The one that got away...

[Caspien]

1996 Dodge Stealth RT Turbo.



Was a graduation gift to me, brand new, from my uncle.

I owned it for approximately 4 months, before I was rear ended by an 18wheeler north of St Louis, Mo.

I don't remember much of the accident.. just that I was driving west bound on 270, had just crossed the Chain of Rocks bridge, and it was icy outside.

I stopped, just over the bridge.. and remember hearing some.. scraping/screaming sound. I woke up, in the driver seat, and heard this massive rumbling/mechanical noise.. turned around, and the tractor trailer's front grill was about 6-8" behind my seat.. and all I remember thinking, was 'That's weird.. I don't remember that being there before.. what is that.'

Woke up in the back of an ambulance, again... and by the time we got to Barnes, I was fully conscious, and moving around. They wouldn't let me walk into the hospital, but after they wheeled me into an ER room, I sat up and was moving around, a little sore, but intact.

Doctors came in, ran a battery of tests on me, only to find I had slight whiplash.. no concussion, no broken bones.. a few bruises.. but walked out of Barnes a few hours later, after they confirmed there was nothing really wrong with me. Doctors couldn't believe it.

When insurance paid out, I opted to use the money to pay off student loans, instead of getting another Stealth.

To this day, I kind of wish I'd gotten a chance to play with it, more, in the summer time.. instead of the winter. *shrug*

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[Slojo]

November 1975. Turned 16. Steadily reading the paper for auto listings. 1959 Baby Blue Metallic Corvette (custom color) $4500. Favorite color, year I was born. Mom took me to NAS Pensacola to see it. I decided not to press my parents for it because we were not poor but they both had to work to pay for our house. I didn't want to put them in a bind for me and I couldn't see taking it to the high school parking lot.

 

[jwilson2899]

My 06 LJ Rubicon. Never should have sold that Jeep.

 

[Kevin_D]

I was driving ~45 minutes one way to school each day, and my car at the time wasn’t great on gas, so I went shopping.
I found two cars I really liked: a ‘72 Capri, and this: a 1960 Thunderbird.
Loaded, low miles, great condition.
One of the few times in my life I went practical, and bought the Capri.

Kevin

 

[LAJEEPR]

No photos on hand but probably #1 the ‘67 Pontiac Firebird Coupe I bought for $800 when I was 20. Had to sell it soon after because it had no brakes and I couldn’t afford to fix them. #2 was a 1970 VW Karmann Ghia Convertible w/ an auto-stick. #3, and more to applicable to this forum, a 1973 K5 Blazer.

 

[Mojave Gladiator]

1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Mad Max Replica... still regret not purchasing it when I had the opportunity!

 

[area5179]

1991 Pontiac Firebird with T-tops. I bought it off my aunt when I was 20. It was the first car I bought with my own money and I loved driving it around during the summer 'cause the T-tops were ALWAYS off. Had to sell it when I bought my 2005 Mustang and didn't have the room to keep both. I actually shed a tear when it drove away.

 

[Gelo]

1974 Ford Bronco and a 1969 Porsche 912. I got married and had to sell because we didn’t have room to store them at home. Happy wife….

 

[slartibartfast]

Had to part with my 65 Chevy shortbed and still can't believe I sold it. Had it since I was 15, but 2 kids and life took priority. Or that's what I tell myself to sleep at night. Close 2nd was selling my 87 Wagoneer. Thing overheated like crazy but was perfect cosmetically. Hopefully replace one of them in a few years with a new project that I'll sell and regret immediately.

 

[869 KPH]

Had to sell it when I bought my 2005 Mustang and didn't have the room to keep both. I actually shed a tear when it drove away.

Looking back, would you have rather mothballed it in storage than to have sold it? Did you have any alternative storage solutions? I am facing a similar dilemma with my current truck, which the JT will essentially be replacing. I just don't think I'll ever have the heart to sell it, but space is at a premium for me. I plan to keep our daily car in the driveway (and the Dodge in the garage) for a year or so after getting the JT and then deciding whether or not to keep the old Dodge. If I do, it will probably be mothballed somewhere until I have the space for it again.

 

[mazeppa]

I miss my Yugo, it was a chick magnet.

 

[DocMike]

Had a chance on a 1967 912 Porsche. For 5k! Was clean. Needed a clutch. Not a hard job. Still kick myself on that. Ex wife talked me out of it. She also made me sell my 1953 Buick. I still comb the classifieds for that car. Straight 8 and 3 on the tree. smooth.

 

[area5179]

Looking back, would you have rather mothballed it in storage than to have sold it? Did you have any alternative storage solutions? I am facing a similar dilemma with my current truck, which the JT will essentially be replacing. I just don't think I'll ever have the heart to sell it, but space is at a premium for me. I plan to keep our daily car in the driveway (and the Dodge in the garage) for a year or so after getting the JT and then deciding whether or not to keep the old Dodge. If I do, it will probably be mothballed somewhere until I have the space for it again.

I was able to keep it for awhile in a lot next to my house as the lot was empty and I knew the owner and he did mind me parking there. But he passed away and the lot was sold so I got a letter from the new owners attorney asking me to move it and I had nowhere else to store it so I had to let it go.

 

[Cripton805]

2014 Corvette Stingray
7 Speed Manual
ZR1 Wheel Reps
Z51 Spoiler
Z06 Front Lip
Z06 Grille
Carbon Fiber Skirts
Lowered on Stock Bolts

I sold it in 2018 in anticipation for a Manual C8 Corvette a few years ago for 32k. Now they are upwards 50k. They never made manuals. Inventory has been super low on manuals and non existent. My worst car mistake to date.

 

[72YEARGAP]

1948 Willys Jeep. My first vehicle. My brother and I bought it together for $400. I was too young to have a license, so I could only drive it off road. By the time I got old enough to drive, my dad convinced my brother and I to let him trade it in for a new Ford pickup that dad wanted. My brother and I drove that pickup as our daily driver...but that '48 would be worth WAY more today than what dad got in trade for the Ford. The 2020 Gladiator I am driving today is my second Jeep. Hence, my handle...72 year gap...

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