Hi, im new, opinion on buying '87

[MulletMaster]

My buddy and I were in a restaurant last night, I casually remarked i might start checking out buying a Toyota Supra, 80's probably..
Just then an employee said he had a pair for sale...To make a long story short, Im going to look at them soon, but this is what i know-

Two turbocharged 1987 Supras... Both midnight blue/grey interior. One is driving, the other is parked because of a front collision that damaged the radiator. The "driving" one has a rebuilt turbo, 130k miles, but has a 4speed auto, whereas the parked one has a 5speed...

For 3 grand, this sounded pretty good for me. I know these cars are heavy, they weigh only 100 pounds less than my 79 Camaro, and with only 230HP and were prone to headgasket problems... Also considering that on the Toyota forum i frequent, cars like late 80's MR2's and AE86's go for that much in the same condition (i've seen naturally aspirated supras in the paper for over 8K), this seems like a good opportunity. I can work on them myself, mechanically and body/paint wise. The cars are in decent "standard fade" condition for the year, except the wrecked one, that has a smashed front end...

Anyone here have an opinion on this deal? (or the swap to put the 5speed in the better of the two cars) Is this even a good engine to start with? Or is it a case of "start with one a few years later and have a lot more for less" kinda deal?

NOTE: This is a pasted message form another forum, i've since read some posts here about it, so take it easy on me

[Fresco Bob]

well how much does is he askin for both or either or one + parts?

[MulletMaster]

Well i said 3 grand in my post, but honestly since the car that doesn't run is REALLY far away from my shop (probably 45 minute drive), i doubt it would be cost effective to move it via rollback.... He wants to sell them as a pair, i guess he knows he'd never get rid of the parts car - on the other hand i'd like to have the 5 speed out of it :\

either way, it seems im not getting quite what i want, i may be able to talk him down to 2000-2500 for the one, but it's an automatic, and i'd have to find a tranny/clutch then of which would be over 3000 total. It's worth the extra 500 or so just to find another i guess...

Did i just answer my own quesiton? i hope not...

[bgrieger]

Not a bad deal for the pair. Pick them both up. You have complete spares for yourself, and you can swap the tranny for the cost of your time should you want to.

[MulletMaster]

Yeah, but it might be a few hundred dollars - possibly up to 500 just to get the wrecked one over to my shop. Im not so sure it's very complete either, i think a lot of the top engine components have been swapped to the driving one - i know the turbo has etc....

The main thing is that he rebuit the turbo and put new camseals in himself, done a lot of maintainence work like timing belt, brakes,etc. etc... yet he's not very mechanically inclined....im sorta skeptical. I know that work done to a car is factored into it, but this might be an occasion you wished he hadn't have touched it pricewise and for the benefit of the car....