Swap Meet Parts You Passed On and Later Regretted Not Buying

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harrisonm

harrisonm

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About 15 or 20 years ago I was at a general auto swap meet. There was very little Mopar stuff. One Guy had mostly all Mopar stuff, and he had a name brand small Mopar dual 4 intake block manifold. It was a regular inline dual 4 intake. He wanted $150 for it. At the time, I still had a rather high house payment and a kid in college, so I passed on it. I regretted it almost immediately, and I REALLY regret it now. I don't think I have ever seen a SBM with a dual 4 setup at a car show.
 
eekvonzipper said:
All those 833's I walked passed in the 80's... wish I had them All now.
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No kidding. I remember seeing an ad from Grand Spaulding Dodge in the early 70s for new 833s for, if I remember right, $250. Imagine what a NOS 833 would be worth now.
 
Just getting to a swap meet anymore...................the last two times I was at the "goodguys" show in Spokamentro the mopar related stuff was dismal.
 
No regrets on passing items up at meets. I do regret many parts I sold over the years. If I had all the parts I sold I could retire off them now. Stuff selling for 10x what they did 10-15 years ago. Lots of stuff you couldn't give away before is now bringing good money.
 
Picked up a greasy LD340 at the Mopar Nationals in the late 80's, that the guy had laying there for $50. I sat it back down and passed because it was for W2 heads, and I thought it was some home made deal. Now I know that Edelbrock made a run of them! :BangHead: :realcrazy:
 
Passing up a 71 valiant for 800. Bucks because at the time I thought all 4 doors were parts cars and thought it was priced too high for a parts car lol

It was nice, could have been a great driver as is.

Now I collect those cars and I see 4 doors a lot different. I'm one of few mopar people buying 4 doors because i want to save them and love them.
 
AAR cuda with original drivetrain for 10K sometime in the early 2000's
 
70 Charger R/T no motor or trans for $300.- I had just bought my 69 and figured I didn't need another project, what with the Demon & all.
 
About 25 years ago a guy had a NOS 1000 cfm Competition Series TQ for 350 bucks. That was quite a bit back then. I'd have that thing plum wore out by now. Same swap a different guy had an STR12 with fresh 625 AFB carbs for 500. :BangHead:
 
Many to list but a complete and clean Air Grabber hood/setup for 800.00 Fit a 71 Roadrunner. This was 1992.

JW
 
Nothing as I never go to swap meets.
 
I passed on a set of those MP Wide cast valve covers for 200 bucks a couple years ago at the spring fling. Still lookin for another set.
 
68 Nickey Camaro with L88 and 4-speed,$1,000 in '75. Was sitting in a "carpeted" heated garage with 35,000 miles on it. Owner selling because son was getting ready to start driving...
 
I have passed on alot of swap meet parts.

Just a year or so ago, a friend of mine dad passed, and let him and his mom around a dozen or so E body cudas, and alot of NOS part.
I helped him identify what I could, and bought one car off him.
He offered me his dads prized 440 six pack, shaker, 4-speed, dana, billboard, hemi orange, white gut multiple fender tag car for 20K.
I had the cash, no problem, but me and him had a good long talk, on how I was not going to rip him off for that low a price, and gave him some guidance on what to do with the car. He listened.
Yes I could have made alot of quick cash on that one, but I would not be able to sleep at night.
I knew his dad before his kid was ever born.
 
Carlisle 3 years ago - I saw an Edelbrock D-66 dual plane, dual quad manifold for sale for $300 new in the box. When I went back to buy it 2 hours later it was gone, gone, gone. Been kicking myself ever since.
 
Way back when, I was the only one interested in the early A Cudas, so guys were bringing me parts because they knew I would buy them. One guy brought me a super clean rear window trim set for $200, and another guy brought me a pair of NOS grille sections for $100 apiece. I was himmy hawing about the price as this was in the 90’s, and I was talking with my wife about it and out of her mouth came the most beautiful words I’ve ever heard…”if you don’t buy them now, you’ll regret it later”. After my buddies revived me, I went and bought both sets, and to this day will buy something I see on the spot. Whether I need it or not, if it’s a good deal, I’ll buy it!
 
Roughly 10 years ago a guy offered me a yard full of dusters for free. Was probably about 8 of them. I passed because I didnt really have the room to store them. They all went to the crusher :(
 
Back in the mid 80s I passed on a Super Bird that was hit hard on the passenger door and rear quarter. Pushed in a foot or so by a 1/2 ton. $400.00 from salvage. Kim
 
RustyRatRod said:
Nothing as I never go to swap meets.
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???? You are an AMERICAN, aren't you ??


1 no, just no.jpg
 
I have far more stories of awesome stuff I scored than occurrences when I should have moved but didn't.

The valiant is the only time I can think of when I regretted it. I can go on for pages of stuff that occupies my shed and basement that came from swap meets. Who needs drugs when we have good mopar parts to be had.
 
sireland67 said:
I have passed on alot of swap meet parts.

Just a year or so ago, a friend of mine dad passed, and let him and his mom around a dozen or so E body cudas, and alot of NOS part.
I helped him identify what I could, and bought one car off him.
He offered me his dads prized 440 six pack, shaker, 4-speed, dana, billboard, hemi orange, white gut multiple fender tag car for 20K.
I had the cash, no problem, but me and him had a good long talk, on how I was not going to rip him off for that low a price, and gave him some guidance on what to do with the car. He listened.
Yes I could have made alot of quick cash on that one, but I would not be able to sleep at night.
I knew his dad before his kid was ever born.
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That's Solid, Sir! Excellent. The entire World needs more of that. This Mopar Thing We all Have, has become crazy itself also....I was in them over 30 years ago. When good,.solid cars ( running or not) and just about everything else was too. If I had not been collecting lil bits and pieces, and had closely known some Solid Brothers, I would not have the car I was able to Frankenstein together today. I helped a guy out last year. Rust free, damn near mint 76 Feather Duster deck lid. 300. Guy and me are tight now. Even though he's over a 1000 miles away. And he's helped me in return with some kinda hard to find stuff
 
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