[arctic-snake]

If your serious about the car after seeing e-mailed pictures and talking with the seller, I would send a deposit that you both can live with. Make your arrangements for shipping with an insured carrier. Buy a plane ticket(or drive) and check out the car in person. A purchase of this size should be handled first hand in my opinion. If the car is as represented, you can accompany the owner to the appropriate authority and have the title transferred. Get the car loaded, take pictures with the carrier present, and fly back home and wait for your package to arrive. I shipped mine from Ohio to Alaska without a glitch. Very rewarding experience and I got to know the seller a little. I think you will find that the condition of the car is representative of the previous owner. In my case they (the owner and the car) were first class. Good luck and have fun with the purchase and the car.