[sennagts]

I've noticed that we have the whole "What did you buy today?" and "What do you have on preorder?" threads..but I was thinking, what about a thread based on models we just missed out on in auctions or we regret not buying when they were cheaper or more available? I know I've got many experiences based on models that are way overpriced now but never were before!

So let's hear some stories or regrets, maybe this can motivate us to really find any model we missed out on!

 

[technica]

Super Elite Michael Schumacher's Ferrari FXX at 99.95Euros

 

[jazzy426]

i have quite a few regrets...

Autoart Mercedes 190E 2.3 - too cheap to put my max bid

Autoart Lotus Esprit V8 - missed it twice on eBay

Autoart Mazda Cosmo when white/silver were readily available

HWE Ferrari Superamerica 410 for less than 50 bucks - too poor to bid at that time

Kyosho BMW 745i - again too cheap to put my max bid it ended at 50 i would have paid 100 now

Kyosho BMW E65 facelifted - cancelled my order when was told it is missing rear view mirrors and i didnt want the hassle of chasing down the mirrors myself. In hindsight i should have just bought it cheap then worry about finding donor mirrors later on as I can't seem to find any E65 BMW nowadays facelifted or not and I am close to settle for the cheap Motormax one

Autoart Mercedes W124 - Should have bought both silver and bornit metallic from Biante when they were cheap but i only bought a silver one. Should have known the model value would have skyrocketed after they were sold out.

 

[sennagts]

That's quite a list Jazzy...how do you sleep at night!?

 

[Ozz]

The only one I can really think of, which has long since been rectified, was a 1:18 2004 SA20 Saleen Mustang.

Not only was it unique in that way, but it was extra cool because it was a convertible and came with both a removable speedster cover & removable soft top that had soft cloth over the rigid body structure. Even the $100+ GMP Mustang models had hard "soft" tops on their models, so this was very unique in that respect. It was for sale for $20-25, mint in the box, and I figured I'd just grab one online eventually. Well, eventually turned into a few years later because I NEVER saw another until then. Now they routinely sell for over $100, most often around $150-200, and I've seen them reach $300 over the years. I think I may have gotten the one I own for around $80-90, and that definitely brought me some excitement once I finally found one.

 

[jandro_f1]

I really blame myself for not buying an E28 M5 and a 190E 2.3 when they were everywhere... also the big Mercedes 600!

 

[ironsim]

Im still relativily new to the hobby so most of the models I want are more than 5years models and I cant say I missed them because I didnt have the chance to get them at normal prices...like the M635csi by Autoart

 

[D N'D-Land]

I regret not buying:

AUTOart Mercedes 600 LWB
AUTOart Mercedes 600 SWB
AUTOart Mercedes 300 SEL
AUTOart Mercedes E320 Bornit
AUTOart BMW 3.0 CSL Blue
AUTOart BMW 323i White
AUTOart BMW M5 Grey
AUTOart BMW M535i Grey or White
AUTOart BMW M635 CSI DE White
AUTOart BMW 635i DE Anycolor
AUTOart Porsche 930 Turbo Brown
AUTOart Jaguar E-Type Coupe Red
AUTOart Pagani Zonda Revolucion Blue Carbon

Kyosho 1/12 Lamborghini Countach White
Kyosho 2nd release Ferrari 328 GTS Red
Kyosho 2nd release Ferrari 328 GTB Red

That's off the top of my head...

 

[jazzy426]

That's quite a list Jazzy...how do you sleep at night!?

LOL oh well i try to look at the bright side over the years i do score some rare beauties at bargain prices so the victories/losses more or less cancel each other out.

 

[jazzy426]

Kyosho 2nd release Ferrari 328 GTS Red
Kyosho 2nd release Ferrari 328 GTB Red

That's off the top of my head...

David, what are those 2nd release of the 328s? Are there any noticeable differences between 1st and 2nd release?

 

[Chall]

most of the models I want are more than 5years models and I cant say I missed them because I didnt have the chance to get them at normal prices...like the M635csi by Autoart

Same here. If I could mess around with the fabric of time, I'd leave a note for my younger self saying, "Pick up a Kyosho F40 (1:18) and a Countach 5000QV and keep them boxed. You'll thank me in a decade." Paint issues be damned!

I've since given up on a good 1:18 F40, and I am coming to terms with having to pay $200 for the Autoart Walter Wolf Countach.

I'd have also gotten a kick out being in the hobby when people were selling Exoto Sauber C9s back and forth. Knowing what I know now, that'd have been fun to watch.

