[NYNick]

When I wrote my response to your initial posting, there was no mention of price. Buying a car with 180k miles that has needs, even from a friend, isn't a great idea. There was also no mention of your capability. That changes things a bit.

At $30K with needs, you'll be at FMV after you fix it up yourself, including an engine rebuild. Plus, you will have spent a lot of time getting it done. I hear that you are ok with that approach. We here are just sharing our experiences.

You absolutely need to know upfront just how good/bad the car is, and how much it will need now or in the future. Bill has an impeccable reputation.

I stand by my advice to not finance a classic car, especially one this old, with this many miles, that needs work. Cars like this are toys, and old toys at that. If you can't afford to pay cash for your toys, well, you know the rest.

But hey, that's just me. Good luck with your project.

Nick