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Falcon XC Cobra + VW Country Buggy + Valiant RV-1 – Ones That Got Away 471 2

Looking back through the Unqiue Cars classifieds...

Ford XC Cobra 351 – July 2000

All who have just seen this Cobra’s selling price from back in 2000 can now quietly shed those tears of regret. No bargains like this one exist anymore and whether the claimed 8500km was verified or not, the U Cars Value Guide from 2000-01 shows Condition 1 Cobra 351s at $15,500 and the vendors were definitely charging a premium price. We assume as well, because the ad doesn’t claim otherwise, that the car is an automatic and that could have held it back a bit. However, if the Ks didn’t change and the condition could be maintained until now, look out $500K.

Then: $31,500 Now: $450-500,000

 

Volkswagen Country Buggy – August 1996

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As a kid you might have been given a bath in a metal tub. If so meet its half-brother, the Volkswagen Country Buggy. The Buggy was born in 1967 and survived until 1969 as VW Australia’s quirky response to BMC’s Mini Moke. During that time, around 2000 were made and a quarter of them exported, so surviving Buggys are understandably scarce. They have become collectible though, with Volkswagen enthusiasts known to cruise rural roads, looking for abandoned survivors. Buying a restored one today is difficult as well, but still less expensive than a Beetle of similar age.  

Then: $2200  Now: $24-28,000

 

Chrysler Valiant RV-1 – April 1997

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Australia is home to lots of rare cars but few have suffered the same exposure to apathy as Chrysler’s original Valiant. Just 1009 kits of RHD parts were imported, assembled in Adelaide and doled out to Chrysler dealers who sold them within days then had to wait a year to get more. When they came, in S Series form, the manual floor-shift was gone and so was the R Series’ intriguing ‘bin lid’ boot bulge. After lots were raided for their engines or turned into speedway cars, fewer than 100 R Series survive and prices, especially for a manual like this one, have gone nuts. 

Then: $7300 Now: $55-60,000

 

Reader’s One That Got Away:

1966 Toyota Crown Wagon

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Back in the eighties, I had a 1966 Toyota Crown Wagon, complete with ‘angel gear’ (freewheel) on top gear. It came up for some repairs and, because it was worth nothing at the time, I simply abandoned it in an industrial estate. What a mistake! Now it would be well worth fixing. 

Greg Anderson

 

From Unique Cars #471, Oct/Nov 2022

 

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