[olddog]

I just have a few minutes, so quickly.

The manufacturer is not as important as the assembler and who had their fingers into what. Did a true craftsman work on it or Bevis and Butthead?

Donor car drive train ($1000) or a new TKO-600 ($2500) and new aluminum FE 427 - 482 stroker ($15000). So it could have a nice runnning $1000 drive train or it could have a $20000 drive train in it.

A straight axle or independent rear end.

Donor brakes off of who knows what, or Willwood brake system. - Try buying brake pads for who knows what. All auto stores are going to ask you what it came off of.

Junk yard radiator or a new aluminum 4 core that will actually cool the engine?

You should be getting the picture. The important factors are what parts are on the car, how well were they put on, and what condition are they in now.

Look for signs that Bevis and Butthead were beating on things. Bolt heads stripped and rounded from the wrong tool, and loose wires. Or is everything done neatly.

Frankly if the owner cannot tell you much about the car, even though it is well built, you know the present owner didn't give a $hit about the car, or he would have found out.