And on that note, I paid $1200 (asking!) For my '75 generic-red-once-polaris with a (found out later) very tired, very dead engine. (Lesson learned here is to be weary of buying vehicles that the owner just finished driving).
-outer rockers are also trash
-rusty front floor pans
-general crappiness
-excellent front seats
My story is that I wanted to beat out several other potential buyers the same day I found out 2002's even existed (yes really). I thought it would be cool to show up in a Z3 so I took that to look at the car. normally the drive to Provo would take about 30 minutes... except this was a Friday at 5pm. Big mistake.
I couldn't put the top up on the Z. I had also neglected to charge the AC. AND I showed up to the guy's house cash-in-hand about two hours later. Did I mention it was about 95*F out?
Honestly it was probably heat stroke. But I made that horrible drive there and I sure as hell wasn't going home empty handed. I actually asked the guy for a drink because I was so dehydrated. I didn't even negotiate - I just wanted to leave. So I bought it. He probably would have taken $800 easily. Oh well.
So then I bought another '75 beyond repairable condition with what you guys call a "stage 3" engine. For only $1k. More worth it at least. Except now I have 5 cars.
Man... all I can say is I REALLY wish I had taken Rob's advice, you know? Knew a bit more? I guess sometimes you just jump right in.