraft]

There was a 1989-ish Fiesta in someone's garden behind me for absolutely forever and a day. I even vaguely knew one of the people living there and kept telling myself I'd give them a knock. Car now gone. 

 

Moss covered metallic blue Micra K10 1/4 mile away. 'I'll knock them one day': now gone.

 

W123 Merc and VW LT van rotting away for light years in someone's garden 1/2 mile away. 'I'll knock them one day': now gone. 

 

2x 205 GTis 1/4 mile away. I did knock them (as I knew the owner) and it was before the predicted stratospheric rise in prices. They wanted far too much for them, so I jibbed it and they're gone now. 

 

I'm still in with a chance with a mostly moss, partly silver Corsa B round the corner and a fabulous* 1/2 shiny red, half pink Corsa B about a mile away, the latter being in the garden of a really posh house. 

[rantingYoof]

It was a buy-first-think-about-decision-later mentality that has led me into the majority of the car purchases you can see below, and the outcomes have often been interesting* (see my historic thing thread).

 

However, I do have a brief tale whereupon I missed what I reckon would have been a fantastic opportunity...

 

This was just after my black Mondeo had just given up a turbo & actuator, causing it to go into limp home mode every time you gave it beans. It was up for sale and I'd had a bit of interest as it was priced in a "GET THIS THING OFF MY DRIVE" way.

 

I was browsing eBay and noticed a first gen Lexus GS300. It had over six month's MOT and six month's tax left to run. The photos were plentiful and honest, and it seemed to be in good condition. The advert was quite short but well written and there was a mobile number at the end.

 

The starting price was £350, with a BIN of £400. These were the days long before the MOT history check site existed so it could have been hiding some serious issues, but the condition of the car and the fact it had some history with it seemed promising.

 

I rang the number, and spoke to a genuine-sounding private seller who wanted rid as they were emigrating shortly, and they had inherited the car as a freebie so were not interested in profiteering.

 

We chatted for a while and I would like to think he identified me as a Lexus fanboi, because he then said "If you BIN at £400, I'll only expect £350 in cash when you collect it".

 

Now, what I should have done is ask for his bank-details over the phone so I could whack a holding deposit into it immediately. What I actually said was "I just need to run it past SnrYoof as he'll be helping me collect it".

 

I spoke to SnrYoof, who is also a Lexus fan although being 6ft 5" he cannot fit into them, and he said that even if I got 6 month's motoring out of it and then fragged it (scrap prices were a lot better at the time) I would be breaking even in the grand scheme of things.

 

I rushed back to the computer and saw that some massive, irritating tit had only gone and put a bid on it. Was now at £360. The cynic might have thought the seller had bottled it and done a fake bid with another account - when I gave them a ring they said "I'm going to hold out to see what happens, if that's okay with you" - but I reckon I was just too thinky-thinky and didn't do enough buyee-buyee.

[Cavcraft]

Talking of ones that worked (and Mk2 Cavaliers) I spotted a really tidy Calibre in a repair garage in Machynlleth. I asked the garage owner to pass my number on to the owner as I'd be interested in buying it and what do you know, he rang me a couple of days later and I bought it.

I actually saw three that day (inc. the one I bought), one (for sale) was on the end of a farmer's lane near Cemmaes road (near Mach) that looked completely shagged, and an over-priced one at a garage in Church Stretton. 

[Station]

Two identical Toyota Celica XX (JDM import mk1 Supra) parked in Bromborough for years. They were both silver with brown or red graphics. This wasn't that long ago, they're incredibly rare now.

The owner sold the house and new owner presumably either scrapped or sold them.

 

[New POD]

Bloody hell. Since when did this place have loads of us Scousers knocking about?

 

Who are you calling scouse ? I Only ever get called scouse if I venture South or East of Stoke on Trent. It's the posh Formby voice see.

[New POD]

in 1998 I had £700 plus £300 worth of Polo breadvan. I saw an early Mk3 Xri in white in a garage in Birkdale, for £700. I phoned up and arranged to view later that day. Got there and they'd sold it to 5 star of Formby. I went straight there and they had it up for sale on the forecourt for £1000. It was VERY perfect. I offered them £650 plus the Polo. They wanted £900 plus the polo or £975 for cash. I knew I could get £300 for the polo, but I needed a car to get to work, so couldn't sell one to fund the other.

I bought a later mk4 XR3i (or a mk3 series 2 ?) for £600 that was erm showing some signs of patina. and got £400 for the polo.

I wish I'd bought the white mk3

[the judge]

I know that one Paul, I have the urge to jetwash it every time I pass. Do you remember the Mk1 RS turbo round the corner on someones drive that eventually rusted to the point it broke in half then dissapeared

He is a top dude on Hurst Park Drive.

About 8 years ago,he sold me a blue y plate xr3. If you were about then,you may remember it was in front of the Anglia with a smashed drivers window.

 

The Turbo is being reshelled at a top secret location.

 

There is a guy one door down (on the other corner) who has all kinds of crazy stuff. Yanks,jeeps,old fords. Think he worked from the back of the house.

[Pete-M]

I bought a really nice Mk2 Escort on Hurst Park Drive many many moons ago. From a bloke called Derek.

[Faker]

I recently lost out on a visa gti, due to sitting with my thumb up my ass. Car sat outside a workshop for donkeys years, and had gone from red to mutiple shades of pink. When I eventually decided to call in to enquire about it, it was gone. Asked the garage workshop owner where it had gone. He told me a local scrap merchant lifted it. Details aquired I then raced to the scrap merchants yard to find it had been weighed in that morning...

[Bren]

Bloody hell. Since when did this place have loads of us Scousers knocking about?

I was hatched at Whiston hospital.

[brownnova]

I recently lost out on a visa gti, due to sitting with my thumb up my ass. Car sat outside a workshop for donkeys years, and had gone from red to mutiple shades of pink. When I eventually decided to call in to enquire about it, it was gone. Asked the garage workshop owner where it had gone. He told me a local scrap merchant lifted it. Details aquired I then raced to the scrap merchants yard to find it had been weighed in that morning...

There was an XR2 outside a workshop that I used to see on my way to work. And one day the whole building disappeared! Along with said XR2... They rebuilt the building, buti didn't see the XR2. I never really thought about asking about it as out was outside a workshop.