I agree Bill, all good points. However, when you live on a rock there are not many options like driving to another state to buy or look at a car. I was lucky, I found my 67 RS, 327, 4 speed car for $2,500. The only reason I got it for that price was because the guy lived in a condo, and the association told him he could not have a project car on the property. It helped that he had only two more days to get it off the property, and I had cash. I did however make the worst mistake you can make when buying a car, I bought it at night. So here I am now two and half years later and 85% of the panels replaced.
I envy all of you in the mainland, you all get free / almost free shipping on all your stuff. We get killed here in Hawaii, I have probably spent $5,000+ on shiping on all of my Camaro stuff over the past 2 1/2 years. I have had many times where the shipping charge was as much if not more than the parts I purchased. As the saying goes here in Hawaii, "Lucky you live Hawaii".
Things could be worse, I could still be looking for a first gen.

I feel for you on the shipping. At my last job we sometimes had to ship to Hawaii, and the shipping charges always made me gasp!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
'72 442 "Inamorata"
www.FQuick.com/ProTouring442