[lisa_spyder]

Katie,

I SAY RUN, RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!!!

But you're not gonna; are you?! Hell...I'm not so old that I don't remember kid!

If you're going to pursue this, then look closely at:

inside the doors and into the rear of the front guards; that rust on the front guard screams "warning" to me. you won't be able to see as much as is really necessary without removing the front guards, but have a good close look on both sides of the car.

We've seen more than our share of these cars with rusted out A-pillars; the only external indication of which has been rust on the top of the guard and/or scuttle like what's in your pic.

Get the car on a lift and poke around the undercarriage with a screwdriver; particularly under the battery boxes and across the front X-member.

Pull up the rear mats and have a close look as well.

Get a compression and leak down test; at least the tacho has been changed to signify a more appropriate redline.

The engine doesn't look well cared for at all - signs of what appears to be corrosion on lots of bits.

There's lots more; the guys can point you in the right direction - gotta do some work!

Cheers,

Lisa

PS - look at the brightwork strips under the rear quarter windows (if they are there); right at the front edge where the rear of the door closes. If they are damaged it is a sure sign of prior accident damage of no small proportion.