Unless you are buying a basket case, have it inspected! Preferably by a professional with at least some experience with the marque. A knowledgeable amateur will do in a pinch but bear in mind that one person's restored is another's basket case. Frankly, in my 35 years in the business, long distance purchases of un-inspected vehicles rated good to excellent seldom results in a happy purchaser. I have literally rebuilt dozens of other people's "just rebuilt" engines. Most car owners, who should know better, think their POS is worth the latest auction price for a professional, no-expense-spared example.
You would not believe the number of people who bring their cars for an inspection AFTER they purchased it. We had one chap pick up an MGB -- freshly painted in retail-red -- drive it 800 miles to our door, only to find it was completely rusted out: pop-riveted floors, air where sills were supposed to be, and the body a cunning replica in body filler. We paid him $200 for the running gear parts. We then had it parked outside and dozens of people stopped and asked if it was for sale!
When I bought my S1 basket case, the seller figured the frame was fine:
https://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-qhn3drN/Ahttps://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-Fht6qsp/Ahttps://jbcollier.smugmug.com/Lotus-Europa/i-Fht6qspI knew the frame wasn't good but I will admit I foolishly thought it might be salvageable but dipping and blasting soon showed otherwise. In the seller's defence, the frame is tough to get a look at in an S1.
FOR GOODNESS SAKE GET IT INSPECTED !!!!
