What’s the best deal you’ve gotten on cars or parts

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Brooks James

VET, CPT, Huey Medevac Pilot
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I traded even my 7 1/4 out of my duster for a 391 eight and three-quarter All I had to do was shorten the drive shaft
I got a new 650 double pumper for nothing
I had forgotten till I saw some posts
I answered an ad for a guy that said 500 for everything
He wouldn’t tell me all that he had
Long story short he had a 30yr collection of mopar stuff everything from complete sets of doors to badges
I don’t remember how much I made but it was in the neighborhood of 10k
 
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Think it was back in 76 or 77 when i bought the 71 Hemi GTX, 4 speed car, that i purchased for $2950.00
Had it for 28 years.
Won't tell you how much it sold for, other than it was well into the six figures.
That was my lifetimes, good deal.
 
I've been doing this for a long time, but probably the best one in recent memory was a deal I made with a former co-worker. He had 2 1983 Mustangs, both t-top cars, both had been original V6's, converted to V8, one had a 302/C4 in it complete, he thought the cam was wiped. The other one had a small block C6, no motor, both had 8.8 diffs swapped in, plus a set of freshly done SBF heads, crank, and rods. On a stand was a complete 351W with a Weiand 4 bbl intake and 650 Holley, block was cracked, plus a pile of other miscellaneous parts, and a 1995 GMC 3/4 ton 2wd extended cab truck, that ran and drove, with 2 sets of tires and wheels, needed front bearings and brakes, drove it home. All for $900.00 cash. I sold the truck the next day without touching it for $900.00. Oh and the "wiped cam" 302? he had tried to use a 351W firing order on it. I corrected that and that motor ran beautifully.
 
I suppose my H code Swinger. I paid a grand in 1993,with a trailer full of spare parts. I figured at the time the 340 engine was worth the grand:)
 
I bought three Dodge trucks at once from one guy. 78 1/2 ton club cab short bed 4x4, 79 3/4 ton reg cab 4x4, and a 76 1/2 ton reg cab 2wd long bed. All for 150 bucks. Sold the club cab next day for 500. The 3/4 ton the next week for 400. Both guys bought parts off the 2wd totaling another 500 between them. Few months later bought back the 3/4 ton for 150. Wound up being my first mud racer.
 
Part: I took a Galaxie 500 center console for a trade on 2 SBP rallye wheels that I wasn't using thinking I would use it in my Dart someday.. years and years went by I never did.. I sold that thing at a swap meet for way more than those two wheels will ever be worth.
Car: 1970 Dart /6 AT for $500, I drove that car for 5 years and sold it for more than I paid for it.
 
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Mint green factory original 1970 340 6 pack Challenger with factory glitter shaker hood. 18K miles. Bought off the original owner in '74 who didn't like the gas mileage. Car ran and looked perfect, paid $2000.00....two weeks later I needed money real bad, had to sell it $2300.00. One of the biggest mistakes of my life!!!!:mad::mob::soapbox::BangHead::BangHead::BangHead:
 
In 1985 or so I limped a Monza spider into the lot it looks sharp bright red black spider on the hood flares I had put an oversized v6 in it but the clutch was completely gone I had to buy something at that lot it wasn't going to go any further! I looked across and saw a 1971 Gran coupe barracuda one owner 60,000 original miles slapstick automatic and AC, leather interior overhead console ashtrays had never been used I paid $2,000 and I think they gave me $800 for my Monza. Also the doors were literally falling off of the car the driver's door had fallen off totally before. I drove by the lot a few times in the weeks to follow and notice the car had never moved from where I had parked it.
 
Traded an LD340 for a Torker straight up even. I was given the Torker for free!

complete 1973 340 for free. .060” over and two cylinders were gouged. But crank is standard and clean, as were rods and heads.

Steel crank running 440 traded for a set of 1/2 truck axles that needed rebuilding.
 
The list is long and it's been a good ride. A bunch of things I have gotten lucky on but 2 notable moments are:

1985 Honda ATC 250R. Mint and I mean mint. Mommy and daddy bought it for the son and when they saw him send it a few times they just wanted it gone. $500.00. Never see that deal again....

1970 Duster 340 I got around 1995. About the most original H code I ever got my hands on. Sitting in front of a house for sale. A battery and a quick points clean up and we drove it home (parking brake lol) and I sold it for a quick buck which I later learned my dad really wanted it but he wanted me to make the hussle lol.... $600.00.

JW
 
1975 traded a piece of **** 292 moto ski snowmobile for a 68 Charger 383 auto. Wish I still had it
 
cant remember what i paid for it now, but i walked into a dealership one day, and looked at a cougar
then i looked at a car...which was also a cougar

so i asked the first cougar how much the second cougar was
she said they had just taking it in on trade and she didnt know yet

so i said, well shoot me a price, i want it
and she shot me a price, but said i couldnt take it untill her mechanic looked it over

so he looked it over, and sure enough, the clutch is gone
so they replaced the clutch, and sold the car to me for the same number she had told me

i drove it for 2 years and then totalled it (another great story i dont have time for, but lets just say that was before you could go 3 wide down 16th street)
after my deductible, the insurance cut me a check for $1500 MORE then what i paid for the car, 2 years earlier
 
Back in the early 70's, I bought a 64 Sport Fury 426 wedge motored 4 speed car for $500.00. I spent the better part of 4 years putting it back to original & then drove it to cruise nights & outdoor cars shows. I took it to a swap meet one Sunday because my DD was down & a gentleman made me an offer well over what I had in it. I sold it to him & saw it on the street for a few years & then it disappeared. I finally found out from one of his neighbors that he moved out of state for work. I contacted him & we've stayed in touch ever since. He still has the car & has made more improvements on it. He says he still drives it "like he stole it". It was one of the VERY few cars that I made any money on. LMAO
 
In the devorce she paid for half the lawyer and I got the house, the business, the race car and the kids along with child support.
 
Bought a complete 340 driveline out of a 71 Demon in 1980 when gas hit $1 a gallon for $50

Bought a 71 Barracuda for $200 in 1981

Also bought a 69 Charger R/T 440 4 speed in 1982 for $800
 
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Bought this as a rolling shell in 1990 from a “friend” who said he would cut it in half before he would sell it to me.....
$550 cash
 
Whenever I've bought something, had something given to me, sold something or given something away, the best deal I got was makin a new friend. That's more important to me than any good "deal" on a part.
 
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1970 Duster got it from Carmax 6 years ago, 318 with edelbrock heads air gap intake 750 carb, 8.75 rear end with 3.91 sure grip, drove it home, trans was not the best, did not make any improvements to engine, when i pull it, the car was running 11.70s. I paid $2800 for it
 
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