I know the feeling all too well...I've lost out on several good deals on Craigslist due to timing against other interested parties. I was determined to find myself an 1864 at one point. I searched CL several times daily, every day for weeks and weeks. I finally found one near me for $660 with 900 hours and needing restoration. It was up on CL for only 5 hours when I found it.
The 1864 has been fully restored and in use for the last 4 years. I posted some of the pictures I took of the restoration. They can be seen on page 60 and 61 of "let's see your cub cadets/MTD..." I restored two 1641's and the 1864. This website was extremely helpful in the process of those restorations!
