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69nova: In the army, my buddy had a 64 GTO convertible. In 71-71, nobody treated them as the jewels they are now. A dark blue with white interior and manual transmission. He would work on the car on base in the parking lot. I almost bought a 32 Olds street rod but declined. There was a hitch with the title- something about the guy serving time in the clink. My other buddy had a 67 GTO and a few fellows had 69 vettes. Back then, they were muscle cars but they were daily drivers. I remember driving my buddy's 70 Super Bee (with a 383 Magnum) when he had too much to drink. Oh, those were the days. Then there was a guy selling a Ford with a 427 CJ motor for $1500. I just missed that one as well as a grandpa with a 73 Opel GT for $800. (his grand daughter didn't want it). I could go on and on....

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rsabatini: 69nova - I Know what you're talking about. If only we'd had the vision to preserve those cars. A few miles away, in a friend's garage...sit two 1973 SD455 Trans Ams. One, a Bucaneer Red, and the other, a rare Brewster Green model.

I also had a chance to buy a 70 1/2 Z28 for $3500 in 1976, but I had just got out of high school (read, no money!)

I also had a chance to buy a Shelby GT 500KR for about the same price, also in 1976. With little knowledge of the collectibility of these cars, most owners were dumping them due to the fuel "crisis".
I miss my '67 Goat, and the feel of raw power it posessed. I hope it is happy somewhere! I'm making myself ill right now....

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rsabatini: When I was younger, I was twice as stupid as I am now. I had opportunities to purchase quite a few "old" GTO's back in the '70's. But being young and single, I wanted the new stuff. Now that I'm older....I want the old stuff!

Case in point: I was at my preferred Pontiac dealership. I wanted a new (1974) Pontiac Firebird. I had worked all summer to buy a Formula 455, so I would have a nice car for my senior year in high school. Up drives this "old" man in a 1970 GTO with a Ram Air IV, 4-Speed......dark blue, beige interior......totally stock...totally clean. He gets to talkin' to me, says he wants $4000 for the car....I end up not buying anything.....

Here's the crazy part: It's 1995, I'm out cruisin' in my 1970 1/2 Trans Am to the McDonalds in Deer Park Texas (a local rodders hang-out). Up drives this "real old" man in a 1970 GTO Ram Air IV...it's the same guy, it's the same car....it's worth about $9500 at that time...but not for sale...

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