[t6dpilot]

I think Jeremy posted the best and safest method for conducting a purchase long distance. That said, I did not really adhere to this when I bought my 71T. The 69 - yes, but I was closer geographically and more educated on early cars.

The 71 was a lifelong CA car, so it had a lot going for it just from that perspective. The owner had it for 23 years and was absolutely in love with the car. He actually backed out of the sale twice - to my broken heart (this was my first early car and I really wanted it). We talked on the phone quite a bit about his ownership and the car's history. He seemed very down to earth and trustworthy from our conversations. I know, that is a big assumption, but... he is also a pilot, which has a lot of credence in our world. He bought the car from a high school friend back in 83 and I was able to talk to that owner as well. I was able to discuss the car's history all the way back to 1973. Pretty cool...

I knew the car needed some mechanical work as a lot of these do, so I was prepared for that. My concern was rust and general condition. I only got to see a few low res photos that he took and sent to me via dial up connection (admittedly digitally challenged). What then? Pelican to the rescue. A fellow Pelican offered to go take a look for me and gave it a thumbs up and sent a bunch of pics too. I scheduled a PPI at a nearby shop, which pretty much gave it a general clean bill of health. I sent a deposit along with a bill of sale that we both signed and scheduled a truck to pick it up (I was considering driving it home, but discretion was the better part of valor that time). I am not sure when I wired the money, but I am sure it was a day or so before the truck picked it up. Probably not the wisest thing to do, but I figured what the hell, he's a pilot so he must be trustworthy.

I got the car and was very pleased (got lucky). The car did need some mechanical work and general TLC, but I got a good one from a good guy. He and I, along with the guy who owned it from 73 to 83, keep in touch and I send them pics every so often. I would not have done it I don't think without the help and thumbs up from a fellow Pelican. That made all the difference.