Come to think of it, if I could mess around with the fabric of time, I'd do a couple other things...

 

[sennagts]

In my case it was the Alfa Romeo Montreal from Autoart. I was around when they were released and could be found everywhere for amazing prices, but never pulled the trigger. Three to four years on and I really wanted one. I was looking for ages on Ebay and Google only coming across examples for $300+. Finally 2 weeks ago I came across a shop in Sweden selling a red one for $130!!! I pulled the trigger instantly and now I'm displaying it proudly.

Always feels terrible when you're around for a model release, never get it, then see the price sky rocket....

 

[technica]

Kyosho 2nd release Ferrari 328 GTS Red
Kyosho 2nd release Ferrari 328 GTB Red

That's off the top of my head...

David, what are those 2nd release of the 328s? Are there any noticeable differences between 1st and 2nd release?
[/quote]
As far as I know they are just packed differently; 2nd releases are packed in styrofoam boxes.

Also, I'm curious, did Kyosho re-release 328GTB? I have seen 328GTS in styrofoam boxes but not the GTB... I missed the red GTB as well.

 

[tmnt_ppn]

My regrets (sort from the biggest regret to the least):

- CMC Merc SLR McLaren (maybe 5 years ago or so, when I was offered one in silver for ~250usd)
- HWE 430 Scuderia
- AUTOart Lexus LFA (standard ver., whitest white)
- AUTOart Lotus Exige (orange)
- Kyosho Ferrari 512TR

There are a few more, but I'm not 100% sure whether I still want those today or not, so I'm not listing them here.

 

[blackvitzrs]

My only regret was 2 years ago in Hong Kong I had the chance to buy the satin aluminum Delorean. Instead I got the Merveilleux Carbon veyron. Should have bought BOTH.

 

[mcaf123]

Same here. If I could mess around with the fabric of time, I'd leave a note for my younger self saying, "Pick up a Kyosho F40 (1:18) and a Countach 5000QV and keep them boxed. You'll thank me in a decade." Paint issues be damned!

Doesn't matter if they're kept boxed or not, the paint rash would've reared it's ugly head either way

 

[Craig]

Off the top of my head..

AUTOart - MB 600 LWB, the last reasonable priced one I saw on eBay was about £150 (I think) At the time Preisman was looking for one, but the one I'd seen wouldn't send out of the UK, I said ask anyway, voila! He scores a 600

CMC - MB W196R Plain bodied streamliner, MB World had it for £150 - but at the time I didn't know if that was a good price or not.

Exoto - Ford GT40 and Sauber C9 sets, I've seen both for great prices, but they still weren't cheap, so I didn't get them.

Exoto - Nigel Mansell Ferrari with 'tear off' visor for £100, I don't know about F1 cars so I didn't get it.

Minichamps - Andy Warhol BMW M1 Art car, I missed a couple at £150, I wish I'd have got one! I don't even remember them coming along when CK etc had the Art cars for £70

Edit, a couple of others..

AUTOart - BMW E30 M3, either the Soper or Cecotto one, for £70 on buy it now. By the time they'd confirmed it was a 1/18 it had sold.

AUTOart - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 'Ralliart' New in the box for £150, this was about five years ago now, it was local and only had a stock pic, so I asked them if I paid now could I collect ? They said no and someone else bought it.

All of these were a fair while ago, I'm not that naive now. Mind you over the years I've had more than my fair share of scores

 

[simondc07]

Good thread Alon

MR Alfa Romeo 8C
Exoto Ferrari 250LM (Prototype)
APM Lamborghini Diablo SE30
Exoto Ford GT40 LeMans Set
Minichamps BMW Art Cars - picked them year's ago as items that would appreciate and got the Wahol M1 but the boxes are so big it makes storage prohibitive. Now you can add price as being prohibitive too

 

[Uzair]

Exoto Ferrari 250LM (Prototype)

Minichamps BMW Art Cars - picked them year's ago as items that would appreciate and got the Wahol M1 but the boxes are so big it makes storage prohibitive. Now you can add price as being prohibitive too

Wait wait - Exoto haven't released the 250 LM yet, so how can you say you missed out on it? You can still "preorder", whatever good that will do

And yeah, the Art Cars especially the ones made by Minichamps were a sure-shot investment deal if anyone could have foreseen the future. I started in 2013, but from what Craig says most of them could be had for £70. Good ones like Koons, Calder, Roy L, are going for 5 times that amount now, easy. The Andy Warhol is just insane!

 

[simondc07]

A pre-production prototype was auctioned on ebay a couple of years ago - to pre-order through Exoto is courting disaster