Thanks for the response. The last mechanic is a good friend looking out for me. His recommendation was to replace only the flex pipe and resonator for the vehicle, but those parts did not exist at all in US Inventory. With the car being so rare, I could only find those factory parts on EBay in Latvia. After shipping and installation, that added $3,000 to the repair bill. The challenge is that was only the tip of the iceberg. On the interior and exterior alone, you would think there were no issues - but it was not properly maintained mechanically. That is likely why it was passed along in the first place. I did my homework, but still almost got hosed by repairs. It was no one person’s fault - just a learning lesson that you need to be prepared for big bills at any time and place with these vehicles.

Great points! I have been found of the classics because they are rare and hard to find. Most people would not go after them for that very reason. I guess that is how I see myself as well. Nothing comes easy, so I work my best to stay up to the challenge. What happened in this case was a bit of a perfect storm - a diamond in the rough. I just as happy to have found it as I was to hit the eject button when I learned what it required. No regrets at all. It will always make for a great story!