A day late

[RussMS]

Since I am not very good at tells tales, much less this tale of woe, please take it for what its worth.

Some of you may have read some of my other posts or may have guessed from my signature, I do not yet own a car or project of any kind. Being the father of 2 girls, one of which is wheelchair bound and has lot of medical expenses, has made having one a future goal. I am confident I will get there, but it will take time.

My first choice for a project car would be a 1968 Camaro RS, but having a great appreciation for other makes and models I may start out with something else. I need to get my feet wet and would rather screw up something else first if you can get the idea. But if the “perfect car” ever came up. . . well what would you do?

It did, but. . .

My sad tale

I am a CPA in public practice. I don’t own my own store yet but one day I probably will. While consulting with a client about 5 month ago, I found out he was the proud owner of a 1950ish Corvette Roadster, a 1956 Chevy Bel Air Nomad and a 1970 RoadRunner Project in Progress. (Great cars btw)

Through chatting with him about cars and other items, I find out that the young man dating his daughter has a 1968 Camaro Convertible. He describes it as “triple black.” (I can only assumes this means black paint, top and interior. He offers to set up a ride for me in it during this years upcoming “Cruisin the Coast” (Cancelled btw due to Hurricane Katrina.)

Months go by and I think nothing more of it.

Hurricane Katrina hits. The area I work in is literally devastated. The areas that flood are totally destroyed and the areas that never flood have 2’ to 6’ of water. Muscle cars in the area are severely damaged, some in the bottom of the gulf. My client’s cars are OK for which I am very glad. Some of the others are not so lucky. A friend of mine lost a TA and a Hemi-cuda conversion. (Yes he is crying his eyes out)

What happened to the 1968 Camaro Convertible? I had to ask and did. It got 2 feet of water.

The insurance companies have been just totaling cars out around here. Electrical or engines + salt water = problems they don’t want to deal with. Can’t say I blame them really.

The owner of the ’68 got a settlement and they let him keep the car. Some guys get all the luck.

So then my client hits me with “and I think he is going to sell it.”

“How much?” I ask trying to sound reasonably interested, not totally obsessed and about to come out of my chair.

“You could probably make him an offer. He doesn’t want much for it now with all the damage. I think it will go for a couple thousand.”

As my heartrate doubles, he says “Let me call my daughter and ask her about it.”

He calls daughter. Daughter calls boyfriend. Daughter calls Dad back. During this time I am running thru my head:

How to talk the wife into it and thinking it wouldn’t be tough.
How to get the saltwater out and trying to think of how fast a company could work me in to get it dipped.
How cule it will look when I get thru tricking it out to a PT machine.

Then the call back.
“Hello, Oh he did . . .” My heart sinks and the bile begins to rise. “Hang on a minute.” Then he tells me “looks like he sold it to a local car dealer for $2,000.” Then he tells his daughter on the phone “I think he is sick.”

It felt like someone kicked me in the stomach. I manage a weak smile and a laugh and don’t actually pound on my desk til after he leaves.

The dealer says he intends to keep the car. Or he knows what he has and will sell it for what it will be worth once he gets it running and halfassedly gets some of the saltwater off it. Either way I was one day late.

Somebody shoot me?

Disappointed in Mississippi

[907rs]

Man, that sucks Russ, as I know how long you've been looking. Keep your chin up, and it'll all work out for you.

[USAZR1]

Hang in there,Russ. You will find the right car.

[jannes_z-28]

I think many of us has been through those "What if..." deals. You have to move on. Do some mourning for a few days, it is needed but then start to look forward again and look for another. If it is like you say in the area around Katrinas path there might be others that you can make a good deal on.

Keep the faith, your day will come!


Jan

[BC69]

Russ,
That is rough, I am sorry man!! But there are alot of other nice cars out there, and it seems like you have been patient so far, so one will come along. Its better to keep waiting for the right one then jump on something close or cheap, believe me, I had 2 rust buckets that were both worthless for the most part. Things will work out, they always do.

And let me just say publically that Russ is an outstanding guy! He has helped me out tremendously with his knowledge and resources, and has helped steer me more in the direction of investments rather than accounting!!!!

Sorry bout this one, but there are more to be found.

Tim

[Bill Howell]

One of life's rules I have always gone with is this, If it is supposed to work out it will.
First, you never saw the car, so it may not have been as nice as you think. Second, you never know what damage was done by the flooding, or what might pop up later because of it. Third, if it was supposed to be yours, you would have got it.
I try to never worry about the ones that get away, just press on for the ones I am supposed to get.
Like others have said, hang in there, you will find the right car. When you do, you will be glad this one got away.

[Autokraft]

Russ,

Having missed out on some car deals over the years I know how you feel. But the ironic thing is, seems whenever that has happened, I have always run into something better.
One such story was I was all set up to go and buy a pair of NOS quarters for a 66 Nova for a customer one time.I called the guy, set a time, was getting ready to leave for the two hour drive and the phone rings. This guy tells me he just sold them. I said WHAT? He knew I was coming but apparently that didn't matter.
Anyway, I stumbled across a guy in my home town (less than fifteen minutes away) that tells me he has two 66 Novas for sale, one resto project and one parts car. Well I go check em out and not only does he have the two cars, he has TWO sets of NOS quarters,TWO sets of NOS fenders and a Ton of other stuff that goes with it.Long story short.Bought everything, kept one set of fenders/quarters and sold everything else for a profit and got free sheetmetal to boot. I still can't believe it!!

Kurt

www.autokraft.org

[Damn True]

Russ,

I know right now you are bummed that you missed out on a car you've always wanted at a great price. But consider that this was a 37 year old gulf coast car. If it didn't already have rust, it will in short order after it's soaking. In missing out on this car, you may have avoided a money pit.

....and you may want to stay away from any used cars in that area for the next year or so. Unscrupulous dealers will be selling cars that have been flooded.

My suggestion to you is to sock away some cash, or arrange a signature line of credit and take a week off in California, New Mexico or Arizona. You'd be far better served buying a car from dry ground.

Search Craigslist in various cities. There are a lot of cars out there.

[evilzee28]

I agree with Bill, what will be will be!! if things in life are meant to happen then they will. I was chasing the '69 Camaro I nowown,2 years ago, the guy was desperate to sell & only wanted $6500.00 for it. He had receipts for $19250.00 for all of the new parts he'd bought for it, plus the original $4500 he paid for the car as an rust free original 40,000 mile ex drag racer. I tried to sell my Bullnose Trans Am race car to fund buying it, but I got messed about & decided not to sell it. I still wanted that Camaro, but couldn't justify having having more cars (already had 5, with no spare room for any more). A year later, my cicumstances changed & I was offered what I considered stupid money for my T/A. Out of curiosity I rang the guy with the Camaro to see what happened to it. Yup, he still had it, seems everyone was put off by the amount of work needed to put it back together & finish it. he wanted his garage back to build a train set in it ???, & yes it was for sale for $4500.00, if I could take it away the next weekend. Well, ....does a one legged duck swim in circles?? I paid the guy the money & it's now mine. moral of the story...."if it's meant to be it's meant to be".

I know it woulda been nice to get the water damaged car, but as has been already mentioned, it might not have been all you think it was. your time will come, far better to save your pennies 'til that day comes, put out the word for what you're after & see what turns up. You're in the right place with the guys on this forum & who knows, maybe someone here will find the car of your dreams,....best of luck.

[almcbri]

Russ you have a PM!